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!
How accurate are lever action rifles?
- Thread starter Selous
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Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I use to get a regular 2"@100 with a 3030 trapper.
I shot this not long ago. Off a tripod.
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.
I shot this not long ago. Off a tripod.
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.
I do like the look of the Marlin at 5.30:
Good too that it's in a meaningful deer calibre.
K
Good too that it's in a meaningful deer calibre.
K
Thanks for the reply. Mainly thinking of pistol calibres. Was the 2 inch group at 50 or 100 yards?
hybridfiat
Well-Known Member
Answer: Not very. Inconsistant is the best description.
The way LAs are constructed leads to poor accuracy.
If you want high capacity and speed, get a leveraction.
If you want consistant accuracy get a bolt action.
I've owned a few (in .22 rimfire) and only had one that shot as well as a bolt gun.
My Savage 99 in .243 win on the otherhand is extremely accurate, but case life is short.
The way LAs are constructed leads to poor accuracy.
If you want high capacity and speed, get a leveraction.
If you want consistant accuracy get a bolt action.
I've owned a few (in .22 rimfire) and only had one that shot as well as a bolt gun.
My Savage 99 in .243 win on the otherhand is extremely accurate, but case life is short.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
They can shoot very very well.
The single most important thing to improve later made Winchester 94 models is to ensure that the rising locking lug takes over from the lever during lock up and in battery.
It's a simple fix by simply removing the lever and relieving the hole in the lever that fits to the bolt so when it closes the bolt the pressure is taken off the lever itself.
And sensation that the lever is barely holding shut when in battery is the clue it needs relieving.
This will improve groups
The single most important thing to improve later made Winchester 94 models is to ensure that the rising locking lug takes over from the lever during lock up and in battery.
It's a simple fix by simply removing the lever and relieving the hole in the lever that fits to the bolt so when it closes the bolt the pressure is taken off the lever itself.
And sensation that the lever is barely holding shut when in battery is the clue it needs relieving.
This will improve groups
Expect 2” groups at 50 yards with lead and but you can improve on this at 100 with full power jacketed bullets. The kick from a full power .44 mag in a light underlever is fun
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Another experiment I did with Winchester 94's was to try and free the barrel from the fore end and bands and magazine tube.
Pain in the arse and if anything it made things worse.
Once all tight again with zero movement of fore end, bands and magazine tube the whole barrel becomes quite stiff. If nothing can vibrate in that region it can actually aid all things barrel.
Pain in the arse and if anything it made things worse.
Once all tight again with zero movement of fore end, bands and magazine tube the whole barrel becomes quite stiff. If nothing can vibrate in that region it can actually aid all things barrel.
I had a Winchester .30-30 for a bit, and I was pleased to get 2" at 100yds from it. Given the field use of such a rifle, perfectly adequate - though in fact I only ever used it on the range, and most frequently on the running boar target.
I have a Marlin .357Mag, also used only on the range. The club competitions are limited to iron sights and lead bullets, and my very modestly-charged load for that will put 10 shots in the black of the 25yds pistol target at 100yds. Again, adequate for doing well in club shoots between 10 and 100yds.
I'm not sure what accuracy one might get from a different kind of underlever such as, for example, a SAKO Finnwolf - but I'd imagine rather nearer to what you'd expect from a bolt-action rifle of that period.
I have a Marlin .357Mag, also used only on the range. The club competitions are limited to iron sights and lead bullets, and my very modestly-charged load for that will put 10 shots in the black of the 25yds pistol target at 100yds. Again, adequate for doing well in club shoots between 10 and 100yds.
I'm not sure what accuracy one might get from a different kind of underlever such as, for example, a SAKO Finnwolf - but I'd imagine rather nearer to what you'd expect from a bolt-action rifle of that period.
Pedersoli 30-30 nearly exactly the same group, 2 practically touching and a third nearly always shifted! 2 different shooters, several rested groups leaving cooling time
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Accurate enough for the typical jobs a lever action is designed for. An easy carrying, fast shooting minute of deer / bad guy type situations with an off hand shot.
Will they shoot MOA off a bench. A few might but that’s not the job of a lever action.
Far easier to shoot and hot targets than a pistol.
Will they shoot MOA off a bench. A few might but that’s not the job of a lever action.
Far easier to shoot and hot targets than a pistol.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Exactly why I wouldn't buy a lever gun to punch holes with but for hunting, absolutely.
Stacks more photos like that. Very few with holes in paper.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
If you want an accurate lever action rifle buy something that is built to look like a lever action rifle but is actually built using the workings of a self loading rifle or a front locking lug bolt action rifle with a box magazine. That brings to mind the Browning BLR that is an Armalite locking system or a SAKO Finnwolf. But I'd also ask how accurate do you need to be? Any lever action rifle using a tubular magazine will need flat point bullets and so bullet drop will be such that they are one hundred and fifty yard tools. If the thing shoots into three inches at that one hundred and fifty yards it's more than good enough for practical hunting applications.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
200 yards. 3030 Can't remember if off hand or the tripod. I do remember calling the flyer to the left on the shot.
Not all flat point bullets are the same or as bad as most think!
180 yards, 357. Off hand.
I have a Browning BLR in 308win. Box mags 4 or 9 round. Trigger is heavy as you would expect. Gun is very light and has an 18" barrel, no mod. I can shoot 3 round group sub MOA with consistency. 5 round group are harder as I notice, especially the last round, moves always high and right. Not by a lot but enough to go from 1 - nearly 2moa. I have no issue with this at all. It is, for me, a summer Roe buck rifle or knocking over multiple fallow in the woods.
As an aside, it is a lot of fun, loosing 9 rounds at steel in very quick succession from a fast handling and extremely pointable rifle. Recoil feels almost none existent, it is definitely there but because it feels more of a shotgun mount I don't notice it.
As an aside, it is a lot of fun, loosing 9 rounds at steel in very quick succession from a fast handling and extremely pointable rifle. Recoil feels almost none existent, it is definitely there but because it feels more of a shotgun mount I don't notice it.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
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
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Nice one Smelly though someone will be along in a minute to say it was far too far for offhand, sticks or tripod…..
Jimmy Stewart hit a dime in the air in Winchester 73...
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