Lever advice - Page 2

TJB101 · January 21, 2021, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeauxTide

I bought a 45 Colt Henry X for $750. Fiber Optic open sights. Nice.

I purchased a 45-70 X series ... love the new fiber optic sights ... very easy to adjust. Side gate is a great add-on

Obambulate · January 21, 2021, 01:19 PM

The 16.5" Rossi is great for tight spaces and the weight is under 5 lbs. .357 works well in a rifle of this size and weight.

chris in va · January 21, 2021, 11:20 PM

What cast bullet are you guys finding works best in these levers? I was considering the Lee 358-125rf, or some flavor of Lyman.

bamaranger · January 22, 2021, 01:28 AM

I've posted many times that a .357 lever carbine is a very useful firearm and one will not be disappointed in their acquisition. Ammo and components are (usually) plentiful. A wide range of ammo, from mild .38 spl. to all up magnum power yields tremendous versatility. A companion revolver so chambered is another plus.

A stubborn traditionalist, I'm opposed to red dots, suppressors, rails and such on lever carbines, but I get it, such additions may add some further usefulness under certain circumstances. One modification I do recommend is changing the sight system from the traditional bead and blade, to a peep sight. For some strange reason, my eyes have changed somehow for the good, and I can once again run a peep sight well enough to do fair shooting. Prior that, I was strongly considering a low powered variable scope.

stagpanther · January 22, 2021, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Prior that, I was strongly considering a low powered variable scope.

20 lashes at the mizzenmast.

Grant 14 · January 22, 2021, 07:54 PM

Do any of the three discussed feed 38 wadcutters reliably? I like the idea of the .357mag for hunting , but most shooting is at paper or beer cans, and the 38 wadcutters are nicer. Too bad Savage didnt make a pistol cartridge 1899. Grant.

bobn · January 22, 2021, 08:43 PM

my rossi doesn't feed swc. i load cowboy action bullets which are a flat nosed conical bullet. bobn

JohnMoses · January 23, 2021, 08:13 AM

I have run thousands of 38's loaded with Lee's 158g tumble lube bullet through my Navy Arms (Puma, now Rossi)lever without issue. It's my favorite fun gun. No recoil or blast with 38's, but a beer can shredding monster with 357's. When my son brought his new shooter wife to play, she ignored all those msr loaded AK & AR mags and sent me looking for more 38 ammo. Nothing more satisfying than calling head shots on the 1/3 IPEC gong on the pistol range, then waiting that long second for the ping on the 100 yard gong.

TBM900 · January 23, 2021, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant 14

Do any of the three discussed feed 38 wadcutters reliably?

I've yet to see a non-heavily modified LG that could feed wadcutters even remotely reliably
Most struggled to even function twice in a row
With semi-wadcutters i've seen some that were somewhat reliable, enough for a bit of plinking
But that seems more a function of technique and bullet profile than make/model
But thats my own experience

SIGSHR · January 23, 2021, 08:28 PM

The older Marlins had the Micro-groove rifling, later ones had Ballard rifling at the request of CAS/SASS shooters who found it better for lead bullets.

bamaranger · January 27, 2021, 02:40 AM

I'd posted several times when I first hit this forum about "No scopes or white line spacers on your lever carbine". Then I turned 50 couple and my ability to run irons or even a peep on short barreled carbines took a turn for the worse. For reasons known only to the Almighty, I've discovered that my eyes will once again allow me to run a peep, even with a short barrel, well enough to do passable shooting.

I never scoped my Marlin.......no lashes for me!!!!!

stagpanther · January 27, 2021, 07:25 AM

Quote:

For reasons known only to the Almighty, I've discovered that my eyes will once again allow me to run a peep, even with a short barrel, well enough to do passable shooting.

Give it some time--when you're on approach to 70 you may reconsider once again.

jetinteriorguy · January 28, 2021, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Give it some time--when you're on approach to 70 you may reconsider once again.

