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Maggie’s Lever Action Guide

S

SmartDonkey

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 18, 2018
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Maybe not a bear pit question- but my search didn't reveal all that much info on this subject-

I am wanting to get a lever action just for fun. Definitely not wanting to do the new fad of customizing it crazy- keep it original. I do however plan to shoot the hell out of it and not just have it because it looks cool.

Just based on looks my 2 favorite models are the Henry 1860 (because Gus carried one) and the Winchester 1892 in 44-40. Anything else I should be looking at? If you get the 1860 and are planning to shoot it a lot should you get the Iron frame or the Brass? Does the tube magazine on the 1860 give you trouble with how much junk could get stuck in it? And lastly - is the Henry 1860 worth the extra money over the other companies that do an 1860? (I don't think the Henry company of today is the same Henry company that developed the rifle?)

Really don't know much about lever guns so any good info is appreciated.
 
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Do you reload? Fine if you don't - but look at ammo cost on oddball calibers.
Even a common lever action caliber like 45LC gets expensive if you don't reload.
If you reload, it's all inexpensive.
 
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I’ve got a Browning 53 in 32-20. Beautiful slick little rifle. Paired it with a limited edition Vaquero with 32-20 & 32 mag cylinders. Had it over a year and yet to shoot it.
 
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Not really recommendations but if you're interested in lever guns you should see the development. Forgotten Weapons Winchester lever gun development playlist linked.
 
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hollowoutadime said:
Do you reload? Fine if you don't - but look at ammo cost on oddball calibers.
Even a common lever action caliber like 45LC gets expensive if you don't reload.
If you reload, it's all inexpensive.
Click to expand...

Man.. so I used to plink with my 30-30, very fun round to shoot, and making a metal hanger do a back flip and ejecting a case over your shoulder is quite satisfying in a primal level.

I used to get two boxes of 3030 and burn them in one sitting like shooting 9mm from a pistol, no thoughts or fucks given, now you’d think you were shooting 338LM for what it goes for.
Wish I would have saved the seas of brass I just left at the range now
Gotta love the government mandated hysteria and money printer inflation over the last two years.
 
Competition in 357 looks fun


1873-half-octagonal-barrel-rifle.png

1873 Rifle and Carbine | Uberti USA Replica Rifles and Revolvers

www.uberti-usa.com www.uberti-usa.com
 
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Get a .357 or .44 if you plan to actually shoot it.
.22 if you plan to shoot it a lot.
My .22 gets a few thousand rounds a year. The 30wcf has seen maybe a few hundred in 10.


Ffp mil/mil scope to mess with the fudds. I couldn't resist when Doug had these Bushnell's on sale.

IMG_20200424_131518504.jpg
 
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I have a Rossi R92 in 44 mag, and a marlin 336 30-30, they are both fun! Watch wind river!
 
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DEFINITELY recommend Uberti. The firm produces EXCELLENT long guns. Their reproduction Civil War and Old West handguns are not as perfect as Pietta, but their rifles have been consistently top grade. For caliber, I recommend .45 LC. Components are readily available as .45 LC is a chambering offered for many contemporary defensive guns like the Taurus Judge. They can be reloaded with black powder, smokeless, or BP substitute, and if you are using BP and BP subs, you do not even need extra tools. Just a rubber mallet, a caliber specific plunger like a disassembled loading lever from any .44 caliber black powder revolver, and some beeswax/Crisco. When you are loading with BP or BP substitute, MAKE SURE, and I mean MAKE SURE there is NO airspace at all between the projectile and the powder. If you are using an amount of powder that does not fill up the case up to the bullet base, fill the remaining space with dried oatmeal.
 
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I remember shooting a Winchester 1894 or 92, probably a 92, in 40 S&W as a kid.

I don't know how the hell it got that chambering but I definitely remember that it was 40 S&W.
 
If you go with a 357, reduce load it or shoot 38 in it because I saw a video where they said 357 has actually sheered off the guide pins before.
 
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Thanks to my loving Brenda who gifted me a nice little surprise on a Father’s Day several years ago….

I am blessed with a JM stamped 1894 Marlin in .44 Magnum. Its a deer killer and a whole lot of fun to shoot. While not as quick to reload as an AR, it can sub as a pretty darned good defensive weapon. Plus, at short range, a hard cast WNFP or a Keith style in 250 grains or larger, makes a big impact on unfriendly‘s. (Especially if they are in a tightly packed group.:D ).
 
chevy_man said:
Get a .357 or .44 if you plan to actually shoot it.
.22 if you plan to shoot it a lot.
My .22 gets a few thousand rounds a year. The 30wcf has seen maybe a few hundred in 10.


Ffp mil/mil scope to mess with the fudds. I couldn't resist when Doug had these Bushnell's on sale.

