School Me on Lever Guns

[Hayata]

Well I done gone and bought a .357 revolver. I said I wouldn't get a new caliber during the hoo-haw, but the temptation was too great and I was weak.

SO! Now that I have another caliber, I've always liked the idea of companion firearms. You know, a Thompson to go with a 1911. A Sterling carbine to go with the Hi-Power clone. The idea being that you have a carbine that fires a pistol cartridge.

Of course, the cowboys did it way before I ever had the idea.

So the other day I was at Cherokee and they didn't have a .357 lever gun but they did have a .44 magnum that I got to fondle. Boy, what a quick-handling firearm! I think it was a Rossi with a 16" barrel. Never had one before but it looks like a lot of fun.

So digging into the collective wisdom of the ODT, please let me know what I should be looking for in a used lever gun. I don't know anything about the different brands. If any are to be avoided. Just need something fun and reliable. Doesn't have to be heirloom quality or anything special.

 

[Deleted member 931]

One word... Marlin. I had several of these in 30-30 and they do make .357 as well. Are you planning on mounting a scope? If not you can also check out Winchester. They are mostly top ejection which makes it difficult to mount a scope.

 

[cupp260]

Go to. Www.clcweb.net where I posted a review of my Marlin 357 rifle

 

[vano1957]

Marlin`s the way to go IMO the old JM stamped before Remington took over I have the Cowboy limited edition in both 44mag and 45lc have been looking for one in 357 they are hard to come by. Henry makes a great one also.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

You're going to get tired of hearing this...but...just buy a Marlin. Winchester's are fine and dandy, but I prefer the side ejection for several reasons....primary being that a side ejection action doesn't disrupt my sight picture. Also helps if you want to mount an XS Leverail or any sort of optic to have a side ejection.

Find an old one that doesn't have the crossbar safety, gut it, clean it, lube it, and choot it.

 

[LMK]

You're going to get tired of hearing this...but...just buy a Marlin. Winchester's are fine and dandy, but I prefer the side ejection for several reasons....primary being that a side ejection action doesn't disrupt my sight picture. Also helps if you want to mount an XS Leverail or any sort of optic to have a side ejection.

Find an old one that doesn't have the crossbar safety, gut it, clean it, lube it, and choot it.

Agree with all that and have had good experiences with 35 rem cart

 

[GreenPanther]

I have a Winchester lever gun that is top eject. I would not trade it off for anything. I have no desire to ever put a scope on it as I feel it is not necessary for what I use it for. It is a quick handling gun and iron sights are great out to 100yds all day long.
As far as disrupting sight picture, for me, having to work the lever action disrupts the sight picture more than a shell ejecting.

I have taken a deer than came in on an all out run at 65yds and was able to get of 3 solid shots that all were right where I aimed.....it felt just as quick as I could have worked a semi-auto in that situation.

 

[GAGunguy]

Hayata,
I will bring my Marlin on Monday, you can try it out.

Bill

 

[DixieDoug]

Green Panther is right. the Winchester is a fantastic gun. My 3 were all AE models (angle eject) so I could have put scopes on them, but not needed. I liked the slimness of the Winchester. The Marlin always felt "fat" to me. IMO

 

[GeauxLSU]

Does anyone have any experience with the Henry's (Big Boy)? http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm