So, while I'm not exactly looking to get a levergun right now, I'm leaning towards one for my next purchase. That being said, I'm not sure much about which ones are particularly good, if you can find any good deals on used ones, etc.

Ideally, I really like the Winchester 94, but I don't think I've seen one for less that $1000, and honestly, for that price, I'd rather just get an M1A.

I think I've heard Henrys are good, and I do like their look, plus the price is better. I know they make the best model of the AR7, but know nothing else about Henry's "Quality-cost ratio".

I know that with Marlins, it really depends on how old they are, I think the more recent ones are bad, and I've heard some of them have a tendency to ignite primers in the mag tube.

 

Rossi, heard they're cheap and "ok", but that one of the other companies would be better.

Also not sure what would be a good round to get it chambered in. I suppose .22 would be fun for a plinker, but I'm also interested in some more potent rounds as well.

FWIW I LOVE my henry! Made in America or not made at all! Actually in NJ for that matter

 

-Rich

FWIW I LOVE my henry! Made in America or not made at all! Actually in NJ for that matter

 

-Rich

 I want to support the made in America, but I hate to support NJ.... so conflicted.... haha.

 

Yeah, so far I'm leaning towards either a used Winchester, or a used Henry.

I have a Henry Golden Boy .22LR - Love it.

I have an older Marlin 336..not remington made..love it...accurate and smooth handling..an absolute blast to shoot..Im a big fan of the 30-30 catridge which combined with the 336 gives you a nice easy to handle and accurate rifle with plenty of stopping power..like others have said avoid the newer "remlins"(I believe remington took over production in late 2009.check marlins owner forum for exact dates)..shop around and you can grab a nice used one.

What is its purpose. Do you want a larger caliper for hunting or just a fun gun? If you want fun get an older model marlin 39 or a henry. Maybe start with a 22 lever. Out of all of my rifles the lever action i enjoy the most. I ve had one a few months after i turned 18. And still my favorite.

Henry 22 magnum lever would give you something more potent than 22 lr, and in 357 the rossi is fine for the money, and of course it also takes 38special.

Henry prices are a bit lower than Winchester and they are a high quality firearm.

 

I don't know anything about the new Marlins but I do have two older ones made in the 80s and 90s, a 1894 in 44 mag and a 336 in 30-30. Rounds going off in the mag tube is a result of using pointed or fmj bullets instead of a flat point bullet like all manufacturers and loading manuals tell you to. This is not a phenomenon unique to Marlins but can happen in any tube fed magazine.

 

Rossis are cheaper than other guns but to my experience they are a quality firearm. I have a Rio Grande in 30-30 and R92 in 357. These have become my favorite centerfire lever guns that I'm going to sell the 1894 and 336 Marlins.

 

OAL is probably the biggest factor in feeding with too long much worse than too short. My Rossi 357 feeds all 357s and 38s I have fed it but it does have a problem feeding 38 wadcutters. I don't consider this to be much of a problem.

 

Nothing beats a Henry in 22 AFAIC. I got mine very slightly used for like $200 a couple of years ago.

I have 2 Marlin 336 in 30-30, made by Remington. They are junk. A Marlin pre-Remington with JM stamped on the barrel is a good gun. Winchester pre-1964 is better than post 1964. Winchester quality diminished somewhat after 1964.

A good used Marlin or Winchester can be had in the $5-$800 range. Henry makes a good lever gun.

I have a Marlin 336-C in .30-30 that's probably over 30 years old.  Action is so smooth I can operate it strong-hand only (no need to ride the horse while doing so, screamin' "FILL YER HAND YOU SON OF A B1+CH!" lol).

 

For Henrys I have a Big Boy in .44 Remington Magnum, which also takes .44 spls. all day long.  I gave my son his .22 LR Lever Action for Christmas more than a decade ago.  Now he has it in PA.

 

Friend of mine went on a Hog Hunt with his Marlin Model 1895 chambered in .45-70 using the light weight 350 grain bullet (they can have 405-500 grain slugs).  Very effective.

 

Everybody ought to own a Lever or THREE, lol!

 

Dave

Well if you can't decide you can try mine. I have a henry 22, marlin in 30-30 and 44 mag and rossi in 357 and 410

Oh and next one is a rossi 20" stainless in 454 so i can shoot 454 and 45lc

All good points. So far I feel like a Henry would be best, if the newer Winchesters aren't any good. I'm not sure what caliber to go with. Odds are, it would just be a fun-gun, though I did hear leverguns are excellent multi-purpose and SHTF oddly enough.

 

I bought a Savage MKII as my first gun in .22, and while I love how accurate it is, I have several times contemplated selling it to get a .22 levergun, simply because I find bolt action to be a pain to operate for such a short round. Basically, I feel like the action of raising the bolt, pulling it back, pushing it forward, and locking it is kinda superflous for a short casing. The action is so short, it just doesn't "Feel right" IMO. Hard to explain.