View attachment 7853072
Click to expand...
Yeah, depends on your intended use. If just shooting for fun, get the .22. My buddy has one and loves it.
 
I got a henry 44 colt. Seems pretty nice so far. Can’t wait to shoot it.
 
I will chime in here with another vote for the 357. Mine is an old marlin and it does get shot more than any other centerfire.....anything....I have. It is just a ball. You can load them as hot or mild as you like.

My thinking was back during the last crazy when 22 was just gone, I thought well you know if I get a lever 357 and one of those old marlin camp carbine 9mm I could shoot those pretty cheap. (this was before rugers tacticool 9mm, the only other thing was the hipoint) I did and did load everything under the sun to put through it.

Fast forward to today and I wish I bought more primers.....past that there is just something fun about it, that is really very easy to shoot.

I bought mine at a gun show after looking for about a year for the "right" one. I came across a winchester and marlin both in 357. After looking at them both basically side by side I can say the winchester was more smooth, seemed more "finished".....the marlin seemed a bit like a brick. I bought the marlin because it has the reputation of being able to handle some really hot 357's and at the time I had a coyote issue and did not really want to use a center fire rifle as neighbors are just a bit too close.

Part 2.

Savage 99. Just love the thing, mine is in 243 and is just an amazing rifle, so much fun, but in a very different class over the 357. The looks are something you like or dont, some think they look funny and growing up on John Wayne yea they are going to look funny, but they are fantastic rifles. But if you want something over a 22 that is just fun to shoot, the 357 will come along, the 243....well that has a great deal more oomph behind it, and I being a bit on the older side....well it will wear you out faster, the marlin, shoot it just like a big 22.

I chose the 357 because I have a bunch of old 38 revolvers, and nothing with 44.

Don't forget robert duvall also carried a Savage 99....name that movie.....don't cheat.

1650470411986.png
 
Thanks to you wonderful folks bringing this subject up I now realize that I have some glaring holes in the lever gun section of my safe...
 
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Thanks for the suggestions and replies-- even though I've now got some more researching to do.

I love .22 but between rodent control, practice, and just having fun I am already shooting thousands of .22 rounds a year- so wanting something different than that.

I do reload so that's not a problem. It looks like the 44-40 is a little touchy with reloading because of how thin the brass is but nothing that can't be overcome. Lots of suggestions for the 357/38 special and that would be a fine option. Right now is a lousy time to try to gauge ammo costs but what I've seen so far the 357 and 44-40 are the same cost per round but more of the 357 available. Between the 2 I guess it will come down to finding the right model and then whatever (within reason) chambering is available.

The 1860 didn't get any love in the replies and has kind of deterred me from going that route. Thanks.
 
fpgt72 said:
I will chime in here with another vote for the 357. Mine is an old marlin and it does get shot more than any other centerfire.....anything....I have. It is just a ball. You can load them as hot or mild as you like.



Don't forget robert duvall also carried a Savage 99....name that movie.....don't cheat.

View attachment 7853381
Click to expand...
Great movie. Let others figure it out.
 
I vote for the .357 mag. You can shoot .38 Special out of a .357 lever action too. If your into the Tactical lever action Henry Big Boy in .357 would be my goto.

www.henryusa.com

Big Boy X Model | Henry Repeating Arms

Creating the mold and then breaking out of it is something that we take great pride in. It’s how we progress and continue pushing the boundaries of what lever actions are capable of. The Big Boy X Model does just that and marks an evolutionary step in a product line with quite the pedigree...
www.henryusa.com www.henryusa.com
 
SmartDonkey said:
Thanks for the suggestions and replies-- even though I've now got some more researching to do.

I love .22 but between rodent control, practice, and just having fun I am already shooting thousands of .22 rounds a year- so wanting something different than that.

I do reload so that's not a problem. It looks like the 44-40 is a little touchy with reloading because of how thin the brass is but nothing that can't be overcome. Lots of suggestions for the 357/38 special and that would be a fine option. Right now is a lousy time to try to gauge ammo costs but what I've seen so far the 357 and 44-40 are the same cost per round but more of the 357 available. Between the 2 I guess it will come down to finding the right model and then whatever (within reason) chambering is available.

The 1860 didn't get any love in the replies and has kind of deterred me from going that route. Thanks.
Click to expand...
For my 2 cents stay away from 44-40, I can send you pics of the brass being damaged just from extraction. It was from a model 92, granted completely different bolt design than a 73, but still 44-40 is a PITA. Go with 357. I have an 1860, fun to play with but loading and follower are a pain ( My 1860 is basically a wall hanger now )

Look at a Rossi model 92, if you can find an older version that does not have the bolt safety tang ( WTF its called ), the action with get smoother with time.
 