Yup, although I have learned how to shoot at fuzzy things pretty good.

Scribe · February 25, 2021, 08:04 AM

Prefer the top ejection 92 action. I got a brand new Rossi 92 16 inch .44 magnum two and half years ago. It’s run like a Swiss watch and feeds special cases without a hitch.

reinert · February 25, 2021, 12:35 PM

SIGSHR,

"THE OLDER MARLINS HAD MICRO GROOVE RIFLING, LATER ONES HAD BALLARD RIFLING..."

You probably (maybe?) knew the original Marlin lever guns had the Ballard rifling up 'till the mid-50's, then went to the Micro groove rifling (M336s anyway). I never got into the CASS program, but I do remember reading about Marlin bringing back the Ballard rifling back in the later 90s.(?) And FWIW, I just posted this in case a newer shooter didn't know about the Marlin rifling history.

Also, in regards to the tube/loading gate business here, one should remember when all this came down through history, most everything was done on foot and/or horseback. The King's patent came out on the '66 Winchester (I believe) improving loading and a protection of the tube with the wood forearm (heat issues, too), and in regards to improving the original Henry Rifle's loading operation. I think loading rounds through the gate would be a whole lot handier whilst sitting horseback, or while running from a bad situation...or to one.

I do think the Henry's talked about here that have both accesses for loading is a pretty cool thing. Personally, I like my Marlin M336s and my M94 just the way they are. And it's just me, but I never cared for the looks of the new Henry's, but never really messed with one, either. My wife has both models of the Henry lever gun .22s, and like them a lot. The actions truly are butter smooth, and are very accurate, too.

Driftwood Johnson needs to chime in here!

chris in va,

To your inquiry for a rifle, I'd hunt for a nice older Marlin M94 carbine in your choice of cal. I have an M94SS in .41 mag. I like an awful lot. 20" barrel, very reliable, and very accurate. I do handload for that one.

MarkCO · February 25, 2021, 01:13 PM

After going about 10 years without a lever action (sold two Marlins, one in .30-30 and one in .41Mag) the Henry's are bringing me back. Have a .41Mag on order. I like the .41Mag more than the .357, but it was a hard choice with the .357 having a side gate. I'd certainly pick a Henry with a side gate if I was getting a .357 Mag.

stagpanther · February 25, 2021, 06:00 PM

Quote:

After going about 10 years without a lever action (sold two Marlins, one in .30-30 and one in .41Mag) the Henry's are bringing me back. Have a .41Mag on order. I like the .41Mag more than the .357, but it was a hard choice with the .357 having a side gate. I'd certainly pick a Henry with a side gate if I was getting a .357 Mag.

We expect a full report.

January 22, 2021, 01:28 AM	#29
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 7,414	.357 lever I've posted many times that a .357 lever carbine is a very useful firearm and one will not be disappointed in their acquisition. Ammo and components are (usually) plentiful. A wide range of ammo, from mild .38 spl. to all up magnum power yields tremendous versatility. A companion revolver so chambered is another plus. A stubborn traditionalist, I'm opposed to red dots, suppressors, rails and such on lever carbines, but I get it, such additions may add some further usefulness under certain circumstances. One modification I do recommend is changing the sight system from the traditional bead and blade, to a peep sight. For some strange reason, my eyes have changed somehow for the good, and I can once again run a peep sight well enough to do fair shooting. Prior that, I was strongly considering a low powered variable scope.

January 27, 2021, 02:40 AM	#36
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 7,414	lashes I'd posted several times when I first hit this forum about "No scopes or white line spacers on your lever carbine". Then I turned 50 couple and my ability to run irons or even a peep on short barreled carbines took a turn for the worse. For reasons known only to the Almighty, I've discovered that my eyes will once again allow me to run a peep, even with a short barrel, well enough to do passable shooting. I never scoped my Marlin.......no lashes for me!!!!!

