Author Topic: lever action deer rifle..  (Read 1760 times)

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Offline ironglow

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lever action deer rifle..
« on: September 03, 2005, 02:38:35 PM »
Best choice in 30/30...best in 44 mag...

   Marlin ? Winchester ?, Ruger ? or Henry ?

   About how much should I pay  for a given model at Walmart or Gander Mt...?
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline ratgunner

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« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2005, 06:48:56 PM »
I just looked at a new WIN. in 357 trails end octagon bbl. it was 599.00,thats more than a Marlin cowboy and I didn;t like the new saftey on the Win.Also the marlins can be cleaned from the breach,and thats a plus too.The win was real nice but I like the Marlins better. :D
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Offline Zeke Menuar

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« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2005, 07:13:48 PM »
Savage



ZM
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Offline TNrifleman

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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2005, 08:49:29 PM »
You won't go wrong with the Marlin 336 in 30-30 or the Marlin 94 in 44 Magnum. Either one will serve you long and well.

Offline tscott

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« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2005, 04:44:42 AM »
I second the Savage 99 (nice pic).. Preferably pre 1960. Find one in a shop, and clean it up.... You will be surprised with the smoothness, reliability, and exceptional accuracy..... (.300 Sav.)

Offline Savage .250

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« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2005, 08:10:57 AM »
Quote from: Zeke Menuar
Savage



ZM


  Zeke: I salute you.   Savage 99..............

 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."
" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Offline tanoose

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« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2005, 10:02:51 AM »
I have a pre 64 winchester 94 in 30/30 and i wouldn't trade it for the world as far as the .44 mag. goes i think i may have to buy the marlin 1894 stainless model someday  i just love the looks of that rifle, besides marlin makes a great product. As far as the savage goes i just got a 99 in 308 winchester my friend is holding it for me and it just might make it into the deer woods this year. Later Tanoose

Online Dee

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« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2005, 12:14:22 PM »
I have a Winchester Model 94 3030 bought new in 1957. I carried this gun in patrol cars and on man hunts for years. Now its just a plain old deer rifle and woods gun. It has a peep site on it (right from the start) and is good on varmints out to about 250 yds. and deer about to 150 after all these years of shooting (it will be 50 years old in less than 2 years). With hard cast 170 grainers or jacketed it doubles as a hog gun and with a little unique powder small game. Yes, it cleans from the muzzle but, that's not done until I think accuracy might be about to suffer and that's a lot of rounds. I have a Model 92 in 357 mag. Same deal. I also have a Marlin 1895 CB in 4570 for hogs mostly and I like it too. My Winchesters don't have these new safeties but the Marlin did until I dis-abled it. I like the new Winchester safeties better than the Marlin safeties as far as looks and location. As for starting over if I had to there is no doubt I would choose the New Winchester Legacy with the octagon 24 inch barrel in 3030. With the right bullet and powder (lots of factory choices) you can hunt anything.
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Offline Ron T.

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« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2005, 03:58:26 PM »
I recommend you look "hard" at Model 99 Savage lever-action rifles made prior to 1960.  They are the best quality.

Operate the "butter-smooth" lever... and note the lack of an outside hammer lever.  Compare it's operation to the operation of a Winchester or Marlin... and you'll find there is NO comparison!  The Savage is MUCH smoother... and of obvious superior quality.

I recommend you buy the Savage in either .300 Savage caliber (the "father" of the .308 Winchester cartridge) or in .308 Winchester... either one is an excellent deer cartridge with relatively low recoil (especially in the .300 Savage round which has only about 14 ft/lbs of recoil)... and, yet... either cartridge is considerably more powerful than either a 30/30 or a .44 magnum... AND more capable of making longer shots with ease.

Sighted in 2.75 inches high at 100 yards, the 150 grain bullet fired from a .300 Savage cartridge has a muzzle velocity (factory loads) of about 2630 fps yielding a point-blank-range of 250 yards... much greater than any flat-nosed bullets which must be used in the Winchesters or Marlins because the Model 99 can use spitzer (pointed) bullets in it's rotary magazine.

