[TIMBERWOLF]

Friends, do you have a lever gun that you would be very comfortable
using as your "all-around" North American lever gun? Tell us about
it. Why? What cartridge does it shoot? What is the distance that
you have found it to be most effective on medium or large game?

Kindest Regards,
Timberwolf

 

[jodum]

Sure, either my Marlin 444 or 1895 45-70. I can hunt anything on the American continent with these two.

 

[BenT]

My 356 Winchester. It knocks Whitetails down in there tracks. It's light and comfortable to carry. It will shoot 180gr, 200gr or 250 gr bullets. Which should handle anything in North America. Also it is very accurate. I have no problem hitting milk jugs at 200 yards. If I had one gun to put meat on the table this would be it.

 

[Uhrich]

It would defiantly be in .45-70.

The 1895 CB is lighter, but the 1886 is more accurate. I am glade I own both, and others too.

 

[Old Grump]

Win 94 in 32 spcl, it would be a challenge getting close enough to antelope but doable. Wouldn't want to take on a Grizzly, Kodiak or Polar Bear but it would do the job if I could refrain from screaming like a little girl and soiling myself. Not the biggest thumper in my house but fun to shoot, accurate and big enough for anything with 4 legs and hair on this continent.

 

[Ranch Dog]

For me, 444 Marlin. I've taken an ark full of deer with it. I would not hesitate to use it on any NA big game.

 

[leverite]

Savage 99 in .308 Win
Marlin 1895 in 45-70
Marlin 336 in 356 Win

I don't have one but a Savage 99 in 358 Win would be the ultimate.
BLR in 358 Win...also very good. Or you can get it in 300 WSM or 325 WSM.

 

[BarkBuster20]

Mdl 94 AE 30-30 winchester, it is very handy with a 16 inch barrel, and an over all length of 34 inches. Would use it on all N/A game except the big bears.

 

[broom_jm]

For me, 444 Marlin. I've taken an ark full of deer with it. I would not hesitate to use it on any NA big game.

Wouldn't an "ark full" of deer be just a buck and a doe? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

If you're truly talking anything on this continent, I'm going with the BLR in 325 WSM. For anything but the big bears, 356/358 would do just fine...and even they would work, for someone with a lot less in 'em than I would display if somethin' was trying to eat me!

 

[Ranch Dog]

Wouldn't an "ark full" of deer be just a buck and a doe? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

You are quite right! Good one!

 

[hillestadj]

I wouldnt feel under-gunned at appropriate ranges with my BLR in .308. However I would feel a bit more confident with a BLR in .450 marlin going up against the big bears.

 

[Tnhunter]

The BLR in .325 is a very handy rifle, light and compact. Load it with 180gr @ 2800 FPS for deer. 200gr @ 2800 FPS for elk and 220gr @ 2800 FPS for bigger stuff. Put a quality 2-7 scope on it and you're GTG !

 

[243dave]

I have become fond of pistol cartridges in trapper length lever-guns the past few years. In my opinion they are great woods rifles(under 100yds)for anything but true big bears. I have a 94 winchester trapper in 45colt that is a joy to carry and it just plain hits hard when loaded with 300gr bullets in front of lots of h-110. Some think the trapper length levers in pistol cartridges are toys but I asure you they are not. When a 45colt is properly loaded they out penetrate a 300mag at close range. I've proved it to myself and a few friends. So if you load your own, hunt in the woods and like 5 1/2 lbs rifles, a trapper may be what a fellow needs. Dave

 

[willygene]

my 94 winchester 30-30 would be fine for any game animal on the continent except for grizz.

 

[Slow Elk 45/70]

If only one, I would go with my 45/70's, then the 444, although there are plenty of heavy boolits out there for the 444 these days, so I don't think it would make a difference. For medium /large game , you can't beat the big bores....IMHO

 

[twodot]

my choice was the .356 Win.

slow pistol bullets for small game
fast pistol bullets for varmints
200 gr plus for the bigger stuff
..

 

[Dan 444]

Marlin 444. Inside 200 yds, it will take down anything up here in the mountains.

Dan

 

[Gunnut45/454]

Tnhunter

Ah you can't load the 220 gr 325 to 2800 fps, nor the 200gr! Cause if you are your overloading that round! Also who's putting that round in a levergun?

Now for what I'd use: The old 30-30 can and will kill cleanly everything in the lower 48. Now for big bears my 454 Casull Puma would do the trick though the 30-30 has killed them as well!

 

[broom_jm]

Tnhunter

Ah you can't load the 220 gr 325 to 2800 fps, nor the 200gr! Cause if you are your overloading that round! Also who's putting that round in a levergun?

Now for what I'd use: The old 30-30 can and will kill cleanly everything in the lower 48. Now for big bears my 454 Casull Puma would do the trick though the 30-30 has killed them as well!

Browning Lever-action Rifle - http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=003B&cat_id=034&type_id=009

(Per Chuck Hawkes - "The handloader can usually drive a 150 grain bullet to a MV of 3300 fps, a 170 grain bullet to 3100 fps, a 200 grain bullet at about 2950 fps, or a 220 grain bullet to 2800 fps in the 8mm Magnums. The heavier bullets would seem to make the most sense. There is very little thin-skinned game in the world that cannot reliably be killed by a good 200 grain bullet at a MV of 2900 fps!")

 

[leverite]

Browning Lever-action Rifle - http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=003B&cat_id=034&type_id=009

(Per Chuck Hawkes - "The handloader can usually drive a 150 grain bullet to a MV of 3300 fps, a 170 grain bullet to 3100 fps, a 200 grain bullet at about 2950 fps, or a 220 grain bullet to 2800 fps in the 8mm Magnums. The heavier bullets would seem to make the most sense. There is very little thin-skinned game in the world that cannot reliably be killed by a good 200 grain bullet at a MV of 2900 fps!")

That 325 WSM...does not deserve to be ignored the way it has been. Wish it had come out before the 300 WSM.