Everything comes full circle. My great Uncle was a lever man. Granddad was a pump action guy. Dad favored lever guns. I prefer a pump. My Son is into lever actions. Then you can throw in bolt actions for the older guys and simi-autos for the younger generations. It's kind of funny how these things go.
I know someone with a Winchester L/A .44 mag purchased in the 80s that mounts a scope, but I shoot bang-on with open sights (can't say that about most rifles with my aging eyes). Anyway, it specifies in the manual (and on the barrel, I think) to ONLY use magnums, no .44 specials. I'm thinking the shorter length must be a problem feeding, can't imagine any other reason.
2:38 1. Loading can be difficult 4:13 2. Short stroking 4:56 3. More difficult to clear malfunctions 6:09 4. Picky with ammo 6:43 5. Limited capacity 8:15 6. Buckhorn sights kinda suck 9:27 7. Some models do not accept optics 10:22 8. Limited accessories 12:02 9. Less adjustable 12:41 10. Limited caliber options 14:27 Conclusion
As a brit, i tried a lever gun and was immediately hooked, there is something magical about them and oddly satisfying in working the action. Can't explain it! But i do encourage everyone to try a lever action and it usually has the same effect on them😁. Love my little 1894 marlin and it is by far my favourite to shoot. So much fun and cheaper to reload than most other calibres.
@@Ives1776 we can have anything except semi autos, we can have semi auto .22 rifles and long barrel pistols in .22. We can have long barrel revolvers, and shotguns. You have to get a licence from the local police force. Slow process but pretty straightforward. Oh and we can also have moderator's/ silencer's call them what you will , but they are not restricted or tax stamped like our U.S cousins, but a moderator/silencer is classified as a firearm in its own right crazy huh?. It's not as bad as the media would have you believe.
@@freyatilly they must be kept in an approved locked safe or cabinet and the ammunition kept in a separate locked compartment or safe and only the licence holder may have access. Aside from that , they may be kept at home. The laws here are a bit whacky in some respects, i.e mods.
I was a USAF Medic for 10 years. During that period; I was quickly trained and assigned as an OJT Supervisor Trainer. That is to say that I was trained specifically to TEACH OJT Supervisors how to train their staff. My training included effective communication practices, public speaking, effective writing courses, and psychological training; all geared to make you the training more productive. YOU sir are an extremely effective speaker; and I truly hope that you are able to continue in your endeavors and do so for a long time. I consider your work to be a service to your fellow man; so with all do respect...thank you for your service!
It's easy for us former military people to fall in this habit. 20 year military vet myself. OJT = On the Job Trainer. Essentially a "train the trainer" function.
As a rancher for 30 odd years I’ve carried an Ithaca 44mag that I had my dad buy when I was too young. The thing I’ve always liked about it is that your pistol and your rifle can carry the same bullet. I’ve used it for coyotes, bobcats and a mountain lion once. I can tell you I’ve wished for a bigger rifle on occasions. But it’s the one I grab every morning. Goes everywhere great. Truck, quad or tractor. Just natural to me.
@@noneya972 the truth is I don’t run in to grizzly’s here. Coyotes yes occasional mountain lion. Wild hogs you bet. Buts it’s not my only rifle. It’s just the rifle I work with everyday. I really don’t play with the what if game. Because what if you ran in to an alien or a dinosaur. The list never ends. Always work with what you have it’s good character building. Sure you could wish for something better but wishing won’t get the job done.
I have an early model 94 winchester that was passed down to me from my grandfather, and it's my favorite rifle to shoot just because of the nostalgia. Love that rifle.
My grandfather gave me his old 94 as well, he swore it was inaccurate and the rifling was shot but I finally got it out to the range a while back. Dead on at 100 yards and functions great. This from a beat up old 1916 dated gun that's probably taken more deer than I will ever see. Great guns!
If you wanna bring that gem into the 21st century, check out the folks at Ranger Point Precision. They make some badass aftermarket parts! I'll be grabbing a handguard, grip, and mod stock for my Rossi 92
I have that same rifle (from my Dad, age 83 now) and that Marlin is staying in the family for sure. You know at the end of the day when you’ve been shooting that thing.
My Dad bought me a Marlin 30-30 around that time from Target. Yup..the yuppie Walmart used to sell guns. They always had the Mossberg 500 combo on sale. Wood stock, pistol grip, rifled shotgun barrel and hunting barrel for shot.👍
My Marlin 336 30/30 is my favorite firearm, and I have a lot of really cool firearms. The only thing is, I haven’t seen 30/30 ammo in more than 2 years. I’m hoping the Hornady Leverevoloution comes back soon. Best ammo for lever action hands down.
@@alevey64 It's out there. Just expensive. Better to learn how to reload your own. It's not a precision rifle. And accuracy is not really going to be that great whether its factory or hand loads. That is if you follow the recommended procedures in reloading. SG Ammo has 30-30
Money’s been tight the last few years, but still looking to pick up that Henry Big Boy Sidegate in 44mag. Can’t wait. Just such a classic look. And so mechanical. I love it.
I have 6 Henry’s but they are all the old tube loading ones. I’d suggest the color case hardened 44 mag carbine. You give up a couple rounds of capacity but they are very well balanced and have a different stock from the other Big Boys with a rubber butt pad instead of just a brass plate and also some nice checkering. Since 44 mag has a little recoil that pad will make the difference between having a sore shoulder the next day and not if you shoot a lot.
I haven't shot a lever in decades, but the Marlin 336C was maybe the most fun I had shooting as a kid. In the early 1970s it was a great gun. Winchester's quality control was in a bad way at the time. We were showing a 94 to a customer one time and the damned action fell out. They cleaned up their act after by the '80s, but I'll always have a place in my heart for the old Marlin.
I talked to bear guides in Alaska and they liked to carry Marlin lever action rifles on their guided hunts for defense against charging bears because they're very fast reliable actions. Iron open sights and a big slug knock down caliber. (Can't remember which caliber.) good video.
I grew up in south west Missouri with lever guns, I still have my first 30-30 94 Winchester and it has never failed me I'm almost 60 now. It was made in 1951 and shoots as well now as when I was 12 years old. The issues you bring up are something that I never really thought about because it always seemed natural to me. I own several lever guns mostly Winchesters dating back to 1903 to 1983 and absolutely love them. 1894s, 1892s, 1895s, model 94s ect...
I have two Henry rifles, a .22LR and a .38/357 Carbine. The buckhorn sights on both were functional and accurate, but I chose to put Skinner Peep Sights on both and it slightly improved my groups and did not take away from the aesthetics of the rifle. In the case of the carbine in which the receiver is case hardened, Skinner also offers a case hardened sight, which is really pleasing to the eye.
On the topic of short stroking the action for newer shooters - try a pistol caliber lever action carbine/rifle. Shorter throw on the levers (generally) when compared to rifle calibers. Easier to get the "feel" of things, is usually cheaper to shoot, and recoil is much less! Good video and glad to see lever actions coming back in popularity!
Marlin produced a short stroke lever action. It was the Levermatic. It only made a few years & in only a few calibers. I have a few but still looking to fill the whole of a few calibers. 22lr, 22 WMR, 256 Win Mag, 30 CAL. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Levermatic
@@michaelfreeze1791 I have the standard Henry 44 brass Big Boy and you know you’ve been at the range the next day but the recoil is nothing like a 44 revolver. I also have a Henry 44 color case hardened carbine and that has a rubber butt pad so felt recoil is a lot less - it’s my favorite - very well balanced compared to the full length barrel.
The old good ones are hard to get now compared to even just 10 years ago. Now you got almost no choice but to buy the modern ones with their new fangled WUSSIFIED SISSY BOY "safteys"
Once you own one, they're addictive. Something about cycling the lever. Nothing cooler than wearing a Western Holster with a Revolver while carrying a Lever Action rifle Wearing a Duster.
