Hunting with a lever action rifle

[gaddy]

First deer was with a 30-30 when I was a kid. Second was with a 32 with a heavy octagon barrel. Then I inherited my dad's 06 and have used it since. The 06 is worn out and I have taken my 30-30 as a back up but have to put a rubber band on the lever to keep it from rattling. Last time I shot it it is shooting rt pretty bad. Thought about scoping it but it is a top eject. I loved my in-laws marlin 30-30 that I shot a few times and told him I wanted it if he ever got rid of it. Sold it with out telling me, cheep, Figured out then what he thought of me 

[Fl0und3rz]

I shot my very first deer, a NH whitetail, with my grandfather's 1945 M94 .30/30.  I also killed 8 or 10 whitetails in Wyoming with it, great gun for stillhunting the riparian woodlands.  My uncle also killed his first deer with it.  My grandfather had mounted a 2x Redfield extended eye relief scope on the barrel, I took it off and only used the original buckhorn sights.  Have not hunted with it in WA, but hope to again some day.

I shot my first NH buck with a model 94 Sears Winchester with just the standard iron sights.

That was the first rifle I hunted with here in WA.   Now I have a 1895 GS, which I like for the thick stuff.  Good out to about 150-175 yards.

[jdb]

I've hunted with a lot of lever guns, but only taken one deer with one. My favorite is the Win 88. I had one in 308 but I really wanted to find a good deal on a shooter grade 358 Win. I used a Guide Gun in 450 Marlin on a deer with great results at about 70 yards using a 440gr hard cast handload. I had a 444 and 45-70 too that I never got anything with. I did get a coyote with a Savage 99 in 300 Savage at 125 yards.

For a classic lever gun like a model 94 or any of the Marlins, I think you'd be good to 150 yards with any of the available chamberings. In something like a Savage 99 or Win 88 I'd say 400 is doable as long as your gun shoots well.

Working on a mod 71 in 348 Ackley Imp.  Should get pretty close to 35 Whelen performance which might be good for 600 (chip shot for your cannons).

color me jealous!

[jdb]

My first deer was killed with my Winchester model 94 30-30 pre 64. the last 27 or so with my Browning BLR 243, being left handed lever actions were a natural.

you look very familiar. I’m pretty sure or paths inhale crossed at some point. Also great rifle and buck!

[Old Man Yager]

Shot my first 2 deer witness a Marlin 30/30. Held 7 rounds in it, RAPID FIRE !!!

[PolarBear]

I hunted for years with an old Marlin 30-30 that my Uncle gave me.  My favorite lever gun now is my antique Savage .250-3000.   I have killed probably 100+ coyotes with it but just recently decided to use it for deer.  It was passed down to me from and older cousin.  It belonged to her grandfather and was his favorite deer rifle.  It was a little rough when I got it so I stripped it down, re-blued it, refinished the stock and ditched the ancient Bausch & Lomb scope.  Now it is one of my favorite rifles. Last year's blacktail didn't like it so much. 

 

[jdb]

I hunted for years with an old Marlin 30-30 that my Uncle gave me.  My favorite lever gun now is my antique Savage .250-3000.   I have killed probably 100+ coyotes with it but just recently decided to use it for deer.  It was passed down to me from and older cousin.  It belonged to her grandfather and was his favorite deer rifle.  It was a little rough when I got it so I stripped it down, re-blued it, refinished the stock and ditched the ancient Bausch & Lomb scope.  Now it is one of my favorite rifles. Last year's blacktail didn't like it so much. 

 

thats one classy rifle!!

[TheGreenHunter]

The wood stock on all these lever actions look awesome.


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[Fl0und3rz]

  and

[yorketransport]

The wood stock on all these lever actions look awesome.

So you're saying the tactical version isn't your style?

[grundy53]

The wood stock on all these lever actions look awesome.

So you're saying the tactical version isn't your style?

That's a California AR lol

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[DOUBLELUNG]

I shot my very first deer, a NH whitetail, with my grandfather's 1945 M94 .30/30.  I also killed 8 or 10 whitetails in Wyoming with it, great gun for stillhunting the riparian woodlands.  My uncle also killed his first deer with it.  My grandfather had mounted a 2x Redfield extended eye relief scope on the barrel, I took it off and only used the original buckhorn sights.  Have not hunted with it in WA, but hope to again some day.

I shot my first NH buck with a model 94 Sears Winchester with just the standard iron sights.

Sweet!

[birddogdad]

yes when its raining and windy, my go-to option 45/70 lever

[Furee65]

Used my Savage 99 in 358 Winchester for my 2018 elk at about 200 yards and my Browning B-78 single shot lever in 300 H&H at about 50 yards for my 2017 bull.  Both elk went less than 10 yards after the shot and were stone dead by the time I got to them which is always a good feeling.  Hopefully I will get lucky this year and draw a tag for spring bear,deer or elk and be able to use my newest Model 99 in 300 Savage. 

[Bwana Bob]

Shot my first rifle deer in NY with a Marlin 336 in 44 mag. They were originally built on this action until they built the Marlin 94, smaller action. I traded a cut down M93 Mexican Mauser in 7x57 for it. I put a Lyman peep sight on it and could pick off beer cans off a fence post @ 75 yd with it. I used 200 gr Hornady hp in it that were loaded with a Lee loader hand tool. This was my first try at hand loading, I was 17 yrs old then.
I've made one of my best and luckiest shots with it on my friends gut shot buck. We trailed this buck in thick brush and when he ran out toward me, I shot him in the eye as he ran by at 40 yd or so. Big luck for me that day.

I still have this rifle but it has sat in my safe unfired since 1984 when I moved here to WA state. I need to get it out again before I get too old and can't see the open sights anymore.