February 25, 2021, 01:13 PM	#41
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 2,985	After going about 10 years without a lever action (sold two Marlins, one in .30-30 and one in .41Mag) the Henry's are bringing me back. Have a .41Mag on order. I like the .41Mag more than the .357, but it was a hard choice with the .357 having a side gate. I'd certainly pick a Henry with a side gate if I was getting a .357 Mag. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

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January 21, 2021, 01:19 PM	#27
Obambulate Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2011 Posts: 558	The 16.5" Rossi is great for tight spaces and the weight is under 5 lbs. .357 works well in a rifle of this size and weight.

January 21, 2021, 11:20 PM	#28
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,679	What cast bullet are you guys finding works best in these levers? I was considering the Lee 358-125rf, or some flavor of Lyman.

January 22, 2021, 07:54 PM	#31
Grant 14 Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2018 Posts: 159	Do any of the three discussed feed 38 wadcutters reliably? I like the idea of the .357mag for hunting , but most shooting is at paper or beer cans, and the 38 wadcutters are nicer. Too bad Savage didnt make a pistol cartridge 1899. Grant.

January 22, 2021, 08:43 PM	#32
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,045	my rossi doesn't feed swc. i load cowboy action bullets which are a flat nosed conical bullet. bobn

January 23, 2021, 08:13 AM	#33
JohnMoses Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2008 Posts: 183	I have run thousands of 38's loaded with Lee's 158g tumble lube bullet through my Navy Arms (Puma, now Rossi)lever without issue. It's my favorite fun gun. No recoil or blast with 38's, but a beer can shredding monster with 357's. When my son brought his new shooter wife to play, she ignored all those msr loaded AK & AR mags and sent me looking for more 38 ammo. Nothing more satisfying than calling head shots on the 1/3 IPEC gong on the pistol range, then waiting that long second for the ping on the 100 yard gong.

January 23, 2021, 08:28 PM	#35
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,550	The older Marlins had the Micro-groove rifling, later ones had Ballard rifling at the request of CAS/SASS shooters who found it better for lead bullets.

February 25, 2021, 08:04 AM	#39
Scribe Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2005 Location: England Posts: 218	Prefer the top ejection 92 action. I got a brand new Rossi 92 16 inch .44 magnum two and half years ago. It’s run like a Swiss watch and feeds special cases without a hitch.

February 25, 2021, 12:35 PM	#40
reinert Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 589	SIGSHR, "THE OLDER MARLINS HAD MICRO GROOVE RIFLING, LATER ONES HAD BALLARD RIFLING..." You probably (maybe?) knew the original Marlin lever guns had the Ballard rifling up 'till the mid-50's, then went to the Micro groove rifling (M336s anyway). I never got into the CASS program, but I do remember reading about Marlin bringing back the Ballard rifling back in the later 90s.(?) And FWIW, I just posted this in case a newer shooter didn't know about the Marlin rifling history. Also, in regards to the tube/loading gate business here, one should remember when all this came down through history, most everything was done on foot and/or horseback. The King's patent came out on the '66 Winchester (I believe) improving loading and a protection of the tube with the wood forearm (heat issues, too), and in regards to improving the original Henry Rifle's loading operation. I think loading rounds through the gate would be a whole lot handier whilst sitting horseback, or while running from a bad situation...or to one. I do think the Henry's talked about here that have both accesses for loading is a pretty cool thing. Personally, I like my Marlin M336s and my M94 just the way they are. And it's just me, but I never cared for the looks of the new Henry's, but never really messed with one, either. My wife has both models of the Henry lever gun .22s, and like them a lot. The actions truly are butter smooth, and are very accurate, too. Driftwood Johnson needs to chime in here! chris in va, To your inquiry for a rifle, I'd hunt for a nice older Marlin M94 carbine in your choice of cal. I have an M94SS in .41 mag. I like an awful lot. 20" barrel, very reliable, and very accurate. I do handload for that one.