Dad wants a lever action

Mr. Bggs

Mr. Bggs

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So like the title says my dad wants a lever action for Xmas. This is a gun i have little to no experience with so I'm hoping you guys can help me out. He isn't a gun junkie but he has a couple. I'm thinking one in 38/357 bc he has ammo for his pistol already and won't have to fuss. When it comes to brand and model I need some help. What would you guys get if it was your dad? Thanks in advance for any input
 
I'm sorry I just found the western thread. Proves my inexperience with these rifles huh. Mods can move if necessary.
 
Miss Lily said:
I have a Henry "Big Boy" in .357/.38 that I dearly love.

Rossi has a couple models that would be really good. I have shot some Rossi's that performed well.

I sm sure others will come along with more suggestions.
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Are Rossi the budget lever like they are revolvers?
 
Now that all the common brands have been named, is he looking for a range toy or a hunting gun? Is he still shooting irons, or does he plan to scope it?
 
JimB said:
Now that all the common brands have been named, is he looking for a range toy or a hunting gun? Is he still shooting irons, or does he plan to scope it?
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He doesnt hunt so its most likely a range toy/ nostalgia thing for him. He says hes always wanted one his whole life.
 
What price range are we talking about? Mom wants to help out so i think 700-1000 is the budget. Is that a workable number? Thank all of you guys for your help. These western type guns are completely new to me. I think ive held one once but thats it. All advice is much appreciated.
 
Mr. Bggs said:
What price range are we talking about? Mom wants to help out so i think 700-1000 is the budget. Is that a workable number? Thank all of you guys for your help. These western type guns are completely new to me. I think ive held one once but thats it. All advice is much appreciated.
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You can get pretty much anything you want in that price range, even an older JM stamped Marlin. May have to look for it, but I have one in .357/.38 that feeds and shoots pretty much everything I have ever put in it well.
 
Henry, lifetime warranty, Walnut stocks, superior craftsmanship. I wouldn't touch a new marlin, an old one on the other hand... but good luck finding one. Maybe after Ruger gets a hold of them and fixes the QC.

I have a Henry color case hardened, octagon barrel in .357. That thing is a beast. Shoots like a cream puff. Definitely a gun to be handed down.

Go run the actions on a few and you will see the difference in all the brands. Don't take our word for it.
 
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I haven’t shot a ton of others, but having the guts come out of a lever gun when you cycle it is kinda a turnoff for me. Smooth/refined is the way I try and lean, and besides that marlin .45-70 from Jurassic Park, all I go after is Henry
 
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Mr. Bggs said:
He doesnt hunt so its most likely a range toy/ nostalgia thing for him. He says hes always wanted one his whole life.
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Then you should find out what aesthetics he will consider "nostalgic" enough for him. Does "nostalgic" mean "Cowboy"? Or what his dad/granddad/friend had?

Will a standard Marlin 336 pistol-grip stock be satisfactory or not "Western" enough? Same goes for the forearm. Does he think only a barrel-band is satisfactorily "Cowboy looking" or is an end-cap (some believe technically superior) more for him. He may not care or have even thought about it. To some those two things are a big deal.

A "birth year" Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 would be really cool, but I haven't priced old levers lately. A decade ago pawn shops around here were full of them. :)
 
I think the lever action is all hes nostalgic about. He doesnt know enough about them to have specific preferences other than it works and it has that particular action. I was checking with you guys for preferred models and pricing. He wont be scoping it or hunting with it. Mostly just a fun/hand down piece for him at this age. Plus ill be the one getting it when he passes so i want to make sure it was a worthy addition to his/our collection if that makes sense.
 
Not sure if you said his age, but whatever brand you buy him, see if there is a peep sight that fits. My .357 has a peep, my .44 mag does not, I am not old but not a spring chicken and it is amazing how much better I see and shoot with the peep sight.

edit, besides, peep sights are just cool, need to pick one up for my 45/70 and .22 lever guns
 
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Object of Desire: Range toy/Nostalgia-esque range toy lever gun in .357 Magnum.

