Question on 'Large Loop' levers....

[AJMD429]

Hagler recently posted a picture of some leverguns with large loops, and they look nice. . .



. . . but - I've always wondered what they are really useful for.

I definitely would like lever openings larger than the square little ones on the regular Rossi 92's and Marlin 1894's, and I've been tempted to try some of the 'just a little-bit bigger' ones, but of course they make loops of various sizes on up to 'huge'.

Obviously for those of us with larger hands, or wearing gloves, the 'slightly bigger' ones make sense, but what kinds of advantages or uses are there for the much bigger ones, other than "they look cool"...???

[J Miller]

For a guy with normal hands, the large round loop levers offer nothing really. For men with huge hands or for those that use them for stunts like John Wayne or Chuck Connors they work OK.

When the top eject trappers came out in the late 70s I had a chance to handle one of the Wrangler models. I found it to be very awkward to work the lever. I found myself hooking my trigger finger around the lever in front of the loop just to hold on to it while I worked it.

Joe

[FWiedner]

Unless you wear gloves or have larger hands, I don't see a utility purpose.

I don't even think the large loops look good. Some of the well-shaped medium-sized ones aren't so bad.

There might be some benefit to those fellows out on there on the dirt roads at the ranch.

That large loop might keep your truck gun from rolling away across the passenger seat when you throw the old F-150 into a hard left turn.

[Hagler]

Doc,

I bought my Henry H001L as an affordable way to learn how to shoot & handle a rifle. I also bought it to practice handling a rifle like Chuck Connors did. I found that I prefer the large loops to the standard-sized ones. However, the very largest loops, like Chuck's, really require very large hands for efficient use. The loops, outlined in green, below, are about as large as I can practically use. The loop, outlined in red, below, is too big for me to use, in "everyday shooting".

Leverguns croppedadjusted1000-wide loops highlighted.jpg

Shawn

[Ysabel Kid]

I like large loops as well, just from a feel standpoint. My hands are not huge, but I just find these more comfortable. I would really like to put one of the "tear drop" loops on my Rossi Ranch Hand, ala the second version Steve McQueen used in "Wanted Dead or Alivce".

[Tactical Lever]

For a guy with normal hands, the large round loop levers offer nothing really. For men with huge hands or for those that use them for stunts like John Wayne or Chuck Connors they work OK.

When the top eject trappers came out in the late 70s I had a chance to handle one of the Wrangler models. I found it to be very awkward to work the lever. I found myself hooking my trigger finger around the lever in front of the loop just to hold on to it while I worked it.

Joe

I second that. I'm not sure I've ever met someone whose 3 fingers fill up a giant loop though...

Unless you're Rooster Cogburn, charging across a field, they are a pain.

The wife left me alone for a couple days, and didn't take "her" rifle; I think its time for a little cutting!

[Lastmohecken]

I always thought John Wayne looked cool with one, but every time I ever handled one, I came away thinking that they are pretty useless. I can see a slightly bigger lever being handy on some guns, for cold weather or big hands, but a big lever just slows everything down for me. I do find the old Browning BLR levers to be about as small I would want them to be, and some of the Winchester 73 levers are a little on the small side, but the Winchester model 94's are about perfect.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Unless you are wearing gloves they aren't really practical. Even if you have big hands a smooth action allow you to only need two fingers in the loop.
This is what I call the 3/4 size.

It's just about right for gloves.

This is the full size Rossi. Folks like the looks but to me it's just too big.

I like large loops as well, just from a feel standpoint. My hands are not huge, but I just find these more comfortable. I would really like to put one of the "tear drop" loops on my Rossi Ranch Hand, ala the second version Steve McQueen used in "Wanted Dead or Alivce".

Like this one?


Built this for the same reason. The customer wanted the 2nd gen style. It was actually designed by Steve McQueen for the same reasons discussed here. He didn't like the way the big one handled so he had this one made. Notice the loop part is wider too.

Anyway, back to the big loops. In the past when I could get them I did sell them as parts. But, since Taurus bought Rossi getting them has been difficult. I still have a few that I have set aside for my customers that send their gun for action work and other upgrades.

I get a lot of request for these so we are looking into manufacturing complete big loop levers ourselves. I think I finally found a company that can do it for a reasonable cost. looking at doing both the full size and the 3/4. We shall see.

[DPris]

What I found in the case of an angle eject Win 94 is that the bigger Wrangler loop gives me more leverage & works better, for me, than a standard lever.

