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Posted: 9/6/2025 2:28:58 PM EDT
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Not long ago lever actions were all the rage on AR15. To me it seems that postings have almost dried up. Is it my imagination? FYI in have a Henry Big Boy brass frame side loading .357 and a Marlin 39a. |
"Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result." - Winston Churchill
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With no AR-15 ban on the horizon in this administration they cooled down abit. Also haven't seen Chris Costa or any other "influencers" lately shilling them. Only reason I have one is that I live in the area of NH that you can't use centerfire rifles it has to be a pistol cartridge in a lever action Sadly I bought my .44 Mag Rossi before the state AG said as long as the cartridge larger than .357 caliber is available in an actual pistol you can use it in a lever gun. I should have waited and I would have my .45-70 Marlin. May sell some stuff to get it. |
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I love my lever guns. Brown and blue elegance. Tradition. History. Unmatched utility. Still just as effective as they ever were. Still popular for the all the right reasons. The Tapco fucked lever guns people were so excited about not long ago, the plywood stocked ridiculous loop lever guns that Marlin was hawking to cash in on Jurassic Park weren't as popular as the influencers would have liked everyone to believe. Good riddance. They reminded me of the ridiculous "modernized" Mosin Nagant phase. |
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Originally Posted By Auxcoastie: With no AR-15 ban on the horizon in this administration they cooled down abit. Also haven't seen Chris Costa or any other "influencers" lately shilling them. Only reason I have one is that I live in the area of NH that you can't use centerfire rifles it has to be a pistol cartridge in a lever action Sadly I bought my .44 Mag Rossi before the state AG said as long as the cartridge larger than .357 caliber is available in an actual pistol you can use it in a lever gun. I should have waited and I would have my .45-70 Marlin. May sell some stuff to get it. Hunting season is starting here in NH, you shouldn’t have any issues selling or trading your 44 and finding a 45-70. Most would argue 45-70 is overkill for deer and unless you reload is too expensive for range plinking. Hit up the private market and flip it. |
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Originally Posted By steve8140: Hunting season is starting here in NH, you shouldn't have any issues selling or trading your 44 and finding a 45-70. Most would argue 45-70 is overkill for deer and unless you reload is too expensive for range plinking. Hit up the private market and flip it. 45-70 has the added benefit of cutting WAY down on tracking after the shot. Wide meplat hard cast anchored every deer I ever shot with my 1895G. DRT. |
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think that shotguns and the prep for $0 tax stamps is now the BIG hardware thing along with trans gun rights as the political debate |
Call the tune and let's dance; but beware that the devil is the piper and the tab for that soiree will be hell to pay.
Training&Trigger Time are more important than chasing a hardware Holy Grail
Training&Trigger Time are more important than chasing a hardware Holy Grail
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I like blued long guns with wood unless its an AR. The Winchesters have the safeties and the new Ruger Marlins are just too crazy in price, if you can find one and if you can find one that isn't plastic. I'll never buy another Rossi or Henry again so that doesn't leave very much to buy. I think I'd buy a Ruger Marlin 1894 in 44mag if I can find one at a good price but then I do have a nice Winchester 1892 in 45 LC. Maybe a BLR in .308 |
so traveling w a long bun needed a change. I love it, and it’s not my first, but is my only one currently.
| It's always waves with guns especially lever guns. That being said I think we have a ton of options now. The market is as good as it has been in a long time. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: It's always waves with guns especially lever guns. That being said I think we have a ton of options now. The market is as good as it has been in a long time. What I've been looking for is a Pedersoli 1892 in 357 magnum. It almost seems they are not made. |
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I think that the ardor for lever actions has increased exponentially in the past 5 years. Consider all the new models of lever actions, the "tactical" lever actions, and all the new modifications for lever actions. Ones that really interest me are 44 mag, 454 Casull, or even 50 S&W. The Bighorn Armory rifles in 50 caliber are great, just expensive. An interesting rifle would be a lever rifle in either of the large S&W cartridges, or 454 Casull but feeding from something like a 30 round M1 carbine magazine if things could fit up. A 15-20 round capacity 454 Casull would be impressive. Another rifle I thought was neat was the remake of the Colt Lightning pump action rifle. |
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Nobody I know IRL has bought into the tactical lever action thing. I really want one, but young kids have made me a poor. If I could find a decent tactical .22 lever action that didn't cost much, i might be interested. But the suppressed 45-70 thing seems like a range toy at best. .22 makes a much cheaper range toy. The recent tactical revolver thread ended up on everyone spouting "there's no market for tactical revolvers" There doesn't seem to be a ton of market for tactical lever actions, but that hasn't seemed to stop manufacturers. |
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Originally Posted By SteveJobs: Nobody I know IRL has bought into the tactical lever action thing. I really want one, but young kids have made me a poor. If I could find a decent tactical .22 lever action that didn't cost much, i might be interested. But the suppressed 45-70 thing seems like a range toy at best. .22 makes a much cheaper range toy. The recent tactical revolver thread ended up on everyone spouting "there's no market for tactical revolvers" There doesn't seem to be a ton of market for tactical lever actions, but that hasn't seemed to stop manufacturers. Rossi has the Rio Bravo Tactical lever 22. Love mine for suppressed shooting.  There’s the Rock Island TM22 too. It’s actually fed by a detachable box mag.  |
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Originally Posted By Genin: I think that the ardor for lever actions has increased exponentially in the past 5 years. Consider all the new models of lever actions, the "tactical" lever actions, and all the new modifications for lever actions. Ones that really interest me are 44 mag, 454 Casull, or even 50 S&W. The Bighorn Armory rifles in 50 caliber are great, just expensive. An interesting rifle would be a lever rifle in either of the large S&W cartridges, or 454 Casull but feeding from something like a 30 round M1 carbine magazine if things could fit up. A 15-20 round capacity 454 Casull would be impressive. Another rifle I thought was neat was the remake of the Colt Lightning pump action rifle. There have been .50AE conversions on Marlin 1894 .44 rifles. I picked up about a dozen pieces of .50AE brass at the range so now I am obligated to go this route. 
