I like the loading gate on the Marlin or Winchester better just for the aesthetics. Leverguns get peep sights or a scout scope so top eject isn’t a problem. I love my 1894 Marlin in .44 mag. For here in Appalachia most shots are under 100 yards and .44 is cheap and easy to cast/reload for.
I have a Marlin 30/30 that was my Dad's. It has a Weaver 4X site and as stories go he took 7 deer with it while hunting in the UP of MI. Never asked him why he scoped it in as much of the hunting he did was cedar swamps and likely the shots were well under 100 yards. I suspect most deer were taken with one shot unless there was a finish round. In that case I can see the justification of a lever with a scope. His Step Dad and my Mom both had Winchester levers and open sites. Seems levers ruled the Midwest in the 30s through 50s. I'm going to leave the scope on for posterity sake as I have three levers other levers, two 30/30s and one in 300 Savage. I purchased a Marlin lever .22 in an estate sale a few years ago and just shot it for the first time a few weeks back. I was shooting paper at 50 yards. A scope on a lever made for slow recover subsequent shots and just felt plain clumsy. That scope is going to have to go. Think I'll put it on my 10-22. When I think of levers I think of saddle carbines and fairly close in work ie 100 yard nominal. That said I might be able to hit the barn at that range with open sites.
Id leave it on too. I have friends that cant see well enough for irons and use a scope or a red dot to hunt. Ill be in that select group someday for sure.
Good choice! I sold my older Marlin 357 to my cousin some years ago and haven't felt like replacing it with a Remington Marlin. Also can't stand that #@!&*$ safety. I got a great deal on a Henry Big Boy Rifle in 357 about 3 years ago and love it. Beautiful fit and finish and the walnut has some superb grain. I don't mind that it doesn't have the side loading gate at all. I also think it's got a pretty decent trigger and the accuracy is just fine for my needs (generally under 75 yards). I did swap the straight lever out for the big loop on the carbine, added a Skinner rear sight, and I put an XS white stripe partridge blade on the front. I'd have a hard time letting this one go.
So what is the effective range of a 30-30? I want to get a shorter more handy rifle, and being left handed really limits the options. Really would like something like the below, but with more range and more powerful, as the one pictured is .357 mag.
With Hornady Leverevolution effective range with a scope and steady base 3 inch groups at 200 yards would be doable. In reality...50-1oo with some decent terminal velocity.
I am contemplating getting into lever 22 silhouettes. Does anyone here compete? The main reason is that it can be done 2 miles from my house. Any opinions on Marlin, Winchester etc. I know that these are no longer being made. I am very fussy about a trigger for offhand rifle shooting. I am coming from an Anshutz 1712. I did try someone’s Marlin and was disappointed.
Had a Marlin 39 years ago and I just never really warmed up to it. I've always wanted to try the little Browning lever 22. It's got a super short throw and the trigger travels with the lever. Looks like it would be pretty slick.
This weekend I DuraCoated my Marlin 1894 .44 Mag in Mortar and Socom Black. I think it turned out pretty well. Before After