Abel
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Best lever action rifle?
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Maverick223
Member
Great rifle, but I always thought they were butt ugly.
Tenn870
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that savage may be one of the ugliest guns I have ever seen
Calibre44
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1895ss
Member
Tenn870, I would take a Marlin over any Winchester, Browning, Mossberg etc. Pick up a Winchester for example, and work the lever and then pick up a Marlin and do the same. The Marlin action is so much smoother and isn't sloppy like a Winchester. I have 3 Marlin levers, a model 1895 in 45-70 and a model 336 RC in .35 rem and a model 39a 22rimfire and out of all my other rifles, Remington, Winchester etc, in bolt action, pump and a Browning lever, the Marlins are by far my favorite. I have also found the Marlins to be every bit/more accurate as any other make. JMHO
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Abel
Member
Amen!
I have and love a pre-safety 336 in .35 Rem, but reading this thread, I get the impression the OP wants a traditional "cowboy-look" to his lever-purchase. The 336, wonderful as it is, doesn't do that, unless he's looking for something high-dollar and/or collectable. A pre-64 Winchester 94 I would also put in that category of "too-nice-for-a-pasture-truck rifle".
That's where the Mossberg 464 comes in. I bought four new in October of 2008 for $350 each. One for Dad, one for my brother, I kept the two that had consecutive serial numbers. They're good rifles that I don't mind using and carrying in a window rack of a pickup or leaning-up behind the seat of a cab-tractor. They're a little stiff-cycling for the first 200 rounds or so, but that goes away. I don't like the tang-doohickey that you must depress with the lever before it will fire, but you get used to it.
So... If you want a utility-lever that's not a crossbolt 336 or 94, or something that's really too nice to beat-up on the farm, the 464 is a good choice.
Les
That's where the Mossberg 464 comes in. I bought four new in October of 2008 for $350 each. One for Dad, one for my brother, I kept the two that had consecutive serial numbers
. They're good rifles that I don't mind using and carrying in a window rack of a pickup or leaning-up behind the seat of a cab-tractor. They're a little stiff-cycling for the first 200 rounds or so, but that goes away. I don't like the tang-doohickey that you must depress with the lever before it will fire, but you get used to it.So... If you want a utility-lever that's not a crossbolt 336 or 94, or something that's really too nice to beat-up on the farm, the 464 is a good choice.
Les
igordon81
Member
It breaks my heart to hear people call the Savage "ugly". The Model 99 is one of the finest lever guns around. Partnered with the .300 Savage, the list of things that gun can't do is short.
Maverick223
Member
In my defense I did say it was a great rifle...just not great looking.
Well, fellows, I am certainly no "expert", but I own and shoot several kinds of lever-guns. I guess I would have to say the Winchester 88 is the prettiest, but it has one of the worst trigger pulls on any rifle. I do like it well enough to put a custom Turkish walnut stock on my .308 WCF. But when I go coyote hunting, I reach for an old Savage 99 take-down in .250-3000. When I go deer hunting in the brush, I reach for a Marlin 336-SC in .35 Remington. And when I need to stop something in it's tracks, I reach for my Marlin 1895 in .45-70! Heck, they're all GREAT rifles, and just like single-malt Scotch, each one has it's own taste and beauty!
gunsandreligion
Member
its not ugly, the lever just makes it look a little off balance without a tube or a hammer.
aka108
Member
My Son owns a Savage 99. I think it's beautiful and the rotary mag is the cat's rear end.
Because of different applications, there is no "best" -- but there are many great choices.
For hunting big stuff in close country, hard to beat a Marlin 1895 in one of its several versions.
For deer-size and smaller game 150 yds and in, or paper punching -- 30/30 -- in one of several. The Marlin 336 (several versions) are great, some people like Winchester 94s but that's only available used so you have to know about used gun shopping...
And I have to say I really like the looks of the Mossberg 464. I am really seriously thinking of buying one.
For hunting big stuff in close country, hard to beat a Marlin 1895 in one of its several versions.
For deer-size and smaller game 150 yds and in, or paper punching -- 30/30 -- in one of several. The Marlin 336 (several versions) are great, some people like Winchester 94s but that's only available used so you have to know about used gun shopping...
And I have to say I really like the looks of the Mossberg 464. I am really seriously thinking of buying one.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Find a good used 99 Savage in .300 Savage or .308 Winchester.
hardluk1
member
Our local indoor range has a octigon barreled 303 rifle version of the savage 99 for sale. Nice but well worn finish and a price of 750 with 2 box's of ammo. I would love to have it but not at that price.