My handloads in my 1953 Savage Model 99 with a 24-inch barrel chronographs a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet @ 2680 fps and yields all the power you need for deer.. and you can add elk, black bear, caribou or moose to your diet if you load either the 165 grain or the 180 grain Nosler Partition Bullet or the new Nosler bonded-core bullet.

Accuracy is another of the Model 99's attributes.  My "99" averages .7 to .75-inch, 3-shot groups @ 100 yards off the bench rest... and this level of accuracy is not uncommon for the Model 99.  This level of accuracy is considerably greater than either the Winchester or Marlin.

In the final analysis, the hunt is just better if one is using a classic rifle in a classic caliber.  That's why I hunt with a rifle made over 50 years ago (1953) that shoots a cartridge introduced 85 years ago (in 1920)... the Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber.

Jus' my 2ยข... other's opinions may differ...


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."  - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Savage .250

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« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2005, 02:39:31 AM »
Ron T: In you last full paragraph you said in part,".......final analysis..."
  How true that is. I guess you have to really appreciate a Savage 99
  ( pre-mil)  and own a couple to know where your coming from.
  There is something about being in the woods with your 99 of choice that
   makes the hunting experience more enjoyable.
 
 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."
" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Offline tscott

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« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2005, 03:50:52 PM »
1955....99f....tiny Leupold.....= ultimate mountain rifle...
Right on Ron T.    I'm partial to cheap coreloks 180's in .300, Sav. An added benefit to the heavier bullet is less meat loss...

Offline Ron T.

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« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2005, 06:18:31 PM »
Thanx, fellas...

Like I've always said, "Truth IS TRUTH!!!" :wink:


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."  - Thomas Jefferson

Offline JJ79

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Re: lever action deer rifle..
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2005, 06:15:43 PM »
Quote from: ironglow
Best choice in 30/30...best in 44 mag...

   Marlin ? Winchester ?, Ruger ? or Henry ?

   About how much should I pay  for a given model at Walmart or Gander Mt...?



definitely Marlin!!  I have a 336 in 30-30, as well as an 1894 in .44 mag...

since you specified this would be a "deer gun" I'd go with the 30-30; it's gonna be my "go to" gun this season.  I like the .44 too, but get much better accuracy out of the 30-30.  with the .44 I wouldn't shoot past about 75 yds....with the 30-30, I'm confident out to 100-130 yds even with open sights.

the .44 makes up for what it lacks in accuracy in "knock the deer over" ability :-)   actually, I'd like to get my hands on a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington; it would be the best of both worlds....the accuracy of the 30-30, and the power of the .44 mag!!!!

as far as what you can expect to pay....around $365 @ Wal-mart....could get into a nice used one at a gun show for a little over $200.

hope this helps!!!  good luck... :D

Offline NYH1

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« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2005, 06:54:32 AM »
Personally I would get a Marlin over Winchester. I stay away from Winchester's. I've had trouble with three of the five Winchester's I've owned.

My pre'64 model 88 308 Win. is one of the most reliable and best shooting rifles I own. I have a model 94 Big Bore 356 Win. that we (my father and I) haven't shot enough to have any trouble with, so far so good. I actually gave this rifle to my father, he has alway liked the model 94.

I had two other model 94's. One was a 30-30, it wouldn't shoot worth a crap no matter what ammo we used. The other was a brand new model 94 Big Bore 444 Mar. This was by far the worst firearm I have ever owned. To make matters worse, I owned this rifle a little over a year before I shot it and Winchester didn't want to know anything about it. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! I also had trouble with a model 120 Ranger 20 ga. Evert time I would work the slide it would eject the spent shell, it also would eject the ejection spring. Had this fixed a few time then I traded it for a Remington 870 and haven't looked back!

I had one problem with one of my Marlin's. It was actually my fault. The action was starting to get a little tight when I was closing it. There was tinny a piece of debris in it, took the bolt out, cleaned it and its been great since, that was about 12 years ago.

I actually like Winchester's Model 94, Timber Scout. I just don't think I could buy another model 94!
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