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Originally Posted by jyl
Do you like the Marlin lever or the Winchester lever better? Pros/cons?
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I much prefer the Marlin.
The bolt on the Marlin can be easily removed, facilitating cleaning from the breach end. There is no easy way to do that on any model of Winchester.
I like the closed top and side ejection of the Marlin. Winchesters are open on the top, and eject through the top. This allows more rain and crud to get into the Winchester.
The Marlin has a much simpler, more robust action. They feel smoother to me as well. Only one Winchester action feels as smooth, and that is on the notably weak 1873.
1873's do not "lock up" with any kind of a solid lug holding the bolt closed. They use a toggle link that goes slightly over center to lock. Very, very weak, and only suitable for very low pressure pistol sized rounds. The later Winchesters, like the 1886, 1892, and 1894, all truly lock up, but there is a lot more going on inside when we work the lever than there is on a Marlin (which locks up very solidly).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Douglas
I handled a Miroku lever action rifle at a gun auction once. What a beautiful action. As smooth as silk. Plus the gun was very nicely blued and finished.
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I have two modern Miroku built Winchesters, a Model 71 in .348 and an 1886 in .45-70. I hate to say it, but they are superior to originals in every way.
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Originally Posted by svandamme
The only lever I'de really want would be a big one with a nice top moving locking mechanism.
like a Colt Burgess in 44-40
No nancying about with pistol calibers.
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Stijn, the .44-40 originally came out in the Model 1873 as a "rifle" caliber, but it is, in fact, a pistol sized cartridge. Colt chambered it in their Single Action Army. It fires a 200 grain bullet over 40 grains of black powder. Contrast this with the .45-70, which fires either a 400 grain bullet over 60 grains of black powder as the "carbine" load, or a 500 grain bullet over 70 grains of black powder as the "rifle" load.
Quote:
Originally Posted by svandamme
But then , and that's rare for me, it's really for the historic beauty of the gun, the movement of the action.
Cause lets face it, nothing practical about such a gun in such a caliber, with such a stock.. Real shooting heavier cartrdiges is just better with a straighter stock, recoil manages much nicer.
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Yes, there is a lot to be said for the historic beauty and movement of the action. The whole package is very pleasing, more so than any bolt gun or semi auto. Just something about a lever gun.
My modern Marlin and Winchester in .45-70 both handle extremely stout .45-70 loads with aplomb. While no one would would ever say these loads are "pleasant" or "comfortable" out of any kind of rifle, these have high enough combs on straight enough stocks to be no worse than anything else.