all around lever action rifle

[Rifleman 173]

I have a Marlin lever action in .44 magnum and I love it. It's just a neat little thing to have around the house and go shooting with from time to time. Can't go wrong with a .44 magnum and you can't go wrong with a lever action either. Put them together and you've got a winning combination.

 

[Kleanbore]

JKINGRPH, your point is well taken. The only Vetterli I have ever actually seen was a tubular magazine bolt action repeater with a feeding system very similar to the Henry and the Winchester '66, '73, and '76. It was called a ".41" rimfire.

My memory could well be faulty, but I am pretty sure I recall that Marie Sandoz described her father's rifle as a single shot. Can't find confirmation on the web and I no longer have the book, but I'm not sure I'm wrong. You will remember that the old Mauser '71 in 11MM started out as a single shot and evolved into a tubular magazine repeater. I seem to recall that the Vetterli evolved the same way. If you find out more let us know.

By the way, the owner of the Vetterli that I saw later had an 1876 Winchester in .45-60. i remember actually seeing the lead bullets arcing toward the target.

 

[KMD]

I have a Puma M92 454 Casull

 

[Cosmoline]

The Win 92 was never made in as large a number as the Win 94, but for handgun cartridges it sets the benchmark. Faster than a '94 and just as well designed. The Win 94 is a fantastic rifle in itself, too.

You should consider the Savage 99. In some ways these were the perfected levergun. They allow spitzer bullets and have a much stronger action than most others. The Win 95 is equally strong and will also shoot spitzers, but the 99's are handier than a Win 95 and considerably less expensive. They were made up until the end of the last century in a wide array of incarnations.

The Marlin 336 action is probably the most popular today, and is about the last man standing of the classics. It emerged from a later incarnation of the Marlin company and forms the basis for not just the 336 but the 95 as well. Its drawback is the extra pound of weight and somewhat slower action.

 

[AStone]

all around lever action rifle

But wait: isn't that redundant?

"All round rifle" = "lever action rifle".

 

[Clipper]

Lets see...
Max accurate range 300 yards.
Plinking.
Coyotes.
'Chucks.
Lever action.

Simple...BLR in .243. The BLR, unlike any other lever action , is so accurate because it's actually a turnbolt design. .243 because .308 is a bit of overkill for your ststed purpose, so why live with the extra recoil and muzzle blast when you don't have to? You will have to pay more for a nice used BLR than most of the others, but after you handle one, you'll know why.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Mmm, yeah, the BLR is sweet. I agree that a BLR in .243 is arguably THE all-around rifle.

 

[Cohibra45]

I've only got a few levers...

1) Marlin 1895SS pre hammer block: 45/70 22" barrel with full length mag tube.
2) Browning 1886 SRC: 20" barrel great wood and excellent bluing 45/70.
3) Rossi Puma '92 stainless: 20" barrel good wood 45 Colt (to go with my 3 Rugers and 1 S&W revolvers in 45 Colt)
4) Winchester '94 (1972 unfortunately) great condition 30/30
5) Savage '99 in 308 (detachable mag, not rotary). Bought new in 1988, wears a Nikon 2-7...great all around gun.

Now to pick one as the 'all around best lever'...can't be done. If I had to leave the house with only one rifle and one handgun??? I don't know if I can make that choice.

Kelly

BTW, if you need parts for your '99 Savage, the company can still repair them. Don't ask how I know!!!

 

[MMCSRET]

I agree with the BLR line of thought with this 1 after thought: Have you ever completely disassembled you BLR for cleaning and then had the "learning" process of retiming the rack and pinion? believe me it will fire out of battery. I've had less trouble retiming Cat diesel fuel systems in the field than I did that Browning.

 

[Shawnee]

" the BLR is sweet. I agree that a BLR in .243 is arguably THE all-around rifle. "


That's a major High-5 on that thought. Bought one for one of my sons years ago and haven't been able to steal it from him yet.

 

[BoneDigger]

There is some very good advice here in this thread and there really isn't a whole lot more I can add. But, guys you need to consider that he isn't really asking what is the best all-around lever action round, as much as he is asking "what is the best all around lever action round FOR MY SITUATION." He has stated that he won't shoot more than 150 yards, and probably less in most situations. He isn't shooting large animals, with the coyote being the biggest (unless a hog wonders by, but this seems to be an afterthough for him).

