Posted: 7/19/2017 4:18:44 PM EDT
| I don't need anything fancy, just something to plink with. I'm looking for something center fire. Anything cheap? |
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Check out the Henry Rifles
https://www.henryusa.com/henry-rifles-and-shotguns/ |
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I don't need anything fancy, just something to plink with. I'm looking for something center fire. Anything cheap? "best" and "cheap" Take your pick. Personally without a doubt i would pick up a used, JM stamped Marlin off a used gun rack some place. Either in a pistol caliber or a 30-30. 30-30 can actually be extremely inexpensive to shoot if you reload. You can reload cast bullets and use pistol powders. Light recoil, great accuracy and tons of fun. A 16" Marlin 30-30 would be my #1 choice. It could serve multiple roles as a plinker, self defense, hunting rifle. It is the type of gun that almost any adult can learn to operate with 5 minutes of instruction. |
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... while they're not ARFCOM favorite, I love their product and services
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"best" and "cheap" Take your pick. Personally without a doubt i would pick up a used, JM stamped Marlin off a used gun rack some place. Either in a pistol caliber or a 30-30. 30-30 can actually be extremely inexpensive to shoot if you reload. You can reload cast bullets and use pistol powders. Light recoil, great accuracy and tons of fun. A 16" Marlin 30-30 would be my #1 choice. It could serve multiple roles as a plinker, self defense, hunting rifle. It is the type of gun that almost any adult can learn to operate with 5 minutes of instruction. |
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I have a marlin in 22
Couple of Winchesters in 30-30 A rossi in 357 Marlin in 44 mag Marlin in 45-70 They all are a hoot and all have their uses. Based on the OPs description a 38/357 seems to be the ticket because the variety of ammo from 38 target loads up through heavy 357 loads (which have a surprising amount of poop out of a carbine/rifle barrel) really covers a lot of bases. I came across and purchased a Rossi as a place holder untill I located a resonably priced North Haven marlin. Never did find that Marlin, the Rissi is actually pretty decent. Keep in mind I wouldn't give you a nickle for a Rossi revolver |
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Rossi 1892 in the caliber of your choice. My choice is 38/357 to match my revolver. Go to the >Armory >Lever Action Rifles subforum. Little to no recoil in 357 mag loads and if you shoot 38 special you will think the rounds squibbed as it feels like a .22lr. No joke. If you reload, I'm getting 1,308 fps out of a Lee 158gr powdercoated cast bullet with 6.4gr of CFE pistol. I'm getting 2,000fps with same bullet out of 17gr of Lil' Gun. Dont bother with 38 special if you reload. The chamber will get sooty using the shorter brass. Just load 357 mag brass with 6gr of powder like CFE pistol (vs 5.4gr max +P of same bullet in 38 special) and you will get 250-300+ fps with only a .6gr gain in charge. I've hit steel targets out to 400 yards off hand and can hit steel frequently at 250 yards. I have the Rossi 92 in 20" barrel and it's my favorite gun. [edi]You are getting 1,400 ft/lb^2 of energy out of a full powered 357 round loaded with Lil' Gun, Hornady XTP in 158gr will fragment and leave a larger wound channel than 77gr otm out of a 5.56. Best part? You're doing it with 1/3 less powder than 5.56. [last edit] Cowboy action shooters use Rossi's for a reason. They work when fired hard. Henry's can't be loaded fast and break at Cowboy Action shooting events and Winchesters are too nice and expensive to abuse. |
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Winchester 1886 or model 71. If you want the best, get the best. If you want cheap, you don't get the best. |
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... while they're not ARFCOM favorite, I love their product and services Quoted:
I have a .357 and a 45-70 nice rifles |
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Find a Marlin 336 or a Revelation Model 200 (Marlin 336 made for Western Auto). Look for older ones with no ramp sight. They can be either pistol-gripped or straight stocked.
The Revelation can always be had for $75-$100 less than a Marlin and is every bit as well made.. My 1955 Marlin 336C 
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... while they're not ARFCOM favorite, I love their product and services Quoted:
In my experience, the Henry Big Boy will shoot circles around a Marlin 1894, JM stamp or otherwise. |
My favorite is the 336XLR. This one is .30-30 and it's reliability 2 MOA. Accuracy is not the lever guns forte, so 2 is great. Also, if you are old or serious about accuracy, the ability to mount optics is crucial. The pic was pre scope addition. The other is a 1894 from 1981.
