Pre-war Marlins, without a doubt.

I started with a Marlin and still love them overall. My most used Levergun would have to be my 39 Mountie. What a tack driver and so compact and handy but with just enough heft to be a steady platform.

Ever since I saw the movie Death Hunt as a kid I knew I had to have a Savage 99. My first was a very early 99 TD in .22 HP with a stith mount and Weaver 440 scope. Because it was never taken down due to the scope it is tight as a drum and a real tack driver. Then I got a 99EG which I absolutely love, especially with the redfield receiver sight. Lastly, I got a 99 in .308 that is factory DT'd for scope bases. That thing is scarey accurate. Hard to beat an accurate .308 no matter what the platform. It and the Mountie would be the ones I hang onto if the herd had to be thinned.

Can't say I ever met a "quality" levergun I didn't like.

I have 3:
Marlin 94, .357 Mag (practical)
Win (Miroku) 92, 44-40 (fun)
Win 71, .348 Win. (powerful)
Hard to pick a favorite but if I must it would be the Win 71.

Browning/Win M1886, .45-70

I guess I'll play--what's NOT to like about lever guns??

I'm presently "caretaker" of the following:

99s
-1929-vintage take-down 300 Savage
-late 50s 358 Win
-early 60s 300 Savage
-70s 308 Win carbine

Marlins:
-model 1881 in 40-65
-36 square-bolt in 30-30
-336 in 35 Rem
-model 94 in 410 GNR (41/454)by McPherson
-model 94 in 41 Magn-virtually new/for sale
-model 94 in 32-20
-model 95 Guide Gun

Winchesters:
-model 9422 (long rifle)
-model 64 in 30-30 (a "gentleman's" rifle)
-model 94 carbine in 30-30 Ack Imp
-model 71 in 348(what else?)
-model 88 carbine in 308 Win
-model 88 rifle in 308 Win for sale

Repro Winchesters:
-model 71 in 450 Alaskan by Forkin
-model 71 in 348 Win
-take-down '86 converted by Turnbull to 475 TB

The two I'm fondest of are the original 71 (saved my bacon from a charging grizz) and the Marlin 94 in 410 GNR (MOA accuracy to 250 yds, easy to carry and it's accounted for a LOT of game)

Nobody asked for my opinion, but I'll offer it anyway: one should never even think about scoping a 36, 336, 71, 86, 92, 94 (Marlin or Winchester)or 95 Marlin. It's OK on 88s and 99s if they've been factory d&t'd. Any questions?

Dave Manson

Until recently, I would have answered my 94 centennial (yeah, weirdo here - I like the crossbolt safety). But, every time I take my Savage 99 to the range to work on getting it sighted in, I like it more and more.

Mine is my Marlin XLR in 450M

And a close second is my R92 in 45 Colt...


But I only have the two

Hard one to pick!!—1895 Winchester .38/72, WCF-1895 Winchester .30-06
1895 Marlin .45/90 Extra-long Barrel, Winchester Model 71 .348WCF

I have to say that the one I have the most fun with is my 1860 Henry replica.

Have owned every model of Winchester including the shotgun,probably half a dozen Marlins,several Savages and even a couple of Whitney's and one Burgess. My favorite of all was the Model 71.

Winchester model 71 .348 Deluxe. (Grandpas "meat-stick". Mine now!! Tumbled many a Black Bear DRT!!

50 B&M Alaskan M71

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
50 B&M Alaskan M71

Very nice rifle! But the pica-rail.....

Martin

1. My Browning BLR 81 in 358 Win
2. My Marlin (JM) 1895G Guide Gun.

quote:

Very nice rifle! But the pica-rail.....

Thanks Martin, yes, the pica rail! Gives many more sighting options for a rifle that is not
so easy to scope. I don't care much for the forward mount scopes, field of view at close range is piss poor. But, when one needs a little help over the irons, it is a good option. Also, one can mount a forward red dot of some sort as well. Options--that is what it is for. Much past 25 yds my iron sights are not working with these eyes so good anymore.

Michael

If one likes the Marlins, here is one in 50 B&M Alaskan as well.

Winchester 1895 takedown in 405 WCF.

Let me also add that Doug Turnbulls Personal 1895 in 475 Turnbull, fit me like it was made for me. I am ashamed to say how many times I fired it, but it is one sweet rifle.
Recoil was a non issue.
Accuraccy at even extended ranges was impressive.

IF, I was a lever action freek [and there is Nothing wrong with that], I would have one.

Wow....those 50 B&Ms are beautiful.

My fav is a 336 Cowboy in 38-55. Oh wait...it is my only lever!

I am so underprivileged!

When I was kid in elk camp, we hauled horses and mules from our West Texas Ranch to Colorado every year and stayed until everyone filled out on elk...The old men mostly used Mod. 94 Win. in 30-30, one uncle used a 30-40 in a Mod. 95 Win and another uncle was my hero, He use a magnum rifle called a 300 Savage in a mod. 99 Savage..I recall at age 13 saying someday I would own such a powerful rifle, it was an awesome elk killer. I never got around to shooting an elk with the 300 Savage and only a few deer, but my 99F in .308 took its share of elk for a few years..My how things have changed since those early days..but that 300 Savage of Uncle Elbas killed elk about like my .338 does today as a matter of fact..hit one in the lungs with either caliber and he runs 50 to 100 yards and dies. What really makes me wonder is the 25-35 did the same thing on elk?? they just ran a 100 yards more often perhaps.

