With the attack on “Assault Rifles”, and seeing what MI brought to the table with the Marlin hand guard I was looking at maybe acquiring a lever action down the road possibly. What would be a good caliber and brand of lever action rifle to start out with?

.22
357mag
30-30
45/70

30-30 or 45-70; anything less and the “high” magazine capacity will render it illegal.

All ban hysterics aside, a marlin 336 in 30-30 is my favorite long gun in the world, bar none.

The ban thing is an excuse to possibly get a lever action.

Do you own a revolver?

If so, get the rifle chambered for the same cartridge as the revolver.  Fired from a rifle, the same small handgun cartridge produces dramatically more energy.

If you chose to get a different cartridge for the rifle, consider what you want the rifle for.

The usual issues need to be considered, such as, cartridges such as 45-70 and 30-30 may be great hunting rounds but are overkill for self defense inside a house.

I do not own a revolver, just Glocks and a Shield. I do not hunt, I would like to have a jack of all trades (self/ home defense, hunting if I ever wanted or need too).

I agree with the last poster.
If you get a handgun, get a rifle chambered in the same caliber.

All three of my lever guns are bigger then my revolver.
Those being, .444 Marlin, (1972 issue), 45-70, (late 1990's issue), and 30-30, (old Winchester 94)
I would really like to have a .357 rifle, but not a new Marlin, and the Henry's are out of my price range.

But, I did pick up a bolt gun in 5.56/.223 to supplement the AR types.

That is a good idea, I’ll look them up...thanks.

I will add, I have a 1866 yellow boy in 38 special.  It's basically only good for a plinker.  I wish it was a 357 or 44.  Which would be more versatile and would probably see more use.

Your first levergun caliber depends upon what you expect out of it.  A 22lr is an obvious choice for a plinker as it's cheap to buy and shoot.  A Henry classic carbine, the H001 is a nice, smooth shooter or you might want to might want an octagon barreled Frontier model, the H001T.  Inexpensive and fun to shoot, I own an H001

If you want a more substantial centerfire caliber, it's hard to beat the versatility of a 357mag based levergun for another choice shooting inexpensive and readily available 357mag pistol ammo.  From 'mouse fart' level Cowboy loads to fire breathing Buffalo Bore Heavy ammo, the 357mag is a great choice for plinking, small game and even small deer or hogs at closer ranges.  A joy to own and shoot, I own 2 Rossi 357mag leverguns.

As alternatives, you could go with more substantial pistol calibers like the 44mag or 45 Colt.  Also a joy to own and shoot, I have 2 Uberti 45 Colt leverguns as well.

Then to rifle calibers, a 30-30 levergun is the quintessential levergun caliber.  Compact rifle power, it's a medium game staple with probably more deer to it's credit than any other caliber.  I also have a 30-30 in my collection.

As to more substantial leverguns, that approach the modern power of the 30-06 level available in something like a Browning BLR but with reduced recoil, the 300 Savage and .308 are good hunting choices for deer, elk, and bear.  I'm proud to include both calibers in modern style, scoped leverguns in my collection; a 1949 Savage 99 in 300 Savage and a 1959 Winchester 88 in .308 as well.

Finally, there is the classic 45-70 in something like a Marlin Guide gun.  A great choice for heavy defense of dangerous animals, it's a common pick for folks in Alaska.

There are other calibers and choices but the group discussed above should give the OP at range of choices depending upon what type of shooting he expects to use his levergun for.

Browning BLR in .223 or .308

I know some people that have modified them to take higher capacity magazines

Marlin 39 is a gun every red blood American should own.

But a 15 yo one

Don't forget about calibers like .35 Rem and .44-40.

Take a look here.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/What-s-the-State-of-the-Art-for-Lever-Rifles/47-486242/

Aloha, Mark

For a first lever action it is hard to go wrong with a 30-30.  You can find ammo nearly anywhere and it won't break the bank to shoot.  That said my own preference is for a 44 magnum, 45 Colt or 45-70 though I have all of them and more.

With the concept you seem to be hinting at, a assault weapon lever action I would recommend the 357 or 44 mag.  Both would be plenty for home defense and would work for hunting just about all game inside 100 yards.  The 44 would get you into big big game territory at close range and would extend the range a bit on medium game.  Out of a rifle both these cartridges pick up significant power, many loads are 300 +fps faster.

Way too fat a stock and clunky actions, even on the older ones.  Prices for older, better made models are way over what they are realistically worth.

