Lever Guns

[JKGlock17]

I am new to the idea of a lever gun and am in the market. With that said, those of you more familiar, what do you suggest and why… 45-70 or 30-30?

[gregintenn]

99 Savage.

Edited November 21, 2023 by gregintenn

[KahrMan]

I am partial to big bores so I love Marlin .45-70's.

[TripleGGG]

30-30 is a great caliber but I am a huge Marlin 45-70 guy. 45-70 is just a great versatile round. I may have one or nine 45-70 levers and have two more to add as soon as I can meet up with a friend.

Then again I am a huge any caliber lever Marlin guy.  Heck, I like Henry, Winchester, Mossberg, etc., levers too.  OK, I like all lever guns.

[Snaveba]

Yes Greg, the 99 Savage is a sweet lever (I don’t yet own one). But what caliber. 
 

I like Winchesters and Marlins. You can’t go wrong hunting in TN with 30-30. 

[gregintenn]

Just now, Snaveba said:

Yes Greg, the 99 Savage is a sweet lever (I don’t yet own one). But what caliber. 
 

I like Winchesters and Marlins. You can’t go wrong hunting in TN with 30-30. 

Any caliber. They made them in 30-30 if one so chooses. 

[JKGlock17]

1 hour ago, KahrMan said:

I am partial to big bores so I love Marlin .45-70's.

I am leaning towards 45-70 for the versatility but i have heard 30-30 can be just as versatile

 

i think the bigger round would work better, but this is why i am asking. plus i want to hear if anybody prefers a different caliber than what is listed and why

[gregintenn]

What are you gonna shoot with it? For general plinking, a 22 Long Rifle is my cartridge of choice. Low recoil, low noise, and low cost.  
 

45-70 is pricey cartridge unless you cast and handload. They also provide a considerably amount of recoil.

 

Lever rifles chambered for revolver cartridges are a good compromise, and you can then carry the same ammo for your rifle and sidearm, which is neat.

Edited November 21, 2023 by gregintenn

[Grayfox54]

Greg makes a valid point. What are you gonna do with it? 

Hunting? .30-30 or .45-70

Self defense? A pistol caliber.

Target shooting? Can't beat a .22.  

It all depends on your purpose. 

[Snaveba]

My journey into lever guns. 

[Danger Rane]

I’m personally on a quest to have one cambered in most of the common’ish cartridges. So far I have .22lr, .45LC, 45-70, .38spc/.357. I’m hoping Ruger Marlin releases a dark series 30-30, and I recently heard of a company making one chambered in .500 S&W. For me lever guns, particularly ones without the traditional wood look, have multiplied more than anything else in my collection.

[KahrMan]

28 minutes ago, Danger Rane said:

I’m personally on a quest to have one cambered in most of the common’ish cartridges. So far I have .22lr, .45LC, 45-70, .38spc/.357. I’m hoping Ruger Marlin releases a dark series 30-30, and I recently heard of a company making one chambered in .500 S&W. For me lever guns, particularly ones without the traditional wood look, have multiplied more than anything else in my collection.

Did you say 500 S&W....

[TripleGGG]

9 minutes ago, KahrMan said:

Did you say 500 S&W....

[Snaveba]

59 minutes ago, Danger Rane said:

I’m personally on a quest to have one cambered in most of the common’ish cartridges. So far I have .22lr, .45LC, 45-70, .38spc/.357. I’m hoping Ruger Marlin releases a dark series 30-30, and I recently heard of a company making one chambered in .500 S&W. For me lever guns, particularly ones without the traditional wood look, have multiplied more than anything else in my collection.

Well you need .35 Remington, 32 Winchester Special, .375 Winchester, 444 Marlin…..

[gregintenn]

10 minutes ago, Snaveba said:

Well you need .35 Remington, 32 Winchester Special, .375 Winchester, 444 Marlin…..

22 mag, 218 Bee, 32-20, 7-30 Waters, 307 Winchester, 348 Winchester,  22 High Power, 303 Savage, 300 Savage, 250-3000, just to name a few.

[Snaveba]

It is definitely a rabbit hole to fall down. 
 

looking back at the thread I started a couple years ago, I started with a Henry 22 and don’t even have it anymore. 

[gregintenn]

8 minutes ago, Snaveba said:

It is definitely a rabbit hole to fall down. 
 

 

You have no idea!

 

I was lucky. When I acquired most of mine, you couldn’t give away a lever action rifle. Everyone wanted the latest whiz bang magnum bolt rifle. Deer were tough then.

Edited November 21, 2023 by gregintenn

[spurge]

7 hours ago, gregintenn said:

Any caliber. They made them in 30-30 if one so chooses. 

300 Savage is the way to go. Fell in love with it. 

[Garufa]

.45-70 because it’s a beast and a real crowd pleaser but you might find yourself asking for recommendations on reloading.  $2 a pop gets old after a while.

[gregintenn]

41 minutes ago, spurge said:

300 Savage is the way to go. Fell in love with it. 

I cannot name a more perfect whitetail rifle than a 99 Savage EG chambered in 300 Savage.

Maybe an R if you’re long range shooting over a field, or an F or T if you do a lot of walking or climbing, but the EG is the perfect all around whitetail rifle.

Edited November 22, 2023 by gregintenn

[TripleGGG]

I love this Savage 99E in 308. It's a tack driver. 

[Snaveba]

A savage 99 is on the list. I will probably try to stay in a caliber I already have (most likely 35 rem).  
 

i started with one Henry 22 and now have  7 Marlins, three Winchesters, plus a few other cool old rifles. I have sold the Henry as well as a Rossi, a Marlin and a Winchester. I guess since late 2021, I have bought 14 lever guns. 

[hipower]

10 hours ago, Snaveba said:

It is definitely a rabbit hole to fall down. 
 

looking back at the thread I started a couple years ago, I started with a Henry 22 and don’t even have it anymore. 

So it's my fault!!!??? I never should have sold you that Henry!

[gregintenn]

11 hours ago, Snaveba said:

A savage 99 is on the list. I will probably try to stay in a caliber I already have (most likely 35 rem).  
 

i started with one Henry 22 and now have  7 Marlins, three Winchesters, plus a few other cool old rifles. I have sold the Henry as well as a Rossi, a Marlin and a Winchester. I guess since late 2021, I have bought 14 lever guns. 

Although the 99 Savage was chambered for a bunch of different cartridges, oddly, the 35 Rem was one they overlooked.

[JKGlock17]

20 hours ago, gregintenn said:

What are you gonna shoot with it? For general plinking, a 22 Long Rifle is my cartridge of choice. Low recoil, low noise, and low cost.  
 

45-70 is pricey cartridge unless you cast and handload. They also provide a considerably amount of recoil.

 

Lever rifles chambered for revolver cartridges are a good compromise, and you can then carry the same ammo for your rifle and sidearm, which is neat.

this is what i wanted to hear. i wanted to hear the pros and cons. With it being my first one i thought maybe i should try out a pistol cartridge first, but i am so "all in" with everything that i needed to hear this. Thank you and i think i am gonna go with maybe a 357 for my first one, but i saw that 500 s&w magnum and i got the twitch again LOL i think 357 would be a good place to start, do you know which brand would be my best bang for the buck and do you know if a 357 lever gun shoots 38 like a revolver or is that only in revolvers?