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Old July 19, 2013, 01:01 PM   #1
WV_gunner
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Best levers?

My dream is a bit ruined now, instead of getting one a year I can't now. A deal with a contract fell through, so no extra money like I had planned. I still plan to buy a nice lever action, it's just going to take longer to get the money. I was looking at a Winchester 1895 in 7.62x54, .303, .405, or .30-40 Krag. Probably a Musket in 7.62x54 because they seem to be the cheapest. I know Browning released their own version in the '80s but its made in Japan. So is Winchester's current offering of the 1895. I'd prefer an American gun, but at the same time Uberti's copy of the 1873 looks nice. I had considered something from Marlin but I've read many bad reviews of their latest guns. Henry's seem decent priced for what you get, but it's not a real Henry. Nothing like the original, more or less seems like someone using the Henry name for money. From what I understand that are pretty much copies of Marlins. So it's seems like I'm stuck with an ultra expensive antique, a Russian 1895 is still crazy expensive. Or I'm stuck with a foreign reproduction that's of high quality or a questionable modern American gun that's cheaper. I'm just trying to decide, too many options.
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Old July 19, 2013, 01:29 PM   #2
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i,m here to tell you the older made brownings are top shelf, i own a few browning rifles and shotguns and they the most bang for your buck. as a matter of fact i own a 80,s browning 1895 in 30-40 krag and it is as good if not better due to modern metal as a original. you need not be afraid of a japanese made browning rifle or shotgun and the newer winchesters are also made in japan and i think with the same workmanship. eastbank.
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Old July 19, 2013, 01:49 PM   #3
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I have Grampa's original win 95 in 30-03 ( A gift president Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt). It is my most prized possession. After a hundred years it still works like a Swiss watch. We call it "Old caplink caplonk" for the sound it makes when working action. It is an amazing piece of history and you won't be disappointed with one.

Grandpa was a better man than I am, because the crescent butt plate is a killer with his beloved 220gn round nose ( I load 150gn RN)


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Old July 19, 2013, 02:07 PM   #4
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the crescent butt plate is a killer
Try putting it on your upper arm instead of your shoulder. That's what it was made for.
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Old July 19, 2013, 04:49 PM   #5
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I have seen Japanese modern production guns. You won't buy that quality in the U.S. without a custom order anymore, if even then.
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Old July 19, 2013, 05:57 PM   #6
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I have a Japanese made Browning 1866 SRC in 45-70 and I can assure you that the quality is top-notch. I'm lucky enough to have quite a few lever actions and the 1886 is definitely one of my favorites.
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Old July 20, 2013, 08:33 PM   #7
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An older Marlin 336 is a lot better than the newer ones, they can be found all day for $300 and you would not be disappointed in the quality of those rifles. I own one in .35 rem that I absolutely love.

If you have to get a new rifle, the Mossberg lever action is a nice rifle for the money. Only comes in .30-30 though. I'd have one of those before I'd get a new Marlin.

You wouldn't have to save near as much for either one of those.
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Old July 20, 2013, 08:44 PM   #8
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My arm is bigger than the butt plate. Still sucks. Grandpa was a little wiry Irish scrapper. Fit him perfict.

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Old July 20, 2013, 09:15 PM   #9
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I'm a Marlin fan.
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Old July 21, 2013, 02:45 PM   #10
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I really like the .30-30 and the .45-70, but I already own guns chambered in those rounds. Guess you guys have sold me on the Browning 1895 unless I luck into an original Winchester. I'm really looking for 2 guns, 1 with a larger rifle round and the other for handgun rounds. But I'm pretty sure I'll grab a Uberti for the handgun caliber because I plan to shoot it alot and I can't see risking or paying for a real Winchester. I'd love to have a Browning 1895 and a Uberti 1873 for the range. Possibly later in life I'll be able to collect the real Winchesters. I'm real intrigued by the 1860 and 1866 in .44 Henry, it be great to have a matching 1873 Colt in .44 Henry. But I'll need to win the lottery to get those. I do like Marlins, I own and love a Goose Gun, but I don't want a gun that's gonna break easy or jam up all of the time. Nothing wrong with Rossi either, I have a Circuit Judge and love it, but I'm wanting a more higher end gun than they sell.
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Old July 21, 2013, 04:26 PM   #11
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I do like Marlins...but I don't want a gun that's gonna break easy or jam up all of the time.
Really? I never knew Marlin lever actions had those problems. Maybe the newer "Remlin" ones but none I've ever owned or handled

As for the Rossi's, about every model 92 owner I've ever talked to has had nothing but good to say about their rifle.

