From the article: Top 7 Lever Action Deer/Big Game Hunting Rifles
Lever action rifles have been popular with hunters for more than a century, and with good reason. They're usually compact and handy, easy to use, and reliable. What's your favorite lever gun for hunting deer and other big game? What makes it the best for your hunting? What's Your Favorite?
favorite lever action
- I have a Marlin 45-70 and Winchester 44 Mag, and I love them both. The Winchester has always had ejection problems, but I love them both. Thanks.
- —IsaacHolt
Where have all the good guns gone
- Don't you just love lever guns? Marlin, Savage, and Winchester are all at the top of the list. Winchester Models 76, 86, and 95 seem to be overlooked, and you can still find a shooter if you look - in fact the 86s and 95s recently made by Browning are every bit as good as, if not better than, the old ones. I have a bunch of these and I love to shoot them. BTW - Let's not leave out the most fun of the all - The 22 lever guns...
- —Guest papawman
Marlin 1895G 45-70
- In my younger days as a whitetail hunting guide I used anything from 44 mag to 30-06 and while each had its own characteristics, our rule was one shot one kill. Thick scrub oak and slash pine made any kind of hunting a jump shot usually less than 25 feet. The Marlin 45-70 Guide model I use is a short compact rifle equipped with a peep sight. With the right load the 45-70 will take any mammal on the North American continent with one shot. I grew up eating what I shot and if you shot you came back with your kill. I have tracked long into the night and the next day and you think long and hard the next time. In conclusion for me there is only one gun for whitetails and feral hogs in close, thick GA scrub... the Marlin 1895G will do the job so you can get busy cleaning instead of chasing.
- —Guest Capt. J Smith
best lever action
- Model 94 I have taken deer moose elk and bear with the model 94 30-30 best all around gun going
- —Guest Dave Vande Cappelle
Lever Action Rifles
- Growing up watching John Wayne on TV got me started. My first one was a 30-30. I now use a 444 outfitter. Great gun. Very accurate.
- —Guest brian...s.c
Some people forget about....
- Singleshots, But since my favorite IS operated by a lever it fits here... Without a doubt, my favorite has to be my Bicentennial edition of the Ruger #3 Carbine, in the venerable .45/70 Government. While it does kick due to its light weight, being a falling block design, the angle of the action does minimize the felt recoil. Standard factory loads are not too bad but this strong action can eat some heavy hand loads without any stress. It is extremely accurate, easy to carry, and as with all single shot rifles, it reinforces the thought process of how important it is to only take shots that you can make successfully. I took a lot of heat from my hunting buddies when I bought it, being a single shot, but at sight in they changed their tune when they sat that even with the standard power factory loads, three shot groups were consistently under one inch, or in other words, the holes in the target were overlapping at 100 yds. I want another to rebarrel to .480 Ruger...
- —Dragon5126
