One of my buddies called me a couple of days ago and asked me what I thought would be the ultimate bad weather, rough duty, dusty, sandy lever action rifle would be???...

We talked for a while, and I told him, in my opinion, that I thought a Winchester 1895, would be my pick.

I told him I prefered a Take Down version, but even the standard 1895 would be the way to go...

My Random Thoughts being, that the straight line magazine was a lot more reliable in extreme conditions than a tubular magazine.

Other thoughts are welcome...

My vote is for the Stainless BLR Takedown with the laminate stock. Similar to the 1895, really, but with a removable mag.

I don't see the problem with a tubular magazine - but then I've never thrown said equipped rifle into the mud/sand to find out. That said, I would prefer the takedown ease of the M336-type action over the Winchester - one screw and the action is disassembled for cleaning.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
One of my buddies called me a couple of days ago and asked me what I thought would be the ultimate bad weather, rough duty, dusty, sandy lever action rifle would be???...

We talked for a while, and I told him, in my opinion, that I thought a Winchester 1895, would be my pick.

I told him I prefered a Take Down version, but even the standard 1895 would be the way to go...

My Random Thoughts being, that the straight line magazine was a lot more reliable in extreme conditions than a tubular magazine.

Other thoughts are welcome...

1895 had too many parts prone to breakage.1886 would be a better choice.Truth is a browning BLR or a Marlin 1895 would be at the top of my list.

M1-A1 or M-14

or enfield Mark 4
the only lever that can come close is a Savage 99

Mine is a marlin XLR in .308 marlin. Its stainless and laminate so it takes the weather fine. I have a Leupold 2x7 on it and it takes the weather well also.

I also go with the stainless take-down BLR, the cartridge choices are many, and you could always have a 1-of-a-kind rebarell done...

I always thought the Win. 94 SRC was a rough weather gun that could take it all..My dad kept his in the barn in a saddle scabbard for 60 or so years before he gave it to me, whereupon it has lived in the floorboard of my pickup, like a million or so other 94s and 95s..and a simi truck load of Savage 99s..you really don't need ss and laminate or plastic stocks anyway, they be butt ugly!

Agree they are ugly and HEAVY but, the do not scratch and warp less than nice walnut. We are talking about our bad weather beater gun remember

In the days before SS was widely used in firearms, Winchester designed the model 71 and 348 cartridge for all those reasons. The 348 is a large heavily tapered case to provide easy extraction and good performance at low pressure. The locking lugs of the 71 were tapered for easier extraction in the event rust developed. They are still a pretty good option.

I have seen too many stopages with the Marlins to completely trust them.
Here is my choice - it can either be an 86 or 71

Especially in 50-110...

Savage Model 99 Parkerize the entire thing. Add XS sights and a Scout mount and epoxy paint all the wood and seal the interior wood with marine Varnish and I think that would be as good as you can get without stainless.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
One of my buddies called me a couple of days ago and asked me what I thought would be the ultimate bad weather, rough duty, dusty, sandy lever action rifle would be???...

We talked for a while, and I told him, in my opinion, that I thought a Winchester 1895, would be my pick.

I told him I prefered a Take Down version, but even the standard 1895 would be the way to go...

My Random Thoughts being, that the straight line magazine was a lot more reliable in extreme conditions than a tubular magazine.

Other thoughts are welcome...

1895 had too many parts prone to breakage.1886 would be a better choice.Truth is a browning BLR or a Marlin 1895 would be at the top of my list.

I must say, In all the reading of old time books, I have never heard of ANY incidences of where ANY parts ever broke on a Winchester 1886, [or a Model71],1892, 1894, or an 1895.

In fact at one time the Winchester 1895 was used by the Texas and the Arizona Rangers, almost to every man...

I like them! They also have the advantage of using 'pointy' bullets for better down range performance. Although, its tough to mount a scope on one.

Here is another to consider - The Chiappa Kodiak 1886 45-70:

Has anyone here tried one of these?

http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2083

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:
Here is another to consider - The Chiappa Kodiak 1886 45-70:

Has anyone here tried one of these?

http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2083

They looked pretty good at SHOT but after talking with a number of folks who had tried them the results were mixed due to quality control.

Would question the Mod. 71 for game at extended ranges as in the West, but having lived in Alaska some years ago, the Win. Mod. 71 in 348Win. or converted to bigger bore was indeed a treasured firearm for lots of folks. The '86 and '95 are both excellent lever guns, but that 71 by far and away has the best overall balance, "pointability," smooth operation, dependability of all of them to me. Own both the others and like them very much, but I am a big fan of the rifle and the caliber, 348Win. Rigged mine w/ Turnbull's base and Burris FastFire II and gives very good accuracy out to 200yds off hand or on rest. Short of falling off a cliff or running over it with a truck, don't believe you can make one malfunction. Just my opinion.

I was always a fan of the 1886/71 Winchesters.

I too like the 348 Win cartridge.
I have almost bought one many times.
Starting when I was still in High School.
Just never did...

However the first time I shot an 1895, it was in 405 WCF. It was Mike Brady's, and I was shooting prairie dogs with it in Wyoming.

Well, like many gun addictions that cannot be explained, I really took a shine to it.

I bought a few boxes of Mikes North Fork 300gr Softs for a 405, before I left for home.

I actually called a gun store in my home town in Texas, the day I left WY for Texas, as I knew they had one in stock, and had them put it on hold for me.

I also stopped off at the gunstore and bought the rifle before I got home.

The fact that is is Color Cased, and a Takedown just adds to its enjoyment for me.

I really, really like the take down feature.

I have found it to be very accurate, with Hornady factory ammo or my reloads, 100% reliable, and it handles great.

It fits me almost as good as my 450 No2.

I would like to add a takedown 1895 some day. I have always wondered what one in 333 Jeffery would be like.

I had a BLR takedown in 308 that I liked but the mag well would become quite gritty with East Texas sand
and was not very practical for me to use it there

quote:

Originally posted by JustWondering:
My vote is for the Stainless BLR Takedown with the laminate stock. Similar to the 1895, really, but with a removable mag.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:
Here is another to consider - The Chiappa Kodiak 1886 45-70:

Has anyone here tried one of these?

http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2083

I handled one at a recent gun show in Melbourne. It was all SS and fitted with half oct/half round barrel that was quite a heavy barrel, much heavier than I like for a carrying rifle. The action was rough and the shell lifter kept sticking. It looked well made and was finished well externally, but just not well finished internally. The synthetic stock could have been shaped a little better too.

Our prices will be different to what you see over there, but at the asking price here ($2500) and for that sort of quality, I can't see them selling a lot of them. It's a pity as a SS 1886 would be an interesting option.

They also had a Chiappa 92 in SS and that was very slick, though I suspect that one had been worked over.

Don't see what the fuss is about, your standard Winchester 94 .30/30 will handle it all without anything special.

CH

You are correct. The Winchester 1894 has certainly stood the test of time.

I have killed a couple of deer with a Winchester 30/30, but actually I have killed even more game with a Heym O/U in 30/30.

For normal deer and pig, and turkey, and coyote hunting the 30/30 works great...

However, I do like the extra power of the 405 WCF for bigger BIG game, especially with the 300gr North Fork bullet.

Also for rough duty, I like the box magazine over the tubular magazine as it is much easier to flush out the total mechanism of the 1895, vs. all other lever actions, IMHO of course.