I own Marlin and Rossi in that configuration. I’ve shot a friend’s Henry enough to feel comfortable telling my impression of that ‘un.


Rossi M92

I love my Rossi M92. I have one in .357 and one in .45 Colt. You can get one new for around 550 bucks. Personally, I think it’s the best value. Mine is accurate and chambers .38 specials easily. Magnums are smooth as well.

Pluses: Affordable. Fun. Accurate. Any negative connection to Taurus does not carry over into their lever guns in my experience. Top eject just like them ol’ Winchesters from Saturday matinees. Once you get used to it, you can show off by ejecting the spent cases into a 5-gallon bucket very consistently (I just hate picking up brass!).

Minuses: Wood finish on some can be spotty. If the store has several, look at them all to get the pick of the litter. Top eject won’t allow for scope use, but from what you describe about how it will likely be used, that is a non-issue. Total disassembly for deep cleaning takes longer than Marlin or Henry, but once learned becomes a walk in the park.


Marlin

Pluses: Ease of maintenance. Accurate. Side eject so a scope can be easily done.

Minuses: Spotty build quality to go with the increase in cost over the Rossi.


Henry

Pluses: By far, the best-looking rifle of the three (IMHO). Easy to maintain. Buttery smooth action. Accurate.

Minus: Cost. Weight (my opinion, they are heavier than the Marlin or Rossi). Not a “traditional” loading procedure: no side gate on the .357’s yet. These you load through a tube via an opening near the muzzle.


Sorry for the length of my response. One parting mention: The only mod I made to my levers was to put a Skinner peep sight on them to replace the buckhorn sights. I’m 62 and my eyes just didn’t focus anymore. Don’t know your dad’s age, but something to think about regardless of brand purchased. It’s an easy, do-it-yourself thing.

Hope my ramblings helped some. Good luck with your hunt.
 
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wheelgun_man said:
Henry

Minus: Cost. Weight (my opinion, they are heavier than the Marlin or Rossi). Not a “traditional” loading procedure: no side gate on the .357’s yet. These you load through a tube via an opening near the muzzle.
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FWIW...

The 357 Henry I have my eye on has a side loading gate
 
wheelgun_man said:
Minus: Cost. Weight (my opinion, they are heavier than the Marlin or Rossi). Not a “traditional” loading procedure: no side gate on the .357’s yet. These you load through a tube via an opening near the muzzle.
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BigWaylon said:
FWIW... The 357 Henry I have my eye on has a side loading gate
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To be fair to wheelgun_man, I think the .357 Big Boy X is only a few months old and it's not exactly a wheelgun for him to be totally up to date on...
 
DrScaryGuy said:
To be fair to wheelgun_man, I think the .357 Big Boy X is only a few months old and it's not exactly a wheelgun for him to be totally up to date on...
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Don’t doubt that for a minute. That’s why I was just tossing the info nugget out there. :D
 
wheelgun_man said:
Henry

Pluses: By far, the best-looking rifle of the three (IMHO). Easy to maintain. Buttery smooth action. Accurate.

Minus: Cost. Weight (my opinion, they are heavier than the Marlin or Rossi). Not a “traditional” loading procedure: no side gate on the .357’s yet. These you load through a tube via an opening near the muzzle.
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Plus Pluses:
  • Strong reputation for responsive customer service. (my single-shot 20-G was received; repaired/upgraded; and returned within three weeks after a recall).
  • Made in America or Not Made at All (no, I am not a Henry representative nor related to one)
 
DrScaryGuy said:
To be fair to wheelgun_man, I think the .357 Big Boy X is only a few months old and it's not exactly a wheelgun for him to be totally up to date on...
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Yeppers. I didn’t include that one as it’s more “tactical” than “traditional”. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not lusting after it!
Rossi also has their version of the tactical lever gun. Me likey it, too!
 
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