Are Lever guns outdated?

[GunnyGene]

Maybe. But who cares? :mrgreen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBseN73O1Lk

 

[don44]

Nope!

 

[win1894s]

double nope

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Everybody's entitled to their own opinions! But when I saw that "glob" he'd put atop a rail on that 1895, I made a quick judgment his would not be mine. And it isn't. I'm sure there are still enough lever guns sold each year to make me feel comfortable I'm not alone. ;)

Rick C

 

[mikewriter]

The only one I own is a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. It will not be sold in my lifetime, and it gets used a lot.

Mike

 

[Pistolero]

I own a Marlin 1894C .357 mag and a Marlin 39M .22LR. Both are now my main long guns. I enjoy shooting them often and they won't be sold in my lifetime. Levers still appear to be popular choices.

 

[WAYNO]

Didn't finish his video, as I didn't really know where he was going.

Bolt always better than lever? Not always. Lever guns will usually have a higher capacity without a hideous magazine hanging below the gun. And with most people, the lever gun is faster to use, if that was ever important. Lever guns have a propensity for shooting soft-puffer center fire ammo which is still very much at home hunting medium size game.

So, bolt guns definitely have some advantages, and they do some things much better. But there are some things I believe the lever gun does better. I own quite an assortment of lever guns, and they just might be a tad bit my favorite rifles, all things considered.

But, rhetorical arguments are designed to create all these same discussions. We might otherwise not have much to talk about. :mrgreen:

 

[foxtrapper]

Got em from .22 to 50ak ,so I say hell no!!

 

[tinman]

As best I can remember I have 5 in the safe........as with my single shots, double barrels, pumps, bolts and semi's......all of them are there for a reason. :idea:

 

[Lngstrt]

I have 6 from .22 to .35 Remington including a 99 Savage in .308 and ..

an 1865 Spencer!!

Revolvers, pump shotguns and lever rifles. Manually operated in emergencies.

 

[kmoore]

My cowboy assault rifles (lever rifles) are fun to shoot, well the 45-70 may not be fun but, the others I have are. The 1886 was made in 1890 does that make it outdated.

 

[GunnyGene]

One reason I posted this is that I've been lusting after a Henry in .41 mag for a while now to go with my NMBH. Ran some numbers on it and makes me want it even more.

Henry lists the twist at 1:18.75" on the 20" barrel for this cal.

The Underwood .41mag 210gr xtp lists mv @1560 out of a 6.5" barrel (NMBH 1:20" twist). So a little guesstimating, this cartridge should hit about 1960fps from the Henry. The BC for the xtp is .182 (G1).

Running the numbers on Hornady calculator this works out to close to 200yds range before it drops into the transonic region, and about a 12" drop . See below. Should be good for deer up to that range or a little over. :)

 

[tom black]

I have 12 pre '64 Winchester lever actions, 5 of them are over 100 years old. I've never had a malfunction, they've never once failed to do what I asked of them. And I've killed a major truck load of deer with them. No, they are not outdated in the least.
Tom Black

 

[toysoldier]

"For a weapon of war..."

Obsolescence implies usage. Since the lever gun was never a standard front-line weapon in any army, how can it be called obsolete? Despite great efforts by Winchester, it was only ever used by militaries as a secondary arm, purchased at time of great need. The lever gun succeeded as a sporting and police arm, and for those purposes, it still fills a need. If lever guns were obsolete, my Marlin 39, purchased for $70 in 1969, wouldn't be worth ~$450 today.

 

[RSIno1]

I hope not. I want to get one of these so my Super Blackhawk isn't lonely.
https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/henry-big-boy-carbine/

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Outdated??? - NO. They still work fine and although they are not the first choice for a battle rifle they still work good at many other tasks. I enjoy several but I can't decide which is my favorite between a Marlin 30-30 and a Ruger 96/44.

 

[ronto]

My go to deer gun for 100 yards or less in thick woods is still the Marlin 336 in 30-30. It will never be "outdated".

 

[LDM]

I've got a Browning Lever Rifle in .308 that's a fine shooting and handy piece.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Quite to the contrary I have 7 or 8 Lever guns. I think they are not only quite handy, but very capable. I have them in 22LR to 45/70 and that one shoots a 430 hardcast bullet. I have added a Pachmayer Decelerator on that rifle, which has had several things done to it to make it, the way I want it. Used it in Alaska. My Marlin 336 35 Remington I took with me regularly as I went into Canada. I always felt comfortable with it and it's 200 grain Remington Core-loct. The 357Mag, and 44 Mag along with the 45 Colt come into their own out of a carbine.

 

[gramps]

Perhaps the guy in the video is outdated? I had a Rossi 92 in .44 mag. It held 10 rounds in the mag, which could be topped off at anytime. I sold it because it bruised my shoulder ( metal but plate). The lever action is the gun that "won the West". The original assault weapon IMO. I bet it was the repeating capability that passified the Indians. NOPE, the lever action is not outdated, even left handed people like them. :mrgreen:
gramps

 

[6GUNSONLY]

My Marlin 39 carbine doesn't think so, nor did the 14 hogs I executed with it a few weeks ago.

 

[blackhawknj]

Just send them to me c/o this forum.

 

[Mus408]

Forget all the ballistic stuff....the lever guns are a joy to just shoot!

 

[daveg.inkc]

you mean a 1866 Yellow Boy Assault Rifle??

 

[Bob Wright]

Obsolete? Not in my book!




Bob Wright

 

[Lngstrt]

I have a hankerin to get a 1866 or 73 Winchester copy in either .357 or .45 Colt. At $1200+ I may have to compromise on a Rossi 92 with a 24" barrel .... if they ever become available again :(

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I've got a Browning Lever Rifle in .308 that's a fine shooting and handy piece.

Me too, mine's a first-year Belgian made gun. My hog rifle, with 180 grain round nose, puts the smackdown on piggies.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I love my 1927 Win 94 Saddle Carbine in 30-30 I inherited from my Grandfather.
Or is it a 1917 model, I can never remember and will have to look it up again.

 

[powder smoke]

Have several in the safe and their not going anywhere anytime soon.

They have been around long enough to prove their worth, very dependable! ps

 

[A.J.]

I've never owned a lever action rifle but I can't think of a better American icon. Nothing screams "Merca" louder than a lever action. Great guns. Would love to have one.