Lever action conundrum

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A 30-30 has always made more sense to me. !00 yard or less rifle cartridges make no sense to me. That's why they make pistols.
 
I have older marlins in 30-30, 357, 35Rem, 44, 444, and 45-70. I have loaded them all from powder-puff loads to as hot as my manuals allow. I love them all. But just because you can load them hot doesn’t mean you have to. When I started, I just wanted to see what they were capable of. In the years that I’ve owned and loaded for them, I’ve made some observations....

The 30-30 is a hunting round. It’s not that it doesn’t belong on the range. It’s just not my idea of a range round.

The 357 is fun. Loaded light it makes for a nice little range toy. But I wouldn’t say it excites me. It’s just something to shoot to keep my skills up to par. As a hunting rifle, it does the job just fine on deer. Light weight, and handy. But it doesn’t speak with authority.

The 44mag is my go to deer rifle. It has never failed me. Same model as the 357 (1894) but a smidge heavier. But it’s got significantly more thump. Which is why it’s my go to deer gun.

The 35 Rem is a hunting round. But the recoil is not representative of its performance. And I’m not sure why. But it’s deadly. Plain and simple.

The 444 is kind of an odd one. Again, it’s a hunting round imo. And it’s the only rifle to ever “scope” me. Was shooting Hornady 265gr LeverEvolution. It hurt. Loaded it up with 300gr Sierra’s over H-4198 and recoil actually went down. But it definitely speaks with authority. Big hogs have never taken a single step. (Look at my Avatar)

The 45-70 is the most versatile. Loaded with Unique, or TrailBoss and 405gr slugs, it’s a cream puff. About like a moderate 44mag. I can shoot it one handed. Not accurately of course. But I can take the recoil no problem. Seems strange right? That’s a big bullet. But it’s true. Loaded with 3031 and 405’s, it’s.....stout. A box and I’m done. So I loaded it with Hornady 350gr RN over H-4198 and it’s got a lot more bite than bark. But the bark is still there. That is my hunting load. When those 405’s hit steel, it never fails to bring a smile. Trajectory sucks compared to centerfire rifle rounds. But that’s part of the fun. And it’s the one all my friends want me to bring when we go shoot.

If I were going to suggest a lever cartridge to shoot as a range toy, it would 1,000% be the 45-70. And the rifle would likely be a Marlin Cowboy with the octagon barrel with iron or williams sights. If a scope is involved, it would be the standard 1895. The extra weight helps soak up a little bit of the recoil if you decide to load heavy. And reduces the light loads even more.

And if you REALLY want to turn heads at the range, one word.....Sharps.
 
Henry is making side loaders nowadays. Pretty checkering to boot. I think 45-70 is one of them. If you want a fun .357 get a Uberti 1873.
 
A 30-30 has always made more sense to me. !00 yard or less rifle cartridges make no sense to me. That's why they make pistols.
The appeal is having a long gun that can replicate 454 casull performance easily, cheaply and with mild recoil with the option to go up or down from there. My wife can shoot mild loads that are way more powerful than anything she'd care to handle in a handgun and be accurate with it, things 30 caliber rifles just can't do - deliver a thumper of a bullet at low velocity without a lot of blast or recoil, do that with a smaller bore you might as well shoot an m1 carbine or something.around here rarely do ranges or shots go much over 100 yards, 45-70 is capable of longer distances if the shooter can do their part.
 
What I'd do is look for a Marlin (used) in nice condition. I'd get it in 30-30 and see which of the two you like the best? My Winchester was straight grip and my Marlin is curved grip. I like it better :)

I sold my Win 94 and kept the Marlin. I like the side eject, and I scoped mine. I also like the feel in hand better. It's a lever gun, but quite a bit different from the Winchester ...
 
I want a new lever action rifle for fun at the range.
Rifles I have:
Winchester 94 in 30-30
Henry 22
Ruger 44 carbine
AR15

I already reload for 357 magnum, 44 magnum and 45 Colt.
Part of me wants a 45-70, but, from what I understand everyone wants a 45-70 until they get one(Recoil)
So do I get the 45-70 and buy the dies to reload or do I get something I already reload for. I can't really see getting a 44 magnum as I already have the Ruger 44 Carbine even though it is a semiauto and I want something that is a lever gun. That leaves 357 and 45 colt.

