Lever Action

[BrentD]

My first deer was killed with a model 1892 25-20 and my brother has our grandfathers 32 special. I would like to have a BLR in 358 Winchester as a brush and timber gun.

I love that. Shooting your first deer with a gun that isn't even in the vocabulary of deer hunters today. That's pretty darn cool.

 

[tarheel]

I hunt whitetails on occasion with a Marlin 336 in 32-20 which my remaining uncle gifted me a couple of years ago. Haven't drawn blood with it yet but maybe eventually will do so.

 

[BrentD]

I put down a doe with my 38-40 1894 Marlin. It wasn't much of a shot or much of a doe, but the bullet did whistle on through without pause and did the job just fine. It got me to thinking that it might be a really fun gun to legitimately hunt with so it might find itself out in the field sometime this fall, depending on what we can draw.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I went through a phase where I had to have one. I got it and then realized I didn't have the eyesight to shoot open sights and it never felt comfortable with a scope. So I traded it off to get a light handy bolt action. I always found myself pulling the gun down to work the action just as I would a bolt gun anyway.

My kids both love them though. One has a 336 in a .35 rem and the other has a 94 in a .307. both neat calibers. The .307 was about a decade too late to be as famous as it should've been. That's my humble opinion.

 

[Ajax2744]

My main gun for bear, deer, elk, etc (unless 200+ yard shots are expected) is a Marlin 1895 45-70 guide. It has a fixed 4x scope, laminated stock and a big loop lever. It consistently shoots 1"-1 1/2" 100 yard groups with a 350 grain interlock at 2000fps. And a 405 grain hard cast lead bullets at 1800fps. It packs quite the wallop. I always have a smile lobbing lead downrange with that thing. Of all the guns I have owned it is the one I wont get rid of.

 

[oleefish2]

I love that. Shooting your first deer with a gun that isn't even in the vocabulary of deer hunters ty. That's pretty darn cool

It was a doe that was at least 3 feet away. The 25-20 is the last round on the right, big one

 

[wytex]

I took my last bull moose with my BLR in 270wsm. I have a Henry 41 mag and Win 44 mag for hog hunting and a neat little Henry 17 HMR for varmints. My Win 22 mag is a great shooting rifle as well.
We probably have at least a dozen lever action rifles from 17 HMR to 454 casull.

 

[Europe]

thanks guys, I enjoyed reading your responses --more lever uses than I expected

walking bird--4 generations--love it
grey rider, congrats on the bear
squirrel , love the 250-3000
harley, tell you wife, I love her home--oh your rifle is nice too (-;--you got me on the trout line !
viking guy, hsi-esi, ajax----it is good to know that the lever is still loved so much by some
Brent, you and those stupid tree rats LOL
wytex--you win, damn that is a collection. congratulations My husband, went through, a lot of levers, but didn't keep them all. congrats on the bull moose
oleefish--that is a blast from the past, very nice
tar heel, good luck
hunting wife--started with a 45/70---that will do it (-;
Ajrickets, cool, dont ever let it leave the family
Scary--that works
Greyman, one down 5000 to go
zpooch--nice speed goat congrats

I am sure I missed someone and if so please forgive me--I am old, tired, not feeling well and had too much pain medicine ( scotch ), and I am suppose be searching for a motorcycle with a sidecar for sale in Italy, but I enjoy your posts a bit more. thanks to all who responded

 

[hank4elk]

I started with my uncles Win. Model 92 ,32-20.
Still have the Win. 94 30-30 I bought in Butte the day Nixon resigned @ the Woolworths used gun rack.
Taken bunnies to a couple bulls with it.
Always wanted a 45-70,maybe even a Henry...

 

[Boarmaster]

I think many get their start with 30/30 lever guns. My first rifle I could afford was a Marlin 30/30 lever that was a return at Service Merchandise. I watched it drop in price until I saw it was $125. I bought it and used it to shoot wild hogs for five years. I never scoped it. I haven't hunted with it since about 1990.
Currently I do a hunt once a year in Ohio where I use a Marlin Lever in 444. Im not a fan of lever actions and much prefer a bolt action. But it works pretty good from 12 yards.
But

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Lots of deer were downed in Pennsylvania with this baby. I tried it for antelope out in Wyoming, however, the vision is fading and "open sights" just don't cut it at far ranges
Model 94 / 30-30. Made pre-1940.

 

[sharpshooter97]

My Marlin 1895 in .45-70, have never hunted with it yet, but it’s a lot of fun to shoot. If i can ever draw a ND moose tag this is the rifle I’d use

 

[cheeser]

started on a model 94 32 special at 13 yrs old , ten yrs later I picked up a browning BLR in a 308 and I have never put it down i'm 57 yr old now.

I havent shot my old 94 in 30 yrs, it's in the cabinet cleaned, oiled and ready just can't put the 308 down.

 

[elkduds]

I'm keeping Dad's m94 carbine from about 1948 in my safe for him.
I have a Marlin 67m levermatic in 22wrm.
Had a Marlin 444S, let it get away. It was a woods hunting dream w 265 gr Hornady XTPs.
I'd love to find an affordable Savage 99 in 7mm-HT.

 

[riley]

i have a marlin .444
within 100yards.
Open sights.
It does a number on hogs.

 

[Panda Bear]

started on a model 94 32 special at 13 yrs old , ten yrs later I picked up a browning BLR in a 308 and I have never put it down i'm 57 yr old now.

I havent shot my old 94 in 30 yrs, it's in the cabinet cleaned, oiled and ready just can't put the 308 down.

I have done the same thing with the 348. It is a easy carry all purpose rifle inside 200 yards, brown bear, moose, caribou, deer, wolf

 

[wyoelkfan15]

After mule deer season ended last October I decided to challenge myself to fill my tag with a November whitetail, iron sites style. This is my buddies Marlin 30-30, shot was around 75 yards. Not great in the antlers, but the hunt was super fun with a good hike and a crazy stalk at the end. Leverevolutions did the trick and the backstrap was awesome! I've taken a buck antelope with this rifle as well.

 

[std7mag]

Europe,
Once again you raise a thought provoking thread.
Myself, I've come really close to buying a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt.
I have my bolt guns for the long open shots, but where 100 yards on a good day is the theme, a decent lever in 45 Colt seems the perfect choice.
My neighbor has a Savage 99 in 243 Win. He "lost" a deer with it, so has become a safe queen.
He has been saying about selling it. Told him to let me know, we'll haggle then. :

 

[wytex]

The Rossi 454 is a great rifle, we have 2 of them. Too bad they are not making them anymore. A .45 should be a good one as well.

 

[Europe]

I am not feeling like a teenager today so will just say ----thank you ! to all who responded to this thread. Some very interesting posts, rifles and information---thank you all!!!!!!

elk duds and other 99 fans--my son picked up an old 99 300 takedown with a 410 barrel several years ago. It was in a case, but we dont think it came in the case it is in now-- but an interestingly rifle/shotgun

std7mag--thank you !