Got the Henry Xmod .357 a few months ago. Was hard to find one for the longest. It is Fun to shoot, and just cool. Added a Romeo 5 and a light just because I could. Choose .38 / 357 due to ammo and the other items already in the safe. Love your channel.
I picked up a Henry X .357/.38 just before the pandemic. Perfect timing. ^_~ Finally was able to locate some .38 to run through it locally late last year and some .357 just after the new year.
I understand you can't shoot 38 super in a 38 special pistol due to the higher pressure of the modern hot propellant super. But, I wonder if the 38 super can be safely and reliably shot from a carbine chambered in 357 mag???
@@MrBurdinekl in some cases you can. I have one that it works in and one it does not. Paul Harrel has done a video on that very topic. DO NOT ASSUME YOU CAN based on my opinion please.
Best gun I've ever had was a Winchester lever action 22 mag. Harvested more meat and animals than all the big guns combined. Went down the Yukon river twice, meaning it was full of sand most of the time. Used it almost every day in Southeast Alaska rainforest out in the bush for eight years. Never had a failure. Finally shot the barrel out after twelve years and who knows how many thousands of rounds.
Ammunition "picky" problems are prevalent in many semi auto platforms as well, including AR's. You still have to know what ammo your rifle likes to "eat" ESPECIALLY if you load your own. As you state, however, it's a lot more troublesome to correct in a lever gun.
My marlin 94 in .44 will eat ANYTHING. I haven’t tried my .44spcls with full wad cutters yet though. And my FTX loads with full length.44 mags run just fine as do my 305 grain loads with 4227 that are seated shallow in the case.
One outlier worth mentioning to the norms of lever actions is Browning. Magazine fed so they have a number of modern centerfire rifle cartridge options as well as decent sights and are ready for scope mounting as well. They are not cheap, but no one has bothered to compete with the options they offer.
My friend has a beautiful Browning but it's not a lever action rifle. It's a single shot high wall 45-70. I don't have a rifle but my nice friend gifted me with a Uberti 1875 Outlaw 45 Colt revolver.
@@robertonavarro7713 it's not a lever action but I just got a 50 lb recurve from my family estate that my grandfather left. But I usually hunt pigs with dogs and a knife. (That's how you sound
My son just bought a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 and we’re waiting for it to arrive. Can’t wait ti share this video with him. I used to have a Marlin 444P that hated Cor-Bon ammunition, but loved my 270 grain Speer Gold Dot and 290 grain Beartooth Bullets (hardcast lead) hand loads.
The first thing I did with my Henry was add a red dot. I made sure I could hit 25-50 yds on the stock buckhorn (roughly 50 rounds), then put the dot on, and it is just so much fun to plink with. To your #3 point, the ammo thing is a serious trial and error, but luckily I've got a few revolvers that can eat anything the Henry doesn't like, so my advice, buy a revolver to pair with your lever gun.
Savage 99 built strong enough so it came in 308, and many more, can shoot spitzer bullets, top loading 5 real fast with the rotary, striker fired, no internals exposed when levering, came in a break down model 2 piece, easy to break down and clean, ejects from the side so a scope can be used, newer ones are drilled and tapped, round counter on the outside, balanced for perfect carry empty or loaded. All this from a rifle invented in 1892. Amazing
I grew up with lever action rifles in the wooded hills of Pennsylvania. It was a perfect rifle in the brush. I got my first buck with a 32 special at 12 years of age. I love that rifle. Yes it was some of the cowboy nostalgia. But for me I can rip off a number of rounds quickly and keep the target in sight, by burying the stock into my shoulder. I couldn’t do that with a pump. Thanks for helping us remember.
My first "purchased" rifle was a Marlin 30-30. I grew up shooting iron sights from BB guns on up. At the age of 7 I was shooting bees in flight. I now have a good variety of choices but the lever gun I now love is my Rossi R92 in 454 Casull/45LC. I spent crazy time on the action & trigger. I'd pit it against anything factory made by anyone. My eye's aren't what they used to be so I did put fiber optic iron sight types on. For my purposes here in Alabama, I love this thing. These are great points for us "Lever Lovers".
Lever actions are great also in countries where im in where semi autos tend to be more restricted. Its so fast action, and over here i think it would make viable home defence gun since its easier to get than semi auto. Then you can use the same gun for hunting just perfect country dudes gun i think
The Henry Long Ranger’s come in the more modern calibers like 223/556, 308, 6.5 Creedmoor. Downside is the small ‘box mags’, only 4 or 5 rounds depending on caliber. And at Shot Show Henry announced the Henry Supreme, which take standard P mags, initially 223/556 and 300 Blackout.
I own quite a few phenomenal guns, but I struggle to find any that bring me more joy than my lever actions. They may not be sub MOA guns, but they are accurate enough with an audible & tactile experience that is second to none.
I have a BLR in 308 which is a great example of a mag fed levergun, but my favorite levergun is the 35 Rem. 336, it just feels right and it's gorgeous. It can suck finding and buying ammo these days though...I guess 35 isn't popular enough for the ammo companies to make much of it.
I’ve got a 1976 Marlin 336 in 35 REM. Probably 10 years ago I bought about 300 rounds for the rifle over about a 6 month span. Decided that was enough lol. It was expensive even a decade ago. Mostly Remington 200gr Core Lokt and some Hornady 200gr Lever stuff. If I remember correctly it $40 for a box of 20. So that $600 for the 300 rounds 10 years ago!!
I feel your pain. I bought a 35 Remington several years ago and can’t even find brass for less than $4 each! I’ve been using the 18 pieces that came with it for several firings but eventually they will become unusable.
In the late 90s i was window shopping at the gun store and fell in love with a stainless Marlin 1894 .44 mag. It's one of my favorite guns and favorite hunting rifles. Never had anykind of feeding issues.
My Dad always hunted deer with a Marlin lever-action 30-30, and so I used the same rifle for many, many years. Always a place for a lever-action rifle imo.
I want this to be the year I finally get a lever-gun. Not because of any bans, I live in Texas, but because they just seem like so much fun. By goal is one of those Winchester-Miroku 1873's in .45 Colt.
A great primer. I started voting again in the Gundies after missing last year and hope you win again. There are lots of gun Tubers who consistently produce good content. Thanks for your consistency and to your supporters.
My first gun purchased at 53 years old is a Henry Steel 357 mag with a 1.5 X 4.5. I'm not a particularly good shot but this gun is fun. The only disappointment is that it only cycles 158 grain rounds reliably, it shoots any 357 mag or 38 special round but only cycles those weighing 158 grains. It's great on groundhogs out to 100 yards.
I have these in various forms from.. 22 to 45/70. The. 45 colt is my favorite for all around use. A cowboy action trick to speed load a side loader is to find a brass tube slightly larger than the shell cut it long enough to hold the shells to the rifles capacity. Then push the tube to the loading gate and the use a wooden dowel to push all of the rounds into the gun through the brass tube.
I have a henry 3030 and 45 colt lever action. I never had a lever gun before. All I had was a pump. Have to finish building my target. Then, on to the range.
I had an old Marlin I think it was an 1894 357 mag 38 out of that bad boy was a dream, quiet, no recoil, and pretty accurate despite the Buckhorn sight
@Gieszkanne absolutely One of the reasons I shot so much 38 through mine was it was paired with a 357 revolver, and shooting full power Magnums out of that revolver was unpleasant I figured the 38 was probably doing 357 things out of that rifle, so I just used the same Ammo in both
I've been shooting leverguns since my grandpa gave me his really old even then marlin 30-30, so he could get his dream winchester levergun. I also got his model 99 in 22 high power and my personal go to model 99 in .308
I have a Henry 357 with a sidegate and the loading took a bit to get used to but really love it way more than tube loading. I'd also recommend practicing with snap caps to get used to the action and all. The larger loop is also kind of annoying and I got paracord to wrap mine to soften it up a touch as well as as close it a bit because the small loops are too small for me. I also replaced the stock sight with fiber sights. It was also super cheap (~25).
