Lever actions to stay away from ?

[BigSlick]

I'm trying to figure out which of the currently available options to concentrate on finding in .357, .41 Mag or .32 Mag.

After looking around the web, I see a lotta lever action mfrs are out there and I have zero experience with almost all of em.

I've owned Winchester and Marlin guns over the years and don't remember any quality/reliability issues with either. But, there are a bunch of other lever actions out there now.

I'm not a brand snob, I just want reliability. I see Taurus makes (made ?) a few, I've read mixed reviews on them. Rossi makes a few, but the reviews of most that I have read indicate it might be better to pass on those.

Can anyone recommend a lever gun for something under a grand that is actually available ? I don't mind searching the net and shows etc.. but if there is another brand to look for in my search, it will open up some more options.

All I'm gonna use it for is to shoot cast at da range and maybe some baygall hunting for hogs

Pedigree isn't important, just function, reliability and the ability to shoot cast (well).

I don't really want to go to a different caliber, unless I can find a revolver that matches, and .44 Mag is not an option cause I just don't shoot .44 Mag. I got .41 Mag an .357 Mag on the low end, and da 500 Mag on the larger end, so a .44 Mag wouldn't fill a hole in my lineup.

Suggestions or ideas ? Especially what to avoid or stay away from ?

[AlPackin]

heres a really nice .41 Marlin but it's already $125 more than I paid for my NIB .44 back in the fall ... and the reserve is not met :confused:

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=130269418

[AdamN]

Dont know about its true value, but for a 32 shooter this would be pretty sweet.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=130273999

[AdamN]

Just my personal taste but I always thought a Lever gun should be straight gripped, blued steel.

The Marlin cowboy series with the cut rifled barrel are pretty near it for me

[Boge]

Slick, the new Marlins are very good. Me, I like the Ubertis because I shoot BP 44-40 loads. NOTHING will feel as silky smooth as a toggle link lever action. When tuned they lever like butter.

[AlPackin]

Just my personal taste but I always thought a Lever gun should be straight gripped, blued steel.

The Marlin cowboy series with the cut rifled barrel are pretty near it for me

oh yeah Adam, I didn't notice that wart on the stock, pistol grip I guess? .... just figured they we're all straight like mine :yikes:

[Pitmaster]

I have had zero problems with my Marlin 1894 in .357. They are probably the most popular lever gun in SASS. Great plinking. Price isn't bad either. One reason besides accuracy and quality that they are popular is the side ejection vs top ejection. Otherwise your cases may end up on top of your cowboy hat.:animlol:

[Sixgun Symphony]

You should consider the traditional chamberings, .44 WCF (.44-40), .38 WCF (.38-40), and .32 WCF (.32-20). They're especially good if you shoot blackpowder as the thin case walls will expand to seal the chamber from blowback, thus much less fouling than straight wall cartridges.

BTW, the .32-20 has greater case capacity than the .32 H&R Magnum. I don't know why H&R produced their propeitary cartridge when the .32-20 was available.

[Jayhawker]

I don't know why H&R produced their propeitary cartridge when the .32-20 was available.
It's so that people with .327 Federal Magnums would have a "Special" to shoot.

[Mogollon]

I have a couple of the Rossi lever actions, one in 357 and one in 44 magnum. Both have rough actions out of the box, but both are absolute tack-drivers! Deburring the actions and swapping out the springs for one of the cowboy spring kits smoothed the actions significantly.
After about 50K rounds the 357 Rossi no longer feeds 38 Specials reliably, but that is the only "failure" I've encountered.
To the best of my knowledge, only Marlin ever offered a 41 mag lever actions, and they made two small runs of them.

[Brass Nazi]

Just my personal taste but I always thought a Lever gun should be straight gripped, blued steel.

The Marlin cowboy series with the cut rifled barrel are pretty near it for me

Those cowboy series guns are nice.

Personally my lever gun allegiance belongs to the Savage 99.

[alank2]

Hi Slick,

I recently sold my 1895G and replaced it with a 44mag Marlin 1894SS:

http://home.earthlink.net/~alank2/1894done1.jpg

Here is my first time out with it using factory sights:

http://home.earthlink.net/~alank2/1894ss_trg.jpg

I've always had good luck with Marlin levers, but that isn't to say that other companies don't make good levers too.

Good luck!!

Alan

[io_joe]

I'm curious as to what a decent price is for the 1894 Cowboy in 32 H&R. I think my local shop has one. Knowing the shop, it's likely way overpriced.

[CZ93X62]

There is a CB 32 Mag in one of the local shops with a $699 price tag. It has sat since ~February, so that might be a clue--almost every other kind of firearm is flying off the shelves since the election.

I think it would be very difficult to beat a Marlin 1894 levergun in the calibers Slick mentioned in terms of value received per dollar spent. The Brazil Nut leverguns often need internal finishing when new. As for the 32 Magnum Marlins, they are NOT built on 1894 receivers, but appear to be a beefed-up Model 39A. I don't know how much over SAAMI specs I would run one of those examples in 32 Magnum. The Uberti rifles I've seen have been VERY smooth right outta the box, esp. the '73s. Dunno how much I like the idea of a toggle-link action in 357 Magnum, though. The Win 92 or Marlin 94 seems a lot more comfy with a caliber name that ends in "Magnum". To me, at least. My "32 Magnum" rifle is a Marlin 94 CCL in 32-20, and it can stay right with the 30 Carbine safely and beats it for accuracy--significantly.

[Rollis]

My dealer has three lever guns on his shelf an old Marlin .357 in nice shape, a 44-40 that is a Winchester, that is ok. they are both under $500. Then there is the used but very nice Browning in .270, but I bet it cost a little more.

[DssG19]

My vote is for the Marlin 1894c .357. Mine has run flawless. I shoot 80 % .38 spcls and it's the best plinking gun I got.

[gjk5]

Another vote for Marlin. My 94C feeds .38's and .357 with no problems and is a fun little gun to shoot.

The 125's can be made to zip outta one of these and you can go up to 180's (haven't tried any myself yet, gotta box of XTP 180's that I haven't loaded).

FWIW Slick, I got mine in anticipation of a hog hunt too coming up in fall hopefully.