"Ideal Lever Rifle"

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I love the Marlin 1895 Cowboy like cpt-t spoke of. 9 rounds of 45/70. I don't know if its still available, but I was under the impression that Puma made a .500S&W Mag lever gun. I never could get into spitzers with a lever gun (I won't even try the lever revolutions). Nothing wrong with the box fed levers, I just like the idea of bolt actions for those things.
 
I'm real fond of my 336C in 35 Rem with peep sights, but I don't know about it being a 300 yard combination.

For deer, if you can hit them at that range they should go down with either Core-Lokts or Hornady Leverevolution rounds. I don't think I'd have much confidence on anything bigger, or very much further away though.
 
I like the 338 ME idea, I've just never seen one. I like the idea of extending the tube as well... But if the rifles are rare, the ammo doesn't exist out here either...

Love the ideas,
Greg
 
The 338 Marlin Express another reinvention of the wheel lol. compare the ballistics to the 348 Winchester introduced in 1936. either one is capable of putting 1500 ft lbs out to 300 yards with Hornady 200gr FTX. I just wouldn't want to have to shoot my 348 at everything It kicks to much to be "fun". A 35 rem would do most of what you ask but it's really not a 300 yd round. My 1895 Winchester in 30-40 Krag is a nice 300 yard proposition and a great hunting rifle but surely lacks the fun factor that a pistol caliber gun does.
 
ExAgoradzo: I can`t belive I did that. When you get old and fat you are just in the way. My 1985 CB Marlin is a 45/70 cal and has a 26 inch barrel. And the load I menchioned is very comfortable, I can shoot it several times with out any problems with recoil. I am getting more recoil sineativy all the time. But I have killed several Hog and a couple of deer with this load. My Son shoots the Cor-bon loads and other hot loads thru his 1985 CB Marlin, but they just kick me to hard now.
ken
 
ss marlin 1895 45/70 16-1/2 inch bbl
Click to expand...

I think that you're close. My guide gun is blued, with a 16 1/2 inch ported barrel. it really does help with recoil, but sure is rough on you're hearing.
 
I like the 338 ME idea, I've just never seen one. I like the idea of extending the tube as well... But if the rifles are rare, the ammo doesn't exist out here either...
Click to expand...

My LGS does have the Hornady ammo for it and the .308 in stock.... The .308 is more available right now, but Marlin still lists the .338 on there web site!

And Mavracr it is actually producing 1762 ft/lb @ 300 yards @ 1992 fps .... it is still just under 1500 at 400 yards @ 1471 ft/lbs and 1820 fps .... Hornady did do the homework when they created the round designed for a Lever rifle.

Actually I guess you can say that they reinvented what went into the wheel of sorts.. because the invention of levorlution ammunition did in fact increase the power of a Marlin/Winchester 30/30 by 57% ....That is enormous improvement by just buying a box of ammunition!

Standard Federal Premium 30/30 1399 fps and 652 ft lb energy at 300 yards with -26.7 inch drop
Hornady Leverlution FTX 30/30 1699 fps and 1025 ft lb energy at 300 yards with -12.10 inch drop

Just that ammo alone makes my old 336 about what the OP was searching for in the first place in my opinion.... but I really wanna shoulder one of those .338's ... :cool:
 
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I have a lot of lever guns, some with hammers and others with out. My all time favorite deer gun would be the 1957 .308 Savage 99F with a 4x Lyman Perma Center scope. The gun is light at 7.5 pounds with the scope and can do about 1.5 MOA with the right loads. It is the middle 99 pictured. ;)
 
When I was a kid, one of my friend's father had two Sako Finnwolf lever actions, consecutive serial numbers, in .243 and .308. He let me hunt deer with the .243 and it was the smoothest lever I ever shot. As I recall, it was pretty accurate too. The bluing was like baked on black glass.
 
It may not be the ideal rifle for you, but my dream lever rifle is a Winchester M92 (or the Marlin equivalent), reworked to handle the 45 ACP cartridge. I prefer 24 or 26" barrels so even with a half magazine, it will hold a lot! Too bad it would cost so much to build one.
 
My Marlin 336 is in .30.30 cal. In my area of Texas growing up it was that or a bolt action .30.06.that was 30 years ago. Our stands were a 2x6 nailed in a tree fork. I have heard that 30.30 have taken more dear than any other cartridge . Might be old info now. I still have my Marlin use depending where I hunt, and will pass it down to my son. Our shooting is 100yards or less, wooded areas with some clearings. I have other things to shoot long distance. Nistoliga former black powder round, and my dad passed it on to me.
 
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I love the BLR, have had one in .270 win and .308. They are very nice shooting guns, with very good handling characteristics. They however do not have great triggers, and with the longer action are not as smooth or as nice in handling as the Win 94 or the Marlin 336 in 30-30. The BLR is really a compromise between a good bolt gun and the traditional lever gun. The main reason I don't still own my BLRs is that for long range shooting my bolt guns are just better, and for a quick handling brush gun my 336 and 94 are both better.

I also love the savage, but do think that the ole 30-30 lever gun, in either win or marlin flavor (take your pick), is pretty much the perfect lever action.
 
When I went through this same exact myself I settled on a Marlin 30-30 lever action. With the Hornady Leverevolution ammo it is a solid 200 yard rifle which is as long as I feel taking in a hunting situation. The BLRs are nice as well is you want the 308 or 30-06 round. Really can't go wrong with any of the ones I've seen posted. All good rifles.
 
How about the Winchester Model 88 in .308? Compact design handles beautifully and is accurate. Downside is the mag only holds 5 rounds. Then again that's about all my shoulder will handle anyway.:eek:

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