Outstanding video, Chris! I, to love Lever actions, and use them quite often, I'm thrilled you spread the word about how amazing these tools are! God bless you, Sir!
A few years back I picked up a used Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum. I think it has an 18'' barrel (maybe 16''?), it holds 10 rounds of 44 mag which is pretty good firepower for a lever gun its size. I like the Marlins because they have the loading gate and are side ejecting, so it's quicker to reload than the old Henry's and easy to mount a top rail and optic unlike Winchester. The newer Henry's with the loading gate are probably superior rifles (smoother action), but at the time I bought mine the Henry loading gate was just being first released, but Marlin had been doing it for ages so there were more affordable used rifles on the market. I added a top rail, Holosun large reflex sight, and a leather sling/bandolier that holds 10 rounds for like $300. The concept was to try to build a good affordable urban fighting rifle for folks who don't want to own an AR in a banned state.
I’ve had a Henry Long Ranger now for almost a year and I would say it’s the best of both worlds. You can fire 308., 5.56, or 6.5 Creedmoor through this lever action and it has a magazine. (Its also optics capable!) Although I have had to get used to throwing the lever as you talked about. but man is this gun fun! I have the long ranger chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and it’s so much fun to take to the range.
Yeah. The first rifle that I ever bought was a Winchester 94 Ranger in .30-30. It's was made in 1984 which set it two years into the angle eject design so I threw a scope on it. It's been the deer harvester since 2010.
Henry sells .308 and .556 magazine fed lever actions. They sell red dot mounts that slide into the rear sight dovetails if you have a lever gun that’s not drilled and tapped. Skinner peep sights are a great improvement over the factory sights as well.
My first ever rifle was a lever action 3030 runs smooth as butter and is older than me by 30 years. Belonged to my grandad. (I'm 22). I absolutely love it.
The model 99 Savage, and the model 95 Winchester are great lever guns that are chambered in a number of highpower cartridges. Neither rifle is tube fed, so pointed spitzer rounds aren't an issue.
Nicely done. Lots of good information here for someone new to lever actions as I am. I only have 2, both Henrys in .22 and .44. The .44 was giving me a fit with failures to feed until I switched ammo, the 240gn semi-jacketed flat-nose were jamming up. Switched to 185gn which is just a bit shorter and feeds flawlessly.
My two favorite level actions are the New Original Henry 1860 in .45 LC, and the Winchester 94AE Trapper in .357. (with the John Wayne loop lever). I don't hunt anymore, but the scoped Marlin 336 in 30-30 is hard to beat.
Some Savage 99s had removeable box mags [only 4 rounders, but that's more for hunting regs than anything else] and the Henry Long Ranger is another example of the rare, box mag-fed lever gun and it is currently available as a new rifle.
I think anyone fortunate enough to have shot a decent lever gun instantly knows after the first few rounds that it's something special. Outdated, but special for it's time.
As a reloader I don’t feel the lever actions are out dated at all. In fact, I have learned that for an everyday gun lever actions are far less finicky than an auto loader. My lever actions and for that matter revolvers never jam. Super light loads (parlor) or full house loads, it matters not, they all work.
I’m a Marlin fan and have been for years. My favorite is my 1894 in 45LC with a 16” barrel length. Of course the 1895G is another favorite. My dad’s old 336 in .35 rem is my favorite older model. Great video, great information on levers. Why is it that no one is talking about the Marlins? Marlin levers have been around since the 1800’s too. Now we’ve got the Ruger/Marlin.
Hopefully they start selling it as just a lower since it would be cool to have an M16 style upper with a lever lower. It would also be great for those living in sIave states like California
I’m astonished that neither myself or my two young boys have ever had a single malfunction using either of my Henry lever actions (.357 and .45lc). One has a big loop and the other small. Definitely recommend the Ranger Point Precision hand guards! The newer ones still allow you to use the tube loader.
I like this post. I purchased my first lever action rifle last year. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Henry Brass Side Gate 45-70 Govt. Your post points out to some concerns as a new owner. Short stroking being the most likely on a long action round. That lever gets pushed out quite a ways. It almost seems like your going to far when cocking the weapon. When you do short stroke it. I found the easiest way to clear is to finish the push of the lever forward then back. This could be quite a problem on Lever action PCC's. Clearing the magazine on a Henry is super simple just pull the magazine rod out and let the rounds slide out make sure the chamber is cleared as well. The side gate is awesome for loading and reloading. The 45-70 is a huge round very long and fat. The brass side gate functions very well just a longer push than a PCC. This model holds five rounds and one in the chamber for a total of six. Honestly with this behemoth cartridge whatever your shooting at doesn't stand a chance after the first round. So long as you can point and shoot the weapon. I do have a stock cuff that holds an additional five rounds. That's a total of 11 rounds that can drop a buffalo with one round. It's no AR-10 but its damn close as a formidable weapon for hunting whatever or self defense. The 45-70 rounds are a little pricey and sometime hard to find. The best part of the 45-70 round is its effectiveness. Thanks again for your post it was very informative..
great video. lever action harkens back to older times. but still useful now and very fun to shoot. also you forgot to mention pairing with with revolver in same caliber for good self defense combo.
My difficulty with my Marlin 1895 in .45-70 was that Hornady polymer tip ( plastic tip ) cartridges are a tad longer than the flat-nose Remington cartridges and don’t cycle properly … so I only use the Hornady for the first shot because they are lighter and shoot farther than the heavy 405gr Remington .
In 25+ years of gun repair, I have seen a reoccurring issue with loading gates. Either the screw holding it in place loosen and jams the action, or the gate breaks on some models also jamming it. I have never seen a creditable case of the 'famous' chain fire issue, where in pointed nose bullets fire the cartridges in front of them. I think it is only a legend.
The issue of chain fires came about with the original Henry lever action. If the user allowed the magazine follower to slam into the rounds in the magazine, instead of lowering the follower slowly, it would cause one or two rounds to chain fire.
Hey Outlaw - I really hope you do more videos on lever guns. It's something I really want to get into and I've long trusted this channel to give good information and no sponsored bullshit, so it'd be nice to have reviews on the guns you already have, if you don't plan on getting more right away. I worry about the bias in product reviews on store pages and the like because they tend to be polarized - you've really gotta like or dislike something enough to leave a review, and reddit is... well, reddit. Hope you have a great 2023!
I've had a Savage Model 1899 in .30-30 with a revolving internal magazine for about 30 years. Shoots like a dream. The newer Rossi .44 is a little tougher, but learning new guns is fun.
Love your channel with all the lever action content, especially someone in my age group. My Great Uncle’s ‘69 Marlin 336 in 30-30 is by far my favorite gun that I own. Between him and I there’s been well over a thousand of rounds fired through it. It’s still my go-to.
Lever actions are the best way to go! I just bought a marlin 336 30/30. Its a beautiful gun and gunna make a sling, stock cover and lever wrap for it to really set it off! Great videos!
I had a Winchester 30-30 back in the 70's, and I had a side mounted scope, which had a deflector in the right (scope offset to left) to deflect the ejected shell to the right.
I am a lever guy. Have a variety of lever guns including a 1873, 1886 and 94 (in 32 Win Sp.) plus a Henry 22lr. I pair my 1873 (357 Mag) with my S&W 686s (x2) and I feel that works pretty well to keep the ranch or cabin in the north safe.
Your tips on the loading gate, and working the action 'smartly' are right on! I wish I had the guts to lighten the loading gate tension on all my rifles just to save my fingertips a bit. I have both the a 94 and 336 for over 25 years now that I use for smaller territories; I just love lever guns! I check their sights every year, just in case, if I'm going to set down my longer range bolt guns.
I bought a Citadel LevTac 92 in .357 mag which is based on the Winchester 1892 action and it solves most of the accessory mounting problems with M-Lok and rails for RDS/scopes. Very light with a 16 1/4" barrel which is threaded. Recoil is very pleasant. I've seen them for sale in an LGS with 18" barrels and .44 mag, .45 Colt. Liked your review. Well done!
