Lever action rifle - fast action, western in appearance, suitable for deer hunting, in a more ubiquitous caliber, and of a quality build. Which one?

[3Crows]

Maybe my wife will allow me a beater and I will embellish like these gents:

All Tacked Up

Using brass or iron furniture tacks was one of American Indians’ favorite ways of dressing up their firearms. Decorations on firearms and other

truewestmagazine.com

I think a 336 Texan would look fine with tack decorations, but, no, I will not tack-ify, my Texan. It is too nice. Maybe I will buy one of those Henry Zamak golden things and tack-ify it. But I would have to find plated Brass-lite tacks to match the plated Brass-lite receiver .

 

[Speedo66]

Browning BLR, pick your caliber.

 

[d2wing]

Love my Winchester 94 in 30-30. A Browning BLR gives you more powerful modern options and is really a very nice rifle.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The 336 never had a stamping, 336T, to my knowledge, and I am likely wrong about everything so feel free to set us all straight

As far as I know that is correct. Many folks call normal Texans 336Ts however.

The closest that ever came was the 336TS which ran from 1983-1988 I think.

The second closest was 444T which as an early 444 Marin.

 

[Show Me]

Lever action rifles is a society. Good people

 

[Skylerbone]

How about an 1873? 45LC is easy enough to find and IMO still enough for deer at typical lever gun distance. This is one of the Miroku builds purchased this year.

 

[jmr40]

There are somewhere around 14 million Marlin and Winchester lever guns in 30-30 out there. No reason to make this complicated. IMO they are all over priced for what you get; new and used. But if that is what you want you're going to have to pay to play.

 

[WestKentucky]

I had a ridiculously nice Winchester 357 and even though I quadrupled my money on it I still regret letting it go. It will be replaced soon with a far inferior version because that gun today would easily bring 2 grand. I’m definitely a Marlin guy, always have been, always will be, but the pistol cal winchesters are a work of art. If you choose 30-30 then it’s definitely a 336, but if you go pistol cal then go Winchester (or copy thereof)

 

[1948CJ2A]

Browning BLR, pick your caliber.

While I don't own one, I really like what they offer. Box mag so you can use pointed ammo. Lightweight options. Cool chamberings! You can still get one chambered in 358 Win according to their website. Straight and curved stock options. Wood and blued steel

 

[Sistema1927]

Ubiquitous?

I am guessing that pretty much any well stocked gun store is going to have a rack with used 336's and 1894's.

 

[codytrucker]

I don't know if they fit your needs or not , but the Winchester '95 and Savage 99 both date back to the 1890's and saw use in the "real west" . With peep sights they are both very capable at ranges under 200 yards , and a little more powerful then 30-30 . But 30-30 is a great deer round .

 

[goon]

NOTHING ever made feels like a 94 . Angle eject with 2x7 scope is how I roll. Now my 336 compact and 1895 45 70 are keepers but they feel fat compared.

That’s true. A vintage Winchester 94 is a little clacky and rattley compared to a Marlin of the same era, but they do handle fast. The nicest handling lever action I’ve used was a 99 Savage from the 1920’s, but it’d be too valuable to take out hunting much today. And a 94 Winchester still cycles a little smoother.

 

[Rodfac]

Either of these will do; the Marlin is a .30-30 with a 2.5x Leupold scope mounted and I'd consider 150 yards as the limit for this combination. I've had this Marlin "Texan" for two decades now, and it's a sure killer here 'bouts. Most of our shots are inside 125 yds and the 2.5x gives us :30 minutes add'l time each hunting day, with its light gathering properties.

The other is a Savage 99 built in '57, scoped with a similar vintage Weaver 4x and chambered for the .300 Savage. This caliber is good to 200 yds+ and most 99's I've shot were 1.5 MOA accurate. It's a winning combination that'll do for most anything in the lower 48 and the ammunition is normally readily available.

I hunt almost exclusively with lever guns each fall here in KY and the Savage below is the one I carry for our soy bean field stand that ranges out to 250 yds. I posted this pic in another thread but it's applicable to this one for sure. Not as 'Western' looking as a Winchester or Marlin lever action, the Savage 99 is generally a lot more accurate.

