What characteristics make a handy lever?

[rangerider7]

My list
1. light (6.5 lb or less)
2. 22 inches or less barrel length
3. Sling
4. Open sights
5. Short Magazine (not full)
6. All-around caliber

[Tycer]

A fulcrum.

[Tycer]

I like a saddle ring sling and a short barrel.
Aperture sights are important for me too.

[rangerider7]

Is that the opposite of a emptycrum.

[Old Ironsights]

At least we aren't talking about Robert Crumb...

As to the original question, I don't know of any characteristics that make a handy lever.

Rossi makes a handy lever, as does Chiappa and Marlin & as did Winchester & Savage...

Henry makes some not-so handy levers, though they are pretty...

[J Miller]

What characteristics make a handy lever gun?? Well, here is my list:

1. Light wight (6.5 lb or less preferred) but must be right for the caliber
2. 20 inch barrel
3. Sling, is nice but I haven't found one necessary
4. Open sights
5. Full magazine, I never did like the look or feel of the short ones.
6. Slim receiver and wood. Some lever guns come with really bulging stocks and forearms. I don't like that.
7. Flat unobtrusive bottom shape.
8. Common, readily available caliber. My preference would be the 30-30.

So lets see, what would my idea of a handy lever gun be......................

How about this one


Joe

[AJMD429]

Here's what I like in a lever 'carbine' gun... (...maybe next topic - what makes a good long-range lever rifle..?)

• > Short and light weight (grab and shoot one handed if you had to).
  > Potent but minimal muzzle blast (I like the ability to shoot 'impromptu' without hearing protection, with reasonabe loads)
  > Short lever throw (my Ruger is 54 degrees vs. Puma 92's 70 degrees, Marlin 1894 72 degrees, & 336's 82 degrees)
  > Rugged but easily adjustable peeps (i.e. Williams FP) but 'scopeable' for hunting in dawn or dusk
  > Detachable box magazine (for fast & safe unloading crossing road, getting in vehicle, coming in house, & having cast & jacketeds both handy)
  > .44 Mag with 1:20 twist (may not matter but nice in case I want to shoot heavier bullets)
  > Able to do sub-2" at 200 yards with adequate sights
  > Easily removed stock (for cleaning water or condensation or grime from under forend, especially)
  > Stainless finish (because I really hate finding a favorite gun with rust on it)
  > Good QD Sling (because they don't make holsters big enough... )

These three are hard to beat. I tend to favor them each for different reasons...



Top (Ruger 96/44) is my favorite, and meets all the criteria except I'd like a stainless finish. I still have scope on it because it is my primary deer gun. Prettier wood (or a camo synthetic ) would really be nice, too.

Middle (Marlin 1894) is really close, because I like stainless, and like Marlins. Stock (forend) is too hard to remove if you get it out in a serious rain situation (or fall on your face in 6" of mud while carrying it ), whereas the Ruger stock comes off with one screw (plus that stupid little barrel band thing). Feeds well but not as reliably as the Ruger.

Bottom (Puma 92) still is definitely on the 'handy' list - it is obviously the most 'traditional' of the three, with its blued finish, wood stock, etc. One non-traditional 'extra' I like is the ability to un-load the magazine tube like on a .22LR - it is sleeved (you can also load it that way if you choose, but I seldom do). That 'Winchester' action is just plain slick and fun, even though there are so many little fragile-looking parts in there and it is a nuisance to clean. This one would be the 'good weather' one, definitely, but a blast to shoot. The other two have been 'proven' at 100 yards with a 36x scope, so any misses with them are MY fault, but I've not so tested the Puma - in fact, it still wears the factory notch sights.

[Lastmohecken]

I think I will just name guns.

Handy;
Winchester Pre-64, model 94, 20 inch barrel, just about the handiest
Browing 92, pretty darned handy, best of the pistol caliber rifles, except for maybe the 73
Browning BLR, steel frame, short action, best ever of the modern caliber pointed bullet handling rifles, and almost as handy as a model 94
Winchester 1886 saddle ring carbine
Winchester Extra lightweight 1886
Marlin straight grip 336, 20 inch barrel
Browning BL22
Marlin model 39M
Shorter straight gripped model 73's

Unhandy, sorta;
Winchester 95, with a few exceptions
Winchester 71, sorta, but still darned good
Heavier Winchester 86's
Marlin 39A
Longaction Browning BLR's
Longer versions of the Bigger bore Marlins, to a degree
Winchester 88
Most anything with a darned extra safety on it.
Savage 99's to a degree, more so for left handers when using the leverlock safetys


Well, that's my opinion and I am sticking to it.

[mescalero1]

Does Elaine know you used her basket?

[AJMD429]

Does Elaine know you used her basket?

That's for all the ammo...