You can put a vortex scout scope with mid rings, but you lose the peep sigh. Not an issue since the hand guard has m-lok mounts at 35-45 degrees (I have never measured it but is my guess) so you can add most foldable sights on the market by adding some short picatinny rails. Then finish it with a ranger point adjustable stock plus round holder and the cheek riser. Now you can zero the scope at 100 yards and zero the foldable sights at 25 yards. 0 to 50 use the foldable sights and 50 to 150 you have the scope. This will cover you for many applications hunting, plinking and home defence you name it. Now the only missing part is a sound suppresor.
After sighting in at 60 feet, I could easily cover 5 shots with a nickel ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL ! Truly a pleasure to shoot! Scope was easy to adjust for eye relief. Only problem the varmints must have seen it delivered lol!Update: So impressed with shot groups at 30 yards I purchased a Hammers 3×9 with adjustable Objective scope! Now a true nail driver!
great review, I'm a Marlin fan, when I got my '77 444s I bought the leverevolution Stuff, be prepared if you do own an older marlin that you will have feed issues with the last round unless you change to a dimpled follower. Had a friend make me one, being in Canada it was hard to source one. Issue solved. Cheers
Good stuff, as usual. Lesser appreciated lever guns include the Savage Mod. 99 (many calibers), which circumvented the pointy bullet issue by using a rotary magazine (with counter), and the novel Marlin Models 56, 57 (.22 LR) & 57M (.22 WMR) Levermatic, which feature a very short throw. It's more like a flick; very fun to shoot.
Savage 99 is in that class of guns I used to see fairly regularly, and at a decent price, but are now held tight by owners and only parted with for high dollars. If only I would've known...
Biggest gun sale regrets, Winchester 44 mag model 94 carbine and a savage model 99 in 300 savage. Managed to find a 243 model 99, but can’t seem to find a carbine length Winchester. Might have to settle for a Rossi R92….
Hello everyone. I am a big fan of lever action rifles and own several....all true what you say though, a lever action rifle is a lever action rifle. If you want better sights, more rounds in the magazine, more practicality, in fixing malfunctions, maybe we are talking about other rifles. Thanks for the video a greeting from Italy!👋👋👋👋👋
I appreciate all the info and personal experience on this and the other topics you cover… I’m definitely interested in the Henry 44 and I’ll check out the stock sleeve to improve the fit👍🏼. Thanks Big Red! Keep up the great work and you’ve got a fan here in South California
I worked with a friend and he was an all around sportsman, hunted,traped,fished you name it he did it.He had a Winchester lever action with a scope mounted on the side crazy set up and this was his go to gun for deer hunting.Thanks for the video.
@@ranchodeluxe1 true but I was only talking about classic Winchester capable of surviving the 62,000 psi .454 casual and only the 1886/1892 will survive that ammo with no problems.
You are correct. Pointy tipped "Spitzer" bullets are a no-no with tubular magazines. That being said, I prefer lever guns when I am hunting in the brush, because for me it is easier to get a 2nd shot. I can rack the lever without ever separating from the cheek well.
Everything comes full circle. My great Uncle was a lever man. Granddad was a pump action guy. Dad favored lever guns. I prefer a pump. My Son is into lever actions. Then you can throw in bolt actions for the older guys and simi-autos for the younger generations. It's kind of funny how these things go.
My dad is Into 17-1800’s black powder firearms. I’m into 1900-1950’s surplus guns.
I am very picky I am only interested in guns that have triggers that make them go bang.
Everything does come full circle, soo true.
I know someone with a Winchester L/A .44 mag purchased in the 80s that mounts a scope, but I shoot bang-on with open sights (can't say that about most rifles with my aging eyes). Anyway, it specifies in the manual (and on the barrel, I think) to ONLY use magnums, no .44 specials. I'm thinking the shorter length must be a problem feeding, can't imagine any other reason.
@@The_SmorgMan l
2:38 1. Loading can be difficult
4:13 2. Short stroking
4:56 3. More difficult to clear malfunctions
6:09 4. Picky with ammo
6:43 5. Limited capacity
8:15 6. Buckhorn sights kinda suck
9:27 7. Some models do not accept optics
10:22 8. Limited accessories
12:02 9. Less adjustable
12:41 10. Limited caliber options
14:27 Conclusion
You are underappreciated, thank you sir
Thanks homage, much love
should of made number 6. "Worst sights made by man"
@@velogang9640Why? He didn't mention the ghost rings. Now there's a sighting system that makes me long for some buckhorns.
The Henry x kills all of those issues
Everyone that gets into firearms will eventually "need" a revolver, a 1911, and a lever gun...
Agreed
Got em 😊
I got 2/3..... government says I can't have the third anymore :(
Hopefully that'll change next year 🍁
Limited capacity... Confederate Colonel John Mosby called the Henry "that damned Yankee rifle that can be loaded on Sunday and fired all week."
2023…
Now we have a AR. That damn rifle that can be loaded on the first and shot all month.
Compared to a muzzle loader 🤣
Now we have belted machine guns, which could be loaded on the first of January and fired all year
@@landonmartinez2596 it can be fired as long as it takes to say 'DIE MOTHAFUCKA DIE'.
That is a fact.
As a brit, i tried a lever gun and was immediately hooked, there is something magical about them and oddly satisfying in working the action. Can't explain it! But i do encourage everyone to try a lever action and it usually has the same effect on them😁. Love my little 1894 marlin and it is by far my favourite to shoot. So much fun and cheaper to reload than most other calibres.
Are you guys allowed to have lever actions over there or did you immigrate?
@@Ives1776 we can have anything except semi autos, we can have semi auto .22 rifles and long barrel pistols in .22. We can have long barrel revolvers, and shotguns. You have to get a licence from the local police force. Slow process but pretty straightforward. Oh and we can also have moderator's/ silencer's call them what you will , but they are not restricted or tax stamped like our U.S cousins, but a moderator/silencer is classified as a firearm in its own right crazy huh?. It's not as bad as the media would have you believe.
Now you know how Texas Rangers felt when they first got their lever actions.,..
@@saltyreeeloader5268... interesting. I thought there was a restriction placed on keeping firearms at home. Is that still a thing?
@@freyatilly they must be kept in an approved locked safe or cabinet and the ammunition kept in a separate locked compartment or safe and only the licence holder may have access. Aside from that , they may be kept at home. The laws here are a bit whacky in some respects, i.e mods.
I was a USAF Medic for 10 years. During that period; I was quickly trained and assigned as an OJT Supervisor Trainer. That is to say that I was trained specifically to TEACH OJT Supervisors how to train their staff. My training included effective communication practices, public speaking, effective writing courses, and psychological training; all geared to make you the training more productive.
YOU sir are an extremely effective speaker; and I truly hope that you are able to continue in your endeavors and do so for a long time. I consider your work to be a service to your fellow man; so with all do respect...thank you for your service!
It's easy for us former military people to fall in this habit. 20 year military vet myself. OJT = On the Job Trainer. Essentially a "train the trainer" function.
Shut up, nerd. 😂
So that means you were a teacher teacher.😊
cringe af comment, considering I was in the Air Force too, and went to "train the trainer" courses. That's not exactly a prestigious "certification."
Who are you trying to impress?😂
I have always wanted a Lever action in .45-70. I have zero use for 1, but really, really want 1.
I have one. It hurts! 300 gr bullets aren't too bad, but the 405 gr, ow!
I admit to being a small guy, 155 lb, Big guys may do better.
Old comment I know but I've had a great time with the new Marlin 1895. Ruger owning marlin so far seems like it's gunna be a good time
@dillonhughes1417 did you get the dark series? I've been really looking for that model.