Also note, if you plan to shoot in some clubs such as NCOWS, they don't allow short stroke guns which eliminates some of the Henry rifles and others.
 
memyselfi said:
For my 2 cents stay away from 44-40, I can send you pics of the brass being damaged just from extraction. It was from a model 92, granted completely different bolt design than a 73, but still 44-40 is a PITA. Go with 357. I have an 1860, fun to play with but loading and follower are a pain ( My 1860 is basically a wall hanger now )

Look at a Rossi model 92, if you can find an older version that does not have the bolt safety tang ( WTF its called ), the action with get smoother with time.
Click to expand...
There were even some older R92s in .454 casull!
 
fpgt72 said:
I will chime in here with another vote for the 357. Mine is an old marlin and it does get shot more than any other centerfire.....anything....I have. It is just a ball. You can load them as hot or mild as you like.

My thinking was back during the last crazy when 22 was just gone, I thought well you know if I get a lever 357 and one of those old marlin camp carbine 9mm I could shoot those pretty cheap. (this was before rugers tacticool 9mm, the only other thing was the hipoint) I did and did load everything under the sun to put through it.

Fast forward to today and I wish I bought more primers.....past that there is just something fun about it, that is really very easy to shoot.

I bought mine at a gun show after looking for about a year for the "right" one. I came across a winchester and marlin both in 357. After looking at them both basically side by side I can say the winchester was more smooth, seemed more "finished".....the marlin seemed a bit like a brick. I bought the marlin because it has the reputation of being able to handle some really hot 357's and at the time I had a coyote issue and did not really want to use a center fire rifle as neighbors are just a bit too close.

Part 2.

Savage 99. Just love the thing, mine is in 243 and is just an amazing rifle, so much fun, but in a very different class over the 357. The looks are something you like or dont, some think they look funny and growing up on John Wayne yea they are going to look funny, but they are fantastic rifles. But if you want something over a 22 that is just fun to shoot, the 357 will come along, the 243....well that has a great deal more oomph behind it, and I being a bit on the older side....well it will wear you out faster, the marlin, shoot it just like a big 22.

I chose the 357 because I have a bunch of old 38 revolvers, and nothing with 44.

Don't forget robert duvall also carried a Savage 99....name that movie.....don't cheat.

View attachment 7853381
Click to expand...
we are looking for Louis Chama......

Joe Kidd
 
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chevy_man said:
Get a .357 or .44 if you plan to actually shoot it.
.22 if you plan to shoot it a lot.
My .22 gets a few thousand rounds a year. The 30wcf has seen maybe a few hundred in 10.


Ffp mil/mil scope to mess with the fudds. I couldn't resist when Doug had these Bushnell's on sale.

View attachment 7853072
Click to expand...
Fucking heathen…..
 
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My lever gun is the 1892. I call it my combat cowboy carbine... I got a takedown version from Chiappa in .44 magnum. I swear it's the most fun gun to shoot that I own. Of course, I'm old, and grew up watching cowboy movies... I do need to get one in .22lr, but at least the .44 mag hits with enough energy to take down anything in my AO. Specs say the magazine will hold 8, but I can get 9 in mine, and with one in the chamber, that's 10 rounds of a pretty decent caliber. (.44 mag out of a 16" barrel is good to 150 yds easy) I have 10 more rounds ready on the stock in a ammo card. I didn't modernize it with some funky fore-end rail system, but it does have a scout rail that I put a red dot on, and a light on a Thorntail mount.

Still takes down when needed, but I have the super fast red dot target acquisition, low light capability, a quick lever action, and 20 rounds on the gun of .44 mag ammo, with 10 loaded up and ready. I take it traveling when I'm going places unfriendly to ARs.

I kinda wish I'd got the .357 version, because my revolvers are .357, but the .44 mag does hit a bit harder, and it gives me caliber options should things get scarce.

IMG_0310 (2).JPG


IMG_1131.JPG
 
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Here is a vote for 357 and why. Consider the velocity increase in a carbine. The 125gr JHP has the biggest increase in velocity among the typical pistol calibers fired in a carbine. Like 800 to 1000fps over a pistol length barrel depending on powder. It's impressive.
 
Rookie said:
Here is a vote for 357 and why. Consider the velocity increase in a carbine. The 125gr JHP has the biggest increase in velocity among the typical pistol calibers fired in a carbine. Like 800 to 1000fps over a pistol length barrel depending on powder. It's impressive.
Click to expand...
Buffalo bores 125gr is supposed to reach 2298 fps out of the carbine.
 
Just tossing this out there as another 357 option, but Rugers 77/357 is another choice as well.
 
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Man, this thread has me wanting a lever gun.

A suppressed .45LC lever gun would be fun...
 
NoDopes said:
If you go with a 357, reduce load it or shoot 38 in it because I saw a video where they said 357 has actually sheered off the guide pins before.
Click to expand...
if it can't handle .357, what does .44 mag do to it?
 
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