Levergun crazy!!!

[Thebear_78]

Since finding out my son was left eye dominant I have been on a Levergun buying frenzy. What started as a good excuse to by a few new guns has gone out of control.

I've added to the safe....

Marlin 336 30-30
Marlin 1895 45/70
Ruger 96/44 44 mag
Savage 99 358

I've even caught myself coveting a few winchester 94s and a marlin 1894 44 mag on a few classifieds lately.

Is there some sort of "lever fever"? Cause if so I'm afraid I've caught it.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Called RADD buddy!!

 

[DrMike]

Oh, yeah, lever fever--it is baaaaaad, baaaaaad, bad! Once it gets its hooks in ya' you'll never be free. What a miserable, delight malady.

 

[gerry]

Looks like you have room for some M 94's in 307 and 356 Win plus a 336 35 Remington then there are the BLR's...........

 

[Thebear_78]

Something just feels right about a peep sighted lever gun. Classy, traditional, and handy. They shoulder and point like a fine English side x side. I just wish I could shoot irons as good as a scope.

 

[Thebear_78]

A m94 in 356 would be sweet!, but so would a plain Jane 30-30. For some reason that old 30-30 cartridge looks better every time I see it

 

[Rigbymauser]

...all I can say I miss a lever actioned rifle in my safe...Maybe one day...

 

[gerry]

Have to say the same thing, I just saw a 307 Win advertised yesterday for $450 which is a fair bit less than they usually seem to go for, can't buy it right now but that would be pretty sweet slinging 170 gr Partitions at 2400-2500 fps. The 356 is really nice too

 

[DrMike]

A m94 in 356 would be sweet!, but so would a plain Jane 30-30. For some reason that old 30-30 cartridge looks better every time I see it

Two Model 94s chambered in .307 and three chambered in .356--would I buy another? Oh, yeah, in a heartbeat.

 

[Thebear_78]

Does the 356 use the same dies as a 358 win? I've heard their only difference was the rim.

 

[DrMike]

Does the 356 use the same dies as a 358 win? I've heard their only difference was the rim.

Yes, and the .307 uses the identical dies as a .308.

 

[Thebear_78]

That's what I was thinking. The 35/30 wildcat is pretty interesting too. It's a good way to revitalize an abused 94 in 30-30 or 32 special. Loaded with trail boss and cast 357 bullets it might make for a dandy bunny gun too!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have left eye dominance and shoot right handed. My largest issue is with a shotgun. I shoot with a scoped rifle just fine and shoot left eyed with a revolver.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a few lever guns...don't hunt much with them anymore. Just saw some pics of one of the Big Horn Armory's 89...a .500 S&W, which actually makes more sense in a carbine than a revolver as the ballistics get a nice boost with a barrel. Kinda drooling over it now.

Spendy.. but they look nice.

 

[Thebear_78]

I saw it too doesn't hurt it was leaning against a 10ft bear. I have eyed them myself quite a bit myself. They are very impressive looking and I would love a 500 Smith lever gund, the last time that I seriously looked at one I figured out it was cheaper to have a marlin bored out to 50 alaskan.

 

[Thebear_78]

another good shot of the rifle.

at 2500+ those big hornes are very pricy. You could buy a new marlin and have it converted for far less.

The 50 alaskan will beat out the 500 s&w across the board

 

[DrMike]

That is a fine shot. I have no doubt that lever guns can provide enough punch to drop the big bruins. This is no ten foot bear, but he was a respectable mountain grizzly dropped with a .356. The first shot broke both shoulders at about 140 yards, anchoring the bear.



I wasn't shooting 250 grain Kodiaks that day; rather, I was shooting 220 grain Speer Flat Nose bullets. Out of six shots, I only recovered one bullet, the coup de grâce delivered from about fifteen feet and passing through the hump and down the left paw. The bullet was recovered under the left front foot pad. While one friend contended that I didn't use enough gun and that this particular grizzly just didn't want to live, the cartridge performed well and gave me considerable confidence. I still like the idea of rapid follow up shots a smooth lever gun affords.

 

[Dwh7271]

Bear,
Levers are a hoot.
Something appealing about them.
You could always pick up an older 30/30 and AI it. :grin:

 

[Thebear_78]

I've seen a lot of 94s. That had really rough bores. It would be easy enough to Rebore to 35/30 and reclaim a fine hunting rifle.

I'm my opinion the only way to improve upon the 30-30 in a lever gun is to step up in caliber

 

[DrMike]

I'm my opinion the only way to improve upon the 30-30 in a lever gun is to step up in caliber

True, dat.