@majesticookie9760 nah just an sbl one. Havnt seen dark series in person yet
I feel the same way lol
As a rancher for 30 odd years I’ve carried an Ithaca 44mag that I had my dad buy when I was too young. The thing I’ve always liked about it is that your pistol and your rifle can carry the same bullet. I’ve used it for coyotes, bobcats and a mountain lion once. I can tell you I’ve wished for a bigger rifle on occasions. But it’s the one I grab every morning. Goes everywhere great. Truck, quad or tractor. Just natural to me.
What do you recommend for grizzlies?
@@noneya972 run faster.
@@noneya972you aren’t killing a grizzly with anything less that 45-70 and that’s if you can actually hit them properly.
@@noneya972 the truth is I don’t run in to grizzly’s here. Coyotes yes occasional mountain lion. Wild hogs you bet. Buts it’s not my only rifle. It’s just the rifle I work with everyday. I really don’t play with the what if game. Because what if you ran in to an alien or a dinosaur. The list never ends. Always work with what you have it’s good character building. Sure you could wish for something better but wishing won’t get the job done.
@@gr8trgoodsimpatico310dinosaurs never existed
The Henry tube simplifies unloading, too. It's great that the new Henry rifles come with a gate and a tube.
Henry and browning also make box magazine fed lever guns in rifle calibers
Exactly 👍🏽
Sucks for spitzer type bullets tho. Luckily, lever evolution ammo is optemized for tube feeds with their soft point.
Mad Mud Henry has the Long Ranger that shoots the 223, 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor that's box fed where Spitzer bullets can be used.
@@craigsellier5973 I have considered buying a Browning BLR in .243 or 22-250 for the same benefit of a box mag.
I have an early model 94 winchester that was passed down to me from my grandfather, and it's my favorite rifle to shoot just because of the nostalgia. Love that rifle.
Same. My grandfather left me his. I love to shoot it
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend to look up when it was made! That’s very easy to find
Same here, the Winchester model 94 that I own came from my Grandfather. The nostalgia of that is precious to me.
My grandfather gave me his old 94 as well, he swore it was inaccurate and the rifling was shot but I finally got it out to the range a while back. Dead on at 100 yards and functions great. This from a beat up old 1916 dated gun that's probably taken more deer than I will ever see. Great guns!
If you wanna bring that gem into the 21st century, check out the folks at Ranger Point Precision. They make some badass aftermarket parts! I'll be grabbing a handguard, grip, and mod stock for my Rossi 92
I’ve loved them since my Marlin 30-30 I bought in 1984. It was a great rifle. I wish I had never sold it.
I have that same rifle (from my Dad, age 83 now) and that Marlin is staying in the family for sure. You know at the end of the day when you’ve been shooting that thing.
My Dad bought me a Marlin 30-30 around that time from Target. Yup..the yuppie Walmart used to sell guns.
They always had the Mossberg 500 combo on sale. Wood stock, pistol grip, rifled shotgun barrel and hunting barrel for shot.👍
My Marlin 336 30/30 is my favorite firearm, and I have a lot of really cool firearms. The only thing is, I haven’t seen 30/30 ammo in more than 2 years. I’m hoping the Hornady Leverevoloution comes back soon. Best ammo for lever action hands down.
@@HK-qj4im Walmart still sells guns. I'm in PA & can buy from a local Walmart today if I choose.
@@alevey64 It's out there. Just expensive. Better to learn how to reload your own. It's not a precision rifle. And accuracy is not really going to be that great whether its factory or hand loads. That is if you follow the recommended procedures in reloading. SG Ammo has 30-30
Money’s been tight the last few years, but still looking to pick up that Henry Big Boy Sidegate in 44mag. Can’t wait. Just such a classic look. And so mechanical. I love it.
I have 6 Henry’s but they are all the old tube loading ones. I’d suggest the color case hardened 44 mag carbine. You give up a couple rounds of capacity but they are very well balanced and have a different stock from the other Big Boys with a rubber butt pad instead of just a brass plate and also some nice checkering. Since 44 mag has a little recoil that pad will make the difference between having a sore shoulder the next day and not if you shoot a lot.
I haven't shot a lever in decades, but the Marlin 336C was maybe the most fun I had shooting as a kid. In the early 1970s it was a great gun. Winchester's quality control was in a bad way at the time. We were showing a 94 to a customer one time and the damned action fell out. They cleaned up their act after by the '80s, but I'll always have a place in my heart for the old Marlin.
My favorite gun is a Glenfield 30A (Same thing as a 336, Marlin made K-mart brand). It’ll shoot one ragged hole all day long if I can hold it steady.
If they just never stopped making the model 93
I talked to bear guides in Alaska and they liked to carry Marlin lever action rifles on their guided hunts for defense against charging bears because they're very fast reliable actions. Iron open sights and a big slug knock down caliber. (Can't remember which caliber.) good video.
I grew up in south west Missouri with lever guns, I still have my first 30-30 94 Winchester and it has never failed me I'm almost 60 now.
It was made in 1951 and shoots as well now as when I was 12 years old.
The issues you bring up are something that I never really thought about because it always seemed natural to me.
I own several lever guns mostly Winchesters dating back to 1903 to 1983 and absolutely love them.
1894s, 1892s, 1895s, model 94s ect...
I have two Henry rifles, a .22LR and a .38/357 Carbine. The buckhorn sights on both were functional and accurate, but I chose to put Skinner Peep Sights on both and it slightly improved my groups and did not take away from the aesthetics of the rifle. In the case of the carbine in which the receiver is case hardened, Skinner also offers a case hardened sight, which is really pleasing to the eye.
On the topic of short stroking the action for newer shooters - try a pistol caliber lever action carbine/rifle. Shorter throw on the levers (generally) when compared to rifle calibers. Easier to get the "feel" of things, is usually cheaper to shoot, and recoil is much less! Good video and glad to see lever actions coming back in popularity!
I agree, the punch of a 357 magnum round out of a 16 inch or longer barrel is considerable and more than adequate at short ranges.
"...and recoil is much less!" I can tell you have never shot a .44 Mag lever action!
Marlin produced a short stroke lever action. It was the Levermatic. It only made a few years & in only a few calibers. I have a few but still looking to fill the whole of a few calibers. 22lr, 22 WMR, 256 Win Mag, 30 CAL. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Levermatic
Like lever action with training wheels 🛞☺️
@@michaelfreeze1791 I have the standard Henry 44 brass Big Boy and you know you’ve been at the range the next day but the recoil is nothing like a 44 revolver. I also have a Henry 44 color case hardened carbine and that has a rubber butt pad so felt recoil is a lot less - it’s my favorite - very well balanced compared to the full length barrel.
The biggest problem with lever action guns is that I don't own any :(
You mean no lever actions own you
You need to fix that problem
The old good ones are hard to get now compared to even just 10 years ago. Now you got almost no choice but to buy the modern ones with their new fangled WUSSIFIED SISSY BOY "safteys"
Once you own one, they're addictive. Something about cycling the lever. Nothing cooler than wearing a Western Holster with a Revolver while carrying a Lever Action rifle Wearing a Duster.
@@bigdaddysshop8180mhmm I breath lever actions like a addict breaths coke
Got the Henry Xmod .357 a few months ago. Was hard to find one for the longest. It is Fun to shoot, and just cool.
Added a Romeo 5 and a light just because I could. Choose .38 / 357 due to ammo and the other items already in the safe.
Love your channel.
I picked up a Henry X .357/.38 just before the pandemic. Perfect timing. ^_~ Finally was able to locate some .38 to run through it locally late last year and some .357 just after the new year.
Did you have to sell your car to fund it? The prices are wild on those these days. Glad you found one!
@@misterfilmguy lol. I found them in other caliber’s, but wanted the .357 for reasons mentioned.
I understand you can't shoot 38 super in a 38 special pistol due to the higher pressure of the modern hot propellant super. But, I wonder if the 38 super can be safely and reliably shot from a carbine chambered in 357 mag???