[rjohns94]

For Handy:

16-20 inch barrel
takedown
pistol caliber (.357/.38 is my favorite)
straight grip
sling swivels
stainless steel
open sights (with receiver sight)
full mag tube
smooth wood
light weight
strong, smooth action
Easy to work on.

With the exception of takedown, My NKJ slicked up .357 SS model 92 is all of those

[J Miller]

Does Elaine know you used her basket?

Yeah, she was there helping me arranging the pic.

Does Elaine know you used her basket?

That's for all the ammo...

Actually it's full of antique sewing stuff. It's too small to hold much ammo.

Joe

[Old Ironsights]

For Handy:

16-20 inch barrel
takedown
pistol caliber (.357/.38 is my favorite)
straight grip
sling swivels
stainless steel
open sights (with receiver sight)
full mag tube
smooth wood
light weight
strong, smooth action
Easy to work on.

With the exception of takedown, My NKJ slicked up .357 SS model 92 is all of those

Right there with ya bro. That's my only other "handy" desire too...

[adirondakjack]

If I gotta call one of the above "handy", the 16"er gets the nod.

My list would include:

Short
BIG bead front sight, Marbles peep rear
full, 10+1 round capacity
super slick action
(yes, a sling might be handier yet)

[Griff]

I've only got ONE "handy levergun;" all the rest either require a horse or a p/u to haul around!

Winchester '67 "Canadian Centennial" w/16" bbl. .30WCF, custom wood, silver-plated bbl bands & old-style "carbine" buttplate:


It don't hurt that I think it's purdy!

EDIT: Tycer, can it be a lever w/o a fulcrum? Wouldn't that just be a bar?

[Buck Elliott]

Well, Let me think...

It should be HANDY, and it should have a LEVER...

It should NOT have rails, slings, scopes, cartridge carriers. flashlights, or other FLUFF.

Some guys like light weight, for packin' around; others prefer more substantial weight for better handling when it comes time to shoot. IMNSHO, short barrels are more difficult for most people to control while hiking. I don't like looking down some other feller's muzzle -- EVER.

FWIW, I'm a guy who will pack an '86 XLR around all day and not notice the weight. Back in my younger days, it wasn't unusual to pack a 26" '86 rifle, fully loaded with 405-gr. .45-70 rounds. Some other guys get winded & grumpy, packin' a willow switch...

I do have a neat little carry strap for my XLR, but it only comes out of the pack after I've got game down, and might need all the hands I came with to pack things other than my smoke-pole.

[Modoc ED]

To my way of thinking, "rangerider7" describes pretty much a "short-rifle" as his preference for a handy lever. Most of the rest of you describe a carbine/trapper as a handy lever. Both choices would be handy. My preference is a carbine with a 20" barrel and my choice of an all around caliber/cartridge would be the 30WCF/.30-30 .

Winchester would be the brand I would prefer as they are slimmer than most Marlins; however, a Marlin with the same characteristics described in this thread would be rather handy too.

[Pete44ru]

[What characteristics make a handy lever?]

Only three.

When held normally in only the trigger hand, at one's side, with the muzzle down:

The muzzle shall not pass closer to the ground/floor than the ankle on that side.

It shall mount like a feather.

and hold as steady as a rock.

.

[Ben_Rumson]

6.5 lb 30-30 carbine with the peep.

[L_Kilkenny]

I'm having a hard time following the question....Are you asking what makes lever guns more handy than other designs or asking what makes some levers more handy than other levers?

If #2 is the case (which most are posting about) than I'd have to say:
1) Shorter the better. Like my 20", liked my 16" more.
2) Sling
3) 6.5lbs or less
4) Open sights (not peep). Ghost sights may be better but I'm sticking with opens for now.
5) Any readily available caliber. .22LR, .22MAG, 30/30, .357, .44.
6) Straight stock.
7) Narrow grip point and well balanced.

All that being said, I'd like to get my hands on a short BLR in 22-250 to try.

LK

[tman]

I think I will just name guns.

Handy;
Winchester Pre-64, model 94, 20 inch barrel, just about the handiest
Browing 92, pretty darned handy, best of the pistol caliber rifles, except for maybe the 73
Browning BLR, steel frame, short action, best ever of the modern caliber pointed bullet handling rifles, and almost as handy as a model 94
Winchester 1886 saddle ring carbine
Winchester Extra lightweight 1886
Marlin straight grip 336, 20 inch barrel
Browning BL22
Marlin model 39M
Shorter straight gripped model 73's

Unhandy, sorta;
Winchester 95, with a few exceptions
Winchester 71, sorta, but still darned good
Heavier Winchester 86's
Marlin 39A
Longaction Browning BLR's
Longer versions of the Bigger bore Marlins, to a degree
Winchester 88
Most anything with a darned extra safety on it.
Savage 99's to a degree, more so for left handers when using the leverlock safetys


Well, that's my opinion and I am sticking to it.

wow!!!! you nailed it. better than i could have stated it.

