Lever Action Rifle Talk

[Scott]

Greetings, I am not a gun guy but I am interested in obtaining a lever action rifle of the '73 or '94 Winchester variety. While visiting a local gun show I found prices that varied anywhere from $600 to $4000.
I also saw that there were varying lengths to the barrels.

I know NOTHING about this stuff. I just appreciate the look and feel of the lever action rifle.

What I want is a 30 caliber, not a 22.
A longer barrel, I think 24 inches was the longer of the two.
It does not have to be an original or a Winchester. I saw a Marlin that I really liked for $600.
I'm sure some of you guys know more than I ever will and would like to ask you what to look for? Any suggestions? Hints? Warnings?

Oh yes, I am also not going to pay a boat load of money for something that will probably only be fired a few times in my life. Unless of course I really take a liking to it.
In otherwords, I'd like to keep it under the $600 range. I don't need a collectable.

Thanks in advance.

[George D Rodriguez]

Gun Shows are a good place to look. You might also check out your local pawn shops and there you can haggle the price as you can gun shows. Ordering off the internet is another way to purchase a rifle but be prepared to have your order sent to a person that has a federal license to recieve it. You may have to pay him for that privelege adding to the cost of the weapon. Marlins are a good weapon and some are cheaper then Winchesters. When buying a used weapon take it to a gunsmith and have him check it out for safety reasons to protect yourself. If you have a SASS organization around you somewhere you can attend their local gun shoots. Ususally you can find a suitable weapon there for sale by someone who is either getting out or just want to sell off excess guns. You may want to see if there are any local gun clubs other then SASS in your area and see if anyone has a weapon that your looking at for sale. Good Hunting and I hope you find what you want.

[Scott]

Good information. Thanks!

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Scott,

There are plenty of good model 1894 winchesters out there in .30 WCF cal. (30-30) in your price range. But they will be in carbine size. Rifles (24 inch barrel and over) fetch two hundred dollars or more over the carbine.
Although I like early Winchesters, Marlins are a fine firearm, and at a reasonable cost.
I would haunt a few gun shows and gun shops to see what retail is on a new Marlin. And joy of joys, you have this computer that can pull up firearms web sites all over. When you find what you want, contact the seller and arrange to have it shipped to a local shop or FFL (Federal Firearms License) holder. The price of firearms vary as to locality. And the transfer and shipping fees may be off set by the price of the rifle. I use to ship them in for people at a nominal fee for the paper work and the cost of shipping (usually around $15.00 with insurance). But I would go out and pick up, look at and handle firearms of the same kind you're interested in so you know that you'll like the feel and the weight etc.
You state you'd like a .30 cal.. Well, there are a few different cartridges in .30 cal chambered for lever guns. There's .30 WCF as mentioned. Then Savage makes the model 99 hammerless (Nice rifle and works good but not my style) in 303 Savage cal. (still a .30 cal) Then there are repros of the 1895 Winchester by Browning and USRA (Basically a Browning) in both 30 Springfield (30-06) and a few in .30 cal. Krag (30-40). If you run across an original 1895 you can add the 30-03 and the most numerous cal. the 7.62R Russian (the "R" is for rimmed). But the Russian chambering is rare in this country. You may also run into a .303 British in this model. All thirty caliber rounds. Hope this helps a bit.
Now not to steer you away from the thirty caliber, As I have owned several .30 cal Winchesters, But for pure pleasure in shooting and doing it on the cheap, I usually take along my reproduction 1892 Winchester in .357 magnum caliber. Not exactly a frontier caliber (came out in 1935), but a .357 loaded with black powder sure makes it look like one when it goes off. They are easy to find as several companies imports them. EMF, Navy Arms, Taylors Firearms, and Cimarron to name a few. And they will handle .38 special caliber as well. another thing in favor of this caliber, you can find cartridges almost anywhere. Also you have quite a large selection of options with this model as well. Rifles, carbines, and barrels running from 16 inches (trappers model) to 30 inches, All the rifle lengths I have seen are octagon. Even the short rifle with 20 inch barrel. Pistol grip stocks. checkering and a large selection of sights that fit them and they are priced to fit your budget. And you can find them on the used gun market. I picked up my "used" 1892 by Rossi out of Brazil in new condition in the box, with a nicely engraved reciever at a pawnshop for only $290.00. It's light and handy and makes a great little traveling companion (mine is a carbine, 20 inch barrel). Now this is just a suggestion as to the Model 1892.
If you are going to purchase a rifle, regardless of what model, I would do it soon. The prices are climbing and they are also getting a little hard to find in some areas. I hope this helps a tad. And good luck and good shooting with whatever you purchase.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[Scott]

Doc, that's ton of information. Thanks. I'll be honest in saying I don't understand it all.
I don't know what the difference is in a carbine. I've heard it hundreds of times but...
I also don't understand the differences in .30 caliber sizes.
Like I said, I'm an infant when it comes to this and as such I don't want to buy on a whim and not get what I want or get taken to the cleaners.

