Under lever feed back

[twoseventy]

Good morning all,

I've got a slot for 38/357 underlever which would be for target/ gallery use, and i'd appreciate some advise.

I've had a quick look at Rossi and Chiappa offerings and wasn't overly impressed. I've shot a few Marlins- one was a friends that was very slick, the other was from the NRA armoury, and felt well used. I've also seen Henry and Winchester advertised, but not had the chance to see them in the flesh or shoot. Anyone owned either Henry or Winchester under levers? What is the quality and reliability like?

Is there anything else worth looking at?

Nathan

 

[gixer1]

I’ve owned a few winchesters (94’s) and currently own 3 marlins (2 1894’s 357 and .44 and a golden Mountie in .22) and have had a 336 30-30 in the past.

The Marlins are (in my opinion) superior for gallery rifle.

If you want a nice looking rifle for the odd trip out of the cabinet the winchesters are nice looking rifles but for functionality the marlin wins for me.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[davejenzen]

hi i,ve had a heny lever gun in 357 for over 4 years quite a solid gun great for gallery work. can be very accurate rested

 

[Heym SR20]

Just being pedantic, I think the OP is refer to lever action rifles where the lever cycles a new cartridge from the magazine to the chamber - aka Winchester lever action

“Under lever” was a British term used to describe a shot gun action where the lever is under the action - usually around the trigger guard and is either pushed forward or rotated sideways - aka the Jones Under Lever.

It was used for the Martini Henry or Farquaharson (however its spelt) falling block - both of which operated by an under lever.

 

[Ronin]

45-70

Marlin 1895 SBL

 

[Colonel]

I had a Winchester in 357, but I just couldn’t get on with it, I sold it and got a Marlin. I now have a Marlin limited edition cowboy in 44mag, and a Marlin 45-70 with a ported barrel. I had a Winchester 9422 for nearly 30yrs, which I used for pest control,and I loved it, I did had a Marlin 39a in 22 and hated it. It’s all about personal choice

 

[GrahamK998]

Had a (JM) Marlin in .357 several years ago, sold it, regretted it.
Got a Winchester 94ae now (.357 still), it's good but not quite as slick with the previous Marlin.
IMO I'm not overly sure the current price premium of a JM era Marlin over a good Winchester warrants the expenditure for occasional gallery rifle shoots, my 94 works just fine for that.

 

[Smellydog]

I had a Winchester 94 in 357 and loved it but! It's to small a cartridge for the 94 so don't recommend it.
Unique to the 357 version it relies on an afterthought of a flimsy piece to control the cartridge head due to the unique action of the Winchester 94. Any other calibre yes but not the 357.
It was though amazingly accurate.

 

[alberta boy]

Good morning all,

I've got a slot for 38/357 underlever which would be for target/ gallery use, and i'd appreciate some advise.

I've had a quick look at Rossi and Chiappa offerings and wasn't overly impressed. I've shot a few Marlins- one was a friends that was very slick, the other was from the NRA armoury, and felt well used. I've also seen Henry and Winchester advertised, but not had the chance to see them in the flesh or shoot. Anyone owned either Henry or Winchester under levers? What is the quality and reliability like?

Is there anything else worth looking at?

Nathan

I've owned and used different models of all of the above . If you're looking to get a 38/357 chambered rifle , I'd go with a Marlin 94 , a Winchester ( Miroku ) Model 92 or a Henry . The new Winchesters can get a bit spendy , but are extremely well finished rifles . IMHO , they're better built than anything Winchester has built in decades . The Henry built models are very good rifles and they make a number of different configurations that you can choose from , The Marlin 94s are also a solid little unit , I had one in 357 for a number of years as a general farm / walking around rifle . It was an accurate and reliable little thing that covered a lot of years of rough use without a problem . The Marlins can develop the " Marlin Jam " ( google ) after a lot of hard use , but it's an easy fix if it does happen . As you're using yours for gallery shooting it might not make a difference , but the Marlin and the Henry are easy to mount a scope on , the Winchester is not . The same can be said for cleaning , on the Henry and Marlin it's easy to pull the bolt , remove the lever screw , and you can clean the barrel from the breach end ( again google ) . With the Winchester , you have to strip the entire action . In the end , it'll come down to which rifle feels the best in your hands and just fits . All of them are decent rifles , have fun deciding .