For me .22s are fun-guns, as I don't know how to skin/prepare a squirrel. One of the things I like to do is see how quickly I can operate a manual .22 for quick follow-up shots. I've seen videos of people just blazing some targets with a levergun as if it were an automatic, and it looks impressive, and fun.

Maybe I'll just look for an inexpensive, used henry .22 for now, and someday get something in 30-30. My buddy has invited me to go hunting someday (In PA), and as of now, I figured for deer, I'd just bring my VZ24 in 8mm mauser. But leverguns just seem like a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. Plus, I like "Wild-West" stuff, which makes me want a 30-30 or something more akin to what cowboys were packin'.

But is there anything else I should know about them?

Henry 22LR are a blast to shoot.  Very smooth action.  When looking for a larger caliber, I would seriously consider a large pistol caliber over the 30-30.  Had a 30-30, 35 Remington,45/70 and 38/357.  Used the 38/357 the most for deer hunting.

Henry 22LR are a blast to shoot.  Very smooth action.  When looking for a larger caliber, I would seriously consider a large pistol caliber over the 30-30.  Had a 30-30, 35 Remington,45/70 and 38/357.  Used the 38/357 the most for deer hunting.

 

I was thinking .45-70govt because "Go big or go home", but then I realized I'm not a hunter, so that's probably impractical, plus I don't even know what that ammo costs. But it sounded badass hahaha

 

 

Only time I would consider a 45/70 again would be for a Shiloh Sharps "Quigley".

 

BTW, the 38/357 is a great companion to the Ruger SA New Model Blackhawk in the same caliber.

I have a Rossi lever action in .44-40. Close to 15 years now. No problems with it ever. Other than the expensive and sometimes hard to find .44-40 ammo. Fun gun to shoot.

Kaiser, I've been shooting seriously for over 45 years. There is always more to learn.

We have a Henry Golden Boy. It's a nice rifle and great for plinking and squirrel matches. We also have a Rossi 357 which cost less than the Henry 22 and is a good gun. It looks like a Red Rider BB gun, but this thing is light and accurate, and after break in it's pretty smooth. I also bought a video from Steve's Gunz to "hotrod" the rifle, which involves machining some parts to slick it up a bit. It's a nice project but I haven't had time for it yet.

If you can afford a Winchester or an Uberti go for it...I can't.

What is your budget? Used Win 94 cost a lot less then new ones, but if you want pre 64's you are probably looking north of $700.

 

Doesn't Mossberg also make a 94 clone now?

my brother had a .444 Marlin back in the day (gold trigger... mesmerizing to a young lad) Gorgeous gun..Very powerful load,   that said , i am in the market for a 30-30 Win. or even .22 ..I like the slim levers myself .. if anyone looking to sell ... yeah yeah , i'll post in WTB 

I passed up such a great deal at Oaks, there was a mid 1960s (I think, might have been 1970s, but it was still pre-remington)  Marlin 30-30 for around $425 in very good condition and I didn't get it.  I am such an idiot...

I passed up such a great deal at Oaks, there was a mid 1960s (I think, might have been 1970s, but it was still pre-remington)  Marlin 30-30 for around $425 in very good condition and I didn't get it.  I am such an idiot...

ah , nice ... thanks MartyZ

Old Marlin 30-30s are everywhere. Even a few Winchesters now and then.   A trip to any PA gun shop will find a few on the shelf.  Lots of diamonds in the ruff.  Got to know what you are looking for if this caliber is your choice. Often thought about a pair of Ruger Vaqueros in 45 Long Colt with a 20in barreled Henry.  I go lay down until that feeling goes away. 

What is your budget? Used Win 94 cost a lot less then new ones, but if you want pre 64's you are probably looking north of $700.

 

Doesn't Mossberg also make a 94 clone now?

Do they? I have no clue. That would be good. I imagine they could make something good for a reasonable price. I dont have a set price, because im just trying to learn more now. Ideally less expensive is better, but a good deal on a quality rifle is king. In other words, I want to research to see what prices are, so i know a good deal when i see it.

Honestly if i could get a rough action, and can get my hamds on tools, I'll build one/ restore one. I could use a summer project for when schools out.

Check on the hunting forums (like NJH.) About five genuine Marlin's have sold there in the last five months, all for less than $450 each. Big-bores like the .444 & .45/70, and .30-30's and .35 Rem. Caution: they go quick.

Do they? I have no clue. That would be good. I imagine they could make something good for a reasonable price. I dont have a set price, because im just trying to learn more now. Ideally less expensive is better, but a good deal on a quality rifle is king. In other words, I want to research to see what prices are, so i know a good deal when i see it.

 

Their website is MIA but check this out: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mossberg-Lever-Action-Centerfire-Rifle/1225325.uts

 

It also comes in not-pimp. Search for Mossberg 464, it is a handsome looking gun in blue/black and walnut. 

Or you can get the tacticool 464 spx

http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/the-mossberg-464-lever-rifle/

 

here's a 2008 G&A review of the Moss. 464