Nice lever action gun?

[JoshuaW]

I gotta say that as much of a traditionalist as I am the Browning BLR is a tremendous lever gun. It uses a detachable magazine instead of a tube which has several advantages. First it can use ammo such as the .308 ( which is much cheaper than 30-30) and others that offer much better ballistics. Second you can load it very quickly, a nice point as in Indiana you cannot keep a loaded rifle in your vehicle but you can have loaded magazines. Third, a few extra mags gives you a nice all purpose repeater that is mush faster to reload. Fourth, the BLR has a short throw lever allowing for faster follow up shots.

My Browning copy of the Winchester 71 is my favorite lever gun of all time but if I were looking for a smaller caliber such as a .30 the BLR would get my nod.

You can keep a loaded rifle in your vehicle.

 

[kalboy]

I agree with a most of 451's points about the BLR and the 308 Win. cartridge, but am confused about the statement of 308 ammo being cheaper than 30-30. Unless perhaps comparing steel case Russian fmj or mil-surp to US commercial expanding bullet brass case rds.
I like the traditional guns also but a stacked cartridge mag gun ( and all its advantages) would be a nice addition to the hunting arsenal. I've been mulling a BLR in 243 as a 'yote gun for a while.

 

[DanO]

I have had a Winchester Trapper, an old Marlin 1893 in 38/40, a Marlin 336 and a Savage 99. I liked them all for different reasons, but was never IN LOVE until I got hold of a Browning 92. Best copy of a 92 out there and discontinued since 1987, but I waited for a good shooter and it was worth it. Feels like hot sex.....

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Second you can load it very quickly, a nice point as in Indiana you cannot keep a loaded rifle in your vehicle but you can have loaded magazines.

Who told you this, 451?

 

[jbombelli]

I had a police officer a number of years ago tell me I couldn't keep a loaded rifle in my vehicle. I had an unloaded AK in my back seat in its case when I got pulled over. He saw the case and asked me what was in it, so I told him. He asked me if it was loaded, I replied that it wasn't, and he said "good, you can't have a loaded rifle in your vehicle in the state of Indiana."


Maybe that's how he heard it.

 

[wrigleycub]

Marlin 30-30, iron sites, and lever action. I don't do much with it other than shooting. Very fun, could be a nice hunting rifle!

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Maybe that's how he heard it.

Maybe, I just like to chase gun law rumors. E.g. the lifetime LTCH misinformation I traced to a clerk at the Howard County Sheriff.

 

[mammynun]

I know you can't hunt with it in Indiana (.45-70), but I really enjoy my Marlin 1895G Guide Gun.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

You can hunt with a .45-70 in Indiana.

 

[mammynun]

You can hunt with a .45-70 in Indiana.

I'm not a hunter, but I was referring to deer. So, what can you hunt with it? Bison?

 

[Hawkeye]

I'm not a hunter, but I was referring to deer. So, what can you hunt with it? Bison?

Wabbits! Those pesky wqbbits need a 45/70 to take'm down clean.


My 45/70 '95 Guide Gun is because it was available and I had the cash for it. Hope someday to use it on boar somewhere. (Maybe in IN, the way things are going...)

 

[cartmanfan15]

Not really looking for one to use for hunting since I have no idea how to dress a deer. Shot my friends grandpa's, pretty sure it was a Winchester, but just really enjoyed shooting it. Maybe it reminded me of old school westerns with the loading method and the lever action but I really enjoyed shooting his

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I'm not a hunter, but I was referring to deer. So, what can you hunt with it? Bison?

Squirrels. Ensure that they are up in the trees because according to IDNR's Magic Bullet theory bullets fired up into the air turn into harmless pixie dust when they miss their targets, but rifle bullets fired down toward deer from tree stands are unstoppable juggernauts which seek out women and minorities.

 

[awittmer]

.44 mag because you can deer hunt with it. 45/70 because theyre sweet.
35 rem is also pretty nasty

 

[Mgderf]

I'm not a hunter, but I was referring to deer. So, what can you hunt with it? Bison?

You can hunt deer in Indiana with a .45/70. It just has to be in a pistol configuration.

A Thompson Contender in .45/70 is legal for deer in Indiana, as long as it has a pistol grip, and a barrel less than 16" long.

 

[snapping turtle]

A Thompson Contender in .45/70 is legal for deer in Indiana, as long as it has a pistol grip, and a barrel less than 16" long.

16 inches or less. A super 16 barrel can be rifle or pistol. Only the pistol is legal for hunting with 45-70 but the barrel can be 16 inches long or less.

 

[kludge]

Where does it say the barrel has to be 16" or less?

IC 35-47-1-6
"Handgun"
Sec. 6. "Handgun" means any firearm:
(1) designed or adapted so as to be aimed and fired from one (1) hand, regardless of barrel length; or
(2) any firearm with:
(A) a barrel less than sixteen (16) inches in length; or
(B) an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.

(emphasis added)

 

[longshooter]

IMO, Henry's have the smoothest cycling lever actions around. I have one in .22LR, .22 Mag and a .45 LC. I also have a Winchester 1894 Timber Carbine in .444 Marlin for comparison.....unfortunately, there really isn't any comparison. Cycle a Winchester, then a Henry next time you get a chance. You'll see what I am talking about.

 

[holejack1]

I'd recommend you find a Win94 or a Marlin 1894 in 44mag. Maybe you're not into hunting now, but what is going to happen is you are going to fall in love with that rifle and years later you are going to wish you could kill something with it, and it's not likely Indiana will ever allow 30/30 for deer. Fun cartridge that the 30/30 is, the 44 is no less fun to shoot.
Oh and the Marlin holds 10 rounds of fat 44.

 

[silkpoet]

I would be interested in some of the downsides of these guns. I have thought the lever guns were always interesting and have toyed with picking one up if I find a great deal sometime. Are there any major points I should be aware of?