I don't think the new rifle will ever be used for hunting, but you never know.
I live in TN with shots at deer never exceeding 150 yards.

Sorry for the stream of conscience, just trying to get all my thoughts in order.

Anyone have any thoughts? Is there anything I am missing?
The next part of this is Henry vs Marlin vs whatever else there is out there.
 
Anyone that has traded guns has a few guns that they regret trading off. One of mine is a 1886 Winchester in 45/70. If you have never owned a 45/70 you owe it to yourself to try one. As a hand loader you can load some target loads and hunting loads too. I don't think you will regret it.
 
I have four levers in 45 Colt and one in 45-70. Wouldn't trade any of them for anything. Just because you have a 45-70 doesn't mean you have to load it hot. Heck I can load 45 Colt hot and in a real light rifle it also can kick like a mule. Not that its stopped me from doing so within the confines of what the rifle can handle of course.
 
You guys are great. Thanks for all the info. I am leaning towards the cowboy Marlin 45-70 with the 26" barrel.
Since it will be a range toy, the length doesn't bother me.
I will let you know what I end up with.
That length will add weight which will make a range rifle just that much more comfortable with less felt recoil. If you could also find that in a heavy octagon even better
 
Rossi Win92 clones are great in any revolver chambering. My wife's is .44mag. Slick little rifle. Load it mild with Trail Boss, or wild with 2400.

But .45-70 is awfully interesting. I bet you could load it really mild if you wanted to.
 
You guys are great. Thanks for all the info. I am leaning towards the cowboy Marlin 45-70 with the 26" barrel.
Since it will be a range toy, the length doesn't bother me.
I will let you know what I end up with.
I have one of the 26” CB models, and the 1895 Guide Gun with the factory porting. Both wear peep sights installed on the receivers.

The big CB is just that, compared to the handy trappers or 20” carbines it’s a BIG lever gun... especially when loaded to the hilt with half a box of cartridges carrying 400 gr + bullets. The shorter barreled GG models seem to carry, handle and shoulder a lot better for me.

Both of these .45/70 guns are easy-peasy to load for, just like a giant .45 Colt that you have to use case lube on the case to resize. My GG, a 405 or 450 gr bullet and a hearty charge of 3031 is like shooting 3” magnum buckshot loads out of a 12 ga single barrel shotgun. Certainly not a lot of fun but it’s neat to see a steel silhouette take the impact!

If you go pistol caliber, the .45 Colt is by far my fav. In the 16” Rossi it handles like a dream, The action is smooth and thumbing the cigar butt sized Colt rounds into the chamber is much more fun than the smaller .357 or .38 cartridges are (I have a 16” Rossi in .357, too... and a .44 Mag Win 1894 Trapper). The only issue is ammo, factory .45 Colt isn’t cheap at all! Come to think of it, you’ll be shooting so much more since lever guns are addictive fun, you must reload or you’ll go broke...

Good luck with your search!
Stay safe.
 
I want a new lever action rifle for fun at the range.
Rifles I have:
Winchester 94 in 30-30
Henry 22
Ruger 44 carbine
AR15

I already reload for 357 magnum, 44 magnum and 45 Colt.
Part of me wants a 45-70, but, from what I understand everyone wants a 45-70 until they get one(Recoil)
So do I get the 45-70 and buy the dies to reload or do I get something I already reload for. I can't really see getting a 44 magnum as I already have the Ruger 44 Carbine even though it is a semiauto and I want something that is a lever gun. That leaves 357 and 45 colt.

I don't think the new rifle will ever be used for hunting, but you never know.
I live in TN with shots at deer never exceeding 150 yards.

Sorry for the stream of conscience, just trying to get all my thoughts in order.

Anyone have any thoughts? Is there anything I am missing?
The next part of this is Henry vs Marlin vs whatever else there is out there.

Conundrum is right.

I've been wanting a Marlin .357 lever for at least two decades. But, I've never seen them when I've had the money.

Maybe 10 years ago I was ready to go for a Rossi .357 lever, but when I had the money none were available.

A few years after that, I was tempted to get a Mossberg Brush Gun lever in .30-30, mostly because it was made in Texas and had a look I liked. But, I held off.

Henry then teased me severely with their .357 lever a couple years ago, but a 9mm pistol caliber carbine got my money that year.