Thanks for your input.

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Scott,
A carbine is a rifle that has a short barrel, 16 to about 22 inches, ruond for the most part.
I guess what I was trying to get across with all the calibers is, there are several different caliber thirty cartridges that though they are .30 cal, are totally different in case size and shape. To say that you want a .30 cal. rifle opens a door to all different kinds of cartridges. Hope that clears it up a little more?
Sixguns prices seem realistic. And he charges no more then I did in the 80's and 90's to ship and transfer.
But it makes my heart sink to hear what he gets for a 1873 Winchester now. I let mine go in about 1978 (1881 vintage about 95%), for the sum of $600.00. But the dollar was stronger then, so I guess it all evens up.
M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[Scott]

OK, so, does that mean that I would need to purchase certain type of .30 caliber shell based on the rifle's particular caliber? Meaning that if I didn't watch it might be difficult to find shells?
I'm sorry if I am asking too many questions.
Trully I have never paid attention to such things till now.

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Scott,

Not a problem. Actually aside from the 30-03 Springfield cal., most are still in production and can be at least ordered. Some are harder to find then others though. George gave you some very sound information on where to find a good firearm. If I may add a thought though, Do you have anyone that can go with you to look for a decent firearm that knows something about firearms and can guide you through the ups and downs?
Also, go to the library and see what you can find on firearms. Myself, if I need some information and I don't have a book on it, I go to Barnes and Nobel, buy a cup of coffee and see what I can find. If I like the book I buy it. If not I had a great coffee break. And like George said, if the gun is used, have a gunsmith check it out. At $600.00's though you have a lot of selections of new guns.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[George D Rodriguez]

You can purchase a 357 magnum and it will hold a 38 caliber shell. I don't know if it will feed properly though and the caliber is somewhat weak. It all depends on what you plan on shooting. If you use it for hunting a 30-30 is good for brush hunting of deer and boar. If your going to hunt bear or puma go to a 30-06. Due to a longer shot for antelope you may need a scope mounted rifle and a flater trajectory. So it all depends on what your shooting at. If its just targets I suggest a 22 caliber lever action. It has the same feel as the larger weapons but is much cheaper and the shells can be had anywhere at a cheaper price. If its going to be a self defense gun for the house get a 12 gauge shotgun with double odd buck. This will send 9 32caliber pellets down range and is quite effective as a street sweeper. So the choice is yours as to your needs.

[Lethalrancher]

Hello Doc. I don't wish to sound like a know it all or whatever but since we are addressing a fellow with limited knowledge of guns and such matters we should explain to him that when speaking of .357 magnums of which the caliber is .357, then we must also try to explain with some diffuculty no doubt why a .38 special "should say cartridge" and not caliber round would likewise chamber, which of course is not true if indeed the .38 special were actually .38 caliber....because as we all know that the .38 special, is just that.....a .38 catridge, and not a .38 caliber bullet, but a .357 bullet in a smaller case.....I know this is clear to all reading this except maybe the feller making the inquiry......sorry but I jist had to say this......look back at your post and you will see ".38 special caliber "......wellllll, now I see I have gotten it all tangled up as well.....what I mean is mags and specials as we all know will most often interchange.....but my point is to let the fellow understand that a .38 special is not a .38 bullet......maybe he has not digested it yet....but can you imagine how he is going to try to understand the .357 and .38 thang......okay I will be quiet now.....went back and edited my post....it jist gets worse'ter each time I do it.....good night nurse....I think you all know what I am ah try'n to get at....dont'cha know.....Lethalrancher

[Scott]

Thank your Lethalrancher. You are right, I have no clue.
But with all of your help I am learning.

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Rancher I see your point.

You are absolutly right about the .357 mag and the .38 special being the designation for the cartridge, and not the caliber. They ARE both the same caliber ( .357 diameter bullet or there about), and the differance is in the length of the cartridge case, (The .357 cartridge case being about .10 of an inch longer then the .38 special).
I believe I picked up descibing those rounds in that fashion because they speak of those rounds in that way in manuals and gun magazines, refering to them as "calibers" instead of "cartridges" which would be correct as you stated.
Thank you for bringing that faux pas to my attention. I have to admit I have been refering to those two cartridges as calibers for 40 some years. I guess I was being sloppy in my description. It's kind of like people refering to a cartridge as a BULLET, when a bullet is only the little lead pill that is expelled from the muzzle of the weapon when firing.
I do thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll have to watch myself from now on.
And no you don't sound like you're trying to be a "know it all". That's why we exchange information here, to fix things like this this.
Well this exchange should muddy the waters a little more for Scott. Sorry Scott.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[Sixgun]

tw members can order any gun made from me for 25 bucks over cost plus shipping to an ffl licensed dealer in their state. right now a blued 92 win by rossi is 496 plus shipping. I currently am out of used repros. Got some real 73's for 3000 and up tho haha
Six