Hello, I am wanting to buy another lever action and I will be using it for hunting (deer, elk, mule deer) and leisure shooting. I have two 30-30s - Winchester 94 and a Henry All weather. I will likely be using the Winchester for either mule deer or elk next fall, however I am getting the itch for another lever action.

I am wanting to stick with straight wall cartridges this time 38-35, 444 marlin, or 45-70. I've been reading Empire of the Summer moon (for the second time) and its giving me the itch.

From what I've read - 38-55 is a great all around cartridge if loaded correctly as the ammo can be anemic with cowboy rounds, however buffalo bore has a great option for big game hunting. Great to load as well but I am not currently doing this. However ammo is really hard to find - especially in stores.

45-70 - the GOAT some would suggest. A large surplus of ammo with different loads, can buy at the store etc. Ammo is expensive etc but not more than the other calibers mentioned.

444 marlin - I am really intrigued by this caliber BUT the only complaint I have is that the Marlin's magazine tube is not equal with the barrel. I wish that didn't bother me but it does somewhat. I've researched fixes for this, and although its doable it may be difficult...not sure.

So here is what I am looking at:

Winchester commemorative - Oliver Winchester or Crazy Horse 38-55. Beautiful guns, somewhat gaudy, but I think I will get over it. Just concerned about the ammo.

Marlin 1895 CB version - has the 26inch octagon barrel. Love the looks, only hesitation is how hefty it will be hiking around the mountains. And I hate the safety but not deal breaker.

Browning 1886 carbine - 45-70 22inch round barrel. Made by Miroku in 1992 era. Expensive but beautiful. Concerned about the recoil in a lighter gun but I think I will be able to tolerate it.

Or the Marlin 444 - I'm intrigued by the caliber, ammo is hard to find but its there. I just do not like the smaller magazine tube.

Do yall have any recommendations or experience with these rifles?

Thanks!

Haha one day! But the divorce will be very expensive and then I will have to sell them all and back to square one again.

.375 Winchester. It is similar to the 38-55 and is generally one way interchangeable. I regularly see them sold new or as new conditions.


Out of those choices you listed I would get the .444

Agsalaska -- that is another option as well. I was researching that caliber, but my only concern is finding actual 375 ammo. But as you said I can shoot 38-55 from it as well...may need to look at it again, thank you.

You cant go wrong. I love lever guns. Have levers in 22, 357, 44-40 and 30-30. Personally, I'd probably go with a 45-70 next to round out the bag and the ease of dealing with ammo.

Not to derail the thread, but was thinking about putting a red dot on my .45-70. What kind of optics do you use on your lever actions?

I have this in 38-55. Yes ammo can be a little hard to find, my understanding is Winchester ammo only makes a few runs (maybe one) a year. I must of found their 255 grain ammo at the right time. Bought a case that has lasted me quite some time. The 38-55 is a soft shooting caliber so it's fun to shoot and has a nice "splat" sound when it hits the target. Great for 50-100 yards; too much drop after that. I put on a Skinner Peep sight. Greatly improves accuracy while maintaining the old school look.

Good for you. No telling how many large game animals have been killed by the .30-.30 cartridge and the other "old west" cartridges as well.
Our ancestors and settlers depended on them for survival and very much used skills to get within reasonable ranges to kill deer, elk, etc. ….with great success.

Henry X in 45-70

Marlin made the 45-70 in a Rocky Mountain elk foundation model a number of years. See if available.
Mil won one at the banquet one year and gave it to my kid. Beautiful rifle. Shoots great.

And no collection of levers is complete without a Marlin 39a.

One of the issues w levers as shown in that beauty above is the height of the scopes with the normal cheek weld the shooter would have. Keep optics short and low and possibly need a cheek piece....

Or go peep.

Is suppressing a lever action easily done?

Gunny456 said:

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Suggest you look at the longarms offered by Cimarron Firearms. They are built to their specifications by Uberti, etc.
They offer various models, 1873's, 1894's, 1886's, etc. in many cartridges and calibers to suit.
You can also get different grades, stock configuration and barrel lengths.
Very high quality and imho are much better built than any of the current production Japanese Winchester or Brownings.
They have lots of guns in stock at their retail store in Fredericksburg and lots of dealers stock their products.
They are extremely popular with the Cowboy Action Shooting and Mounted Shooting enthusiasts. Noted for their extreme quality and action smoothness.
I would at least check them out.
https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/

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Got a Uberti octogen long barrel model 1873 in a 44-40 caliber and a single action 6 shooter in matching caliber. Also have a Henry Golden Boy 22 and a Browning model 1885 High wall in 7mm mag.... but they ain't for sale.

Stringfellow Hawke said:

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Is suppressing a lever action easily done?

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If its already threaded theyre outstanding hosts.

If they arent…less easy.

I have my eyes on this one to go with my 500 SW revolver.

https://www.bighornarmory.com/product/white-lightning-tactical-lever-gun/

I have a gold plated / colored 30/30 a customer gave me years ago- never even shot the gun. It sits in a gun safe collecting dust. It's for sale !

Thanks Gunny! And Ive been looking real hard at those Cimmaron/Uberti/Taylor rifles....They are probably the best looking levers on the market. Ill have one of those one day as well!

Heck yea sir. You had a good day today! Any new gun day is a damn good day!
Congrats man! Enjoyed the thread.

BenderRodriguez said:

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Stringfellow Hawke said:

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Is suppressing a lever action easily done?

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If its already threaded theyre outstanding hosts.

If they arent…less easy.

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If not threaded, where would you start? Email is in profile to avoid completely derailing thread.

No worries derail away! Its an interesting topic

The main issue with lever guns is that many of them have full length magazines under the barrel and therefore that doesn't give you any room for threading at the muzzle.
However there are some lever guns with 1/2 or 3/4 length magazines that don't reach to the end of the barrel and they may work for being threaded.
The only other issue is barrel contour or rather thickness of the barrel at the muzzle that is "thick" enough, for lack of better terms, for threading.
A gunsmith that is very proficient in threading can look at your gun and tell you if he can do it or not.
I do not trust just any gunsmith to thread any of my barrels. They not only have to have the knowledge but must have the quality machine tools to do the job and make sure the threads are absolutely concentric to the barrel.

suburban cowboy said:

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Buy the one I have posted

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I really like blued, walnut rifles. But that's one of the coolest rigs I've ever seen. Looks like a hog killing machine.

SGrem said:

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One of the issues w levers as shown in that beauty above is the height of the scopes with the normal cheek weld the shooter would have. Keep optics short and low and possibly need a cheek piece....

Or go peep.

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This is exactly right and has always been true. It used to be people using those see-thru rings that allow use of iron sights under the scopes. Problem is now the scope is very awkward to use.

Cheek pieces are a big help and are necessary even with the lowest scope mounts. But still, your once handy carbine becomes very clunky with a scope.

No one has mentioned my rifle. Winchester 94 in 307 Winchester