The angle ejects are not as smooth or as light to cycle as the older guns, because of the rebounding hammer spring & bolt.

I got to thinking I wanted to return a Wrangler .30-30 looper to a standard lever, swapped 'em, and found I had to work harder to run the action.
Put the Wrangler loop back on, it just runs the gun smoother.

I've achieved decent speed with that gun, it's a matter of finding the right place to put your hand while you're running the oversized lever.

My old '51 Model 94 is smooth, no reason to install an oversized lever, but I'll tell you that blasted rebounding hammer & bolt on the more recent versions just isn't as light without some extra leverage.

For me, the bigger loop is actually a practical advantage.
Denis

[Ysabel Kid]

I like large loops as well, just from a feel standpoint. My hands are not huge, but I just find these more comfortable. I would really like to put one of the "tear drop" loops on my Rossi Ranch Hand, ala the second version Steve McQueen used in "Wanted Dead or Alivce".

Like this one?


Built this for the same reason. The customer wanted the 2nd gen style. It was actually designed by Steve McQueen for the same reasons discussed here. He didn't like the way the big one handled so he had this one made. Notice the loop part is wider too.

THAT'S IT!!!

I think that is the one you also cut down, length-wise, from the factory 12" barrel to 9", correct?

How many rounds does it now hold?

[williamranks]

I put the DRC large loop on the guide gun, the one from Wild West looked too big to me.
The Marlin lever was beating the heck out of my middle finger and I need that for driving.

[vancelw]

The Marlin lever was beating the heck out of my middle finger and I need that for driving.

You live around here

Left lane hogging, cell phone yakking, daydreaming mouth breathers deserve a middle finger.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I like large loops as well, just from a feel standpoint. My hands are not huge, but I just find these more comfortable. I would really like to put one of the "tear drop" loops on my Rossi Ranch Hand, ala the second version Steve McQueen used in "Wanted Dead or Alivce".

Like this one?


Built this for the same reason. The customer wanted the 2nd gen style. It was actually designed by Steve McQueen for the same reasons discussed here. He didn't like the way the big one handled so he had this one made. Notice the loop part is wider too.

THAT'S IT!!!

I think that is the one you also cut down, length-wise, from the factory 12" barrel to 9", correct?

How many rounds does it now hold?

Yes, DPris got the first one and did a great article for the Guns of the Old West magazine.
Since that article I've done several now.




Holds 5 and one in the pipe.

[walks with gun]

We live up here in northern Mn. so my daughter bought a Rossi trapper in .357 for hiking and snow-shoeing, She's always cold so she figured she could still use the large loop with trigger finger mittens. Other than that I don't really care much for the large loops, there a pain shooting from the bench when your not used to them.

[jkbrea]

I had this installed on my Marlin 45-70 and it has worked out great. Not too big and in my opinion, looks good. The "using it in cold weather with gloves" is valid but I personally don't like shooting with gloves on. If time allows, I always remove them prior to taking a shot hunting.

[Tactical Lever]

I had this installed on my Marlin 45-70 and it has worked out great. Not too big and in my opinion, looks good. The "using it in cold weather with gloves" is valid but I personally don't like shooting with gloves on. If time allows, I always remove them prior to taking a shot hunting.

A couple years ago I watched the temp dip to -52 C, or about -62 F before factoring wind chill.

I don't do lots of hunting and shooting at that temperature, but it is a consideration. Needless to say even when its not that cold, it can be pretty chilly and not using gloves could cost some loss of fine motor skill and some frostbite. Especially when you and said fingers are already cold.

If I can't handle a lever action quickly with gloves its not much good.

[vancelw]

A couple years ago I watched the temp dip to -52 C, or about -62 F before factoring wind chill.

I don't do lots of hunting and shooting at that temperature, but it is a consideration. Needless to say even when its not that cold, it can be pretty chilly and not using gloves could cost some loss of fine motor skill and some frostbite. Especially when you and said fingers are already cold.

If I can't handle a lever action quickly with gloves its not much good.

Not for me...at -20F it's hard to get a deer dressed and skinned before it freezes - with no wind. Unless I'm starving, I'll stay indoors by the fire with my coffee.

[AJMD429]

I think that lever is about perfect.

Having said that, the unusually-curvy one on my Bighorn Armory carbine is WAY more comfortable to shoot than the little boxy straight lever on my Marlin 1894's or the little rounded lever on my Rossi 92's. Haven't tried it with gloves yet.

