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Thinking about a lever action

I've killed a ton of deer with both my .35 Rem, 336 Marlin (now my daughter's gun) and my 30-06 bolt. I'll say this: When I shot them with the .35 it knocked them over and that's exactly where you found them. The bullet is almost always found just inside the hide on the backside of the deer. All of the energy of the bullet is transferred to the deer.

Quite a few I've shot with the 30-06 result in a chase, albeit short, but a 50yd follow nonetheless. The difference is that the 30-06 leaves holes in both sides of the deer. Some of the bullet's energy is lost out the backside of the deer. Bottom line, both will kill deer just fine. The 30-06 gives you a range advantage but the .35 knocks them right off their feet inside of 100yds (about the furthest range we hunt here in northern Michigan).
 
I love my 1973 Winchester 30-30, I think a lever is a great little gun that will take any game you need to, I fitted skinner sights and for me it’s perfect, regards Wayne
 
If you go the lever gun route wait till you have cash before you start exploring the ranger precision site. Just so many cool things I just "have to have". I especially like their clover leaf peep sights with fiber optic dots and the fiber optic triangle front sight post combo. Because awesome irons on a short range rifle are a must imo. Just too cool. And that big loop is just darn classy.
 
I run an 870 express magnum in 20g. with an18 inch fully rifled barrel with a cantilevered scope mount and Nikon pro-staff shotgun scope. Versatile(can hunt literally everything with it just by swapping barrels, chokes, and different shot sizes), accurate, powerful, reliable, and budget friendly. First year with this setup and filled 3 antlerless tags with it.
 
Blacksmith said:
lever probably not quite as accurate as a bolt but I have a Marlin 45.70 that will reach 150 easily. Bought it for kids deer hunting. Ohio has a straight walled case requirement and the 45.70 fits the bill. Marlin makes a great lever gun IMO.
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I also live and hunt in Ohio. I have a Marlin 4570 lever action and I love it. Does a number on deer and just the rifle itself is just sweet. Short enough to be handy and get through thick brush and does just fine at 150 yards. I would recommend one for sure.


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I have hunted with many lever action rifles from tree stands and my saddle. Savage 250-3000, 243 Win, 30-30 Win, 300 Savage, 35 Remington, and 375 Win. Peep sights, open irons, and scoped. None are a pain to load and unload while in a tree as EricS suggests. And nobody in their right mind would raise or lower a loaded gun. If you find the tube magazine makes it muzzle heavy, don’t load it up tight. Find what you like, learn to handle and shoot it, and hunt it. The 20” barrel on the Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 Remington is really nice.
 
dalton916 said:
41 posts in a lever action thread and no mention of the Browning BLR.......shame on y’all.
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The problem is one you run the action on a BLR you won't want to shoot anything else ever again.

Magazine fed. Lightweight. Short barrel. Quick cycling. Available in most long range calibers from 243 to 3006.

Also probably the fastest gun for follow up shots if you are left handed.

Shot my first deer with one, first shot in the lungs, he was standing still at 30 yards, second shot was in the heart with him running away.
 
docost99 said:
I have hunted with many lever action rifles from tree stands and my saddle. Savage 250-3000, 243 Win, 30-30 Win, 300 Savage, 35 Remington, and 375 Win. Peep sights, open irons, and scoped. None are a pain to load and unload while in a tree as EricS suggests. And nobody in their right mind would raise or lower a loaded gun. If you find the tube magazine makes it muzzle heavy, don’t load it up tight. Find what you like, learn to handle and shoot it, and hunt it. The 20” barrel on the Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 Remington is really nice.
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Yea, you don’t need to load up the entire tube when deer hunting. I’ve yet to deer hunt with a lever but I have shotgun hunted deer and prefer my over under to my pump as it’s much quieter to load and unload. If you can’t take a deer with 2 shots maybe it’s time to buy a side of beef lol


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I use a marlin .3030 336Y that has a 16in barrel. I swapped buttstocks to get the correct length of pull and had all metal cerakoted burnt bronze. Super light and all i need for our Hawaiian bush.
 
FLYIN_HAYN said:
I use a marlin .3030 336Y that has a 16in barrel. I swapped buttstocks to get the correct length of pull and had all metal cerakoted burnt bronze. Super light and all i need for our Hawaiian bush.
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X2. I love my marlin and killed quite a few deer with it up in PA in some thick mountain laurel. Good brush gun for sure and they say the 30-30 Winchester killed more deer than any other caliber.


Sent from parts unknown
 
BLR is the way to go. I have a .308 I use for moose and I wouldn't trade it for any other gun on the market. It's so compact in comparison to the monster rifles the rest of the camp rocks.

Its perfect for when your crashing through brush and its plenty accurate at 300 yards.

Plus there is no better feeling then cycling a round threw a lever. Makes me smile every time lol
 
I still hunt regularly with the lever action savage 99e .243 my grandfather gave my dad when he was a boy in 1972 I think. Shoots straight, has an internal rotary mag which is kinda a pain to clean thoroughly but she shoots straight, has a ton of character, and most of all has a ton of sentimental value. Its light and short, and will kill anything I can hunt here in the VA woods.

I love the lever action, and while a bolt gun is more accurate, especially at greater distances, I don't foresee me ever not hunting with that gun. Also I have never had an opportunity where I hunt to shoot a deer past 100 yards
 
I was recently handed down an old Marlin .30-30 that was my grandfathers favorite hunting rifle his entire life. He passed and my father knew with how OCD I am, I would keep it in the same shape that old retired Marine did. So, in turn it went to me. With that, I lit up a portion of my game room with racks that he had harvested throughout the years with that gun, and some pictures of him, my father and myself. The stories behind the bucks were crazy, running 100-150yd shots, brush pounding up close and personal kills, etc. I can honestly say, besides the sentimental value of the gun, it has been a top performer even for me, decades later. DECADES!
 
dalton916 said:
41 posts in a lever action thread and no mention of the Browning BLR.......shame on y’all.
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I just saw this thread and thought the same thing... where's the BLR?? I have a Henry .30-.30 shoots great and is beautiful, Its topped with a Leupold 2x7 with a German Mark 4 "post-type" reticle for quick shots. Love that gun. I have a Mossberg 454 .30-.30 and that is a decent gun too. Only thing is I wish the receiver wasn't aluminum. I want a BLR in .358 Win. maybe someday. Although the new ones made by Miroco (sp?) Japan are beautiful pieces, the Belgian made ones had blued steel receivers.
 
Marlin 1895G topped with a red dot. I shot through a sapling the size of a water bottle and still killed the buck behind it! Now that 45-70 makes a good brush gun
 
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