[Spence]

I'm new to the levergun game, so I have no personal experience to call on. In reading about them, I've noticed that they aren't generally thought of in the most complimentary terms when it comes to accuracy. It seems to be an accepted idea that they just aren't as inherently accurate as a bolt action. I can't think why that would be. There's certainly no reason a levergun barrel can't be made to the same standards as a bolt action barrel. I don't see why the cartridge handling mechanism should have anything to do with accuracy, once the round is chambered and locked up. I guess it's possible the way the guns are put together could be a factor, more flexible than a rigid one-piece stock, or some such. Might be the ammo, but other than the limitation on sharp points in guns with tubular magazines the ammo should be as high quality as for a bolt action.

Any old hands at shooting leverguns have the answer? Is it true that they aren't, can't be, as accurate as a bolt action? If so, why?

Spence

 

[MikeG]

Two piece stocks don't help and you have more "junk" hanging off the barrel. The mag tube will of course vary in weight as it empties out (ignore that for box mag types like the Savage 99 and BLR).

The tall, thin profile makes them a little harder to shoot off the sandbags, especially with a heavy scope on top. That and the stocks are generally low enough that a good cheek weld is more difficult.

Those are the factors that come to mind.

Part of it I would say is design, and part ergonomics. I have shot some very good groups with lever guns..... around 1/2 MOA at best.

 

[Flat Top]

Mike is correct, the levergun has many more set backs, due to its design, than a bolt gun lets say, but, that does not mean that they cannot be accurate. It takes a lot of fine tuning to get a levergun to shoot those one hole groups with repeatability, but, it can be done. Here is a composite photo of some groups that my levergun has shot...these are full power "hunting" loads. The groups on the left are three shot, and on the right are five shot.

 

[Old Grump]

Don't need MOA from a lever gun, mine are hunting guns and all I ask is they be minute of heart shot at 60 yards or less which they all do from shooting on my hind legs unsupported. Never worried about benchrest suitability.

 

[miestro_jerry]

I only need Minute of Ground Hog or Deer accuracy, so all of my lever guns do that with no trouble. When I hunt in W.V, I use my Marlin 336 in 35 Remy for all of my bush hunting. I only missed once.

As that my backyard is a field and contains my rifle range, I practice often. But my backyard is also where coyotes and ground hogs play, so I get some live target practice also.

I limit myself to 100 yards with all of my lever guns, mostly because of terrain, not too many flat places around my area.

Jerry

 

[Spence]

.... you have more "junk" hanging off the barrel..... I have shot some very good groups with lever guns..... around 1/2 MOA at best.

It was once thought that bedding the barrel so it only touched wood at or very near the receiver/chamber was the most accurate setup, leaving the barrel suspended on the air. Is that still the thinking? Leverguns certainly can't manage that.

By 1/2 MOA you mean a 1/2-inch group at 100 yards, center to center right? And can bolt action hunting guns do better than that?

Spence

 

[Spence]

I only need Minute of Ground Hog or Deer accuracy...

I hear you. Stacking one bullet on top of another in the same hole has never been something I demand of my guns. I understand the difference between "hunting accuracy" and target accuracy. But, I do like my hunting guns to be capable of shooting better than I can. That's not much to ask.

Spence

 

[Spence]

Here is a composite photo of some groups that my levergun has shot...these are full power "hunting" loads.

Excellent shooting. Gives me a different picture of lever guns. Thanks.

Spence

 

[Spence]

Don't need MOA from a lever gun, mine are hunting guns...

I understand, and I agree, with a caveat. I guess I'm old fashioned in my thinking, but I won't shoot at live game with a gun which is only capable of hitting them around the edges. It has always been more important to me to be able to place a shot where it must be for a quick, clean kill than in the 10x for a prize. So, in a weird way I demand more from my hunting guns, not less, because they are hunting guns.