AB

 

[simgre]

I’ve only handled it, and not shot one yet, but the Smith & Wesson 1854 felt very nice.

 

[Oracle]

Henry lever actions are well built and reliable. Simple to dismantle, just remove the lever and slide bolt out to clean from the chamber rather than muzzle. The newer models are now built with the side loading gate. I have .44mag “All Weather” model conditioned for deer and target. Mine doesn’t have the side loading gate but personally never found it a disadvantage.

 

[moeggesit]

Depends whether you will be shooting a lot of competitions or just shooting gallery.

Marlin is the usual choice for competitors and is the cheapest non-copy. Henry would be at or near the top of my list simply for shooting pleasure. Winchesters but they would not be my choice for competitions. Rossi’s can be good value once you sort it out, they usually have some niggle but once fixed is not inferior to a Winchester 92 (which its copied from).

 

[twoseventy]

Just being pedantic, I think the OP is refer to lever action rifles where the lever cycles a new cartridge from the magazine to the chamber - aka Winchester lever action

“Under lever” was a British term used to describe a shot gun action where the lever is under the action - usually around the trigger guard and is either pushed forward or rotated sideways - aka the Jones Under Lever.

It was used for the Martini Henry or Farquaharson (however its spelt) falling block - both of which operated by an under lever.

You are correct! Please accept my humble apologies for such a terrible oversight.

 

[twoseventy]

Thanks for the feedback, it's helped focus the mind and probably empty my wallet..

 

[Heym SR20]

You are correct! Please accept my humble apologies for such a terrible oversight.

No worries. I like both under levers and lever actions. Daniel Fraser has made some really beautiful little falling block rifles, a the little Marlin 39a is sweet. I have handled a few pistol calibre lever actions - relatively new - and they are just bit clunky and not at all slick like the old ones.

Ruger No 1s - look wonderful in pictures, but when you get them in hand they are just crude and nasty compared old British falling blocks. A bit like a when love island slapper open her mouth compared to a fine lady.

 

[Smellydog]

A bit like a when love island slapper open her mouth compared to a fine lady.

I've been resisting watching that show and am very shocked you have watched it!

Think I'd rather suck a lead lollie than watch that!

 

[Heym SR20]

I've been resisting watching that show and am very shocked you have watched it!

Think I'd rather suck a lead lollie than watch that!

I have seen it once. Once is more than enough for anyones ears. Utter garbage.

 

[phaedra]

Just my 2ps worth, I've had Marlins and Henrys and kept the Henrys!

I also bought a S&W in 44mag and really don't like it!

Load gate is very stiff so replaced it with a reduced force one, not a lot better, mag only holds 9 and it gets very hard to push the last few rounds into.
Action is really quite rough and "notchy" compared to my Henrys, it may smooth out with lots of use but it's not the one I pick up when i go to shoot
Should have bought a Henry All Weather without the side load gate!

 

[thegreg]

I’ve owned several Winchester lever action rifles in various calibres. Currently a 1894 AE in .44 mag, an 1894 Timber Carbine in .444 and a little 9422 which was my first rifle. I like the 94 action. There may well be slicker offerings out there but it’s solid and dependable.

I had a shorter barreled version in .44 also called the Trapper, but the 20” version which I kept was far more accurate. It’ll put 10 shots in a golf ball size group at 50m which is good going for a lever gun.

Cheers
Greg

 

[Smellydog]

I’ve owned several Winchester lever action rifles in various calibres. Currently a 1894 AE in .44 mag, an 1894 Timber Carbine in .444 and a little 9422 which was my first rifle. I like the 94 action. There may well be slicker offerings out there but it’s solid and dependable.

I had a shorter barreled version in .44 also called the Trapper, but the 20” version which I kept was far more accurate. It’ll put 10 shots in a golf ball size group at 50m which is good going for a lever gun.

Cheers
Greg

Another Winchester 94 fan