The Accurate Reloading Forums
What is your favorite lever action rifle?
19 November 2003, 10:13
Iron BuckWhat is your favorite lever action rifle?
My favorite lever gun is the old Savage 99. I own 2 in 300 savage and would like to get 2 more. One in 250 Savage the other in 358 Winchester. What are your favorites?
[ 11-19-2003, 01:36: Message edited by: Iron Buck ]19 November 2003, 10:24
Pecos41Iron, I have to say I'm partial to the Marlins. No doubt the savage is strongest but a couple of things about it I don't like. One, it's a HEAVY action and two is the pitiful "camming power" for chambering ammo. I've seen several hunters have serious problems in the field because of this.
19 November 2003, 10:35
Iron BuckI here you on the heavy action LOL. They do have some heft to them. I have never had problems with ammo, but then I do not hand load and only use factory stuff. I just like the compact hammerless design.
19 November 2003, 13:21
WyocowboyshooterI don't have a whole lot of experience with levers, but I have owned a Browning BLR for a year and a half now, and I LOVE it!!!! It's an '06 and It has never had a factory round through it. It will shoot sub MOA with everything from 110 V-MAX to 220 RNs. I have an older 1.5-4.5 Weaver on it. Its the 81 model, with the straight grip and the steel reciever.I have handled the newer ones with the aluminum frame; they would be nice for packing around all day, but I prefer the weight the steel in my gun provides. Used it last winter to cull an injured Bison, and it does the job!!
I also have a little experince with Savage 99s, but being a bigger fella, they are a bit small for me to shoot comfortably. Amazing how a poorly fitting gun in 308 Win can feel like you are touching off a 5 lb 338!!!!
Long live the lever guns!
19 November 2003, 13:57
t1885b1895 Marlin in .40-82WCF, 1893 Marlin in .38-55, 1892 Marlin in .32L and .22, Savage 1899 in .250 Savage.
19 November 2003, 14:48
artyMy favorite would be my guide gun.
19 November 2003, 15:20
BuzzI love my Savage 99 in .308 Winchester. Of course I really like my 444SS and my Guide Gun also. I am a lever action freak - I have 8 of them in my safe
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
19 November 2003, 16:55
Dr. DucI love the Savage 99. I've loved the look of it since I was a kid. I own 6 or 7 of them in cal from 22HP to 300 Savage. I have one takedown that is a switchbarrel in 22-250, 250 Savage and 300 Savage. It shoots MOA with all three. I won't tell you how much I have invested in that little project but I could have bought a nice Dakota for the price. There is one more like it 'cause Henry Cheatham built mine and one for himself at the same time. He sold his for a bunch of money the year he died.
19 November 2003, 17:24
AtkinsonI have a couple of Sav.Mod. 99's in .308 and 250-3000 and I would never part with them....
I also have a couple of 30-30 carbines and a 25-35 rifle that have been wigh me since before I was born, hand me downs from way back.
I still hunt with these guns...
19 November 2003, 17:31
Mickey1I only have a couple but love my '86 in 45-90. Someday I would like to shoot a Bison with it.
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
19 November 2003, 17:46
rootbeerThe only one I own: a Winchester 1894 in .32 Winchester Special my dad gave me for Christmas 2001. It was manufactured in 1910 and he bought it as boy when he was about 12 or 13 back in 1942. It cost him $30 and it took him a year and a half to earn and save the money to buy it. He tells me it has claimed many, many deer and countless squirrels and rabbits. He gave it to me back in July 1975 when I was 17; I finally took possession of it more than 26 years later. When I moved to NV last year, we had a discussion as to whether it was going with me or not. He still thinks it's his; I put forth that he gave it to me at Chrstmas, remember??? It went with me. I was out there a month and got laid-off; it's back home now but will go with me again in the Spring.
19 November 2003, 18:35
salinea m99G in .300 savage, also favorite of all my rifles.