Much better choices:

Budget - Henry H001

Quality: Browning BL-22 Grade II

The Browning is very affordable.  Sportsmans Warehouse and probably other places.  Any grade is very nice.

I have lever actions in 22, 38/357, and 44 mag. I favorite is the 357. I have it threaded and also use it with my suppressor for sub sonic heavy loads.  The 22 is also threaded and used w a suppressor but that really isn't a home defense caliber.

Do you reload or plan to in the near future (you should)?  45-70 is a blank canvas of awesomeness, pick your projectile and how much you want to push it.

Back in the 80s I decided I wanted a nice .22. I looked at the Marlin 39A, a Browning BL-22, and a Winchester 9422XTR Classic. I bought the Winchester based on fit and finish and lack of any plastic parts (the Browning had some plastic). Still have it about 30 years later.

Don';t get me wrong, the bill sucks but it's not as bad as some folks think.

If you had actually read the proposed legislation (H.R. 5087) you'd have noted a few key points:

SEC. 3.  Restrictions on assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
(a) In general.—Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting after subsection (u) the following:
(v) (1) It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a semiautomatic assault weapon.
2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the possession, sale, or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon otherwise lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date of enactment of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any firearm that—
(A) is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action;

In other words rifles like the Rossi 92 holding 11 or more rounds are not subject to the ban.

In addition, like the AWB of 1994, the proposed legislation is grandfathering in everything that has been made prior to enactment.

H.R 5087

It's actually double covered as there are a boat load of lever actions on the exempt list.

Centerfire Rifles—lever & Slide

Action Arms Timber Wolf Pump Action
Beretta 1873 Renegade Lever Action
Beretta Gold Rush Slide Action
Big Horn Armory Model 89
Browning BLR Model 181 Lever Action, All Models
Browning BPR Pump Rifle
Browning Model 53 Lever Action
Browning Model 65 Grade 1 Lever Action Rifle
Browning Model 71 Rifle and Carbine
Browning Model 81 BLR
Browning Model 81 BLR Lever-Action Rifle
Browning Model 81 Long Action BLR
Browning Model 1886 High Grade Carbine
Browning Model 1886 Lever-Action Carbine
Browning Model B–92 Carbine
Charles Daly Model 1892 Lever Action, All Models
Chiappa 1886 Lever Action Rifles
Cimarron 1860 Henry Replica
Cimarron 1866 Winchester Replicas
Cimarron 1873 30? Express Rifle
Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle
Cimarron 1873 Sporting Rifle
Cimarron 1873 Winchester Replicas
Dixie Engraved 1873 Rifle
Dixie Lightning Rifle and Carbines
E.M.F. 1860 Henry Rifle
E.M.F. 1866 Yellowboy Lever Actions
E.M.F. Model 73 Lever-Action Rifle
E.M.F. Model 1873 Lever Actions
Henry .30/30 Lever Action Carbine
Henry Big Boy .357 Magnum
Henry Big Boy .44 Magnum
Henry Big Boy .45 Colt
Henry Big Boy Deluxe Engraved .44 Magnum
Henry Big Boy Deluxe Engraved .45 Colt
Marlin Model 30AS Lever-Action Carbine
Marlin Model 62 Lever Action
Marlin Model 93 Lever Action
Marlin Model 308MX
Marlin Model 308MXLR
Marlin Model 336 Deluxe
Marlin Model 336C
Marlin Model 336CS Lever-Action Carbine
Marlin Model 336DL Lever Action
Marlin Model 336SS
Marlin Model 336W
Marlin Model 336XLR
Marlin Model 338MX
Marlin Model 338MXLR
Marlin Model 444
Marlin Model 444 Lever-Action
Marlin Model 444XLR
Marlin Model 1894 Marlin Model 1894 Cowboy
Marlin Model 1894 Lever Action, All Models
Marlin Model 1894C
Marlin Model 1894CL Classic
Marlin Model 1894CS Carbine
Marlin Model 1894S Lever-Action Carbine
Marlin Model 1894SS
Marlin Model 1895
Marlin Model 1895 Cowboy
Marlin Model 1895 Lever Action, All Models
Marlin Model 1895G
Marlin Model 1895GS
Marlin Model 1895M
Marlin Model 1895MXLR
Marlin Model 1895SBL
Marlin Model 1895SS Lever-Action Rifle
Marlin Model 1895XLR
Marlin XLR Lever Action Rifles
Mitchell 1858 Henry Replica
Mitchell 1866 Winchester Replica
Mitchell 1873 Winchester Replica
Mossberg 464 Lever Action Rifle
Mossberg Model 472 Lever Action
Mossberg Model 479 Lever Action
Navy Arms 1866 Yellowboy Rifle
Navy Arms 1873 Sporting Rifle
Navy Arms 1873 Winchester-Style Rifle
Navy Arms 1892 Short Rifle
Navy Arms Henry Carbine
Navy Arms Henry Trapper
Navy Arms Iron Frame Henry
Navy Arms Military Henry Rifle
Puma Bounty Hunter Rifle
Puma Model 92 Rifles & Carbines
Remington 7600 Slide Action
Remington Model 6 Pump Action
Remington Model 14, 141/2  Pump Actions
Remington Model 141 Pump Action
Remington Model 760 Slide Actions
Remington Model 7600 Special Purpose Slide Action
Remington Model 7600 Synthetic
Remington Model 7615 Camo Hunter
Remington Model 7615 Ranch Carbine
Remington Model 7615 SPS
Rossi M92 SRC Saddle-Ring Carbine
Rossi M92 SRS Short Carbine
Rossi R92 Lever Action Carbines
Ruger Model 96/44 Lever Action
Savage 99C Lever-Action Rifle
Savage Model 170 Pump Action
Taurus Thunderbolt Pump Action
Taylor’s & CO., Inc. 1865 Spencer Carbine/Rifle
Taylor’s & CO., Inc. 1892 Carbine/Rifle
U.S. Fire Arms Standard Lightning Magazine Rifle
Uberti 1866 Sporting Rifle
Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle
Uberti 1876 Rifle
Uberti 1883 Burgess Lever Action Rifle/Carbine
Uberti Henry Rifle
Uberti Lightning Rifle/Carbine
Winchester Lever Actions, All Other Center Fire Models
Winchester Model 94 Big Bore Side Eject
Winchester Model 94 Ranger Side Eject Lever-Action Rifle
Winchester Model 94 Side Eject Lever-Action Rifle
Winchester Model 94 Trapper Side Eject
Winchester Model 94 Wrangler Side Eject
Winchester Model 1895 Safari Centennial

