My tastes in lever guns is changing

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
J Miller
Member Emeritus
Posts: 14885
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:46 pm
Location: Not in IL no more ... :)

My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by J Miller »

All my shooting life I've had lever action carbines and Trappers. Never any full length rifles.
In 95 or 96 I bought a brand new Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt with the 24" barrel. I loved it. Loved the way it handled, the way it felt, the way it looked and loved that octagon barrel. Unfortunately it wouldn't shoot accurately so when my finances went down the pot it got sold.

Now I keep looking for rifles. I want a Win 94 with a 26" octagon barrel, and another Marlin 1894 with a 24" barrel.

Although the shorter length carbines or short rifles are handier, I really do like the feel and looks of the rifles.

Am I the only one who's tastes have changed, or are there others?

Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts ;) .***
User avatar
RIHMFIRE
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 7660
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:51 am
Location: Florida

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by RIHMFIRE »

nope....my taste in lever guns has not changed....
I like em all :wink:
LETS GO SHOOT'N BOYS
Jeff H
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:24 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Jeff H »

I have only ever owned a couple carbines myself, but a longer rifle sure would hold better for offhand shots I'm trhinking. After buying the 16" Rossi for a specific purpose I have begun to really like the gun and may make my next rifle a - rifle,.... with a lever on it.
JerryB
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5493
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:23 pm
Location: Batesville,Arkansas

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by JerryB »

Most of my levers are carbines. I have a Winchester 1892 32-20 24 inch rifle that I bought in1954. It just has a feel to it when I throw it to my shoulder. I would like a Winchester 1894 rifle but they are scarce around here.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

JOSHUA 24:15
User avatar
AJMD429
Posting leader...
Posts: 32289
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
Location: Hoosierland
Contact:

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by AJMD429 »

RIHMFIRE wrote:nope....my taste in lever guns has not changed....I like em all :wink:
Me too...

'Traditional' ones...
Image

'New-fangled' ones...
Image

'Big' ones & 'Little' ones...
Image

'Ugly' ones...
Image

'Vintage' ones & 'New' ones...
Image

Other-people's with Bayonets... (from MarlinOwners)
Image

...and maybe someday, QUIET ones... (if I get one, I'll build it in .338 Marlin Express)
Image
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.


Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
madman4570
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 6747
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:30 am
Location: Lower Central NYS

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by madman4570 »

Wow Doc!
Guess when the stuff hits the fan,we can meet at your house :lol:

Joe,
Nope, your not alone pal.
I love those long octagon barreled levers.
They do have a great balance and do indeed look very cool.
Hope you are able to score one soon.
User avatar
Griff
Posting leader...
Posts: 20877
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Griff »

Phew! Joe, for a minute there I thought you might be going all Finnwolf on us! :P Not that there's anything wrong with a Finnwolf, Win88 or Sav99...

But simply saying you'd like a "rifle" version to go along with with yer "carbine" and "Trapper", is sorta like saying you mighht like a sultry brunette to go along with the fun blonde or wild redhead; the same package, just different trim! I know I'm gonna get trouble for that one!
AJMD429 wrote:'Vintage' ones & 'New' ones...
Image
Say, Doc,

Can you show a closeup "profile" shot of the hammer on your 'vintage' one? And what 'vintage' is it?
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93

There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
Mescalero
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 6180
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:21 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Mescalero »

Griff,
Yep, that one is going to get you in the geo-thermal mass for sure.
airedaleman
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 982
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:05 pm
Location: New Kent County, VA

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by airedaleman »

Griff wrote:Phew! Joe, for a minute there I thought you might be going all Finnwolf on us! :P Not that there's anything wrong with a Finnwolf, Win88 or Sav99...