19 November 2003, 18:50
12.9x50.8jdjHello all,
Well Ive always been a handgun man. BUT .. I must say I am wanting a Marlin 1895 45/70 in a big bad way. I would like to get it set up for heavy 500gr loads. Anyone out there ever mess with this?
Happy shooting
Fred
19 November 2003, 20:02
Bad Ass Wallace1874 Sharps 50/70!
19 November 2003, 20:05
Dave JamesMine would be the Take down 86' in 33 wcf, for der and black bear ,but for just knocking around its the 92 44-40
20 November 2003, 09:43
KMuleinAKmarlin lever in 50 Alaskan - 18.5" barrel, hard chromed in satin, nice wood, fire sights - seven pounds - four in the magazine, one in the pipe - 450's @ 2050FPS or 525's @1900FPS - recoils nicely
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
KMule
19 November 2003, 22:21
TomSAVAGE 99. Mine is in 300Sav. Love it!!
19 November 2003, 23:16
flyloMarlin 1895M in 450Marlin,Great gun & cartridge!
19 November 2003, 23:23
John Y CannuckI Have a '99 Savage, a BLR, several '94 Wins, a '92 Win, and an 1886Win.
It would be damn hard to part with any of them, but I think the old '94 is closest to my heart.
20 November 2003, 01:08
arkypeteWinchester 1886 take down in 45-70, soon to be replaced in my heart of hearts a Winchester 1895 in 30-06, now, rebarreled to 375 Whelen.
Jim
20 November 2003, 02:57
HobiePre-crossbolt Marlins. Unfortunately, I am without one at present. I do still have my M94 in .30-30 made in 1943. It has been restocked (when I got it it had a modified 2x4 stock and no, not highly modified
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
). However, I only paid about $50 for it, in trade. I added a Williams Foolproof Receiver Sight. Sub 2" at 100 so I'm happy.
20 November 2003, 05:15
pickMarlin, any of them from the 39A to the 1895
Current possesion
1894S - 44mag
1895GS- 45/70
20 November 2003, 09:48
Iron BuckHere is a picture of my favorite 99 while we were out for a "walk" last deer season
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
The buck that made this rub is a beautiful 12 point that lives on public land. I had seen him at 25 yards.......but I already filled my tag in archery..so I had to watch him run off! I did fill a doe tag that day with the old 99 in 300 Savage.

20 November 2003, 10:00
RiflemanZMy favorite levergun is the Marlin 1895 guide gun in 45-70.Coming in second is my Marlin 1894 44Mag levergun.Marlin makes some nice guns.

Top pic is 45-70,bottom is 44Mag,both carry Leupold 1x4 20mm vari-x II scopes.
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
20 November 2003, 10:27
jbmiTake your pick
Savage 99 in 358
Win. 88 in 308
Win. 88 in 338-08
Win. 94 in 30/30
Win. 64 in 30/30
Marlin 336 in 35rem.
Marlin 39A in 22.

Here are my three favorite deer rifles, the Model 64 is my walk about, the other two will sit with me in my stand.
[ 11-20-2003, 01:30: Message edited by: jbmi ]20 November 2003, 11:32
Deputy AlFavorite? Tough question.......the Win 94 in 25-35 is incredibly accurate.......Win 73 in 44-40 is just so cool to shoot, and has verified historical usage......I'll cop out here, and say that my favorite DESIGN is the Marlin pattern, and I wish like hell they would re-start the 1894 series in the old hyphenated calibers. 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40. 218 Bee, too. While they're at it, the 336 in 25-35, 32-40, and 38-55 would be a nice touch.
20 November 2003, 12:42
KMuleinAKjbmi - nice collection!!!! Here is a photo of Pepe (the little mule) -

- the 50 alaskan cartridges, from the left, are loaded with a 435 hard cast, a 450 jacketed, a 600 grain fmj, then a 50 ak empty case, and on the far right is a 338 win mag empty case - usually plink with the hard cast and hunt with the 450 jacketed Kodiak - experimenting with the 600 fmj, grouping is good @ 50 yards at approximately 1700 FPS - full to shoot - KMule
20 November 2003, 13:28
SwanyIt is a dilemma, though I would go with my 336CB in 38-55, then there is the .357CB, and of course the old (1949) 336A in 32Win. 39a that is rusty but could not pass up in a tag sale, lets say I robbed her. All marlins, have owned a share of the the 99s and win94s. Ithaca 22 and 22mag. Very briefly a marlin hammerless in 30 carbine.
