Getting your first lever action?

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:23 am

If you were in a position to act as wise counsel ,what advice would you give to someone who is interested in buying their first lever action firearm? What make? What caliber? What barrel length?

dkmlever · Post by **dkmlever** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:24 am

For the first one, How could anyone go wrong with a Winchester mod 94 in good old 30-30? It can serve you well in many ways, easy to find, not super costly, a real good choice for your first lever.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:43 am

OOHHH boy did you ever open a can-o-worms

What to get depends a lot on personal feel, some will feel good in your hands and some wont, barrel length will also affect feel because a longer heavier barrel will make the gun slower to swing but steadier to hold in most cases, but a short heavy octagonal barrel will do that too.

If you dont have experience with any other guns get a .22, both Marlin and Winchester are good but Winchester is only available second hand. Again feel the difference because they both feel very different to each other.

If you are an experienced shooter then there are dozens of calibers to choose from, from small pistol calibers to buffalo guns and also a heap of high velocity calibers like .22-250 through to .270 and 30-06 in some of the modern lever action rifle designs.

What do you want it for, plinking, hunting, target shooting. If its hunting, then what are you hunting and at what range?

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:45 am

What are going to use it for....Hunting or just for shooting? Budget?
For hunting...I would choose the Winchester model 94, pre 1964 30-30
20" carbine or 24" rifle.....Ammo for the the 30-30 is very common,
and cheaper than other rifle ammo
For just shooting...I would choose a rifle that is in a pistol caliber like 357 mag or 44 mag...there are many choices. Some others are 32-20
38-40, 44-40, 45 lc, 41 mag...and a few more...
and with hot loads you can use some of them for hunting too!

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:46 am

hard to go against that advice. however, that assumes the person will be bent towards hunting. Would have to know the intended purpose. For plinking a model 39 or winchester 9422 in 22lr. For general purpose plinking, SASSS and hunting for the non reloader, a .357. For a reloader, more inclined to hunting, the 30-30. For a person set on hunting some bigger stuff, a 45-70 (preferrably an 1886 Browning, VBG) in any of the Marlin, winchester or browning variants. If the person has one of the pistol cartridges, they may want to marry it up with a similar lever in 32, .357, .44, .45, or blackpowder equivalents of 32-20, 44-40, etc. Too many variables in my mind to give one choice. I'm thinking though, perhaps the .357 may be the most versatile for "most situations".

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:47 am

I would recommend a Marlin 39A Mountie (pre-safety). .22 LR so lots of fun and relatively inexpensive shooting. No recoil.

OR

A Marlin 1894C (pre-safety) .357 Mag. An all-arounder if there ever was one. Perfect for the Eastern seaboard. One could substitute a Rossi 92 in the same chambering. Very moderate recoil.

OR

A Marlin 336T or Winchester 94 carbine in .30 WCF (.30-30) (pre-safety guns) Handloaded the .30-30 can do it all and these guns are classics. Recoil can be noticeable to some folks.

It all depends on your level of shooting experience.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:50 am

Everyone's got this pegged thoroughly, and I agree with all the thoughts here. So... the only thing I'd add is that I would REALLY, REALLY encourage them to make the jump into the first levergun, no matter which one they picked, then offer to help them get the feel for it!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:03 am

Not to beat a dead horse, since the others said much the same:

[what advice would you give to someone who is interested in buying their first lever action firearm?]
Go everywhere, and handle all makes & sizes, to see what floats your boat

[What make?] - Whatever answer step #1 brings

[What caliber?] - JMO, but .22 L.R. unless deer hunting, then .30-30 or .35 Rem

[What barrel length?] - See answer #1, but IMHO 16" - 20"

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:36 am

my first was a old marlin in 35 rem.I should have hung on to that one.
pete

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:45 am

Plain-Jane 30-30, either Marlin or Winchester 20 inch carbine is a handy thing to have. Winchester pre-64's are pricey--if on a budget don't sneer at a bargain POST 64-especially those made after 1972 or so. Winchesters, regardless of year made, always had good barrels--but some horrible looking receivers for a while. Except for the crappy cartridge lifter they used between 1964 to about 1970 or so, they functioned OK- that tin lifter can be replaced with a later, steel version. Marlins never had a pre-64 problem. Only lately have they put a safety on that thing that would be best served being shoved up some lawyer's rectum--but it's really not that obtrusive, and could be ignored if you like. Marlin, I think, would be best improved these days by dropping the checkering from their wooden stocks and forends, and going back to the look and feel of Grandpa's guns. Either brand, though, might just fit your bill. If you find a good buy, though, on a Marlin in 35 Remington, snap it up.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:53 am

Buy the .30-30 from Jim on the Mozambique thread. Rough looking, but I bet it shoots good...