@@MrBurdinekl in some cases you can. I have one that it works in and one it does not. Paul Harrel has done a video on that very topic. DO NOT ASSUME YOU CAN based on my opinion please.
Best gun I've ever had was a Winchester lever action 22 mag. Harvested more meat and animals than all the big guns combined. Went down the Yukon river twice, meaning it was full of sand most of the time. Used it almost every day in Southeast Alaska rainforest out in the bush for eight years. Never had a failure. Finally shot the barrel out after twelve years and who knows how many thousands of rounds.
Sounds like it needs a new barrel!
Ammunition "picky" problems are prevalent in many semi auto platforms as well, including AR's. You still have to know what ammo your rifle likes to "eat" ESPECIALLY if you load your own. As you state, however, it's a lot more troublesome to correct in a lever gun.
My marlin 94 in .44 will eat ANYTHING. I haven’t tried my .44spcls with full wad cutters yet though. And my FTX loads with full length.44 mags run just fine as do my 305 grain loads with 4227 that are seated shallow in the case.
One outlier worth mentioning to the norms of lever actions is Browning. Magazine fed so they have a number of modern centerfire rifle cartridge options as well as decent sights and are ready for scope mounting as well. They are not cheap, but no one has bothered to compete with the options they offer.
Henry long ranger, there's actually many different manufacturers doing this, but it is great
My friend has a beautiful Browning but it's not a lever action rifle. It's a single shot high wall 45-70.
I don't have a rifle but my nice friend gifted me with a Uberti 1875 Outlaw 45 Colt revolver.
Nice 270
@@robertonavarro7713 it's not a lever action but I just got a 50 lb recurve from my family estate that my grandfather left. But I usually hunt pigs with dogs and a knife. (That's how you sound
@@robertonavarro7713 Wow, that's some friend!👍
My son just bought a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 and we’re waiting for it to arrive. Can’t wait ti share this video with him.
I used to have a Marlin 444P that hated Cor-Bon ammunition, but loved my 270 grain Speer Gold Dot and 290 grain Beartooth Bullets (hardcast lead) hand loads.
The first thing I did with my Henry was add a red dot. I made sure I could hit 25-50 yds on the stock buckhorn (roughly 50 rounds), then put the dot on, and it is just so much fun to plink with. To your #3 point, the ammo thing is a serious trial and error, but luckily I've got a few revolvers that can eat anything the Henry doesn't like, so my advice, buy a revolver to pair with your lever gun.
I tried a red dot on my Henry. The cheek weld isn't right. I dont want to ad a cheek riser so I went back to iron sights
I haven’t shot a 44 mag revolver in decades I still remember my hand feeling pretty hammered that day. Haha
I always wanted a lever action, and finally got the Henry Golden in .357. Thank you for the very informative, nicely done vid.
Savage 99 built strong enough so it came in 308, and many more, can shoot spitzer bullets, top loading 5 real fast with the rotary, striker fired, no internals exposed when levering, came in a break down model 2 piece, easy to break down and clean, ejects from the side so a scope can be used, newer ones are drilled and tapped, round counter on the outside, balanced for perfect carry empty or loaded. All this from a rifle invented in 1892. Amazing
I grew up with lever action rifles in the wooded hills of Pennsylvania. It was a perfect rifle in the brush. I got my first buck with a 32 special at 12 years of age. I love that rifle. Yes it was some of the cowboy nostalgia. But for me I can rip off a number of rounds quickly and keep the target in sight, by burying the stock into my shoulder. I couldn’t do that with a pump. Thanks for helping us remember.
Chased a coyote with an old marlin 336 in 30-30, before the coyote limped into the brush I had the 3rd round already chambered
My first "purchased" rifle was a Marlin 30-30. I grew up shooting iron sights from BB guns on up. At the age of 7 I was shooting bees in flight. I now have a good variety of choices but the lever gun I now love is my Rossi R92 in 454 Casull/45LC. I spent crazy time on the action & trigger. I'd pit it against anything factory made by anyone. My eye's aren't what they used to be so I did put fiber optic iron sight types on. For my purposes here in Alabama, I love this thing. These are great points for us "Lever Lovers".
Love my 30-30
Lever actions are great also in countries where im in where semi autos tend to be more restricted. Its so fast action, and over here i think it would make viable home defence gun since its easier to get than semi auto. Then you can use the same gun for hunting just perfect country dudes gun i think
@@lalli8152i just like mine because i getta play cowboy tbh
The Henry Long Ranger’s come in the more modern calibers like 223/556, 308, 6.5 Creedmoor. Downside is the small ‘box mags’, only 4 or 5 rounds depending on caliber.
And at Shot Show Henry announced the Henry Supreme, which take standard P mags, initially 223/556 and 300 Blackout.
I own quite a few phenomenal guns, but I struggle to find any that bring me more joy than my lever actions.
They may not be sub MOA guns, but they are accurate enough with an audible & tactile experience that is second to none.
I have a Marlin 30/30 I've had for years and had no trouble with. I live in town now and don't get to shoot it much anymore. But I still love it
I have a BLR in 308 which is a great example of a mag fed levergun, but my favorite levergun is the 35 Rem. 336, it just feels right and it's gorgeous. It can suck finding and buying ammo these days though...I guess 35 isn't popular enough for the ammo companies to make much of it.
This makes me sad. I have always wanted to shoot a .35! The model 8's are just gorgeous.
35 Remington out of a 336 was the first center fire rifle I ever shot.
I’ve got a 1976 Marlin 336 in 35 REM. Probably 10 years ago I bought about 300 rounds for the rifle over about a 6 month span. Decided that was enough lol. It was expensive even a decade ago. Mostly Remington 200gr Core Lokt and some Hornady 200gr Lever stuff. If I remember correctly it $40 for a box of 20. So that $600 for the 300 rounds 10 years ago!!
I feel your pain. I bought a 35 Remington several years ago and can’t even find brass for less than $4 each!
I’ve been using the 18 pieces that came with it for several firings but eventually they will become unusable.
35 is a fave
I love my JM stamped Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum!
Henry Long Ranger, and the browning BLR, can help solve some of these with the detachable box mags.
In the late 90s i was window shopping at the gun store and fell in love with a stainless Marlin 1894 .44 mag. It's one of my favorite guns and favorite hunting rifles. Never had anykind of feeding issues.
My Dad always hunted deer with a Marlin lever-action 30-30, and so I used the same rifle for many, many years. Always a place for a lever-action rifle imo.
I absolutely love my Henry .38/.357 lever gun. It is my favorite rifle. That coupled with a gp100 or even sp101 3" is a great combo.
I have a marlin in .44 and have a smith model 69 to go with it
I want this to be the year I finally get a lever-gun. Not because of any bans, I live in Texas, but because they just seem like so much fun.
By goal is one of those Winchester-Miroku 1873's in .45 Colt.
I want one in 44 magnum. Hopefully they’ll be available good luck.
Lever guns are so much fun, and .22 are a cheap way to practice chambering rounds
Just grabbed a marlin trapper in 45-70, first lever gun, love that damn cannon.
A great primer. I started voting again in the Gundies after missing last year and hope you win again. There are lots of gun Tubers who consistently produce good content. Thanks for your consistency and to your supporters.
My first gun purchased at 53 years old is a Henry Steel 357 mag with a 1.5 X 4.5. I'm not a particularly good shot but this gun is fun. The only disappointment is that it only cycles 158 grain rounds reliably, it shoots any 357 mag or 38 special round but only cycles those weighing 158 grains. It's great on groundhogs out to 100 yards.
I have these in various forms from.. 22 to 45/70. The. 45 colt is my favorite for all around use. A cowboy action trick to speed load a side loader is to find a brass tube slightly larger than the shell cut it long enough to hold the shells to the rifles capacity. Then push the tube to the loading gate and the use a wooden dowel to push all of the rounds into the gun through the brass tube.