The 3rd Pic is of one of my son's pals (guy in the middle) with his first deer, and that .30-30 Marlin of mine. Best Regards, Rod

​

 

[silicosys4]

Winchester 1894. New lever gun prices have gone so bonkers you can easily find a nice pre 64 winchester for less than a new Marlin or Rossi even.
I've bought 2 in the last year or so,
This '41 was $800 in an LGS,

This '49 was also $800.

If you want something truly "old west" that can take deer out to 150 yards, I'd go with a modern 1873 in .357 magnum, or even an 1886. Both are from the "old west", both were used extensively in the "old west", and both have reasonably slick actions, particularly the 1886.

 

[jeepnik]

Bigger bullets kill better. Ruger/Marlin 1895 in 45-70.

 

[hawg]

I prefer the Winchester 94 over the Marlin but purely for aesthetic reasons. Either one in 30-30 would work.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Rodfac, those are two fine looking lever rifles there, but. that 99 really is a slick looking rig. Very nice.

 

[d2wing]

If you can find one, a Winchester 88 is a great rifle. I watched my buddy shot a running deer a 1/4 mile away with one in .284 W.

 

[.45Coltguy]

If you can find one, a Winchester 88 is a great rifle. I watched my buddy shot a running deer a 1/4 mile away with one in .284 W.

IF, you can learn the damn trigger on an 88. Horrible triggers.

 

[doubleh]

The 99's have never looked that westernish to me but I had a life long cowboy uncle that used one. 300 Savage caliber if I remember correctly. He was one of the ranchers the government booted off their land in the Tularosa Basin to build White Sands Missle Range. Despite it's looks it got him a deer every year. For years he had a special deer hunting horse too, a buckskin and of course named Buck. Also because that is what he did every time when saddled except in hunting season. He said he was worthless for working cows but a wonder at hunting deer and loved it. No morning or unexpected rodeo when hunting. All business during hunting season and spotted many deer for him. Slip that old 99 in the scabbard, mount up, and go hunting.

 

[hdbiker]

I have a JM marked 30AS in 3030. I like the new safety, fast, accurate, great carry rifle.

 

[Bazoo]

Many guns have a western feel, I think that the Winchester 94 has it the most. While it didn't see a lot of use in the winning of the west, it was one of the most popular guns right from its inception, and was used at the end of the west until the whole country was settled, right up until today. It was all the rage when the hot new cartridges (30-30 and 25-35) came out in 1895, and of course it had plenty of followers in it's original 2 "old reliable" cartridges, the 32-40 and 38-55. It's light and fast handling. It digests dirt and dust pretty well and is easily maintained on the trial.

The Marlin 1894 has a good amount of western feel too, this one being a Cowboy Limited model with 24" barrel chambered in 357 Magnum caliber. The original 1894s saw service in the west in limited numbers before it was officially closed, but like the Wincehster 94, remained a trusted companion as civilization crept into all the small towns and overtook the remaining wilderness.

The Winchester 92 sure feels western, but only if you drop the safety and convert it to half cock notch, like this Turnbull finished version. The 92 does have a lot of western appeal, and having a takedown version brings visions of riding on a train to reach the west.

The same that can be said about the 92 applies for newly made 1886 Winchesters, they just don't feel right with rebounding hammer and tang safeties. But chambered in 45-70, they do have a lot to offer, history wise.

I think that the gun is only half the equation, but the caliber is important too. A caliber with history is always interesting to me. 357 Magnum has plenty of it, and occasionally you find original 1892 rifles that have been converted to the caliber. This is interesting in its own right because ranchers and cowboys have always had an affinity for custom guns, and many were sent to the west and have been made since. I'd love to find an original with a long-ago 357 conversion.

I guess my vote goes for the Winchester 94 in 30-30 first, and second choice for the Marlin 1894 in 357 Magnum.

 

[Jim Watson]

A pistol gripped Marlin fits me the best. .30-30 is good.
Haunt the stores and sale sites, lots of deer guns for sale now that deer season is over.

 

[Tall]

Maybe 40 years ago I bought this Saddle Ring Carbine with 20" Octagonal barrel in 30 WCF. It is the 1967 Canadian Centennial version. At the time I think it was about $400 plus tax used. I still have it - a great rifle. I don't even mind the maple leaf engraving.

 

[OS/N]

I have an older Win 94 but have had several 336s and 94s over the years.

If I bought one today it would probably be the 336 classic but if SS is what you are looking for they offer the SBL but it comes with a grey stock. The rail could likely be removed.


Rossi offers a copy


Good luck finding either one in stock.