But simply saying you'd like a "rifle" version to go along with with yer "carbine" and "Trapper", is sorta like saying you mighht like a sultry brunette to go along with the fun blonde or wild redhead; the same package, just different trim! I know I'm gonna get trouble for that one!
AJMD429 wrote:'Vintage' ones & 'New' ones...
Image
Say, Doc,

Can you show a closeup "profile" shot of the hammer on your 'vintage' one? And what 'vintage' is it?
Top rifle is a Model 1889 Marlin. The hammer profile is much different from that of an original Model 1894.
Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Lann
- motto on the Irish Regiments' flags
gak
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1747
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:35 pm
Location: Sunny Aridzona

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by gak »

Not so much changing tastes--still love/sticking with my carbines and trappers (and one long/oct .44 92)...as noticing and appreciating some variants I hadn't previously given much thought to. For instance, I've discovered my ultimate "if you could only have one" gun is the Pre War 1894 .30-30 ROUND barrel, full tube (w/ hanger) rifle. The octagonal 92s and 94s feel good from rest, but to me in the small (as in .30) calibers gets to be a bit barrel heavy--in a bad way--a load on the trail. The round barrel rifle just "feels right" to me, and not that much more unwieldable than the good ol' 20" carbines. Still wanting one, but a fellow levergunner friend shared this view even more strongly when we found a pristine Pre War of this configuration at a gun show. For the price it didn't matter, but the condition was such we swore it had to have been a restoration or at least very good refinish ...but upon investigation it wasn't. He walked away with it, with me following in envy!

Along these same lines in concept, the 80s 94AE (pre safety) XTR 7-30 Waters--essentially a long (24") barreled "carbine" (full tube/dual bands)--one of the nicest modern-day Levers I've handled...just feels right, and a great round...again belonging to same friend.
tman
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3243
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:43 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by tman »

Always loved the SRC. configuration, especially in BigBore chamberings. :)
User avatar
El Chivo
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3612
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:12 pm
Location: Red River Gorge Area

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by El Chivo »

kinda tempted by the Buffalo Classic myself.

I like my 24" (I have 3, Marlin 39, Win 94 Legacy in .357, and Win 94 Ranger custom) but they are range queens.

I don't like the octagon barrel, but they did make a 26" round barrel in 30-30 for a while.

I will probably end up with a 336 in my cold dead fingers.
"I'll tell you what living is. You get up when you feel like it. You fry yourself some eggs. You see what kind of a day it is."
User avatar
earlmck
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3447
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:10 am
Location: pert-neer middle of Oregon

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by earlmck »

Joe, I'm not sure your tastes are really changing as much as they are "maturing". Somewhere along the line it is apt to happen that we realize we are not packing a rifle in a saddle scabbard all that much anymore and we begin to notice that other configurations, not so saddle friendly, feel mighty fine. I hadn't shot "thutty-thutty" in years until a friend handed me his Marlin 336A (24" bbl, 2/3 mag) and I fell in love. Sorry 'bout that you Winny guys, you can call it "fugly" all you want but it has been my favorite since I talked my friend out of it 15 years ago. Just feels so "right" for offhand shooting.
The greatest patriot...
is he who heals the most gullies.
Patrick Henry
william iorg
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 244
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:50 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by william iorg »

Take it from someone who has fooled with the 30-30AI a bit. Look for a 26” Winchester Buffalo Bill.
The 26” barrel will shoot factory 170-grain round nose Remington ammunition 2,335 fps.
Equip the rifle with a Lyman receiver sight - no need for screwdrivers to adjust windage and elevation - and a Marbles flattop folding open rear sight with windage. The Lyman stem removes with the push of a button.
Sight the open sight for 50-yards with a reduced load for a 150-grain lead round nose bullet and the Lyman sight on 100- yards - I don’t have much call to shoot farther.

For front sights, I prefer the new Marbles copy of the Sourdough front sight but if your eyes are good any of the small, flat face bead sights will do fine. The factory sight has a round bead and you cannot do your best work with it.

For a “reduced” handload, use the 170-grain Lee flat point gas check ahead of 19.0 grains of IMR 4227 for 1,400 fps. This is a good load.

The bulk jacketed round nose Remington bullets shoot well in the BB rifle.
33.0 grains of Hodgdon Varget will give you 2,440 fps.
34.1 grains of Alliant Reloder 15 will do the task at 2,455 fps.
Both of the above loads will shoot better than I can hold with iron sights.