Vern Humphrey
Member
That's about twice what it's worth -- particularly a .303 Savage, which is strictly a handloading proposition, with brass hard to find.
KodiakBeer
member
Actually (and I'll brook no arguments on this!), the best lever gun is the Browning BLR. It comes in about a dozen modern calibers from .223 to .300 Mag to .450 Marlin. They have take-down models and lightweight aluminum frame models. They're magazine fed, so you can reload as quick as it takes to drop a mag and slap a new one in.
One might argue aesthetics - that the Winchester (or whatever) is more stylish, but for pure function, accuracy and practicality, the BLR can't be beat.
One might argue aesthetics - that the Winchester (or whatever) is more stylish, but for pure function, accuracy and practicality, the BLR can't be beat.
SwampWolf
Member
I do!
IMO, the BLR is one ugly rifle. No quibbles with the more pertinent things you argue.
Maverick223
Member
I agree, it is ugly and doesn't have good ergonomics compared to other lever rifles (at least for me). It is also prone to failure if it is not kept clean, due to the "geared" operating system, but that isn't an issue for most folks, and is part of the reason that the action is so smooth.
Kentucky_Rifleman
Member
I picked up a nice Savage 99 in .243 this weekend. I haven't shot it yet, but I traded into the gun for 225.00, so I'm not hurt.
The wood is the stamped checkering and the bluing is worn around the bottom of the receiver, but I LOVE the rifle. It's the smoothest lever I've ever racked.
While I realize I'm in the minority, I think the old Savage is just beautiful.
It certainly doesn't look like a Winchester or Marlin lever, and I like that. I see Wins and Marlins everywhere, but my Savage is a different animal altogether.
And whoever wrote, "the rotary mag is the cat's rear end" is spot on. It's fluid and smooth - nothing short of genius.
If this thing shoots anything like I expect, I may have to take up collecting the 99s in different calibers.
All of this comes from the original #1 Remington fan!
KR
The wood is the stamped checkering and the bluing is worn around the bottom of the receiver, but I LOVE the rifle. It's the smoothest lever I've ever racked.
While I realize I'm in the minority, I think the old Savage is just beautiful.
It certainly doesn't look like a Winchester or Marlin lever, and I like that. I see Wins and Marlins everywhere, but my Savage is a different animal altogether.
And whoever wrote, "the rotary mag is the cat's rear end" is spot on. It's fluid and smooth - nothing short of genius.
If this thing shoots anything like I expect, I may have to take up collecting the 99s in different calibers.
All of this comes from the original #1 Remington fan!
KR
Abel
Member
Count me in the minority as well....they are fine lookin' guns!
Leaky Waders
Member
I think every American should own or at least shoot a 30-30 lever action and a colt SAA in 45 long colt at some point in their life.
As far as the best...it's hard to beat the fit and finish of a Browning. Uberti makes some classic levers too. If I got Marlin, I'd strive to get one in the chamber you like with ballard rifling.
If you search youtube for hickok45 you'll find a very nice review and comparison of some lever actions. I like his history lesson (and shooting) of the 1886. If you search for paco kelly and lever guns you'll find some break down of different models by strength etc.
Right now I have a 9422, a newer production 1895 in 3006, and a beretta/uberti 1873 in 45 long colt. We put 200 rounds through the 1873 last Saturday...we killed a paper box and a tree trunk for sure. My 14 year old didn't want to put that gun down.
I recommend looking for an older model lever or one by browning or uberti without the features of tang or cross bolt safeties and rebounding hammers. Right now i'm sorta kinda looking at 1886's and 1871's right now - classic looks in big calibers...what's not to like?
As far as the best...it's hard to beat the fit and finish of a Browning. Uberti makes some classic levers too. If I got Marlin, I'd strive to get one in the chamber you like with ballard rifling.
If you search youtube for hickok45 you'll find a very nice review and comparison of some lever actions. I like his history lesson (and shooting) of the 1886. If you search for paco kelly and lever guns you'll find some break down of different models by strength etc.
Right now I have a 9422, a newer production 1895 in 3006, and a beretta/uberti 1873 in 45 long colt. We put 200 rounds through the 1873 last Saturday...we killed a paper box and a tree trunk for sure. My 14 year old didn't want to put that gun down.
I recommend looking for an older model lever or one by browning or uberti without the features of tang or cross bolt safeties and rebounding hammers. Right now i'm sorta kinda looking at 1886's and 1871's right now - classic looks in big calibers...what's not to like?
LeontheProfessional
Member
I really don't think you can beat the Marlin. My dad has one and with all my AR, AK and other evil guns that I have shot it is one of my favorites.
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