But it's your money, feel free to spend as much as you want to.
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Old July 21, 2013, 06:17 PM   #12
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I have a matched number pair of standard and deluxe Browning 1895's in .30-06. The standard I had before these had more beautiful wood than the second but the upgrade to the pair with the trade-in was necessary to me. These are Japanese made. And they are perfect.
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Old July 21, 2013, 07:32 PM   #13
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Really? I never knew Marlin lever actions had those problems. Maybe the newer "Remlin" ones but none I've ever owned or handled

Fixing the dreaded Marlin jam.
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/marlin94fix.html
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Old July 21, 2013, 09:00 PM   #14
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The rifle in that link article is an 1894. Is that problem specific to 1894's or all Marlins? I have a 336 that has seen three generations of use and I've NEVER had a jam with mine.

I have a friend that owns two 1894's and I guess he just hasn't put enough rounds through them for this problem to show up.
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Old July 21, 2013, 10:35 PM   #15
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Best levers?

I have been wanting a lever action rifle as well and I am thinking about an older marlin. Scour your local pawnshops for an older 336. You should be able to find one for a decent price.
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Old July 21, 2013, 11:11 PM   #16
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My personal preference is for Marlins.

I also like the Japanese made Browning 38/357, but those are tough to find.
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Old July 22, 2013, 06:04 AM   #17
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Is that problem specific to 1894's or all Marlins?

I think its specific to the 94.
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Old July 23, 2013, 03:05 PM   #18
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I have owned a Rossi in .357 Magnum, 2 Marlin's in .450, 1 Marlin 336 in .35 Remington and a 1 Marlin 94 in .357.

My .450 and .35 Marlin's are great rifles. They were made before the remington takeover and I would not buy a new "Remlin".

My 1894C in .357 would jam all the time, so I got rid of it.

The Rossi was a handy little rifle, and I wish I didnt sell it (I needed the cash). It didnt have near the quality of my Marlins though.

I love the pre-remington Marlins and they will always get my vote.
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Old July 23, 2013, 03:11 PM   #19
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No love here for the Savage 99?
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Old July 23, 2013, 03:31 PM   #20
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Top notch machine work from the Japanese on those brownings. I have an 86 in 45/70 and it never disappoints.
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Old July 23, 2013, 04:30 PM   #21
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No love here for the Savage 99
None here.
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Old July 23, 2013, 05:18 PM   #22
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I love Lever Guns and have owned alot of them and there are two that are built tough as nails and shoot very well. First is the Browning BLR and second is the Marlin 336. I own a couple of Winchester's and one Henry, 3 BLR's, 4 336's, and have had a Rossi, and Puma in the past. None of the other lever guns I have owned or shot even come close to my Browning's or Marlin's as far as dependability, and shooting accurately. When I say Marlin I mean real JM stamped Marlin's not this crap made today by Remington.
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Old July 25, 2013, 08:51 AM   #23
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Don't be afraid of a modern (Japan) made 1895 Winchester. I have two of them and love them. I have a saddle ring carbine in .30-40 and a take down rifle in .30-06. These are among the nicest rifles I own. I also own a modern Winchester 1886 "short rifle" and an older Browning 1886 saddle ring carbine both in .45-70. Both are fantastic. I also own a Uberti 1873 short rifle in .44-40. You will not be disappointed with one of them either.
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Old July 25, 2013, 11:55 AM   #24
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For shooting from a bench a modern Browning with its straighter stock will kick less than an original, but those old crooked stocks were there for a reason. If you carry an original '86 or '95 in the field enough, you'll find yourself making off hand and running shots that you wouldn't have believed possible.

If you find an original '92, you'll find that it will stand up indefinitely to shooting provided you don't try to load too hot for it.

As for price, if you look long enough you might find a worn or re-finished original for a price in the range of the Browning, particularly in the '86 if you're willing to accept less popular cartridges such as the 33 WCF, 38-56, 40-65, or 40-82. These old cartridges are not that hard to load for and completely adequate for anything less than the big bears.

The Browning is a very nice gun, something to be proud of, but it is not the same as an early Winchester.
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Old July 28, 2013, 01:12 AM   #25
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Never shot a BLR, a Sako Finnwolf, or a Chester 88.
My picks are a Model 99 in 300 Savage, a Marlin 375 in 375 Winchester,
and a Chester 94 in 30-30
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