I have a henry 3030 and 45 colt lever action. I never had a lever gun before. All I had was a pump. Have to finish building my target. Then, on to the range.
Can you give a few examples why the 45 colt is your favorite?
I love my Marlin 336 micro groove with the hooded front sight. 1974 modle. Dandahermit
I had an old Marlin I think it was an 1894 357 mag
38 out of that bad boy was a dream, quiet, no recoil, and pretty accurate despite the Buckhorn sight
But even .357 is a lot quieter and has very little recoil compared to a 4inch revolver. And 125gr bullets can get over 2000fps.
@Gieszkanne absolutely
One of the reasons I shot so much 38 through mine was it was paired with a 357 revolver, and shooting full power Magnums out of that revolver was unpleasant
I figured the 38 was probably doing 357 things out of that rifle, so I just used the same Ammo in both
I've been shooting leverguns since my grandpa gave me his really old even then marlin 30-30, so he could get his dream winchester levergun. I also got his model 99 in 22 high power and my personal go to model 99 in .308
I have a Henry 357 with a sidegate and the loading took a bit to get used to but really love it way more than tube loading. I'd also recommend practicing with snap caps to get used to the action and all. The larger loop is also kind of annoying and I got paracord to wrap mine to soften it up a touch as well as as close it a bit because the small loops are too small for me. I also replaced the stock sight with fiber sights. It was also super cheap (~25).
I don’t have a side gate Henry , but one advantage is you can empty the mag tube without having to cycle rounds through the action
@@Desperado3248 With the new Henrys you get the best of both worlds since they keep the front loading tube as well as the side gate.
I love Hentry, company and products. Several .22's, a .357, and a .22 mag, which shoots like a lazer (1.5 - 2" groups with right ammo).
Gave .22 to my grandkids as well. Cust service is wonderful and Anthony ( owner) is a heavy donator to charity.
I have the Henry X-357. I love that rifle, and appreciate your totally objective review of lever rifles.
I really personally like the 30-30 Winchester leaver action rifle!
Outstanding video, Chris! I, to love Lever actions, and use them quite often, I'm thrilled you spread the word about how amazing these tools are! God bless you, Sir!
A few years back I picked up a used Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum. I think it has an 18'' barrel (maybe 16''?), it holds 10 rounds of 44 mag which is pretty good firepower for a lever gun its size. I like the Marlins because they have the loading gate and are side ejecting, so it's quicker to reload than the old Henry's and easy to mount a top rail and optic unlike Winchester. The newer Henry's with the loading gate are probably superior rifles (smoother action), but at the time I bought mine the Henry loading gate was just being first released, but Marlin had been doing it for ages so there were more affordable used rifles on the market. I added a top rail, Holosun large reflex sight, and a leather sling/bandolier that holds 10 rounds for like $300. The concept was to try to build a good affordable urban fighting rifle for folks who don't want to own an AR in a banned state.
I got my first firearm when I was 15 back in the mid 90s. Marlin 336. Serial # puts it at 1972.
I’ve had a Henry Long Ranger now for almost a year and I would say it’s the best of both worlds. You can fire 308., 5.56, or 6.5 Creedmoor through this lever action and it has a magazine. (Its also optics capable!) Although I have had to get used to throwing the lever as you talked about. but man is this gun fun! I have the long ranger chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and it’s so much fun to take to the range.
I’m tempted to trade one of my ARs in on a Long Ranger in 5.56. I’m just getting tired of the bad press ARs get but I have a ton of 5.56 to use up.
@@scottyV1000bro what
Yeah. The first rifle that I ever bought was a Winchester 94 Ranger in .30-30. It's was made in 1984 which set it two years into the angle eject design so I threw a scope on it. It's been the deer harvester since 2010.
I love mine, although it is definitely different... BLR 270
I have an 1873 lever gun in 44-40, I usually shoot blackpowder loads just for the sake of nostalgia. One of my favorite guns to shoot.
Henry sells .308 and .556 magazine fed lever actions. They sell red dot mounts that slide into the rear sight dovetails if you have a lever gun that’s not drilled and tapped. Skinner peep sights are a great improvement over the factory sights as well.
My first ever rifle was a lever action 3030 runs smooth as butter and is older than me by 30 years. Belonged to my grandad. (I'm 22). I absolutely love it.
The model 99 Savage, and the model 95 Winchester are great lever guns that are chambered in a number of highpower cartridges. Neither rifle is tube fed, so pointed spitzer rounds aren't an issue.
Love my 99e. My grandpas rifle that my dad and his siblings all used on their first hunts.
Nicely done. Lots of good information here for someone new to lever actions as I am.
I only have 2, both Henrys in .22 and .44.
The .44 was giving me a fit with failures to feed until I switched ammo, the 240gn semi-jacketed flat-nose were jamming up. Switched to 185gn which is just a bit shorter and feeds flawlessly.
My two favorite level actions are the New Original Henry 1860 in .45 LC, and the Winchester 94AE Trapper in .357. (with the John Wayne loop lever). I don't hunt anymore, but the scoped Marlin 336 in 30-30 is hard to beat.
Thank-you I have always appreciated lever guns. They are bad ass!!!
Some Savage 99s had removeable box mags [only 4 rounders, but that's more for hunting regs than anything else] and the Henry Long Ranger is another example of the rare, box mag-fed lever gun and it is currently available as a new rifle.
I LOVE lever actions the strangest one I love the most is the Win 88 in 308
I think anyone fortunate enough to have shot a decent lever gun instantly knows after the first few rounds that it's something special. Outdated, but special for it's time.
As a reloader I don’t feel the lever actions are out dated at all. In fact, I have learned that for an everyday gun lever actions are far less finicky than an auto loader. My lever actions and for that matter revolvers never jam. Super light loads (parlor) or full house loads, it matters not, they all work.
@@NW_Ranger Yeah, and something about a lever gun just feels good when you work the action.
Yes sir - when I hit the deer woods in the fall I look thru my safe and grab my lever and my bolt action - don't even look at the autoloaders.
I’m a Marlin fan and have been for years. My favorite is my 1894 in 45LC with a 16” barrel length. Of course the 1895G is another favorite. My dad’s old 336 in .35 rem is my favorite older model. Great video, great information on levers. Why is it that no one is talking about the Marlins? Marlin levers have been around since the 1800’s too. Now we’ve got the Ruger/Marlin.
A company just revealed their lever-action AR at Shot Show this past week. Looks awesome, and would love to see you review it soon.
It was Bond Arms. See my post.
Hopefully they start selling it as just a lower since it would be cool to have an M16 style upper with a lever lower. It would also be great for those living in sIave states like California
Fightlite also has theirs, introduced before bond arms revealed theirs.
He did, it sucks.
i picked up a marlin 30-30 for $150 about 12 years ago.... I absolutely love that mini mule.
I’m astonished that neither myself or my two young boys have ever had a single malfunction using either of my Henry lever actions (.357 and .45lc). One has a big loop and the other small. Definitely recommend the Ranger Point Precision hand guards! The newer ones still allow you to use the tube loader.
I like this post. I purchased my first lever action rifle last year. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Henry Brass Side Gate 45-70 Govt. Your post points out to some concerns as a new owner. Short stroking being the most likely on a long action round. That lever gets pushed out quite a ways. It almost seems like your going to far when cocking the weapon. When you do short stroke it. I found the easiest way to clear is to finish the push of the lever forward then back. This could be quite a problem on Lever action PCC's. Clearing the magazine on a Henry is super simple just pull the magazine rod out and let the rounds slide out make sure the chamber is cleared as well. The side gate is awesome for loading and reloading. The 45-70 is a huge round very long and fat. The brass side gate functions very well just a longer push than a PCC. This model holds five rounds and one in the chamber for a total of six. Honestly with this behemoth cartridge whatever your shooting at doesn't stand a chance after the first round. So long as you can point and shoot the weapon. I do have a stock cuff that holds an additional five rounds. That's a total of 11 rounds that can drop a buffalo with one round. It's no AR-10 but its damn close as a formidable weapon for hunting whatever or self defense. The 45-70 rounds are a little pricey and sometime hard to find. The best part of the 45-70 round is its effectiveness. Thanks again for your post it was very informative..
great video. lever action harkens back to older times. but still useful now and very fun to shoot. also you forgot to mention pairing with with revolver in same caliber for good self defense combo.
