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

OLDE RETIRED COASTIE said:
where do you live to see all these lever guns, around here the most seen rifle is a 243 bolt action,
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Locally its hit or miss. For about 10 years I couldn't find any decent lever guns locally. Then those six popped up in the last two years, and like a fiend I bought them all as I saw them. Online, they come and go, usually off the radar on a smaller auction site or online store.
 
I have lever guns by Winchester, Marlin, Savage, and Rossi in 357, 44, 444, 45-70 and 308. The one I let get away was a new, in the box, JM, no safety, Marlin 357. No idea what I was thinking. I still have my rebarrelled 1892 Winchester in 357 but it is a 24", crescent butt rifle. I prefer a carbine but this was mine and my brothers which we had made up about 1965. Nostalgia.
 
Just about anything will get you to 150yds and there are tons of options. My first choice for such purposes is going to be a pistol cartridge rifle (or the pistol length WCF's for the hair splitters). The 1873's from Uberti or Miroku are right nice. Mine is a .38-40. If they're not gonna wear an optic, they all get a peep sight.

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The 1892's are awesome. Tidy little robust action, stronger than any of the Marlins. I also have two Marlin 94 .44's but no pics.

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The Winchester 94 is my favorite for rifle cartridges. Like this Legendary Frontiersmen .38-55.

Winchester%2094%20Legendary%20Frontiersmen%2001.jpg


And this 1953 .30-30 carbine.

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ThomasT said:
I just got off of gunbroker looking at lever action 30-30 rifles and all the prices are crazy for them. I would really like one of the new Ruger built guns but there is no way I am going to shell out $1500-$2000 for one. And there are very few for sale. Even beater Winchesters are running $800 to $900 for guns made in the 70s and 80s. The same guns I had a standing offer for in the 80s of $100 for Winchesters and Marlins. And I bought a bunch of them too.

I never had a Marlin that was a bad shooter. Everyone one of them would group between 1.5 and 2.5 inches at 100 yards. Most time I shot them with open sights and Remington 170gr Express green box ammo. I wish I had of kept at least half of them.

I haven't heard much positive about the Rossi 30-30s. But I haven't seen one in person either so they may be better than I think. As mentioned here earlier and on a couple of other sites lever actions seem to be very popular now. Maybe people are losing their love affairs with ARs and other battler guns. Who knows.
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The henry 30-30 is the easiest to find and is priced better than some today. Rossi 95 is in the same price range but harder to find. The Winchesters and Ruger Marlins are over priced and unobtainium. All except the Win are side eject.

I put hands on a Win 94 in 45C with a 24" barrel a year or so back. I would have bought it if it had not had a rebound hammer safety on it.
 
If wanting a classic lever action in a heavier straight wall cartridge there is the new 360 buckhammer. Similar to the old 38-55/375 win but has a .359 bullet. A 50kpsi load w/ around 2100ft# and a 200 grain bullet. Based on the 30-30 case it works in 94 size rifles but a nice recoil pad is suggested. Henry makes in the steel reciever lever gun.

May be a good alternitive to the 45-70 in areas straight cases are required for hunting and you want a levergun instead of a 350 legend type rig.
 
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Forgot to mention, I did handle one of the new Rossi .30-30's a couple weeks ago and was heartily impressed. Not necessarily pertinent to this thread, as it was the black "tacticool" version but I very much liked the combination of features with the extended rail and factory peep sights. I'll probably trade into one. I have to wonder if Marlin stocks wouldn't fit.
 
CraigC said:
Forgot to mention, I did handle one of the new Rossi .30-30's a couple weeks ago and was heartily impressed. Not necessarily pertinent to this thread, as it was the black "tacticool" version but I very much liked the combination of features with the extended rail and factory peep sights. I'll probably trade into one. I have to wonder if Marlin stocks wouldn't fit.
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According to this Marlin parts will fit. This is the first review I have seen on this gun. It now has my attention.

Review of Rossi R95 30-30Win 16.5

Review of Rossi R95 30-30Win 16.5
1895gunner.com 1895gunner.com
 
Found this on gunbroker. The Rossi R95 with 20" barrel for $750. I try not to patronize GB but wanted to show what the street price may be on these rifles.

Rossi R95 Walnut Black 30-30 Win 20in 953030201 - Lever Action Rifles at GunBroker.com : 1036989225

Buy Rossi R95 Walnut Black 30-30 Win 20in 953030201: GunBroker is the largest seller of Lever Action Rifles Rifles Guns & Firearms All: 1036989225
www.gunbroker.com

Even cheaper.

Rossi R95 30-30 Lever Aciton Rifle NEW RELEASE! 953030201 - Lever Action Rifles at GunBroker.com : 1039047114

Buy Rossi R95 30-30 Lever Aciton Rifle NEW RELEASE! 953030201: GunBroker is the largest seller of Lever Action Rifles Rifles Guns & Firearms All: 1039047114
www.gunbroker.com
 
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.
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About a dozen or more years ago I came across that very same rifle at a gun show. Since it was used it had no real collector's value but would make for a decent deer hunting gun. Decided I would look around a bit when down the next aisle I spotted something that I wanted more...a mint, LNIB Rossi M92! It was the short barrel version with the large loop lever action. And if that wasn't enough it was chambered in my favorite cartridge, .45 Colt!

Once I had my Rossi I still had enough for one more gun and went back to check out the Canadian commemorative carbine but got pleasantly side tracked when I found a new Beretta Stampede, also in .45 Colt, on the very same table with the Winchester on it. Went with the Beretta instead of the Winchester but every now and then I still think about that carbine from time to time.
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I just went by my local Academy store and they had a Rossi R95 on the rack. Priced $799. I asked if they would price match with Buds and they said maybe. It was a nice looking gun. Way better than I expected. Now I have to control myself and give it some thought.
 
I suppose that “Western” means different things to different people.
Most of us grew up watching the cowboy operas on Saturday TV. Gene Autry, Roy Rodger’s, Gunsmoke, Paladin, and of course The Lone Ranger!

However, the old west didn’t end with the Indian wars.
My two favorites are The Wild Bunch, and Death Hunt.
The wild bunch featured the Winchester M97 Trench Gun, the M1911, and the 1903 Springfield. And of course, a Maxim Machine Gun. The Mexicans were armed with Remington rolling blocks in 7x57 and Mausers!

Death Hunt with Charles Bronson featured a Savage M99 in either .30/30 Savage, or possibly .303Savage, or even .300Savage.
Neither are definitely the stereotype Westerns with M1892’s and Colt SAA’s.
Being a left dominant eye shooter, I’ve got a great affinity for Lever Acions.
I’ve got two Marlin .338’s, and a .308Marlin Express. Both are definitely beyond 250yd capable rifles.
I too have a Browning BLR in .358Win. Definitely a hard hitter! However, the fly in the ointment is it’s got a TERRIBLE trigger! My Marlins have mostly been massaged to have 3-4lb crisp triggers. Several will hurt the feelings of some better bolt action rifles for accuracy!
 
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l like the 1886 big bore rifles in 45/70 or 45/90. Don't forget a Marling 336 in a 35 Remington caliber, or the 45 long colt out of a rifle can get to speeds of 1400 fps with a 300 grain bullet. Henry, Winchester, Mirouku, Marlin, Uberti, Cimarron, Pedersoli, all make what you want.
 
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