What is the best lever rifle made? and why? and what would you tell the manufacturers to improve their products ie a wish list. Thanks
RLI

and also give me a 16 inch barrel in the marlin 357...

Marlin, because of their design-strong, durable, accurate and easy to put a scope on, if you desire.
Improvements:
1. LOOSE THE CROSS BOLT SAFETY!!- I like the tang safety on the winchesters, so go that route if you have to keep the lawyers happy.
2. Offer stainless steel in all calibers, particularly the 357's...
3. Make 'em all with ballard rifling-get rid of the microgroove

OK,
that's a start

dave

Wish List
Browning BLR in .376 Steyr (All steel Belgium made would be nice)
Winchester 1895 in .303 British and all calibres with factory peep sights, rubber butt pad, and sling swivels with barrel band.
Winchester 88 with improved trigger
Savage 99 in .223Rem

a couple more to come
RLI

RLI

In my opinion it is the Winchester 1886 in 45-70 with a 26 or 28 inch Octagon barrel. Just a real beauty to carry and shoot.
I also love the model 71, but i also like the 94 and the 92 and the 65 and occassionally the 88 and the Marlin 336 and the '95 and of course the '73 and the henry and the Spencer if you fudge and call it a lever gun and the and and and and.
Frank

For sure dump the crossbolt in the new ones.

I'm easy if it says Winchester, or is of Browning design, I'm happy. I like the 1886, the 1895 and the 92. These three rifles should cover most critters that walk this continient and most critters that walk on the rest of the world.
Don't think I'd like carrying all three at the same time though.
Jim

The '86 and it's little clone the '92

Best lever action ever made:
Savage 99

Wish List:
I wish they would make this rifle again, with the Rotary Magazine and bring back the 250 Savage to go along with the 358Win, 308 Win & 243. Maybe even the WSMs

My favorite is the Winchester 71.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

Hard for me to pick a "favorite" make of lever rifle--I have at least one example of most makers' products in the safe. Having a 99 in 250, the poster who mentioned that rifle in 260 Rem was INSPIRED. THAT would be one hell of a rifle.

I already had my "dream" lever gun--and sold the thing, like a damn fool. It was a takedown Savage 1899 in 25-35 WCF, and I got it with the idea of having a series of barrels made up in 30-30, 35-30, 38-55, etc. Although I made a ton of money on the sale, I truly regret selling that old tool.

The best is the marlin guide gun or the copilot by jim west of anchorage .Juan

Savage '99, I saw one made into a takedown and even it looked excellent.

M-71!

I don't know if it is the "best" or not, but I like the Marlin 336/1895 the best.

I like the 1886 best

Marlin 336 SC in 35 Rem. gets my vote. I have a Win. pre '64 94 and the action sucks compared to the Marlin.

The best...Savage 99
Most practicle would have to be a Marlin.

Wish list, Savage 99 rebarreled for 450 Marlin.

Savage 99, rotary mag, in 30-30 (as used in my youth) Wish list? 35 Rem. and 250/3000. All 99s by the way to be solid frame. Drilled and tapped for scope.

Much as I appreciate the History of the Winchesters
and like some winchesters a great deal, for most practical use I've gotta say the Marlin 1893/1936/36/36A/336/444/1895M
is the better firearm.

And while some would jump out and say the (late) Savage 99 was chambered for the 308 and 358Winchester the Marlins were chambered in the 356Win (same cartridge same PRESSURE but with a rim)

The Browning BLR is "interesting", but it isn't the same...

Frankly if Browning would chamber the BLR in 338Winchester Magnum I'd simply have to have one,
but until then....

a Stainless steel 1894C? another carbine I'd simply have to have....

Yes, Marlin calls them rifles, but in my opinion it isn't proper to call any firearm chambered for a PISTOL cartridge a "rifle"
"carbine" is a more proper term regardless of barrel length.

I also have difficulty calling a firearm chambered for a RIFLE
cartridge a "carbine" if it's wearing a barrel 20" or longer.
(To me a Winchester 94 or a Marlin 336 chambered in 30-30
is always going to be a RIFLE unless it's wearing a barrel SHORTER than 20")

AllanD

I have to go with Marlin 1894 as my fav. I love my .44 mag, and still have a need for one in .357.
Improvements?
Offer all calibers in a 16" configuration, add a tang safety and a carbine style checkered aluminum buttplate. I think those damn rubber pads stick to clothes when you snap them to your shoulder.

To plink a Marlin 357, to hunt a Savage 99, in 300. Old school I know, but they work.

Alan

You can pick up a BLR in 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag and have it re-barreled to .338 win mag or .358 Norma mag or even .458 win mag. Z-Hat custom works on BLR's and it would be an easy project.

My pick is the BLR because it is the most modern and can shoot the heavy magnums all with spitzer bullets. Scope is easy to mount, true side ejection, detachable box mag, 60 degree throw lever, rotating bolt that locks up in the front,folding hammer safety, very good fit and finish.

