Opinion: Best Lever Action

[keithafernandezjr]

Seen a few posts about lever guns but not this specifically. I'll take it down if it's a duplicate.

Ever since shooting a Henry Golden Boy in 30-30 as a kid, I've been obsessed with levers. I've been thinking about purchasing one for drives/tracking in the northeast, so mainly chasing whitetail and black bear.

Who makes the best lever gun on the market? What model is your favorite? What caliber do you like? It can be anything from a pre-war Winchester to a modern tactical monstrosity.

 

[Al "Shifty" Schultz]

LoL ... Talk about an opinion piece! I would say that there's a lot of great lever guns out there.. being a lefty, I'm a huge fan of lever guns, especially because during my childhood LH bolt actions were unicorns and the only real options were either pumps, single shots or lever guns. As such, I have some experience with them.
I particularly like them as saddle guns on packhorse trips. Trying to sit a horse with some of these modern rifles with their Hubbell telescopes mounted on top would be a PIA (for the horse and the fella riding him!).
That all being said, I always have loved the Savage Model 99s, the Winchesters, the Henry's and the Marlins.. The Henry Long Ranger is a great model too.
About the only ones I think that suck are the 1970s Winchesters... They sucked ass. (IMO) I have a more recent 2000s Model 94 and it's actually a great rifle, but the 1970s Winchesters sucked.

 

[YETI]

I have a Henry All-Weather in .45-70. I personally think it's the best lever gun and I know the FE guys think highly of it.

 

[Sean B.]

Henry or Marlin. Viewing them side by side, I ultimately went with the marlin in .45-70 as the fit and finish seemed just slightly better to me. Henry is an awesome brand though and I dont think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Matthew Moore]

As others have mentioned, Henry or Marlin seem be both great options!

 

[fletcher8732]

So I am not a lever experts but the pair of Smith and Wessons I bought have been excellent. The stainless 18 inch I think .44 mag and the all black tactical 16 inch .357 have been good enough for me that I might get a .30-.30 version. Moving up here to the land of weird shit (Utah) the .44 mag is almost always in the truck or by the bed. I run buffalo bore .305 grain hard cast out of it and before we left Texas it put several hogs stone cold dead. I am not saying its the best, but it has worked well for me.

 

[Ron Dan]

Seen a few posts about lever guns but not this specifically. I'll take it down if it's a duplicate.

Ever since shooting a Henry Golden Boy in 30-30 as a kid, I've been obsessed with levers. I've been thinking about purchasing one for drives/tracking in the northeast, so mainly chasing whitetail and black bear.

Who makes the best lever gun on the market? What model is your favorite? What caliber do you like? It can be anything from a pre-war Winchester to a modern tactical monstrosity.

You should really check out the Henry CRUSR rifle. @Terry Houin is taking one on a hunt next week. We love them. They’re much easier on recoil than you would expect.

 

[YETI]

You should really check out the Henry CRUSR rifle. @Terry Houin is taking one on a hunt next week. We love them. They’re much easier on recoil than you would expect.

That's probably going to be my next rifle. The range I shoot at is a Henry dealer, I'll see if I can get them to grab me one. I love my All Weather so I'm sure the CRUSR will be awesome!

 

[Ron Dan]

That's probably going to be my next rifle. The range I shoot at is a Henry dealer, I'll see if I can get them to grab me one. I love my All Weather so I'm sure the CRUSR will be awesome!

Both are really great options. I don’t know if they’re still producing the All Weather.

 

[YETI]

Both are really great options. I don’t know if they’re still producing the All Weather.

I got mine right before they added the side gate which bummed me out but I made peace with it. I add a Skinner peep sight and tall front blade and it's my favorite rifle.

The All Weather series are still on their website.

 

[Ron Dan]

I got mine right before they added the side gate which bummed me out but I made peace with it. I add a Skinner peep sight and tall front blade and it's my favorite rifle.

The All Weather series are still on their website.

The side gate makes a huge difference for practicality but it’s not the end of the world. You still have an incredibly well built gun.

 

[YETI]

The side gate makes a huge difference for practicality but it’s not the end of the world. You still have an incredibly well built gun.

I have yet to find anything that won't be unalived after being shot with five .45-70 bullets

 

[Ron Dan]

I have yet to find anything that won't be unalived after being shot with five .45-70 bullets

I’m not convinced you’ll ever find something like that

 

[Milo'sSyndicate]

Who makes the best lever gun on the market? What model is your favorite? What caliber do you like? It can be anything from a pre-war Winchester to a modern tactical monstrosity.

IDk that it's the "best" but I lucked into a Taylor's & Co Pedersoli import 1886/71 in 45-70. Only thing I have to compare it to is Grandpa's' old 38-56 octagon boat anchor, but this Taylor's import is extremely well made, no cross-bar safety, and balanced in hand. Light, flickable, just plain Italian beauty.

 

[Ron Dan]

IDk that it's the "best" but I lucked into a Taylor's & Co Pedersoli import 1886/71 in 45-70. Only thing I have to compare it to is Grandpa's' old 38-56 octagon boat anchor, but this Taylor's import is extremely well made, no cross-bar safety, and balanced in hand. Light, flickable, just plain Italian beauty.

My Taylor’s & Co. lever gun has been good to me. I’ve heard a lot of good feedback from my buddies that got some of their classier products too.

 

[Al "Shifty" Schultz]

My Taylor’s & Co. lever gun has been good to me. I’ve heard a lot of good feedback from my buddies that got some of their classier products too.

I like Pedersoli and Uberti firearms.. they're good quality IMO

 

[PNWTO]

I was doing the paperwork for a new shotgun and the store had a CRUSR. Very awesome thing and the colors and fit are impressive in person. Very hard not to swipe plastic then and there… but probably will when I can pick up the shotty.

On the other end of the price spectrum, people I trust (like Caleb Giddings and Steve Fisher) speak highly of the Rossi line.

 

[Bill Mazelin]

You should really check out the Henry CRUSR rifle. @Terry Houin is taking one on a hunt next week. We love them. They’re much easier on recoil than you would expect.

My brother just ordered up one of the Henry's CRUSR rifles. it'll be his second FE collaboration rifle, he also has one of the Gunwerks/FE "Krylon" rifles.

 

[Terry Houin]

You should really check out the Henry CRUSR rifle. @Terry Houin is taking one on a hunt next week. We love them. They’re much easier on recoil than you would expect.

As @Ron Dan mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy shooting it is for as light as it is. Paired with the SilencerCo suppressor and an Acro I’m excited to kill stuff!

 

[Bill Kister]

My favorite to shoot is a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum. It's easy to walk around with and you can shoot mousefart loads up to full power .44 Magnum loads.