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I've always had a fondness for lever action rifles. My first deer rifle was a Savage model 1899 in .303 Savage made in 1908. Killed my first deer with it in 1970 when i was fourteen years old. I'm now 69 and have various caliber and makes of Winchesters, Marlins, Savages and Rossi's in my collection. Gary |
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Originally Posted By WoodHeat: the plywood stocked ridiculous loop lever guns that Marlin was hawking to cash in on Jurassic Park weren't as popular as the influencers would have liked everyone to believe. Good riddance. I mean, I like mine because it’s exactly what I wanted—small, lightweight, handy, with a decent punch. A moderately larger loop because I have big hands. And SS because my sweat is extremely caustic to bluing:  Jurassic park had nothing to do with it. I also have an CCH 1873 in 9mm, and a 39A. If they start making those guns in SS, I’ll sell what I have and buy those versions. YMMV. As for the OP, I do think it’s cooled off a bit. Only so much you can do with a lever action, and the only new design in recent memory is the Henry Supreme….which I might also buy a copy of. |
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we seem to sell a bunch of them in pistol calibers here, and 22 as well. That said most of the guys at the shop I work at are tired of "modern" AR pattern rifles and polymer handguns. Yes I know that they are 40-60 year old designs but still, we have them, have trained on them, many used them in service, but they are as exciting as screwdrivers. We get excited and enjoy shooting revolvers, lever guns, older stuff in general. I don't feel undergunned in almost any situation with 5 shots of 44 special on my hip or 8 rounds of 357 in a tube. |
"every exercise is a low back exercise if you do it wrong enough"
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Originally Posted By SteveJobs: Nobody I know IRL has bought into the tactical lever action thing. I really want one, but young kids have made me a poor. If I could find a decent tactical .22 lever action that didn't cost much, i might be interested. But the suppressed 45-70 thing seems like a range toy at best. .22 makes a much cheaper range toy. The recent tactical revolver thread ended up on everyone spouting "there's no market for tactical revolvers" There doesn't seem to be a ton of market for tactical lever actions, but that hasn't seemed to stop manufacturers. Old thread but rereading this post I have to say I have never seen a tactical Timmy lever gun at my local club. I have seen them in the gun shops but no one I saw had one on the range. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By Seven-Shooter: I mean, I like mine because it’s exactly what I wanted—small, lightweight, handy, with a decent punch. A moderately larger loop because I have big hands. Originally Posted By Seven-Shooter: Originally Posted By WoodHeat: the plywood stocked ridiculous loop lever guns that Marlin was hawking to cash in on Jurassic Park weren't as popular as the influencers would have liked everyone to believe. Good riddance. I mean, I like mine because it’s exactly what I wanted—small, lightweight, handy, with a decent punch. A moderately larger loop because I have big hands. Personally, I saw the tactical lever gun movement as something I did not like and did not "buy into". If AR's are ever banned, they might have merit but not now. An AR ban might justify adding Picatinney rails, red dots and weapon lights but not now. Laminate stocks have merit as they are water/moisture proof on a rifle whose performance is vulnerable to warping wood. Stainless steel does not rust, there's just nothing wrong with that from a practical viewpoint. Seven-shooter's rifle is one of the nicer ones I've seen but I am not on board that train,... yet. |
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Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: Old thread but rereading this post I have to say I have never seen a tactical Timmy lever gun at my local club. I have seen them in the gun shops but no one I saw had one on the range. +1 Most look like some kind of Steampunk LARP prop. |
Soldier for Life
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Nice receiver Pic rails, red dots or prisms, stainless or high performance coatings and scout rails are about as tactical Timmy as I'd like to see on lever. The wood just looks so good on them. Maybe polymer stock on SS for harsh environments, but do you really have a use for rails other than 12 o'clock on a lever action? Okay, now I'm questioning my positions, maybe a smaller high intensity light for bear country and i guess you have to mount it securely somewhere...oh FFS.
