I have owned a few lever guns but they have long since found new homes.But I am primarily a handgun hunter and am thinking of purchasing a lever gun to occasionally accompany me to the field.Which brand and what barrel length have you guys had good experiences with.Accuracy is my first priority,function second and availability(gun not ammo) and then appearance lastly.Deer,blackbear,and maybe hogs would be the animals it would be used on.Thanks for the info.Oh I guess caliber might help,45 colt.

I have a Winchester 94 trapper in 45 colt, I like it, it shoots well, and carries well. Rossi makes one in their model 92, I have one it 44 mag, it is a fun gun, but the rossi's have a shorter length of pull.
Terry

If you're looking for a rifle to handle the .45 Colt then I would strongly suggest you investigate the many Win M92 clones. I'd also suggest a short barrel, perhaps 16", and a back scabbard. Light, powerful, handy, and looks cool as all get out.

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"It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen". Oliver Wendell Holmes

I think if accuracy is your first priority I would try to get a good marlin 1894CB- work with loads and sights. My father had an older octagon barreled one in .44 mag that is still a tack driver with magnums and specials.

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.45 in the holster and .30-30 in the scabbard- Francisco Sanchez

I had a Marlin with a 24" barrel. Full power loads kicked like an angry mule and approached black-powder .45-70 ballistics.

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MikeG

Rossi Mod 92 "Short Rifle" (20" octagon barrel)

Go with the Marlin 1894, the barrels have a 1:20 rate of twist that will stabilize very heavy bullets from jacketed to cast variety plus you'll have a wider selection of after market parts if you want to slick up the action even more. The CB II model is no longer made but they came with a 24 inch octagonal barrel and is essentially the exact same thing as the current production cowboy rifles. I don't know if Marlin chambers the .45 Colt for the round barrel models or not, which is usually cheaper.

The Rossi stabilizes heavy bullets too.

FWIW, gilt-edge "accuracy" and most leverguns are generally mutually exclusive, since leverguns are hunting arms - sufficiently accurate for their purpose - and not target arms by any means.

The most accurate, and an exception to the rule, would be the Browning BLR, not available in .45 Colt, but still chambered in a .45 - the .450 Marlin.

.

Simply put; ROSSI 1892. ROSSI builds guns now ,like Winchester ans Marlin did long ago ,and not anymore!

The M92 Rossi is a stronger action then the 94 Marlin - check out this site for more info http://www.stevesgunz.com/ I want a .45 Colt 20" barrel in stainless

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"Had his shooting been as good as his running, he might have given a better account of himself."
James. C. Henderson

What about a good lever in .35 Remington to handle all the game you seek. Heavy bullet but also accurate - can reach out further if needed, especially with Leverevolution rounds.

Lots of used out there, but my new Marlin .35 from Wal-Mart was under $430 - hard to beat.

I have one of the Rossi '92s in .45 Colt and love it. I didn't like the factory sights on my '92 in .357 and replaced them, but have gotten along fairly well with the ones on my .45. At plinking range it's a blast haven't shot it much past 50 yds so can't comment. Lot's of fun!

i'd like to pick up a nice used 35 remington or 375 winchester... the thing to remember that the o.d. of the barrel remains the same so as the bore gets bigger the accuracy may be a bit on the questionable side...

My 35rem and 45/70 are my two most accurate lever guns.

This a 100yd group from my 35rem. Varget and a 200 CL.

I have a Rossi in .357 Mag & .45 LC . Love them both . But , if you think you will ever need a scope , get a Marlin .

God bless
Wyr

I don't own a Lever in 45 Colt. I have a Rossi 24" octagonal barrel in .357mag and a Marlin1894 .44 mag 20" barrel. Despite all the controvertsey around Marlin's build quality right now my 2 year old Marlin is a more refined Rifle than my Rossi, externally anyhow it is better finished but I would not call the Rossi poorly finished, just not flashy.

The Rossi however is my go to Rifle, it just handles better, is slicker than all get and is very accurate. I do like the longer barrel and the balance it affords. In my neck of the woods the Rossi is not offered with a 16" barrel in 45 Colt, only in 20" and 24", either would be very Handy as a companion Firearm to your Pistol

regards Jacko

My favorite run-around the woods gun, (when I'm running, and training hard), is a little M92 Rossi Stainless, 16" barreled .454 Casull, It will take anything from .45 Schofield, to .45 Colt on up to .454 Casull with equal reliability in terms of feed, fire and function. Accuracy is outstanding, especially with a little judicious handloading development for the gun. The short barrel makes for ease of handling, and the less than six pound weight is welcomed, especially when I'm training. (I carry it when running with my dogs in case of bear, wolves, lions or peeved cow moose with calves) With heavy bullets in the .454 brass, it behaves like a moderately loaded .45-70 (exceeds standard factory loaded .45-70 ammo) And gives more than enough gee-whiz to my notion when just loaded well using our BTB bullets in .45 Colt loads for Rugers.

Accuracy is stellar, conisering the sights... still haven't done the drill and tap for a receiver sight, and am using the as-issue Hi-Viz sights.... they are pretty coarse sights, but really shine in the low-light early dawn conditions of my morning run, and hey, I'm not worried about minute of prarie-dog sighting capabilities to 200 yards, at the most I'm looking for minute of coyote to 85 yards and less, so when I can shoot 1.5" groups at 75 yards on command, it does what it is asked!

Too, the 16" barrel carries so nicely, even though it isn't as well balanced as my 20" Rossi 92's, it is the preferred choice to carry on-the-run.

Don't know if this helps any, but you did ask for our preferences.... and that's all this is, my preference for the occasion.

God bless,

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Marshall
Romans 1:16



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