[jkbrea]

I had this installed on my Marlin 45-70 and it has worked out great. Not too big and in my opinion, looks good. The "using it in cold weather with gloves" is valid but I personally don't like shooting with gloves on. If time allows, I always remove them prior to taking a shot hunting.

A couple years ago I watched the temp dip to -52 C, or about -62 F before factoring wind chill.

I don't do lots of hunting and shooting at that temperature, but it is a consideration. Needless to say even when its not that cold, it can be pretty chilly and not using gloves could cost some loss of fine motor skill and some frostbite. Especially when you and said fingers are already cold.

If I can't handle a lever action quickly with gloves its not much good.

Your tougher than me if you go out in that kind of cold. I grew up in the desert where 115-120+ was common. Last year I hunted in Wyoming in December and it was in the -0 to -8. That wasn't bad as long as I was moving....actually quite comfortable. But a couple days it was -20 to -26. I got out of the truck, took a deep breath.. after almost freezing my insides out I went back in the truck and called it a day. As far as gloves, I use the chopper gloves that are wool mittens with the fingertips cut out. Easy to pull it back when time to shoot. So the large loop is still practical because my gloves are still on when I cycle it, just the fingertips exposed.....briefly.

[Tactical Lever]

A couple years ago I watched the temp dip to -52 C, or about -62 F before factoring wind chill.

I don't do lots of hunting and shooting at that temperature, but it is a consideration. Needless to say even when its not that cold, it can be pretty chilly and not using gloves could cost some loss of fine motor skill and some frostbite. Especially when you and said fingers are already cold.

If I can't handle a lever action quickly with gloves its not much good.

Not for me...at -20F it's hard to get a deer dressed and skinned before it freezes - with no wind. Unless I'm starving, I'll stay indoors by the fire with my coffee.

Yeah, I wouldn't be skinning it anyway out in the cold. Or not the real cold anyway. It took me long enough to fish a chain around the engineered beam at the top of the garage.

Last couple, I was not in a big hurry to finish, and left the hide on and hanging for quite a while. I don't take the hide off until I'm ready to put it in the freezer, or its drying up or getting dirty during transport.

[Tactical Lever]

I had this installed on my Marlin 45-70 and it has worked out great. Not too big and in my opinion, looks good. The "using it in cold weather with gloves" is valid but I personally don't like shooting with gloves on. If time allows, I always remove them prior to taking a shot hunting.

A couple years ago I watched the temp dip to -52 C, or about -62 F before factoring wind chill.

I don't do lots of hunting and shooting at that temperature, but it is a consideration. Needless to say even when its not that cold, it can be pretty chilly and not using gloves could cost some loss of fine motor skill and some frostbite. Especially when you and said fingers are already cold.

If I can't handle a lever action quickly with gloves its not much good.

Your tougher than me if you go out in that kind of cold. I grew up in the desert where 115-120+ was common. Last year I hunted in Wyoming in December and it was in the -0 to -8. That wasn't bad as long as I was moving....actually quite comfortable. But a couple days it was -20 to -26. I got out of the truck, took a deep breath.. after almost freezing my insides out I went back in the truck and called it a day. As far as gloves, I use the chopper gloves that are wool mittens with the fingertips cut out. Easy to pull it back when time to shoot. So the large loop is still practical because my gloves are still on when I cycle it, just the fingertips exposed.....briefly.

I would not call it tough; I was in the control igloo... er, room watching the mercury plummet via computer screen. I did work out in weather that was probably about that cold at times on a service rig, usually up in the stick, or on a brake handle. I learned that I have a very tough time keeping my hands warm, but my feet are usually fine with regular leather works boots. It was during that time, that I believe I lost my shiver reflex. I made a makeshift heat exchanger for my breath one year... and remember coming out of the doghouse after a coffee, and it was cold enough that the cold felt like a giant hand was squeezing me.

I think that I have given myself mild hypothermia a few times, but I think some of the coldest times were actually on a street bike, riding through a snow storm coming back through Edson in mid October, or maybe in the rain. I've gotten off the bike, and been barely able to straighten my knees. Too high a viscosity joint fluid perhaps.

I have a pretty large selection of gloves, as I was always trying something out. I found that the cheap, heavy welding gloves stood up well for work and did a decent job of keeping my hands warm (with thin synthetic gloves inside) when I didn't have to work with varsol.

I have grown attached to having leather ropers when I am out, even if the weather is not bad. And when it is getting cold, they can get cold pretty quick. But to have bigger gloves, is tough with a regular size lever.