What caliber for a lever action rifle?

[Redneck 7]

Well as I get more into the firearm passion, I never did like lever actions all that much. Shooting a lot of iron sights, I always went for Remington pump actions, it’s nice having a detachable mag for ease of loading and unloading.

But now I’m looking at getting my first lever action rifle and I don’t know what caliber(s) to get. I have shot 30/30’s, 45/70’s, 44 mag, and .22 lever action rifles. I’m not a big fan of the 30/30 caliber (just never was fond of it) I think that’s why I didn’t like levers so much. Plus the cowboy hype they bring along with them.

But my main question is what caliber of lever would you like to have in your possession for anything, plinking, taking a deer if I chose to, I won’t want to scope the rifle. There a few options and makes out there. Should I get a plain ol 30-30 to start my lever collection or get a 44-40, 45/70. I reload so ammo isn’t a problem really. Thanks for any input and happy new year fellow AO members.

[catnthehat]

You could always look for a nice Winchester 1895 in .303 British or 30'06 or even one of the big 40 cal's!
Cat

[fordtruckin]

Can’t go wrong with the 30/30 but if you don’t like it why not a .35 Remington? Kinda limits you to marlin 336 but same recoil as a 30/30 IMO and you get an increase in velocity, energy and a 200 gr bullet??

[brewster29]

I too had little use for lever guns until a sweet JM Marlin guide gun fell into my lap. I absolutely love shooting the 45-70. You can handload them to be a mild plinker or you can go full out and rock your world...plus effectiveness on game is amazing.

[360hunt]

Originally Posted by brewster29

I too had little use for lever guns until a sweet JM Marlin guide gun fell into my lap. I absolutely love shooting the 45-70. You can handload them to be a mild plinker or you can go full out and rock your world...plus effectiveness on game is amazing.

Couldn't agree more......
45-70 became my favorite lever caliber.
I cast all my bullets for it.
Use unique powder for plinking rounds sub 1100 fps and reloader 7 for fire breathing 2250 fps hot loads.

My 2 cents

[Coiloil37]

My favourite lever for small game, plinking and maybe the odd deer or pig would be a JM stamped 1894 in 44 mag. They’re such a sweet handling rifle.




If you want to get something a little chunkier and get into the 336 I like the .35 over the 30-30.

[YYC338]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Can’t go wrong with the 30/30 but if you don’t like it why not a .35 Remington? Kinda limits you to marlin 336 but same recoil as a 30/30 IMO and you get an increase in velocity, energy and a 200 gr bullet??

.35 Remington would fit the bill nicely. Since you reload, 45/70 could do the job too. You can load from mild to nasty depending on your needs.

[JD848]

I just picked up a browning take down 30 06 ,comes with pouch I can fold up nice in my pack sack. I double wrapped it all.Spare clip.3 boxes of 165 accubonds.

I put some quick release rings and a nice light scope and shot it a few times then removed it and did this 4 times and held it's zero right on,so I really like it.
So irons or scope I'm good to go,always loved the iron sights,but my eyes don't agree as much so 200 yrds ok after that the scope.


Will load some light loads just to see how it shots,but from now on it goes where I go.

I like it more then some high end rigs I use to own.I do have a few 3030's but seen this deal and had to have it,let you know in 3 months if the love affair has died off,always has so I can't see it lasting,so never know.

JD

[oldgutpile]

Never was a huge fan of the 30-30, but mostly due to watching certain people trying to use it on antelope and mule deer well past their shooting capabilities.
I have used a lot of the big bores for elk hunting. My first three bulls were taken with a .348 win model 71, and my last bull was with a .405 win in a model 95
If you prefer a clip in your rifle, there is always the browning blr and the winchester 88. A friend has successfully taken many moose with his old hand-me-down 88 in .308

[58thecat]

JM stamped 35rem.....cuz

[35 whelen]

444 Marlin tough to find but I've killed lots of game with mine

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[fps plus]

If you are ever planning to mount a scope ,guns with a side eject are easier to deal with ,such as Savage 99 or Marlin .

