POLL: What's YOUR King of the Leverguns ?

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:16 pm

[Where's the model 71?]
[I think he's lumping us in with the 1886 group.]

The Model 71 is an improved Model 1886.

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:35 pm

Yes indeed, when I got big critters to put out of their misery, I reach for my original model 71 deluxe. I find that a .348 pretty wells ends the problem for the critter.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:49 pm

If pinned down to one BLR-81 358Win. But last season my Marlin336 35Rem got packed the most.
Goat

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:53 pm

Almost forgot... The 99 Savage can be scoped easily, and a telescopic sight actually looks like it belongs on the rifle, too.

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:54 pm

Original 71 with the bolt peep.

piller · Post by **piller** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:19 pm

My Puma in .480 is the King in my gun safe. There are better and nicer guns available, but that is what I own and it works pretty well. I haven't shot my new 1895GS yet, but the King might need to abdicate.

Gryphon Black · Post by **Gryphon Black** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:30 pm

Two questions here.
one is, which do you grab on the way out the door because you need to shoot something, and you really need to get the job done?
the other is, which is the best design for choosing for that purpose?

Answer 1. My 24" Marlin 1894 .45 with a box of hot mustang loads. That's my one rifle, and it's a good'un!

Answer 2. An 1894c .357 with a box full of 158gr hollow points stuffed with as much 2400 powder as will fit in the case. That's my Ladywife's rifle, and it's a more practical and all-around useful round in an all-around useful barrel length.

I recommend the .357 to anybody asking about this idea, or about any levergun at all. "Try the .357 before you decide! I'm sure you'll love it!"

and get a same-chambering sidearm for it, preferably a Ruger.

Gryphon

Slick · Post by **Slick** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:48 am

My Miroku copy of the Winchester 1886 take-down is far and away my nicest levergun. It's the last gun I'd ever consider selling.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:42 am

Winchester Model 92....for me
and its big brothers 88 and 71
But by the sales numbers...winchester 94 in 30WCF

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:17 am

1. Winchester Big Bore - 307 Win.

2. Marlin 1895G or Winchester 30-30.

In that order.

Johnny

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:23 am

M92 .357

Followed by the 1886.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:01 am

#4 Marlin GS, which is a 336 variant.

I'd like to say the Browning 1886 SRC,
but it's too fine looking to add dings to it.
Plus I still don't have a rear sight on it. ;(

Grizz

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:38 pm

Winchester 1894 and variants, by far.

The 44 mag Trapper spends the most time in the truck on road trips, camping, etc. Next in line is the Winchester 55 30 wcf. Those are my go-to guns for sure because they are light, small, and cheap to shoot.

For hunting it's a different story - a 71 or 1886 - but that wasn't the question....

Elkhunter1 · Post by **Elkhunter1** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:42 pm

I believe the king is and shall remain the 1886 by John Browing. I have one circa 1897 that is still as fit a fighter as my most modern factory rifle. Amazing to think the first one was carved from wood and sold for pennies on the dollar. It's a Wi nchester by name but a Browning at heart.

My hats of to you John, you designed a beauty.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:46 pm

Number 9 is #1.

I eyeballed an 1893 vintage 1886 .45-90 last weekend, but had to pass at $2500. Mint bore, refinished but not sanded wood, 45% case, 70% blue, but WRENCH marks on the octagon flats at the receiver. Dang, that ticks me off.

tman · Post by **tman** » Tue May 20, 2008 3:47 pm

got to agree withC.CASH; the bigbore 94's ROCK!

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Tue May 20, 2008 6:13 pm

HRH, Winchester 94 in .38-55 -

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:53 pm

Bruce Scott wrote:HRH, Winchester 94 in .38-55 -

Beautiful rifle. But I noticed the tags on it. Never fired? If so then it's really a virgin prince.

mad mucus · Post by **mad mucus** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:01 pm

Marlin '94CB Ltd .45 Colt

Mucus

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:03 pm

It's a shooter. That's the sellers photo and it had been fired before I got it.

Shoots great! Very mild recoil and excellent accuracy.

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:13 pm

My favorite that I own is my Win 94 30-30.

My three favorites that I would like to own some day are a Marlin guide gun in 45-70, a Win 1876 in 45-70, and a Browning 1886 45-70. I also wouldn't mind a Win 1873 in any caliber.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:12 pm

Gryphon Black wrote:Two questions here.
one is, which do you grab on the way out the door because you need to shoot something, and you really need to get the job done?
the other is, which is the best design for choosing for that purpose?

Gryphon

While I love and own many different leveractions, the answer to both of your questions, is my older steel framed Browning BLR 81 in .308 Win with a Leupold 2x7 scope. It's been my go to gun for close to twenty years, because it works no matter what the conditions, from a running buck at 20yds, to a standing coyote at 300yds, and everyting in between and beyond. It has one of the very best detachable box magazines ever engineered into a sporting rifle, and still has an exposed hammer, and the handling qualities equal to about any leveraction ever made. And it will feed and fire everthing from 180gr Win. Silvertips (my favorite for this caliber) to South African Military surplus Ball ammo, without a hitch.

crow · Post by **crow** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:08 pm

Winchester 94 Big Bore. My favourite amongst a wide range of great lever cartridges. Truely a shame that it has been dropped as a chambering when there are so many lesser chambering still available. I'm not saying its the best, (though it is hard to beat) its just my favourite.

I am intriqued by the 450 Marlin. Thats definitely going to get a look in the very near future.

And like many of you here, the first centrefire I ever shot was a 336 Marlin in 30/30. That started a lasting love affair.

Cheers
Troy

Bluehawk · Post by **Bluehawk** » Fri May 23, 2008 7:23 am

It would be too hard to figure on one that is the best or favoritw since I shoot and use a lot of mine regularly .
IF I had to whittle it down to one , and since the 45/70 is my favorite cartridge id have to say my Marlin VERY early made 1972 , 1895 Ballard cut., would be the one i'd use the most and keep above all others.
Considering I have 9 other centerfire levers all of which I love and shoot regulary its a hard choice.

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:32 am

Win. M94 in 45 Colt.

Hands-down and no question about it.

OJ · Post by OJ » Fri May 23, 2008 10:59 am

Great thread and great guns - all.

This is mine - Winchester 95 Hi Grade 30-06 (made by Miroku in 1995 as commemorative)

The day it arrived -

Love my levers but this one is special - 25 th anniversary gift from wife three years ago (OK - so I did locate it for her - it's a husband's job to be helpful to his wife).

HaroldB · Post by **HaroldB** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:03 am

My Rossi M92 - .357mag.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7245364

BTW - Have a great Memorial Day

Slick13 · Post by **Slick13** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:40 am

Only have two levers, a late 50s 94 in .30-30, and a 2005 .25-35 Model 94. Pictured here with my 03A3

Of the levers, the .25-35 gets the most use so I guess it's the king.

~Michael

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:02 pm

The Marlin 45-70 here is the king for me.

will2002 · Post by **will2002** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:52 pm

While I have a couple that are larger, and a couple that are smaller, my model 2294M Winchester has been my go to gun for nearly 30 years.

I have carried that old gun in my tractors and pickup trucks for a million miles, and would be lost without it.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Sat May 24, 2008 6:29 am

I would have to say for me it would be my Winchester 1892 in 32-20. Although my Marlin 45-70 has taken more meat than the 32-20, But my Winchester 9422 get the most range time....

POLL: What's YOUR King of the Leverguns ?

model 71 ---(clone of 86)