This is 30-30AI performance without the reamer or the special dies.
Slim
User avatar
COSteve
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3886
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:03 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by COSteve »

Deleted
Last edited by COSteve on Thu May 01, 2014 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve
Retired and Living the Good Life
No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
Catshooter
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 996
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:19 pm
Location: South East South Dakota

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Catshooter »

I have found over the years that I prefer either long, or short. This works out for handguns and rifles. It's not a cast-iron rule, I do love my Marlin twenty two inch .45-70. But my baby is a 94 in .38-55 with a half round 26 incher. It does hang nicely for offhand work.

Or my other baby is a 94 Trapper in .45 Colt. It doesn't hang nearly as well. I used it a couple of times in silhouette, but my scores went up dramatically when I switched to the .38-55. Ten more inches of sight radius didn't hurt either.


Cat
DPris
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:56 am

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by DPris »

I've had a 24-inch .45 Marlin for some time now, but it's a very low-mileage gun.
In levers, I prefer barrels under 20 inches (mostly 16), they're a bit lighter and they're handier in & out of vehicles & on the ground.

That said, when I hauled out the 24-incher a couple years back for work, I found it quite appealing.
Shoots well, additional rounds on board, and looks great.
It has survived two thin-outs of the accumulation, even though it doesn't see much daylight I can't seem to let it go. :)

I may just start tossing it in the UTV scabbard on occasion.
Denis
User avatar
Canuck Bob
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1830
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:57 am
Location: Calgary, Canada

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Canuck Bob »

My preference is pistol grip longer barrel. In a modern Marlin the XLR series appeal to me.

My two rifles are an early 444 with a 22" tube and a Winoku 32-20 TD with a 24" tube.

My carbine style is a Lee Enfield No.5, Jungle Carbine.
User avatar
hightime
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1002
Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 9:22 am
Location: Duluth, MN

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by hightime »

Although I have a few, I've never been fond of carbines. It's hard for me to shoot a deer though the hart at 100 yards with one. Also the looks of a lever rifle makes me smile.

Owen
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Bigahh
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 927
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:53 pm
Location: N.E. Wisconsin

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Bigahh »

I always loved the 20 " barrel for sitting in a tree. Just a perfect barrel length for my Marlin 336 with a low power Leupold on top. The balance is ABSOLUTELY perfect ! I have never tried a Trapper length Barrel, and always wondered if it would balance as nice as my 20" rifle. At some point I would think a Barrel can be too short. I have trouble hitting a Paper Plate free hand with my BLR, but my Marlin Kills the Plate on a regular basis.
Slick
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 370
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:01 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Slick »

J Miller wrote:I want a Win 94 with a 26" octagon barrel
Joe, if you're OK with owning a "Japchester" then keep watch on CDNN's catalog. Their prices are usually well over $100 cheaper than any other seller. The Miroku's I've looked at (while not inexpensive) have all been very well made and nicely finished - if you can deal with the "rebounding hammer".

I started out with a preference for "trapper-style" leverguns and over the years as my finances permitted, I've gone back and purchased a "long" version of all my trapper length guns.
Politicians and diapers both require frequent changing for the EXACT same reason!
william iorg
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 244
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:50 pm

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by william iorg »

I agree about the longer barrel Marlins, they are almost as nice as a Model 64 Winchester - where are those smiley faces…
I like my 308MX very much, this is a well balanced off-hand rifle.

The 16” Trapper handles well with iron sights. When scope I prefer the forward mounted scope on the Trapper. The forward mount retains the balance and the Trapper jumps to your shoulder and swings well with the weight forward.
Slim
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16742
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Old Savage »

Always liked them all - oh wait, I already said that. :D
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Ysabel Kid
Moderator
Posts: 27918
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:10 pm
Location: South Carolina, USA
Contact:

Re: My tastes in lever guns is changing

Post by Ysabel Kid »

RIHMFIRE wrote:nope....my taste in lever guns has not changed....
I like em all :wink:
+1 :D

Joe, I tend to like the two extremes - either very short barrels, like 16" trappers, or extra long barrels. My 1873 reproduction sports a 30" barrel. :D
Image
Post Reply