Cheap lever guns?

[Jamie]

So I just got a bonus at work. As you all know, that means I need to buy another gun. (It's good to have people who understand me.) I think what I want is an affordable lever gun for hunting deer in Virginny.

I am, however, still cheap and poor.

Anyone have experience with the Rossi lever actions? http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-BRZRG3030B#

Any recommendations for other affordable lever guns in .30-30 or similar?

[meak99]

I don't have experience with Rossi, but I just bought a new Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. Remington took over Marlin a few years ago and quality really dropped off. Mine is accurate, but I'm not impressed with the fit/finish (and that's the price I pay for buying a gun sight unseen online). I'm having to do a lot of work to get the action smoothed out, and I have the dreaded Marlin Jam after less than 300 rounds - do a G search, you'll see what it is. All the screws were loose when it arrived. If someone who didn't know better, and just started shooting it, they would have had a broken gun in no time. I've been reading on the Marlin Owner's Forum and even a few over there are recommending the Rossi's over Marlin these days.

[Kory]

There are tons of Great used 30-30s out there get a nice made in America one

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[jdonovan]

Anyone have experience with the Rossi lever actions? http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-BRZRG3030B#

Any recommendations for other affordable lever guns in .30-30 or similar?

I've had some experince with rossi firearms and was not impressed with the quality. If it were my money I'd go with a marlin.

.30-30 is a fine deer chambering, but is a bit on the weaker side if you want to go after anything much bigger. I've got a soft spot for lever guns in .45-70. I was just about to pick one up, when I found a used rossi 92 in .454. So that scratched the itch for big-bore lever.

[Jamie]

Heh. .45-70. I like overkill. How long ago did you have one? I think their quality has improved recently, but I have no firsthand experience.

[jdonovan]

Heh. .45-70. I like overkill.

Take a look at a muzzloader that we all head to the woods with, and compare that to a .45-70 not overkill at all.

How long ago did you have one? I think their quality has improved recently, but I have no firsthand experience.

Probably about 10 years. But I've been burned on lower quality items, and try not to buy at the lower end of quality anymore.

[grumpyMSG]

I don't have experience with Rossi, but I just bought a new Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. Remington took over Marlin a few years ago and quality really dropped off. Mine is accurate, but I'm not impressed with the fit/finish (and that's the price I pay for buying a gun sight unseen online). I'm having to do a lot of work to get the action smoothed out, and I have the dreaded Marlin Jam after less than 300 rounds - do a G search, you'll see what it is. All the screws were loose when it arrived. If someone who didn't know better, and just started shooting it, they would have had a broken gun in no time. I've been reading on the Marlin Owner's Forum and even a few over there are recommending the Rossi's over Marlin these days.

The dreaded "Marlin jam" is usually caused by a person trying to be gentle with their rifle. If you work the action with a strong, smooth, fast stroke it won't happen. As for fit and finish, they have always been intended to be hunting rifles and not show pieces. I happen to have inherited one of the early 336s and it still has some file Marks on the stock where it was fitted/ shaped, and that was back in 1948.

I'd recommend going with a used Marlin or Model 94 Winchesters that are out there. You can usually find them for around $200-250 without looking very hard. I think most Walmarts in th western half of VA have a 336 in stock if you insiston new.

[Kreutz]

There a practical reason for using lever action vs bolt action or is it just the coolness factor?

Never fired one before; they just look cool and old-fashioned.

[meak99]

The dreaded "Marlin jam" is usually caused by a person trying to be gentle with their rifle. If you work the action with a strong, smooth, fast stroke it won't happen.

I've actually heard the opposite. Cycling too hard causes the snail cam on the lever to gouge a notch into the bottom of the carrier. This allows the carrier to drop just a tad too low when the level is all the way open, allowing the magazine tube to let in two rounds, thus causing the carrier to not be able to lift the new round up into position for chambering. I'm working on a fix, but might need a new carrier assembly already.