So, I'll reiterate... The .357 is readily available in any sporting goods store. There are good bullet combinations available for taking either large animals, small animals, or just plinking (.38 special). And, yes the .357 will take out a hog as well.

The 30-30 is a great round, and I am not knocking it at all. But the .357 has less recoil, costs less, and is a blast to shoot. I can't see how a 30-30 is going to do better. Yes, it would be more effective on hogs, but that .357 will do the job as well. Hogs are EASY to sneak up on if you want to get close.

Marlin 1894 in .357 with a peep sight is HARD to beat! FOR HIS SITUATION.

Todd

 

[AStone]

I gotta agree with BoneDigger: .30-30 is probably overkill for 76Shuv's situation since he's not hunting deer, etc.

If you're going to go Marlin in this case, I'd go with 1894C in .357 mag/.38 spl. Far less recoil, less cost, adequate to the task. .38 spl will take rabbits and other game just fine.

Pay attention to Shawnee's .357 mag trajectory data in post 34 and you should be just fine.

Other levers like the BLR in smaller calibers make as much sense. Just a matter of finding the right one.

I'm a Marlin guy. I own three levers: 336A, 1894C and 39A. I stayed with all Marlin because I like the familiarity of actions. (Yes, I'm a creature of habit that likes to simply things as much as possible.)
_________

One last point that has little to do with levers. As a biologist, I suggest that if you're concerned with rabbits & rats, don't shoot the coyotes. You'll likely just make your rabbit population worse.

 

[Titus]

In case it hasn't been mentioned yet, 1894c.

 

[scrat]

winchester 30-30

or like what was mentioned a henry in 45 colt.

 

[goon]

In rethinking, I also support the .357.
Seems like the right tool for the OP's uses and it honestly is a very good all-around rifle in its own right.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

new wrinkle

Thanks all, new wrinkle
I was out four wheeling today with a buddy who loves all things hunting so I asked him if he miight have a levergun in his collection. He does have a 30-30. So I mentioned I would like to try it out just to see what shooting a 30-30 is like. This led to a discussion aobut my newfound interest in leverguns. He said he'd sell me his if I liked it. I was holding my breath hoping he was going to say Marlin, Winchester or something along those lines. He said it's a Ted Williams.

Forgive my ignorance but where does Ted Williams fit into the big picture?

 

[Shawnee]

76...

Am not 100% certain but I think the "Ted Williams" was made by Marlin - a cheapie copy of the 336 - to be marketed by Sears. Am thinking it is probably 25-30 yrs. old but, since I haven't been in a Sears in five years - I could be wrong.

 

[Kleanbore]

" Back in the day," Jack O'Connor wrote articles about the "all around rifle" and compared the .270 with the .30-'06. In those days the .30-30 was generally disparaged in print. The bullets were flat-nosed, in those days.

For lever actions, Jack and others touted the Savage 99 in .243, .250, .300, and .308.

Because of this thread and the advent of the Hornady flextip bullet, I've been out looking at the Marlin 336. Looked at 24 inch today. Didn't like the stock color but haven't decided.

In my uneducated and humble opinion, the Hornady invention may well have moved the tubular magazine rifle "up a notch".

I must say that I've never seen the .357 described as a varmint cartridge, but who am I to say?

 

[Cohibra45]

Looking over on GunBroker.com, Ted Williams is a Sears model made by Winchester. If it is in good shape, it will be GTG...of course, it also depends on how much he is offering to sell it to you.

 

[goon]

My brother has an old Ted Williams.
It's a Winchester 94 knock off.
Overall, it's a decent gun and I don't have anything against a Winchester 94 but I do like the Marlin better.
I'd say shoot the Ted Williams a little and see what you think and how much your buddy wants for it.
Then go to a couple gun shops and handle some Marlins. Look over a 336 and a 1894 and see what fits you better. See what the prices look like in your area.
Some like the Winchester better - they are a little lighter and the action feels a little different when you work it. Some like that, some don't. I also think the Winchester has a little less drop in the stock than a Marlin. They just handle a little different.
Some like the Marlin better - they're a little heavier but feel more solid. The Marlin has a solid top on the reciever so it's easier to mount a scope or reciever sight. They're also still in production.
You'll have to make the call.

 

[AStone]

76, regardless of whether that Ted Williams is a good buy or not,
I still don't think the .30-30 is what you're looking for.

You're looking for a varmint rifle/plinker/general carry rifle.