The best is my Marlin 1895GS in 45-70. Don't change nothing! Dennis

Marlin 1895 GS

1886 Winchester in 50-110

Hawaian_Hunter:

I can forgive you for failing to realize that the 45 moved better than your load (as in 45-90) but I really cannot forgive your ignorance in Latin! It's " Illegitimi non carborundum est!" Heck! I knew that -and I never took Latin!

I like mine:

If I had responded to this post a few days ago I would have said the Winchester 1886/Model71 Levers were the best ever made. I have felt this way for over 35 years.
I have almost bought.. An original Model 71 348 [35 years ago] or one of the new Browning 348's, or one of the new Browning 348's or 45/70's too many time to count.

However a BAD THING happened to me a couple of days ago.
I shot Mike Brady's of North Fork Bullets Model 1895 Winchester in 405 at the range.
I shot some cast bullet loads and some factory loads.
I had always heard the 405 recoil was painful.
?????? Not so.
Always heard the rifle was clumlsy, not so. I liked it.
The next day we went prairei dog hunting. Mike took his 1895 in 30-40 Krag and I took the 405. I shot a few rounds out of the 30-40 and 46 factory hornady 300 gr rounds out of the 405 at prarie dogs.
We hit 'dogs from about 85 yards to 145 yards. The 405 is hard on a 'dog for sure.

I really like the 1895 in 405.
There is a takedown 1895 in 405 in my future for sure.

#1.) BROWNING BLR short action 358,7-08

#2.) SAKO finnwolf 308

#3.) WINCHESTER mdl 88 ...284

#4.) SAVAGE 99 250, 300

why? all smooth actions, for quick follow up shot (if ever necessary!)not to mention pride of ownership, and the natural feel when brought to the shoulder.....nice!

BLR
Obvioiusly you like the "newer" made levers. Have you shot a Winchester 1895???

I will say that the 250/300, 7-08, 284,. 308 and the 358 are excellent hunting calibres.

just once at a range in 30-06 , top eject, and the lever "throw" seemed a tad far and not as natural to me as the more modern guns that "spoiled" me...but the 405 looks interesting from the TEDDY R era....but seems I read somewhere it was not really as effecient to MR Roosevelts Africa or S america trip...otherwise it balances good in ones hand, and in aiming...I hunt mostly where the animals mostly hide, and need a fast dependable handler.....

OH yea, one more thing! UNLESS you are hunting MT GOATS any shot over 300 yards is not HUNTING!!!If you cant take the shot get closer!our grandfathers didnt have all this high power this and that...lets push putting the "HUNT" back in HUNTING...more kids are getting turned off to high recoil magnum crap, and are not being started properly in this country...some of you remember shooting 22s in high school-as a course?...not to mention the hunter safety training stuff!! ......I went to the local fireworks display on the fourth, and some of the kids (6-7 yrs old)"didnt like the LOUD NOISES", and were crying...the "mothers" held them against their chest- instead of showing them it was ok to watch and enjoy like the rest of the people and kids...our future seems like a sad PC senerio...

I would rank the top three as follows:
1. Win. 86/71 - basically the same gun; John Browning's finest design.
2. Savage 99 - w/ the rotary mag.
3. Win. 88 - if it weren't for the mushy trigger, I'd put it no. 1. In all other aspects, an excellent design and made of quality materials.

The Sako Finnwolf gets honorable mention. Sorry, but the BLR doesn't even come close to any of the above.

The model 92 winchester is possibly the finest lever ever made.

Levers, however have gone by the wayside as bolts have totally eclipsed the market.

DPhillips

VERY NICE.

I just can't seem to warm to the bolt actions disguised as leverguns, so the useful 88 and BLR I'd rule out, even if the triggers were fixed.

It would be difficult to pick between the 71 and it's fine .348 chambering and the 99. In the later, the .358 would be great, but of the 99's I've handled, the old ones with the rotary magazine were tops. One in .300 Sav could keep me happy as my only gun, but I still think I'd take the 71 -- and I'm glad I don't have to make that decision!

(Were it not limited to low pressure, black powder loadings, the 1881 with its low parts count would be my pick.)

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
DPhillips

VERY NICE.

Thanks. Fred Zeglin at Z-Hat did the work.

DPhillips
What caliber? What game have you taken with it?

quote:

Originally posted by gerrys375:
Hawaian_Hunter:

I can forgive you for failing to realize that the 45 moved better than your load (as in 45-90) but I really cannot forgive your ignorance in Latin! It's " Illegitimi non carborundum est!" Heck! I knew that -and I never took Latin!

jerry jerry jerry, starving for attention I see, your momma not give enough love as a child?. You admit to your lack of an education, and your comments reflect your totally lack of ballistics knowledge especially 45/90 vs 50/110, and your general lack of understanding the laws of physics. Come back and post again after you've studied Latin for 3 years, done some research, and finally have something actually possitive to contribute or you'll only continue to come across as an insecure ignorant know-it-all wise ass.

Hawaiian Hunter:

As in an amusing commercial by the Chairman of Mercedes Benz/Chrysler running currently where he says to the kids: " It's a joke!" I meant no insult about your Latin (except to kid you). (We can argue about the ballistics later) Geez! Is there something about that tropical air out there that riles you people up?