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Henry Big Boy series, I like the Big Boy Steel in .357
Attached File *Not my pic |
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OP, I asked myself this same question about a month ago.
Here's what I gathered: Henry - all around great gun, tube loaded (doesn't bother me) Marlin - Have to buy a used JM stamp, crazy high prices for a used rifle Rossi - I returned mine, action HAS to be worked on to be usable, also hated how the brass flipped out the top of the action Get a Henry, you won't regret it |
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Mine didn't. A drop or two of Slip2000 in the right places, and it slicked right up. Quoted:
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OP, I asked myself this same question about a month ago. Rossi - I returned mine, action HAS to be worked on to be usable, .......... A drop or two of Slip2000 in the right places, and it slicked right up. |
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Henry Big Boy series, I like the Big Boy Steel in .357 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/105592/IMG-0430-258557.JPG *Not my pic |
Finally found a Rossi Model 92 Ranch Hand for a fair price about 2 months ago. Been looking for well over a year. Been a fun little gun for sure. 38 specials from it have zero recoil and 357's aren't bad at all. The plan was to SBR it, but I think I'll keep it as is and find the 16" version. The ranch hand is ridiculously compact and lightweight. I love it. It's my first lever gun but definitely not the last.
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You were fortunate. Every Rossi I've handled since has been rough, unless the owner bought the DVD that showed you how to work on it. Quoted:
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OP, I asked myself this same question about a month ago. Rossi - I returned mine, action HAS to be worked on to be usable, .......... A drop or two of Slip2000 in the right places, and it slicked right up. |
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You were fortunate. Every Rossi I've handled since has been rough, unless the owner bought the DVD that showed you how to work on it. Mine is .44 Magnum, and being scrawny I use a sissy pad if I am at the range. After a few shots, it isn't so much fun anymore without the pad. I almost wish I had bought a .357, but I wanted to be a badass. |
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You were fortunate. Every Rossi I've handled since has been rough, unless the owner bought the DVD that showed you how to work on it. Quoted:
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OP, I asked myself this same question about a month ago. Rossi - I returned mine, action HAS to be worked on to be usable, .......... A drop or two of Slip2000 in the right places, and it slicked right up. |
If you want something that is currently produced, look at Henry or Rossi. Winchester (Miroku) currently makes some models like the 1873 but are much more expensive. Many people will recommend JM Marlins, but they aren't produced anymore and finding them at a decent price can be tough. I didn't feel like spending a lot of time searching for older used guns, so I picked up a Henry Big Boy carbine in .357. I had some issues with firing pin breakage at first, but Henry helped me out quite a bit in the end. It was a headache, but I managed to get my money back and a free rifle in the end from the president of Henry himself   .
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My Montanian lunberjack uncle gave my his Win '94 30-30, assembled after ww2 from parts made pre ww2. I put a peep on it and its accurate , has a nice trigger and feeds slicker than snot.
I'd like to know more about the accuracy and quality of these. Look pretty in the pics. Too bad they arn't made in USA anymore. Win '73 |
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Rossi 1892 in .45/.454 Casull.
I sprayed mine with brake cleaner, wiped it down and lubed it up. Not rough and never had a mechanical problem (had it since 2007). I did remove the safety and replace the follower. Also some Danish wood oil improved the looks of the wood. |
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My Montanian lunberjack uncle gave my his Win '94 30-30, assembled after ww2 from parts made pre ww2. I put a peep on it and its accurate , has a nice trigger and feeds slicker than snot. I'd like to know more about the accuracy and quality of these. Look pretty in the pics. Too bad they arn't made in USA anymore. Win '73 |
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I bought a SBL in 45-70 and a 30/30 BL within the last 12 months, both are perfect and the 45-70 shoots a 1" hole at 100 yards. Both are rigged up with leupold scout scopes because the factory sights dont work for me. I had a burris fastfire in the SBL at first but the recoil seemed to move the sight off target.
I was able to inspect both before I bought them. I was looking at the sight alignment, wood, and action because folks had reported them to be off awhile back but no issues found. I also have a JM special edition in 30/30 stainless and had an idea what they used to look like and found no fault with either of my new rifles. |