.30-30 is a medium-sized game rifle, not a plinker/varmint gun.

It's got enough kick to discourage plinking,
and you don't need that much power for varmints.

Just my 2c.

 

[Shawnee]

Don't know if you're set on getting a centerfire but, given your stated criteria, "Hangtime's" suggestion of getting a Winchester 9422 in .22 magnum is definitely worth some consideration. Also, the new Henry lever rifles come in a .22 magnum model for about $350 or so. Ithaca made a .22 magnum lever-action at one time, too, and Browning may have also but either of those two might be hard to find.

And here is another distinct possibility... from Ruger...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=107570499


The .22 magnum is excellent to 100yds. and good to about 130-140 yds. - and offers plenty of extra power at closer ranges. Ammo is expensive compared to a regular .22lr but is cheap compared to any centerfire.

 

[AStone]

On my wish list: a Marlin lever gun in .22 mag.

 

[goon]

I personally find the recoil of the 30-30 to be kind of light, but Nematocyst is right about it being a pretty powerful round.
It's still throwing a 150 grain bullet at about 2300 feet per second. And it's loud.

But I'd still take the chance to try out a lever action 30-30 if you get it. Never turn down the chance to try out a new gun.

Also, never shot a .22 magnum but I did have a Winchester 94/22 Legacy .22 LR for awhile. It is one of the few guns that I regret selling. Very accurate with all the ammo I tried in it and reliable with almost everything.
As Shawnee points out, a good case can be made for the .22 magnum.
But in your situation, I'd probably still get the .357 because it's cooler.
And more versatile... Yeah... that's the justification... more versatile!
Or a Marlin 30-30 AND a bolt action .22 magnum (Marlin, Savage, or CZ). Bolt actions are usually a little less expensive so you could probably wiggle one of those and a used levergun into the budget.
And you get two guns, so you get...
You guessed it - Twice the versatility! Because we're all about the versatility.

OK - gotta stop now. I'm being a bad influence.

 

[Kleanbore]

Nematocyst is correct in saying that the .30-30 is a medium game rifle. By the same token, the .30-'06 is best for even larger game, but writers used to routinely point out that you could use 110 grain bullets on varmints (!), making it an "all around" rifle cartridge.

The .243, .244, .250 etc. were and are much better varmint rounds and would also suffice for medium game.

For rather populated areas, smaller, quieter rifles were and are usually called for. The first .22 centerfire I ever shot was a .22 K-Hornet low-wall Winchester single shot belonging to Townsend Whelen. I really wanted a Hornet or a .222 Remington but couldn't afford one. A gunsmith friend (who had taken our shooting group to the club where we met Col. Whelen) didn't like the Remington 722 and recommended a .22-250 on a small-ring Mauser action. He said that unlike the .220 Swift, the .22-250 could be "loaded down" quite well. That was not within my reach, but later I had him build a .257 Roberts. When I finally got a .22-250 they were available in factory rifles. I really like the cartridge. I've never shot a .223 but for somewhat shorter ranges that might be preferable.

You said "varmint control", and I don't recall "plinking/general carry." Purely for varmint control the above center-fires, or the .22WMR for shorter ranges, would probably be best for you, in my humble opinion, but the decision has to be yours.

I don't think the trajectory of the .357 would suit you very well for wood-chucks out to the edges of your property, based on what you've said. I think it's a short-range proposition for larger targets. Would be fun to shoot, though. Note however that the Hornady flex tip bullets for the .357 may color things a little, but I'm not convinced otherwise at this time.

Though not ideal for varmints, the .30-30 with Accelerator bullets might well suffice. Never tried them. The advantage is that you can use a Marlin 336 if that's what you want. If that's not your cup of tea and you still want a lever repeater, you have choices of the .22WMR for short range or the .22-250 in the BLR for longer range.

Back when writers spoke of the .30-'06 for varmints, the .30-30 was considered a short-range rifle, but based on the testimonials about the Hornady LEVERevolution ammunition, that seems to be a thing of the past. Perhaps someone with some experience with them could offer an opinion. I only "know" what I've read and seen on television.

By the way, I used to "plink" with a 6.5X55, a .30-40, a .30-'06, and a 7.92X57, but that's no longer possible around here because of population growth!

I saw a Henry .22WMR yesterday and liked it, but you've got me looking at Marlin .30-30 rifles, which I do not need! By the way, I do like the balance of the XLR with the longer barrel.

I hope you find this helpful.