I like my Marlin's! I own a 1972 model 39a, a 1976 model 336c in 30-30, and a 2002 model 1895g in 45/70. All are equipted with skinner peep sights. I'm looking to add a 1894 44 cal. to my collection.

If I hadn´t said it I´ll say again.

Winchester Model 1886 + the copycats of the model.

I've had several lever guns over the years. My two favorites are an early 1980's Marlin 444 SS and a steel framed Browning BLR in .308 Win. I enjoy these two the most because they are reliably accurate, as well as fun to shoot. The accuracy of the BLR blows me away. It is very rare if a 3 shot 100 yard group is not under 1 inch with factory loads that it likes.

I like my 1930s Savage 99 take-down in .22 Savage High Power, cased and retailed by mantons of Calcutta. It was owned by Captain Gordon, a Scot in the Indian Army, and came back to Britain with him in 1947 when India gained independence. And it will group to 1.5" at 100 yards with open sights!

Good on ya'. Nothing better than an historic rifle with appropriate irons.

Best regards,

Dave Manson

Winchester 1876 deluxe in .50-95 1st.
Winchester 1886 deluxe in .50-110 or .50-100 2nd.
I've owned many but for the last 20 years it has been only double rifles. At times I dream of yesterday and miss the express lever rifles.
Cal

Hello

I have played and hunted with alot of the levers. browning blr 300wsm, Win 86, marlin 1895gg, and a WWG master guide gun in 50 Alaskan. My favorite by far is my Browning blr rebarreled to a 416 Ruger by Wild West Guns. With a 20" barrel it will fire 400gr bullets at 2325fps, 350gr at 2450fps, and 300gr at 2550fps. It is very slick and fast from the shoulder!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFV_iE1vm1k

The last of the great quality leverguns, Model 71. Put a Turnbull base w/ Burris FastFireII and you have a very excellent hunting rifle for most game withn reasonable ranges, JMO

I've had a lot of leverguns over the years, but one model has eluded me: a really nice Winchester Model 64 in either .30 WCF or .32 Special. There's just something about the combination of features in that Winchester that adds up to perfection in my eye.

Of course the Savage 99 wins this contest.
Best looking, accurate, excellent quality and chambered in cartridges for any varmint or big game in the lower 48.

Just a few:

1894 Marlins and just about any brand 1892.

Steve E..........

.45-70: That is a just a real nice collection of Savage 99s you have there. What's the one on the top of the bottom photo? Love that scope and mount. I have one from the late 1940s in .250-3000 and with the Lyman peep rear sight, but it has that darned 1:14 twist that makes it marginal with anything over 100 grains.

I don't have anything to show in this thread. My goodness we've seen some beautiful lever guns Marlins Savages and Winchesters.

I forgot to post my favorite, and missed giving credit to Browning for their fine work.
My favorite lever is the model 39 marlin in 22. It currently wears a 1-4 power scope but may end up with the Williams peep that mounts in the rear scope base holes. Add an appropriate front sight an perfection is reached.

Mine is the BLR b/c of the detachable mag. and myriad caliber actions and take-down options and synthetic options. The engineers can and should build a BETTER BLR. The triggers stink, a few apparently have headspace issues, and factory support is inconsistent, at best. But there are my go-to gun for darn near everything.

Now that boy from Colorado with a BLR in 416 Ruger sure has come up with a winner, I can't think of a better buffalo or elephant rifle..Why didn't I think of that??

I hear a lot about bad triggers in the lever guns, and no doubt that is a truism, but if you shoot them enough, you can overcome a sloppy trigger in any rifle, you just have to work at it and figure it out..A spongy trigger in a 99 has zero effect on my shooting, same for a Win. mod 94....

Marlin 39 .22 RF
Marlin 336 30-30
Browning BLR 450 Marlin

Favorite is the 336. Shoots well and easy to carry. For total fun, the .22 can shot all day.

Thanks Ray! I have been enjoying it.

94 Winchester in 30-30 or 32 Special. It is slim, light, accurate enough, holds 7 and the perfect saddle gun. For any other application there are better choices than any lever action. Bolt guns are more accurate and handle big thumpers, Double handle really big thumpers, semi autos & pumps are as accurate and follow up shots are faster.
State of the art in 1873, living on nostalgia in 2013, but pretty

My favorite is my old (1930's) Model 94 in .32 Winchester Special. When I was young I wanted my dad to get me an Ithaca Model 49 single shot, but he always said we have enough .22s. Now that I am older, I have a Model 49 and a Model 4922 repeater.

Marlin 1894, 44 Mag. -- Short, light, reliable, and 10 rds. I like that it shoots the same caliber as the side-arm. This gun is often referred to as the "redneck assault rifle."