21 November 2003, 07:35
mokiMine would be a Marlin 1894cb 45 colt. Use it for Cowboy Action shooting and deer hunting in British Columbia, Canada. 300gr Hornady XTP's give me clover leaf groups at 50 yards.
Cam
21 November 2003, 11:04
sambubbaI have an original BLR in .308 Win, a model 81 BLR in 7mm-08, a pre-64 Winchester model 88 in .308 and a 1937 model Savage 99 in .300 Savage. I like them all and it would be very difficult to choose a favorite.
21 November 2003, 12:26
Blackhawk44Let's see: for great fun my
Win 9422
Marlin 94CL 25-20
Marlin 94CL 32-30
Navy Yellowboy 38Sp
Win 94 44mag
Win 92 44-40
Marlin 444
Browning 1886 45-70
Browning 1896 30-06, but when it has to get done
Browning steel BLR's in 223, 257R & 308.
21 November 2003, 14:02
David ThomasThis one is easy!
A pre cross bolt Golden 39A!!!
Mine was made in 1982
also have a nice mountie model 39
Number 2 would be the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 govt.
Number 3 marlin 1894 cowboy competition in 45 colt.
David
21 November 2003, 22:35
Ol BullMy Marlin 336 38/55
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
22 November 2003, 01:12
turfmanHi guys.
I have a sort of soft spot for levers. I have 13 levers at present; and the newest one was made in 1950. Its a savage 99eg in .300.
My favorite though is a model 95 winchester. Its a carbine in 30 40 krag. The rifle was mfg. in 1915 and my grandfather bought it in 1918. In 1948 it was given to my father; and in 1986 was passed to me.
The gun looks horrible. It only has traces of bluing left, the top wood met its demise in 1957 and is no longer a part of the carbine, the forearm is also cracked and repaired, and the buttstock has more craters than the moon.
I was going to have it restored by Turnbull; but Ihink I'll leave it the way it is and when I pass it to my children hopefully they will look past the cosmetics and realize the family history behind it.
Turfman
22 November 2003, 07:36
New Pig HunterMy two lever actions are:
1) a 3-year-old Winchester "Trapper" in .45 Colt, with red dot sight, used for pig hunting.
2) an older top-eject Winchester BigBore94 in .375 Winchester. Very nice because it shoots both .375 Win and .38-55 Win. I've set it up with both a scope mount and a red dot mount.
Cheers,
Carl
22 November 2003, 10:34
recoilpadWinchester Model 94 in .25-35; accurate and hardly any recoil.
22 November 2003, 11:44
Kenneth DagenhartMarlin 336c. It has taken a lot of deer since I started out as a kid. If I can ever get some bills paid off I will have a 45-70.
22 November 2003, 12:22
AtkinsonRecoil Pad,
I love the 25-35 Win...it was my first gun and I killed deer and elk with it back when..It worked if used right..I still hunt deer with it quite often...
22 November 2003, 13:25
WyoharrisThe Savage 99 in 300 Savage that my Grandmother bought for my Grandad in the early fifties has a big soft spot in my heart. But I just got a 99 rebarreled in 260 that looks like it has potential to make a run at 2nd place. Nothing in the world is handier than a Marlin 30-30, and mine is scary accurate, just doesnt go out much....
22 November 2003, 14:52
Chuck WhiteI have three!
Marlin M-444P in 444 Marlin
Marlin M-1893 in 38-55 (full octagon barrel)
Marlin M-1894 in 357 Magnum
I think I'd have to say my favorite is the 444!