[Jamie]

There a practical reason for using lever action vs bolt action or is it just the coolness factor?

Never fired one before; they just look cool and old-fashioned.

Coolness factor. Even guv'mint bureaucrats are allowed some style once in a while.

[Diomed]

There a practical reason for using lever action vs bolt action or is it just the coolness factor?

Never fired one before; they just look cool and old-fashioned.

You can get shots off much faster with a lever than a bolt. Leverguns tend to be more ergonomic and slimmer/lighter than boltguns too. They mainly lose out to bolts in terms of ammunition selection, calibers (magnums, etc. don't hold up as well in levers), and maintenance (levers are more mechanically complex).

[jdonovan]

. They mainly lose out to bolts in terms of ammunition selection, calibers (magnums, etc. don't hold up as well in levers)

Check out the browning BLR. You can get lots of the hotter chamberings, the WSM, 7 rem mag, etc... in them. A bit spendy at $1000 MSRP, but they are a nice gun.

If you are an autoloader guy, the Browning BAR has many of the same magnum chambering available as well.

[Kreutz]

There a practical reason for using lever action vs bolt action or is it just the coolness factor?

Never fired one before; they just look cool and old-fashioned.

Coolness factor. Even guv'mint bureaucrats are allowed some style once in a while.

Thanks for making this thread then, perhaps I'll pick one up in the future.

[GeneFrenkle]

W00t! Pick up a new Mossberg Tactical 464 SPX lever action! Stick a laser, vertical foregrip, and a tactical flashlight on it!

They look kind of like the illegitimate love child between an AR and a Marlin, IMHO.

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[Jamie]

Nice! Post a review after you've got some rounds through it. I was intrigued by that one, but it loses the Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid appeal without the wood.

[Quigley]

I used to own a New Marlin 94c in 357 that jammed constantly with flat nose 357s. Finally got rid of it and recently purchased a Rossi in mares leg in 357. Although its a pistol lever action it cycles everything just as smoothly as can be and is stupid accurate. I know Rossis are hit or miss but I got a good one.


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[jrswanson1]

Even though this thread is over a year old, I will post that I snagged a Rossi 20" 92 in .357 for $492 OTD from Dark Sun. I'm taking her to the range tomorrow with some .357 and .38 Special. This is going to be my CAS rifle for "lost brass" matches, versus my Uberti 1860 in 44-40.

[MarcSpaz]

Man, I absolutely LOVE my 1860. With all the hi-tech stuff I typically use and enjoy, the 1860 is a fine work of art. I almost feel guilty shooting it because of how nice it is. LOL

Uberti makes some amazing reproduction rifles. If you want an 1800"s rifle but don't want to spend $30,000+ to get one... you wont be disappointed.

Here is a shot of mine...



I don't have any experience with really inexpensive lever guns. My least expensive is my Winchester 1894 (.30-30). It was about $1,300. You want a nice old skool hunting rifle... this is a win for sure.



I also have a Model 66 Carbine in 45 Colt. I plan to get the matching pistol very soon. Maybe this summer.

[AdamG]

I have a Marlin 45-70 1895GBL. I hear a lot of people trash Marlin but doubt many have real world experience. I have put hundreds of rounds through it an only once have I had a problem with a jam which came from not running the action smoothly. If you are slow with the action and not smooth it can jam. I cleared the jam pretty fast as I had a set of screw drivers with me.

I do have some complaints. The sights sucked that came on my gun their was something wrong with them right out of the box so I went to XS sights on it. My other complaint is they could have machined the loop a little better it does have sharp edges and can cut you if your not holding on the gun tight. I plan on buying another level and smoothing it out.

[Quigley]

I owned a Remlin 94c in 357 and was disappointed but I now have a Rossi 92 ranch hand that has been 100% reliable. I still like Marlins bc they're scope friendly but I prefer the Rossi/92 action.


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