HI,

I am truly surprised,same question on lever forum and the African forum has been the one with more replies and very good answers,Kev

I'm just glad it wasn't me who started this thread

I don't think it's a question of lever actions, so much as the calibers available for it, and the ability to affordably customize and accurize them the way you can a bolt rifle.

While I know Teddie took his, there is also a certain romance and tradition that accompanies a fine double or express bolt rifle.

I like levers myself, but mostly for plinking or rolling rabbits.

Just my opinion.

Kev

I would like to owna lever gun from Turnbull restoration in 50 express. But I would not take it to Afrika and hunt DG.

I would take it to BC for browm bear

There is atime and place for everything.

Some call it style

When in Rome do as the Romans

http://www.turnbullrestoration.com/index.html

Cheers,

Andr�

This topic has been beaten to death on these Forums.

If you want to use a lever action rifle in Africa, please, go for it, you don't need our permission or approval.

I don't believe that there is any real HATRED towards lever action rifles, they have earned their place in many hunting areas around the world.

They are at their best at short range in thick cover when hunting thin-skinned game.

I own several lever action rifles in .308 and .45/70. I love to hunt whitetails and wild hogs with them, but they will never go with me to Africa.

Given the costs of African safaris, daily rates plus trophy fees, I will leave the lever actions at home and take a pair of high-powered, bolt-action rifles that give me the advantages of better ballistics, longer range and better accuracy.

If you want to accept the limitations that lever actioned rifles and the calibers they accept impose on your hunt, more power to you. You have my blessings!

I think you summed it up quite nicely. I love my lever guns and would give just about anything to own a Turnbull. My favorite lever gun is a Win 94 I turned into a 38/55 with a 26" Badger barrel and beautiful American Black walnut feather crotch.

But as you said: "when in Rome..."

Personaly for me I cant imagine hunting Africa without a nice bolt or double rifle.

I took a lever gun with me to Africa and everyone loved it. It was a favorite of my Father's and I was determined that his favorite gun would get to go even though he was long since passed away.

It was a M-92 Winchester in .25-20....great little gun for Duikers.....and nobody on this forum gave me a ration of crap for using it.

Certainly not for Cape Buffalo however.

Kev,



I think you might observe strong reactions to levers on the African hunting forum sometimes for 3 reasons.



1. Some advocates of levers and the calibers in which they are chambered are promoting them as being more effective than more powerful cartridges in bolts and doubles. This little bit of fantasy was humorous the first 10 times or so, and now it's just tiresome. In point of fact, most lever action rounds are entirely unsuitable to thick skinned dangerous game hunting except for those who wish to add a greater element of danger to the hunt by using a sub-power cartridge. A hot loaded 50-110 with monolithic solids is not what most of these guys are promoting. And let's face it, levers are not available in the same calibers as DG bolts and doubles. Some of the DG calibers you cannot get in a lever: 375 H&H, 404 Jeff, 416 Rem, 416 Rigby, 450-400, 458 Lott, 450 Nitro Express, 450 Dakota, 476 Nitro Express, 505 Gibbs, 500 Jeffery, 500 A-Square, 500 Nitro Express, etc.



2. Some advocates of levers are also pushing the absurd and debunked myth that cast lead bullets will stand up to to shots on heavy bone and penetrate just as deeply as a quality modern solids. This cup of witch's brew has taken on religious proportions.



3. Some advocates of levers are trying to force them down the throats of those of us who have already had their fill of levers. Maybe there is an element of class warfare to this. Personally I have owned plenty of levers and some were fine and some were not. My two Marlins in 45-70 would not feed reliably, so I was not too impressed with them. I might hunt deer again with a Win model 88, but you will not see me betting an expensive African trip or my life on a lever. I just do not have confidence in them.



That being said, I don't hate levers and I still own one. Just because I do not want to hunt buffalo with one, please do not jump to the conclusion that I hate levers. They are an interesting novelty for playing with, but I do not use them for serious hunting. If you want to, that's fine too.

I couldn't care less about lever guns or the .45-70.

Given the opportunity to hunt Africa for the fifth time, I don't think I'd waste my time and money doing it with a .45-70 (or a WSM or a single-shot).

For those that do, more power to them.

George

HI,

Great answers, I to feel that with Gods help to go to Africa, would keep my shots under 150 yards with my 50-110,I would bring my 416 Rigby with me also.I really thought I would get the heck beaten out of me for this post,Kev

HI,

I hope this topic will stay civil.I have been on this forum for some time and always enjoy it as I learn all the time here from my brothers on this great forum.I have seen what I would have to call is a hatred of levers which really kicks in on the African forum, by the way it is a great forum.Maybe it is me and I have misunderstood, but many their hate levers for hunting their,Africa,just because it is a lever. This puzzles me , as a round from a lever is just as deadly as the same round from a bolt. I understand the CRF,but if a firearm is reliable what is the problem,many use push actions.
As soon as lever is mention it is no good?, I like levers,bolts, doubles,if it works and one is good with it does it matter. My thinking is the round in which one is using is what really counts and many here must understand levers have been lifted up a nock. They are stronger, and powders and bullets are better,so what is this hatred of levers that I see and I know many others see the same thing?,and now there are many new and bigger rounds that are being put in levers and many know that, but it is still a lever? To be fair I ask this same thing on the lever forum so I thought I would ask here so maybe it would help me understand better,I am not trying to stir the pot Thanks,Kev

HI,

Man are you right,my honest intention is to understand why the lever is so unlike here. I understand the reasons for CRF and my last rifle custom by MR. Brockman was a 416 Rigby on a cz action.With the bigger rounds being placed in levers I just think they should not be discounted,I am not trying to start trouble,but learn why one action is okay but other is not,even if that action works fine,Kev