I have a winchester 94 38-55 Alberta Commerative that I use . If you look around often you can find some of the commeratives in a little different calibers for less or the same as standard lever action. Mine has beautiful wood on it

[marxman]

Marlin 30 30. You can put a pretty decent trigger happy trigger in it, shoots 30 cal flat for about a far as you should probably shoot it with open sights, popular cheaper ammo.i have 38 55 , 44 40, 32 40, only my 300 savage is a superior cartridge but with open sights maybe not so much and I don't hunt with it anyway. The 30 30 is the most practical tube fed cartridge

[tullfan]

I exclusively use my Marlin 30/30 for bears in the Peace river spring hunt. It’s a 1971 jm stamped beauty. Iron sights and it it happy out to 150yards with my peepers. Every now and again I take into the foods for deer and it shines there too.
I’ll have that one till I die. I am looking at a Henry 45/70 though. We’ll see.

Tullfan

[old dog]

A Browning 308 BLR is my chose

[obsessed1]

Marlins for me. 45-70, 30-30, and 22LR

[W921]

There isn't really a wrong choice here. I've had all of the guns listed above except the 405 and the 348 and when he mentioned them I got excited and now I want em.
Myself right now I'm kind of looking for a 250/3000 for my daughter. It would make a nice little saddle gun.
My advice to you would be to buy what you like. What seems cool to you. Not what you think is the best or most efficient or what you think is going to give you some kind of edge.
If you buy what you like you won't go wrong.

[bobtodrick]

I'm a fan of the 30-30 just because it's so gentle to shoot. Got a Henry and their is so little kick you can shoot it all day.
Also have a Sharps in 45-70...after a dozen shots my shoulder is done for the day.

[Redneck 7]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I’ll buy a 35 Remington when I come across one for sale used. I’m looking at a 44 magnum from prophet river at the moment. See what happens with the next couple weeks with work and then I’ll order one. I also have 100 44 magnum brass stashed away. I think those two calibres will cover me for plinking, small game and the odd deer.

I’ll get back with everyone with what I buy. Thanks again.

[bsmitty27]

I would look at a 38-55. That would be my first pick.
Brad

[Savage Bacon]

303 savage of course

[freshtinov]

Love my 45/70! As guys have said you can shoot light loads and plink or you can put in some HSM 430 grain bear loads for those mountain adventures.

[Sitting Bull]

I have had many. Like some have said you can’t go wrong with any. I really like the coment to buy the one you like best and gives you that cool factor. I always liked to be different than others so I choose not so common calibers. My favorites are the 35 rem and the 444 Marlin. I now shoot a 444 and I love it.
Good luck with your search

[Dick284]

.358 Win.
Browning BLR
Get the pre ‘81 model if you can, otherwise get one that has a steel receiver.

[Diesel_wiesel]

personally I would go with a Browning model 71 chambered in 348 Winchester
if I could get one
my second choice would be a BLR chambered in 257 Roberts
3rd choice would be a Marlin 36 chambered in 308 mx
I don't like the regular caliber guns I like something that's no one else has

[pgavey]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the 32 special.

[freshtinov]

Checkout skinner sights if you don’t put a scope on it.

[Flight01]

I’ve always liked my 38/357’s
Mine are Rossi 92’s
I have the carbine and the ranch hand. Both great fun and have shot rabbit and grouse with 38’s
Did some testing on fresh roadkill when setting up wolf baits , 357 mag 158gr soft point did a full pass through at 35 yards on a big road killed buck. Minute of pie plate accuracy at 100 yards . But I would limit myself to 75yards
If deer was the intended target and you wanted to also plink or small game hunt then maybe 44mag would be better

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Flight01

I’ve always liked my 38/357’s
Mine are Rossi 92’s
I have the carbine and the ranch hand. Both great fun and have shot rabbit and grouse with 38’s
Did some testing on fresh roadkill when setting up wolf baits , 357 mag 158gr soft point did a full pass through at 35 yards on a big road killed buck. Minute of pie plate accuracy at 100 yards . But I would limit myself to 75yards
If deer was the intended target and you wanted to also plink or small game hunt then maybe 44mag would be better

I have a Rossi pump 22 Model 62 that has red wood stocks and nickelled finish (I think it’s nickelled) so I did look at some model 92’s but I think I’d like 44 mag over the 357. Rossi website didn’t show any new modelled 92’s in 44... unless I missed it all together haha

[Redneck 7]

Yeah I missed it. Shows 45 LC and I clicked on the rifle and you can get them in many different calibres. I wonder if prophet river could bring one in for me. Same finish to match my Rossi M62