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Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
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Originally Posted By Ambridge77: I still want a lever because I've never used a real one. Sad emoji. |
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I think one of the other things about levers is that the manual of arms is not daunting or intimidating, and can be learned in a hurry. I bought a henry 357 CCH with the excuse that it's my wife's HD gun, but also because I wanted it. I took it to the range with my wife who had never shot it (and hasn't fired a round in 6 years) and my 9 year old son, who had literally never fired a centerfire round before. She was able to load and effectively put rounds on target after only being showed how to stick them in the side gate. My son, after a few rounds of 22 bolt gun, was able to load and fire the lever gun on his own. The recoil was not pushing him around, either, and he's 60 pounds wet! Couple that with the fact that 357 out of that long of a barrel is effectively 30-30 or 7.62x39 ballistics (at least inside 50 yards) and I really feel fine with either of them having access to it in all but a Walking Dead situation. Really hoping the demand dies down, and/or I get a raise this year, so I can build out a slightly tactical version for myself. Fun, cheap enough to shoot, and with a dot, light, and can it's more than enough for most rural or suburban social situations. Pair it with a smallish revolver in a matching caliber and I absolutely see the appeal. |
"every exercise is a low back exercise if you do it wrong enough"
@MacManus
@MacManus
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I only have 19 lever rifles. From .22 LR in a Marlin 39A to 56-50 in a Spencer replica, with stops in between at 32-20, 327 Federal, 357 Mag, 38-40, 44-40, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 30-30, 30-40m 45-60 and 45-70. Winchester 1860 (Henry), 1866, 1873, 1876, 1886, 1892, 1894 and 1895 (real and repros). Marlin 1889, 1894 and 39A. And one .410 shotgun. Rob |
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Originally Posted By Seven-Shooter: I mean, I like mine because it’s exactly what I wanted—small, lightweight, handy, with a decent punch. A moderately larger loop because I have big hands. And SS because my sweat is extremely caustic to bluing: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/129976/356475DD-2DDA-4832-AAB9-3610B94DDE03-1806419.jpg Jurassic park had nothing to do with it. I also have an CCH 1873 in 9mm, and a 39A. If they start making those guns in SS, I’ll sell what I have and buy those versions. YMMV. As for the OP, I do think it’s cooled off a bit. Only so much you can do with a lever action, and the only new design in recent memory is the Henry Supreme….which I might also buy a copy of. @Seven-Shooter I love that size loop! Where did you get it? The large loop on my 1894 SBL is just a little too large for my tastes. |
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Originally Posted By konger: @Seven-Shooter I love that size loop! Where did you get it? The large loop on my 1894 SBL is just a little too large for my tastes. Factory Remlin 
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<**Me:**> I just spent 95% of my paycheck on LaRue stuff, within 30 minutes of getting paid. < **mfingar:**> For what it's worth, Dillo Dust is great on Ramen. </**mfingar:**></**me:**>
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Originally Posted By Trollslayer: So, you guys are objecting to the aesthetics of a rifle rather than its functionality, is that what this is about? I kind of get it with older or more rare models, but with new and readily available ones I don’t see a problem with doing what you please. I did this because it’s quieter than an AR15, balances better with the suppressor, carries better with no magazine sticking out, lighter, etc.. .357 magnum is a damn useful round for my needs. Works great, is fun as hell, and yeah, it’s cool. Attached File |
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I think it is important to differentiate between comments that focus on a lever rifle's functionality from those involving its aesthetics. My personal aesthetic was set by the old westerns (TV shows and movies). For example, I'm wanting a 20" Winchester 1892 in 357. Appreciation of that aesthetic is unlikely to ever change. If my State legislators ban semi-automatic rifles, I would buy a lever rifle to replace the self defense AR I have. That lever rifle will focus on functionality irrespective of its offenses to the western aesthetic. Yes, it might include a red dot. Stainless steel is just practical. Laminate stocks are functionally better than solid wood. That is how I see the world of lever rifles. |
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Originally Posted By Seven-Shooter: I mean, I like mine because it’s exactly what I wanted—small, lightweight, handy, with a decent punch. A moderately larger loop because I have big hands. And SS because my sweat is extremely caustic to bluing: of. Same. Mine’s bone stock, but it’s exactly what I wanted. I would’ve been fine with a plain wooden stock, but don’t mind the laminate. Definitely wanted stainless, threaded barrel, and big loop due to hand size. I couldn’t be happier with it. It’s lighter and handier than I would’ve expected. Always a big hit at the range. |
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