My difficulty with my Marlin 1895 in .45-70 was that Hornady polymer tip ( plastic tip ) cartridges are a tad longer than the flat-nose Remington cartridges and don’t cycle properly … so I only use the Hornady for the first shot because they are lighter and shoot farther than the heavy 405gr Remington .
In 25+ years of gun repair, I have seen a reoccurring issue with loading gates. Either the screw holding it in place loosen and jams the action, or the gate breaks on some models also jamming it. I have never seen a creditable case of the 'famous' chain fire issue, where in pointed nose bullets fire the cartridges in front of them. I think it is only a legend.
shoot my old 30-30 with pointed rnds all the time, never one issue.
The issue of chain fires came about with the original Henry lever action. If the user allowed the magazine follower to slam into the rounds in the magazine, instead of lowering the follower slowly, it would cause one or two rounds to chain fire.
Marlin made their lever action rifles in several different pistol calibers. I had one that took. .357/.38. Outstanding brush gun.
Hey Outlaw - I really hope you do more videos on lever guns. It's something I really want to get into and I've long trusted this channel to give good information and no sponsored bullshit, so it'd be nice to have reviews on the guns you already have, if you don't plan on getting more right away. I worry about the bias in product reviews on store pages and the like because they tend to be polarized - you've really gotta like or dislike something enough to leave a review, and reddit is... well, reddit. Hope you have a great 2023!
I've had a Savage Model 1899 in .30-30 with a revolving internal magazine for about 30 years. Shoots like a dream. The newer Rossi .44 is a little tougher, but learning new guns is fun.
I've had a Winchester model 94 /30.30 for years. I've taken down countless deer with it. One of my favorite guns I've owned.
Love your channel with all the lever action content, especially someone in my age group. My Great Uncle’s ‘69 Marlin 336 in 30-30 is by far my favorite gun that I own. Between him and I there’s been well over a thousand of rounds fired through it. It’s still my go-to.
Lever actions are the best way to go! I just bought a marlin 336 30/30. Its a beautiful gun and gunna make a sling, stock cover and lever wrap for it to really set it off! Great videos!
Do you have anywhere I can see your leatherwork? I love leather and would love to check out some of your work.
@@flashpointbravo well i put a lot of it on RUclips currently and Instagram also!
I had a Winchester 30-30 back in the 70's, and I had a side mounted scope, which had a deflector in the right (scope offset to left) to deflect the ejected shell to the right.
When the bond arms lever action ar15 comes out really hope you take a look at it.
I am a lever guy. Have a variety of lever guns including a 1873, 1886 and 94 (in 32 Win Sp.) plus a Henry 22lr. I pair my 1873 (357 Mag) with my S&W 686s (x2) and I feel that works pretty well to keep the ranch or cabin in the north safe.
Your tips on the loading gate, and working the action 'smartly' are right on! I wish I had the guts to lighten the loading gate tension on all my rifles just to save my fingertips a bit. I have both the a 94 and 336 for over 25 years now that I use for smaller territories; I just love lever guns! I check their sights every year, just in case, if I'm going to set down my longer range bolt guns.
Try Ranger Point Precision. I installed a lighter weight gate on mine
I bought a Citadel LevTac 92 in .357 mag which is based on the Winchester 1892 action and it solves most of the accessory mounting problems with M-Lok and rails for RDS/scopes. Very light with a 16 1/4" barrel which is threaded. Recoil is very pleasant.
I've seen them for sale in an LGS with 18" barrels and .44 mag, .45 Colt.
Liked your review. Well done!
You can put a vortex scout scope with mid rings, but you lose the peep sigh. Not an issue since the hand guard has m-lok mounts at 35-45 degrees (I have never measured it but is my guess) so you can add most foldable sights on the market by adding some short picatinny rails. Then finish it with a ranger point adjustable stock plus round holder and the cheek riser. Now you can zero the scope at 100 yards and zero the foldable sights at 25 yards. 0 to 50 use the foldable sights and 50 to 150 you have the scope. This will cover you for many applications hunting, plinking and home defence you name it. Now the only missing part is a sound suppresor.
After sighting in at 60 feet, I could easily cover 5 shots with a nickel ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL ! Truly a pleasure to shoot! Scope was easy to adjust for eye relief. Only problem the varmints must have seen it delivered lol!Update: So impressed with shot groups at 30 yards I purchased a Hammers 3×9 with adjustable Objective scope! Now a true nail driver!
great review, I'm a Marlin fan, when I got my '77 444s I bought the leverevolution Stuff, be prepared if you do own an older marlin that you will have feed issues with the last round unless you change to a dimpled follower. Had a friend make me one, being in Canada it was hard to source one. Issue solved. Cheers
Good stuff, as usual. Lesser appreciated lever guns include the Savage Mod. 99 (many calibers), which circumvented the pointy bullet issue by using a rotary magazine (with counter), and the novel Marlin Models 56, 57 (.22 LR) & 57M (.22 WMR) Levermatic, which feature a very short throw. It's more like a flick; very fun to shoot.
Savage 99 is in that class of guns I used to see fairly regularly, and at a decent price, but are now held tight by owners and only parted with for high dollars. If only I would've known...
Biggest gun sale regrets, Winchester 44 mag model 94 carbine and a savage model 99 in 300 savage. Managed to find a 243 model 99, but can’t seem to find a carbine length Winchester. Might have to settle for a Rossi R92….
@@TDC7594 You and me both. Had a 99E in .300 Savage I never should have let go 🙁
Hello everyone. I am a big fan of lever action rifles and own several....all true what you say though, a lever action rifle is a lever action rifle. If you want better sights, more rounds in the magazine, more practicality, in fixing malfunctions, maybe we are talking about other rifles. Thanks for the video a greeting from Italy!👋👋👋👋👋
I appreciate all the info and personal experience on this and the other topics you cover… I’m definitely interested in the Henry 44 and I’ll check out the stock sleeve to improve the fit👍🏼. Thanks Big Red! Keep up the great work and you’ve got a fan here in South California
I worked with a friend and he was an all around sportsman, hunted,traped,fished you name it he did it.He had a Winchester lever action with a scope mounted on the side crazy set up and this was his go to gun for deer hunting.Thanks for the video.
Been wanting a lever action 45-70 for a while now. Hopefully I’ll get one at some point. Great video and tips. Thanks
You will like everything about your 4570 except the kick and the price of ammo!
Peep hole sights are amazing on a lever action
Did you see the wood on the Ruger/Marlin 1894 classic at SHOT? If production examples are that nice, I'm in.
had a marlin .357 loved it the speed loaders took a bit to get used to. but after that great in competition
Being new to the lever action world I only have a Rossi 44mag I want a 357 and 45-70 this year.
I too have a .44 Rossi, ranchhand
Lever guns are a thing of beauty!
1886 and 1892 are the strongest actions in the classic lever style.
And smoothest
Praised be the name of John Moses Browning, come to lead us all to the firearms promised land!
Except for the Savage 1899/99, which makes them both look fragile.
@@ranchodeluxe1 true but I was only talking about classic Winchester capable of surviving the 62,000 psi .454 casual and only the 1886/1892 will survive that ammo with no problems.
You are correct. Pointy tipped "Spitzer" bullets are a no-no with tubular magazines. That being said, I prefer lever guns when I am hunting in the brush, because for me it is easier to get a 2nd shot. I can rack the lever without ever separating from the cheek well.
Traditional lever actions have a soul. When you shoot one, it’s as if you are transported back in time.
The thunder that comes out the end of a 45 - 70 is awesome