There are some semi-automatic rifles on the exempt list:

APPENDIX A—FIREARMS EXEMPTED BY THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OF 2017

Centerfire Rifles—autoloaders

Benelli R1 Rifle
Browning BAR Mark II Safari Magnum Rifle
Browning BAR Mark II Safari Semi-Auto Rifle
Browning BAR Stalker Rifles
Browning High-Power Rifle
Browning Longtrac Rifle
Browning Shorttrac Rifle
Heckler & Koch HK630
Heckler & Koch HK770
Heckler & Koch HK940
Heckler & Koch Model 300 Rifle
Heckler & Koch SL7 Rifle
Iver Johnson 50th Anniversary M–1 Carbine (w/o folding stock)
Iver Johnson M–1 Carbine (w/o folding stock)
M–1 Carbines with standard fixed stock
M–1 Garand with fixed 8 round capacity and standard stock
Marlin Model 9 Camp Carbine
Marlin Model 45 Carbine
Remington Model 74
Remington Model 81
Remington Model 740
Remington Model 742
Remington Model 750 Synthetic
Remington Model 750 Woodmaster
Remington Model 7400 Rifle
Remington Model 7400 Special Purpose Auto Rifle
Remington Nylon 66 Auto-Loading Rifle
Ruger Mini 30
Ruger Mini-14 (w/o folding or telescoping stock or pistol grip)
Ruger PC4
Ruger PC9
SKS type rifles with fixed 10 round magazine and standard fixed stock
Winchester Model SXR

----

Personally, if I were worried about it, I'd buy stuff on the ban list that I was worried about now, along with a Mini 14 and a bunch of 20 or 30 round magazines for it

If I still wanted a lever gun I'd get a decent pre-64 Model 94 in .30-30, and stop thinking about a tacti-cool fore end for a clunky Marlin.   A pre-64 will shoot 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups with a tang sight or receiver sight, and it won't screw up the lines or balance of the rifle.

The Uberti 1866 in .38 Special is sought after in the SASS world. They normally don't want full power or even magnum firearms for competition use.  The SASS shooters are looking for low recoil and the .38 Special fits the bill very well.  Not to mention, that the brass receiver is beautiful.  You know, nice engraving space for that custom look.   Back in the day.....the 1873s and 1866s were the top rifles/carbines at most events.  And, the Marlin 1894 also had a good share of followers too.  OK, Ok, ok......all of those rifles still do today.

The 1892 Winchester (and clones)....hummm, maybe not so much.

Just my observation.

Aloha, Mark