Then today happened. I simply went to the range to fire some pistols. I've been actually rackin' my brain on S&W .22 revolvers for the past few weeks. Well, the range didn't have any S&W .22 revolvers, but they had a brand spankin' new Marlin 1894 CSBL in .357 Mag on the rack. I hefted it, worked the lever, tried the trigger (with permission), SOLD.

Ooofda. o_O

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Because of the possibility of hunting in the future I would look at Win 1895 in 30X06 just because of it’s versatility.
 
Conundrum is right.

I've been wanting a Marlin .357 lever for at least two decades. But, I've never seen them when I've had the money.

Maybe 10 years ago I was ready to go for a Rossi .357 lever, but when I had the money none were available.

A few years after that, I was tempted to get a Mossberg Brush Gun lever in .30-30, mostly because it was made in Texas and had a look I liked. But, I held off.

Henry then teased me severely with their .357 lever a couple years ago, but a 9mm pistol caliber carbine got my money that year.

Then today happened. I simply went to the range to fire some pistols. I've been actually rackin' my brain on S&W .22 revolvers for the past few weeks. Well, the range didn't have any S&W .22 revolvers, but they had a brand spankin' new Marlin 1894 CSBL in .357 Mag on the rack. I hefted it, worked the lever, tried the trigger (with permission), SOLD.

Ooofda. o_O

View attachment 886912

View attachment 886913

View attachment 886914
Dang. That is nice lookin!
 
the Rossi 92 Stainless 357 20” barrel is on my very short list.. probly my next purchase... I understand some sanding and slicking can really help em , which is something I enjoy anyway... can’t wait
 
I played with a Miroku Winchester 1873 in 45LC tonight. That is a very nice gun. Much nicer fit and finish than the Marlin 1894 that was sitting next to it.
I can’t find a 45-70 locally to look at other than a Henry big boy steel.
My brain hurts
 
I want a new lever action rifle for fun at the range.
Rifles I have:
Winchester 94 in 30-30
Henry 22
Ruger 44 carbine
AR15

I already reload for 357 magnum, 44 magnum and 45 Colt.
Part of me wants a 45-70, but, from what I understand everyone wants a 45-70 until they get one(Recoil)
So do I get the 45-70 and buy the dies to reload or do I get something I already reload for. I can't really see getting a 44 magnum as I already have the Ruger 44 Carbine even though it is a semiauto and I want something that is a lever gun. That leaves 357 and 45 colt.

I don't think the new rifle will ever be used for hunting, but you never know.
I live in TN with shots at deer never exceeding 150 yards.

Sorry for the stream of conscience, just trying to get all my thoughts in order.

Anyone have any thoughts? Is there anything I am missing?
The next part of this is Henry vs Marlin vs whatever else there is out there.

I had a 45-70 but like several others posters I downloaded the round because of recoil. Then it occurred to me "whats the point?" I can do the same thing with a 44 mag and use less powder and much cheaper brass so thats what I did. And I never regretted selling the 45-70. And the 45-70 isn't really a range toy. At least not for me. If you already load 44 mag then get a 44 mag lever gun.

But of all the lever actions I own the 357 mag Marlin is my hands down favorite. If I could only own one rifle this would be it. Followed by the 30-30s I own. Another favorite round of mine. f you just have to have a 45 caliber then look for a 45 Colt lever gun. Marlin is making them and the reports on Marlinowners is very positive on them.

But there is no such thing as a bad lever action.
 
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I had a 45-70 but like several others posters I downloaded the round because of recoil. Then it occurred to me "whats the point?" I can do the same thing with a 44 mag and use less powder and much cheaper brass so thats what I did. And I never regretted selling the 45-70. And the 45-70 isn't really a range toy. At least not for me. If you already load 44 mag then get a 44 mag lever gun.

But of all the lever actions I own the 357 mag Marlin is my hands down favorite. If I could only own one rifle this would be it. Followed by the 30-30s I own. Another favorite round of mine. f you just have to have a 45 caliber then look for a 45 Colt lever gun. Marlin is making them and the reports on Marlinowners is very positive on them.

But there is no such thing as a bad lever action.
I agree, I never hear loading black powder as the solution to taming the beast. It does but the cleaning effort must be such a turnoff that it's not even talked about.
 
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