Lever wars.

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I have a Marlin in the handbag not typing this with its an 1895. I'm happy with it, but I would say buy a Henry. Slicker action, prettier wood and already has XS ghost ring sights from factory on the 30-30 and 45-70.
 
I have a Marlin in the handbag not typing this with its an 1895. I'm happy with it, but I would say buy a Henry. Slicker action, prettier wood and already has XS ghost ring sights from factory on the 30-30 and 45-70.

Hand i'm not handbag.
 
I don't think any lever action rifle can top the Browning BLR. It's beautiful, it works, is superbly accurate, and it's chambered for serious hunting calibers, not that .30-30 isn't a good deer/hog caliber, just that .308 is better. :D Of course, the BLR isn't "traditional", but it's a helluva fine rifle. IMHO, it's a better rifle than the Savage 99 ever was. Lock up is via rotating bolt, accuracy rivals bolt guns.
 
I like the Henry rimfires but haven't tried their centerfire rifles. I do have a centerfire Rossi 92 in .357 and like it a lot.

For a 30-30 with open sights, I would look at the Henry. They make a nice one with a steel receiver, sling swivels and good ghost ring open sights. The fit and finish is likely to be much higher than a new Marlin.
 
winchester, or browning for me. i love marlins but im not brave enough to gamble with a new one and the potential headaches.
Henry?........ fix your marketing and maybe, untill then ill sooner purchase a reall "henry" one with ties and roots back to Tyler Henery, a Winchester.
 
I'll pick a pre 64 winchester 94; savage 99 ; or pre remington marlin .
I have personally had good service and durability with them.

Doc
 
I have a rossi that I really like. It's thin and feels good in the hand. I plan on getting a winchester one of these days just for iron sights.
 
Cool thing is you can find good used Marlins and Winnies all day long and probably a Browning too if you're patient.
 
As others have mentioned, the 30-30 is what the typical American thinks of when a man says deer rifle. That is slowly morphing into the bolt action rifles in an assortment of chamberings.

Did you quote this from a 1953 outdoor magazine or something? Around here bolt actions have been "the" deer rifle for over 40 years. No one thinks of 30-30 except as a historic novelty brought about by new forms of ammunition.

Agree with most points above on lever brands. I like my 336.
 
While I agree with many of MCgunner's points about the Browning BLR, there are a few issues which make me truly hate this rifle. The trigger comes from the factory truly sucking. That wouldn't be a problem if your hometown gunsmith could improve them, but they can't. Also, I'm used to accessing every part of all of my guns to give them a thorough periodic cleaning. This includes the bolt, trigger group, firing pin and firing pin channel. If there's a way for a mere mortal to do this with a Browning BLR, I haven't found it yet.
I've never handled a Finnwolf or Winchester 88. Are they more user-friendly as far as getting deep into the interior for cleaning?
 
Oddly enough, save high-end cowboy guns (Uberti, Cimarron, etc.), the highest quality ones are likely the Browning BLR, followed by Rossi, since Marlins tanked and Wins are no more. Marlins seem to be on the comeback though, and should overtake the top spot once again at some point. Henrys work well but ugh - that painted on finish on a zamack receiver....

Now OLD Marlins and old Wins are good stuff, Maynard.

I wouldn't mind getting another Rossi / Braztech, aka LSI Puma 92 again. Selling the 16" .45 colt was one of the dumbest things I ever did.

Just bought a Marlin 336Y, but I made the gun store guy let me physically open up and go through every box they had to find one that was good - I thought the chances were low of finding any good ones, but there was one - and only one - with well-fitted wood, so I bought it.
 
Originally posted by Unlicensed Dremel ....and Wins are no more.

I've heard this rumor also, but its mistaken. Winchester has been selling Miroku made 92's and 94's for some years, after they stopped production of the 94's in the states. The quality is better than Winchester made in ages, and no question above any of the other makes I've seen and handled. They are pricey, but the quality isn't lacking by any means.

Some of the Italian guns are very good, but still not to Miroku level.
 
I now spend more time with bolt actions myself, however, first centerfire rifle was a Marlin 336 30-30 made in the 80's. Still have it. It is built like a tank, easy to operate, and pretty doggone accurate around 2-3 MOA at 50-100 yards. .30-30 Ammo is cheap and available too. Use the Hornady FTX bullets for a bit more range.

Only played around with the Winchesters in the store before the Marlin. Preferred the 336 because it had a scope and the 94's are less adaptable to a scope.
 
Originally posted by boom boom ...Only played around with the Winchesters in the store before the Marlin. Preferred the 336 because it had a scope and the 94's are less adaptable to a scope.

I heard that in 1982 Winchester came out with a new model that made it easier to scope. :D
 
I've heard this rumor also, but its mistaken. Winchester has been selling Miroku made 92's and 94's for some years, after they stopped production of the 94's in the states. The quality is better than Winchester made in ages, and no question above any of the other makes I've seen and handled. They are pricey, but the quality isn't lacking by any means.

Some of the Italian guns are very good, but still not to Miroku level.

And they are making 1873's and 1886's too. I have a Miroku-built Winchester '73 in .357 (I'd sure love to pick up a .44-40 one day). It's nothing short of fantastic. It cycles .38s and .357's slicker than snot.

And Browning/Winchester gave me some fantastic customer service - they repaired it for free when I slipped and fell while hunting and badly gouged the toe of the stock and magazine tube on some rocks.

Anyway, Winchester/Miroku gets my vote for the nicest levers in current production. And they really aren't too expensive compared to some of the Italian guns.
 
Malamute
Thanks for reminding me about that new fangled angle eject change in the Winchester 94. :) I haven't handled a lever gun in a LGS in years nor thought much about them.

At the time during the 80's when I purchased the used 336, probably only saw the older models as I bought often from pawn shops and the like. I also remember that I saw prices on the used 336's were cheaper given the same condition as the Winchester 94's in .30-30. Found some dirt cheap prices on .35 Rem 336's at the time that I wish now that I had bought but .35 Rem ammo was harder to find on LGS shelves so I went with the .30-30. Still get it out and plink with it from time to time. If I'd have known that I was going to get into reloading, would have bought a 94 because loading lead bullets is cheaper. I've found that the Marlin's microgroove barrel is simply more problematic with lead bullets.
 
I own one lever gun, a Rossi in .357 with 20" barrel, have had it since the 80s. I love the versatility. I like using it with light .38s a lot more'n with heavy magnums. It's no BLR for big game, but hey, I've got bolt guns, too.

This thing is such a dream to wrap a hand around and carry afield. :D The classic lines get me, too.

11hwbif.jpg
 
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