Lever guns

[wraithen]

I really like em and wanted to know people's experiences with accuracy of pistol and rifle cartridge levers. What can I expect in accuracy for each? Im guessing the rifle chambered ones will go farther and flatter, but out to what distances with factory ammo? Same Q for the pistol cartridge ones.

[JimmyHoffa]

I like old-timey levers, but you can get modern levers like the BLR that can handle .270/.30-06 and type crtridges.  Just as fast and flat as the bolt guns, and some will say the accuracy matches too.  The savage 99 hosts a few moderately fast rifle loads.  But most lever guns have a rainbow trajectories, some of which is being eliminated using Leverevolution(?) ammo.  The pistol ones have some good hunting potential with chamberings like .500 S&W or .454 casull.  But I feel the .45 colt and .44 mag ones are more range queens or rabbit shooters than big game blasters.  Personally I like big bore levers like .45-70 and up.  I kind of feel it you are going to shoot close range, might as well not hold back on the lead.

[wraithen]

That's why I'm asking. I'm trying to justify a lever action as my big game rifle. All I'm really looking for is something that I can shoot a solid softball sized group out to 200-250. If I need to go farther I'll have a bolt gun for that. The big bores and the pistol cartridges are just a completely unfamiliar category to me.

[JimmyHoffa]

The range you are asking for softball groups would likely be tough for a .45-70, but a .45-90 or .50-110, maybe the .450 marlin might.  But when you chunk that much lead out there the drop from 200 to 210 yards is noticeable.  A buddy lets me shoot his .45-70 carbine and the recoil is not bad like I expected.  It was accurate enough for me, but I just don't know that I'd go to 200 or 250 yds with it.  I guess if you got comfortable with it you could do it.  Heck, old timers could shoot deer in the head on the run at 800 yds with a .30-30.  I would look into find a cartridge to your liking and then seeing if there is a lever alternative.

[jyerxa]

I think it is all in the shooter. I had my 44 mag six shooter and was out shooting some guys one time who had an old 357 lever action at 100 yards. I've always wanted a 44 mag lever. 

[wraithen]

Thanks a lot jimmy. I think you validated my suspicion that I really want a savage 99 in .308 win or a blr in the same. I'm a huge fan of cheaper trigger time due to milsurp anyway. Now that I've made up my mind I gotta start drooling over various furniture options for each. Those are big amounts of lead flying out and I'm not worrying about recoil much, ever seen a lever with a muzzle brake? Mwahahahahahaha. On a serious note though thanks for weighing in mr hoffa.

I may have to get two though. One for close and one for farther. I've got a full fledged gun addiction now. My wife's fault for telling me she wants venison in the freezer next year.

[JimmyHoffa]

I've seen BLRs with BOSS on them and even brakes installed afterwards.  Also seen some ported big bores like guide guns.

[jackmaster]

good ole 30-30 in marlin or winchester is tough to beat and plenty capable out to 200yrds, or the 300 savage in lever action is also a fine gun, are you wanting to stay with open sights or are you mounting a scope on it as well. i used a 30-30 marlin with open sights until i got back from the military and my wife and dad bought me a ruger #1 in 30-06, its also a lever gun but its a single shot falling block, most accurate pure shootn gun i have ever shot

[grundy53]

Check out either the .308 marlin express  or the .338 marlin express. I have a model 1895 chambered in .338 marlin express and I love it.

[Glockster]

Hornady is making some great extended range ammo for 45/70, 450 Marlin, 30/30 called Leverevolution or something like that. 

You should look into the .338 Marlin and 308 Marlin rounds and rifles.  Those are supposed to approximate the ballistics of 308 and 30/06 rounds at 200yds-300yds. 

[gotshot]

Model 94 30-30 with open sights is the best brush gun I have.

[wraithen]

I'm not planning on putting a scope on it at all. I'm more accurate out to 300 with iron sights than I am with a 3-9x scope for some reason. I figured since I was an ok shot in the army I'd be a sniper with a scope. Now I'm a bit more humble about it    What's BOSS? Leverevolution isn't very cheap. I wanna have thousands of fun booms a year with this gun and if I gotta pay over .50 a round then I won't wanna pay to play.  I actually thought about the .308 marlin until I realized that it's an attempt at the .308 win and won't work with milsurp. and if I was a reloader I would def be getting a .338 
30-30 appeals to me a lot actually, but I need to study the cartridge a little more. Haven't even priced it out yet.  Never knew so many ppl had lever guns. If it weren't for the fact that cabelas was selling them I woulda bought a 99 this past sunday. I know that for every penny they bought it for though they're prolly selling it for 2 or 3.

[boneaddict]

Model 94 is probably the best gun you could ever have.  Just the historical part of it is enough to make a person want to own one.   Its not rocket science, its whether or not you can shoot.  Its like going grass roots.

[wraithen]

Are the newer 94's just as good as the old ones? You guys are KILLING me! So many new ideas!

[Miles]

Model 94 is probably the best gun you could ever have.  Just the historical part of it is enough to make a person want to own one.   Its not rocket science, its whether or not you can shoot.  Its like going grass roots.

 

Although for a modern gun the BLR is nice.  I've got one in .243 and have taken quite a few bucks with it prior to ever mounting a scope on it (growing up I wasn't allowed to have a scope mounted on any rifle till I shot a few bucks with open sights).  I hated it then, but looking back...it wasn't such a bad idea.  I actually was thinking about taking it  out here in the near future and giving it a go with open sights again.  There's no easier way to shoot a buck thats moving fast in timber, than with a lever action and open sights (IMO).