How accurate are lever action rifles?

[Klenchblaize]

K

 

[25 Sharps]

Afternoon chaps, can I ask what is the expected level of accuracy for a centrefire lever action rifle? Is one brand better than another? Has anyone done proper accuracy tests off a bench that you could share. I’m totally new to this type of rifle but they do look fun!

I’m starting to really love them, have a .22 Marlin 39a which is a very accurate little rifle. A Rossi 94 .357 which is accurate to 50 yards and probably further and a Remlin 45-70, that is 1.5” at 80 yards. My buddy’s ruger marlin did a 3 shot that was around an inch centre to centre at 100 on Sunday, 405 gr cast over lovex powder.

I’ve just put in for a 30-30 and I’m in the lookout for a WMR to replace my bolt action WMR.

If you are at all recoil shy get the 44 mag over the 45-70, if not, get the latter it’s just a great and versatile cartridge and brilliant fun in a lever gun.

 

[safer]

Still mu favourite rifle to shoot. JM stamped Marlin still my choice.
Load data included.

 

[HonestJohn]

I use to get a regular 2"@100 with a 3030 trapper.
I shot this not long ago. Off a tripod.View attachment 402713

I gave up on chasing itty bitty groups with a lever gun years ago.
That's not what they are about really.

It's more the whole experience.
Don't get me wrong, they are capable, otherwise they wouldn't exist.
My 357 Winchester was outstanding and plinking to 600 yards was fun and amazingly accurate.
This rabbit was around 180 yards shot off hand.
View attachment 402714

WTF! You shot Peter Rabbit! Whatever did he do to you?

 

[Mungo]

I’m starting to really love them, have a .22 Marlin 39a which is a very accurate little rifle. A Rossi 94 .357 which is accurate to 50 yards and probably further and a Remlin 45-70, that is 1.5” at 80 yards. My buddy’s ruger marlin did a 3 shot that was around an inch centre to centre at 100 on Sunday, 405 gr cast over lovex powder.

I’ve just put in for a 30-30 and I’m in the lookout for a WMR to replace my bolt action WMR.

If you are at all recoil shy get the 44 mag over the 45-70, if not, get the latter it’s just a great and versatile cartridge and brilliant fun in a lever gun.

My first ever ‘hunting’ rifle was a lever action in .22WMR. Great fun stalking steenbok and duiker with it.

This thread is making me think maybe I should look into getting one again…

 

[Rob-E]

Short answer. No where near what my tikka will do, but it’ll do the job on deer. I won’t shoot it over 100m on live quarry. So I save it for the stalks when I know I’ll be close

 

[Smellydog]

A lot of issues with current lever guns are the notoriously lousy triggers. Way to heavy lawyer proof triggers!
Many think lightening main springs is the answer but it's not. A polish on a fine stone is needed and then many a rifle is transformed.

 

[gixer1]

I currently have 3 marlins, a 22 39a Mountie, an 1894 357 and an 1894 44 mag, I’ve had a Winchester 9422M (WMR) and a 9422 22LR and also a marlin 336 30-30, all have been great fun, but the accuracy is not up to a bolt action in my opinion. They are built to a budget, and are meant to work under dusty, low maintenance conditions which they do beautifully.

They will shoot good groups, but I can’t think I’ve ever had “raggedy holes” consistently with any of them. And I can’t think of many times where people have shot them to this accuracy that I’ve seen.

My 44 gallery rifle will shoot a consistent 1” to 1 1/2” at 25 yards with reduced loads (4.4gr titegroup) and the 39a will shoot about the same although it’s through irons.

They wouldn’t be my choice for deer at 100-150 yard ranges, but are extremely fun to shoot and there’s nothing quite like racking through a magazine with a lever action!

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Smellydog]

With my current 3030 I've shot two fallow at well over 100 yards and years ago I shot a roe at 150 ish with a 336.
All three dropped at the spot.

 

[Lever357]

I had 15 rounds within a 2 inch group last night using my Marlin 39 22LR with iron sights, standing unsupported.
I can do similar with my Uberti 38/357 and the good gallery rifle shooters will have a max score of 300 and all that separates them is how many Xs, or V bulls they have.

 

[Smellydog]

Well I wouldn't like him shooting my way!

 

[stubear]

I get about 2” at 100y with my marlin .45-70

 

[Fn5]

Well I wouldn't like him shooting my way!

Was just watching him throw .303 out to 3000y with the volley sights!!


Here's another one of him chucking .45-70 about the place.

 

[Smellydog]

Was just watching him throw .303 out to 3000y with the volley sights!!


Here's another one of him chucking .45-70 about the place.

Yep, don't believe everything you are told!

Most folk that discredit lever guns are just after an excuse to not own one!

 

[gixer1]

I had 15 rounds within a 2 inch group last night using my Marlin 39 22LR with iron sights, standing unsupported.
I can do similar with my Uberti 38/357 and the good gallery rifle shooters will have a max score of 300 and all that separates them is how many Xs, or V bulls they have.

At what range though? If it’s at 100 that’s great, if at 25 yards….not so great…

 

[gixer1]

With my current 3030 I've shot two fallow at well over 100 yards and years ago I shot a roe at 150 ish with a 336.
All three dropped at the spot.

Most people with bolt actions have likely done that this month though. Nothing wrong with them but they just aren’t as inherently accurate as a bolt action.

 

[Mr. Gain]

Thank you, that is often an overlooked attribute of a lever gun.
They flow gracefully to the shoulder and don't need a rest of some sort

Nothing to do with them not usually having a moderator hanging off the end, of course!

 

[Smellydog]

Nothing to do with them not usually having a moderator hanging off the end, of course!

I shot unmoderated bolt rifles for years but nothing comes to the shoulder like most lever guns.
It's probably to do with them being slightly shorter stocked and the fore end being slimmer by comparison to modern bolt rifles.

With the current trend towards tactical designs something has been lost. Many a rifle shooter is dependant on a bipod or other rifle rest because to shoot proficiently off hand has all but disappeared. In the video link I posted notice how the rifleman is shooting offhand to 1100 yards on open sights!

 

[reiver]

My scoped marlin 444 shoots around a1-1/2 -2-1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with most touching but then at .430. “ they are quite a big bullet to start with which needs to be taken in to consideration . My old 1895 browning in 30-06 was about the same with a peep sight

 

[Mr. Gain]

I shot unmoderated bolt rifles for years but nothing comes to the shoulder like most lever guns.
It's probably to do with them being slightly shorter stocked and the fore end being slimmer by comparison to modern bolt rifles.

With the current trend towards tactical designs something has been lost. Many a rifle shooter is dependant on a bipod or other rifle rest because to shoot proficiently off hand has all but disappeared. In the video link I posted notice how the rifleman is shooting offhand to 1100 yards on open sights!

I'm not sure why anyone would take a modern tactical rifle as a benchmark for how a hunting rifle might handle.
I have some nice, lightweight bolt-action and fixed-breech rifles that I doubt a lever action would improve upon, especially one wearing a scope. They're not shooting pistol cartridges or .30-30 either.
Maybe I've simply not shot enough *good* lever-actions. I can only speak for the ones I have shot, which have all been afflicted by at least one of the following: a poor trigger, a slow lock time, an uncomfortable grip, an optics-unfriendly comb, indifferent ballistics, or an eagerness to poke me in the nose (no doubt shared at times like these by some SD members).
I confess to having a bit of a soft spot for vintage Savage 1899s, but even this enjoyable thread isn't kindling any desire to squeeze a regular lever action into my cabinet.