Spence

 

[pisgah]

The fact is, no levergun design is right for best accuracy. But, the fact also is that I have never yet encountered any levergun that would not shoot at least sub-3" groups at 100 yards with any suitable ammo. That is all the practical accuracy you could ask for -- and most of them have shot far better than that. True MOA leverguns are actually not very uncommon.

 

[thegrandenigma]

By 1/2 MOA you mean a 1/2-inch group at 100 yards, center to center right? And can bolt action hunting guns do better than that?

Spence

Bolt guns have potential to shoot MUCH better than that!

http://www.benchrest.com/records.htm

Kind-of ridiculous, no? Keep in mind, those are purpose build guns. There is NO way someone could get anything CLOSE to that in a field situation. Those guys use wind flags shooting special rounds off solid benches with heavy guns at known distances with scopes >30x magnification tuning loads to weather conditions for that specific day. It's very particular.

A guy could trick out a lever gun for accuracy the same way, but you wouldn't keep up with many/any competitors.

 

[Spence]

Bolt guns have potential to shoot MUCH better than that!

Yeah, I know specialized target machines can do amazing things, but I was asking about plain bolt action hunting guns. If I buy a Remington 700 or some equivalent hunting rifle from Weatherby, Ruger, etc., can they do better than 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards? I've owned a Weatherby Vanguard .25-06 and a Sako Vixen .222 Remington, and neither of those would consistently beat that accuracy.

At least not in my hands.

Spence

 

[thegrandenigma]

Ah, I see. I think with handloads and some tweaking you could get close to 1/2 MOA with most bolt guns (and better with the odd gem), but I'm no authority. That's just the understanding I have from hanging out here.

As I've heard said here: guns are just machines, and you can make them do whatever you want.

 

[m141a]

I have a box-stock Winchester 94, top eject from 1968. The only thing I have switched on it was to a set of Williams Firesights, because my eyes are not what they were.
That gun does not like 150 grain anything, but will shoot 160 handloads, and ANY 170 ammo to about 1/2 MOA all day @ 100yrds.

Then, in another breath, I have a Marlin 336CB in 38-55 that I'd be better off using as a paddle when shooting factory ammo. This gun will not come close to accurate without handloads.

Both the Marlin 39, and a Winchester 9422 in 22lr I own are absolute tack drivers....
Makes no sence, as both are old, and actions less than tight...

There's just something about the feel of a lever in your hands tho....

 

[JBledsoe]

.

Lever guns are inaccurate. Another of the many gun myths floating around. The truth is that out of the box Marlins and out of the box bolt guns are about a toss up. Specialized and custom guns cannot be compared. Factory mass production gun are the items of interest and only the inexperienced will claim that one is more accurate than the other.

.

 

[Starrbow]

I have not yet meet a Marlin levergun that was inaccurate enough to site in with factory ammo and hunt with. (Marlins 336, 38-55 excluded, only because factory ammo,s bullets are not even close to the needed bore size of the rifle)

Leverguns were ment to hunt with, not target shoot! and they do that just fine.
But! if you do your part in Handloading and load development, they can turn out some very,very, consistant great groups. Don't take my word for it! Go research the Ranch Dog Postal Matchs, and see the groups the winners are shooting.

My 444 has shamed lots of bolt gun shooters at the range, they only wished they could group as good as that fat bullet!

 

[MikeG]

I got a 3/4" group at 150 yards with my Marlin .35 Rem and Federal factory ammo. Still can't equal that with anything I can handload.... yeah, the bolt gun guys had eyes bugging out of their heads!!!!

 

[Spence]

I got a 3/4" group at 150 yards with my Marlin .35 Rem and Federal factory ammo. Still can't equal that with anything I can handload.... yeah, the bolt gun guys had eyes bugging out of their heads!!!!

And yours weren't?

Spence

 

[MikeG]

Hey I tried to pretend it happened every day!

 

[Spence]

Hey I tried to pretend it happened every day!

It was probably the jumping and yelling which gave you away.

Spence