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:58 pm

You need a .22 rifle. If you already have one in some other action, then get the .30-30 first, I don't care if it's a Marlin or Winchester. If you don't already have a .22, then get a 39A or 9422 first.

Of course if you get a good deal on one or the other, then get that one first.

Other than that, it will take a little more thinking about what you want it for, but these are universal.

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:30 pm

Let's see my first was a BLR 81 in .243 and the second was a 94 30-30. So I guess that is what I recommended.

Ray · Post by **Ray** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:35 am

Marlin 336 in either 30-30 or .35 Remington.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:18 am

Hey, lots of mentions of the 35 Remington today... good advice.

I would get a rifle caliber, then reload for it for plinking. It's better to have too much power than too little. More power gives you more range and a better trajectory. If you get into it a little more, then get the .357 or the .22.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:40 am

Hobie said pretty much what I'd say:

A .22 LR (Marlin, Winchester, Henry, or 'even' a Ruger) if you don't already own one in another action.

If you do own a .22 rifle, and already own a revolver in .32-20, .38, .357, .44, .45, etc, then a lever gun to match.

If no revolver, a .357 with 16" if you like to shoot, 20" if you haven't shot much. If you live in bear country or want more punch, .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .454 Casull in a short action, or .444 or .45-70 in a long action.

Then start saving up for the other seventeen you'll want to buy after you realize how fun they are...

Dirty Dan · Post by **Dirty Dan** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:17 am

357 Mag in an 1894 Marlin. Cans to squirrels to deer. You can reload it if you want, cheap if you don't.

Iron_Marshal · Post by **Iron_Marshal** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:02 pm

I posted pretty much the same question a few months ago and ended up with a .44 Mag Marlin 1894SS. I like big bore cartridges though. I intend on hunting with this rifle in thick brush and the handy, short barreled rifle, with open sights, is exactly what suited MY needs. Will you be shooting over long distances? If so, I'd go with a true rifle cartridge like the 30-30. The pistol cartridge .44 Mag is only good lout to 100-150 yards, open sights, depending on the shooter. If you plan on sending soda cans scooting across the range then I'd go with a .22. I wish you luck and the members at this sight were very warm and informative towards me. I wish you luck in your choice and make sure to post what you decide on...pictures would be nice too!

PPpastordon · Post by **PPpastordon** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:23 pm

Top choice, IMHO, is a .44 Mag for caliber and one of the Winchester 1892's that are being re-created now days for model. Again, IMHO, it is the most versatile of all calibers.
It can be used for varmints to elk with many stops in between. If you want a challenge for varmints try PD's at 2-300 yards!
It can punch paper close or far away. If I can take down those metal critters at 200 meters with a revolver, surely I can do pretty well with a lever action!
It can serve the HD role as well as any possible lever action. Some of the .44 Specials or some lower powered mags will do nicely - and without making over penetrating shots through all parts of your house and the house of the people 1/2 mile down the road - if the proper bullets are used.
That is more than enough of the IMHO stuff!

Grace and Peace

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:34 pm

I still have my first lever gun; a Winchester 94, 1977, 30-30, and it even has my name carved in the stock with a nice floral pattern(I didn't carve it but found it that way in a local gun shop many years ago.) It literally had my name all over it.

JP_TX · Post by **JP_TX** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:03 am

I sorta feel that buying a first rifle is a lot like buying a first boat or a first motorcycle. You should buy the biggest and best one that you can afford and that appeals to you viserally.

I didn't do that with my first motorcycle nor my first rifle, but I did with my first boat. Was better satisfied with the boat than either the rifle or the motorcycle. Lesson learned.

My first rifle was a Rem 700 ADL in 6mm Rem. The first year it was offered in the mid-60's. It was fun. I learned to handload for it, but I soon grew bored with it because, while accurate, it was limited by bullet selection as to what I could hunt with it. It was stolen in a burglary and I never replaced it.

Along those lines my first levergun was my .444 Marlin. An excellent choice if I do say so myself. With my .444 at the range, when asked, "What do you hunt with that?" I reply simply. "Anything I want!" and mean it.

I am better satisfied with the Marlin. Lesson learned.

505stevec · Post by **505stevec** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:52 am

My first was a Win 94 30-30 and I was so happy witht that rifle. In this day and age though I would recomend a Rossi .357 mag in mod 92. This liittle rifle is so versitile. you can shoot .38s for small game and .357.mags up to deer. with the .38s you can plink at very little cost. I think its a geat way to go for any beiginner.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:42 am

I mean no offense to anyone or their choice; and while I didn't do it either, this is almost not worthy of a discussion.

Depending on the age/size of the recipient, either a Winchester/Marllin .22 or a Winchester/Marlin .30-30.