[FWiedner]

I like the way a Winchester .30-30 Trapper handles.

Light weight, good in tight spaces, and has enough power to take most game animals in NA to reasonable distances.

No sling required, and I prefer a ghost-ring type of sight.

[jeepnik]

Well, I've never been a fan of "handy-ness". I tend to want something that hits harder, and will pay a weight penalty for it. Case in point, the M-16 was handy, but the weapon and cartridge suck. While the M-14, though being heavier and longer, less handy, was much more effective. Not to mention the fact that it worked.

In leverguns, folks seem to think fairly light, but also light of caliber rifles are more handy. Could be, but, I'll take the Marlin 1895 over the "handy" smaller leverguns. It weighs more, but it hits much harder.

Besides, if I get too old or infirm to carry it, I'll have one of the boys do it. Sons do have their uses.

[RKrodle]

I like most of the short barreled leverguns and think of them as handy. I have a Winchester Trapper in 45 Colt, a Marlin 1894c in 357 and a 1895 guide gun. I also like the feel of the 20 inch Winchester carbines and for me at least they fit into the handy range very well. I still want a 30-30 trapper.

[AJMD429]

In leverguns, folks seem to think fairly light, but also light of caliber rifles are more handy. Could be, but, I'll take the Marlin 1895 over the "handy" smaller leverguns. It weighs more, but it hits much harder.

Agreed - the short Guide Guns really ARE "handy" - but I think of them as "short rifles" rather than "carbines" (arbitrary, I know...). When I set my Marlin 1894 SS and Guide Gun SS side by side, the 1894 looks a bit 'leaner' but they aren't much different in size...

[20cows]

The bottom two are real handy (the top one, not so much).



See, it was handy!

[COSteve]

In truth, each of our definitions' of 'handy' may depend in part upon what part of the country we live in. Back East in places like KY, TN, or PA, one needs a 'handy,' short barreled dear rifle that's fast handling because of the short range and/or brush shooting so common back there. That also means that the shots are likely to be under 100yds.

Out here in the West, we have more open country which leads to longer range deer hunting opportunities. I'm guessing that most of us out here would say that our opportunities are in the 150yd + range. My hunting has always been more likely to be a longer shot than one close up (maybe I should brush up on my stalking skills).

Anyway, I might be in the minority, but I'm partial to longer barrels and tang / peep sights on a levergun because of the longer sight radius and velocity yields better long range performance. That's why my Rossi '92 is a 24" rifle version vs the carbines and the tang sight gives me a full 30" sight radius.

As I've stated in other threads, 200yd 10"- 12" targets are pretty routine with my '92 and I'd feel comfortable going after anything up to the 175yd range with it. Also, I guess that's why you see most rifles out here are long range calibers with scopes on them because the normal ranges we shoot at are usually on the long side.

Soooooooooo, a 'handy' levergun for me is exactly what I have, a rifle length barrel and a tang peep sight suits my tastes. BTW, my Rossi only weighs 7.5 lbs, is very well balanced, and with a set of shooting sticks, I feel it's an ideal small to medium game hunting gun for these parts.

[Hobie]

In-as-much as the gun must have balance the barrel should be 22-16" depending on the action used. Peep sights. Straight grip. No sling. Cartridge used would depend on purpose/game pursued.

[thornblom]

I have leverguns with 16" barrels to 24" barrels. They are all "handy", but my Winchester 94 Wrangler is the "handiest" with 16" barrel, straight grip, full length magazine tube, saddle ring, large loop lever, XS Ghost Ring sights and chambered in .44 mag.

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

[71fan]

We did a similar poll almost a year ago, but instead of "handiest" it was the prefered characteristics of a levergun. We got about 30 good responses which I put on a spreadsheet, but I don't think there's a way to post a spreadsheet.

Anyway, the resultant rifle is a 22" short rifle with a full mag, shotgun butt, in .350 ~ .375 caliber, with a receiver sight, and weighing about 7 pounds. There were several other details but those are the main ones.

http://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewt ... f=1&t=9729

After much thought and deliberation, I've come around to viewing that as my ideal (and handiest) configuration, which is good because I am in the process of having the "Levergun Poll" rifle built on an 1894 Winchester TD base gun, in 38-55. I plan to write an article when it is complete.

[rangerider7]

I have a Model 55 Winchester TD in 30-30 that has been reblued, but a nice job, that I can't seem to part with. I guess because it feels good.

[Gun Smith]

Most important to me, left hander friendly!

[BigSky56]

Handy is whats fits best on a horse, a 24" bbl 64/94 or 71 with 1/2 mag cause they're accurate. danny