Lever Gun and BS Thread

I really like that. I believe I can honestly say I haven’t ever seen a lever action .308 probably my favorite caliber

 

skierd - any idea the age of your Savage? I have one in .300 Savage - dates to 1950 or so.

I have 2 books on the 99 and its predecessors (x-mas gifts) that have production dates by serial # if you are interested in knowing approximate age.

Pics of my gun are in another lever gun thread on here and I don't know how to copy/forward them to this thread. Need to search my computer to see if I deleted them or not after posting on here.

Pops

 

Kinda hated to add the scope a few years ago - always just used the old Lyman peep sight that was on it when my dad got it in the '50s. But, with my eyes getting worse and Pa's "3 points to a side" and at least 1" long to be legal, I had to do it. Trying to count points and judging length as a buck walks through a thicket of 6' tall saplings even with a scope (14 power max, I think) was still impossible.

 

my Savage books....

 

Sweet .308 Savage, nice hunting rifle there.
My 1895 Cowboy Edition in 45/70, XS sights, big loop lever, polished action, bought it from a cape Buffalo hunter, love my lever action.

 

Best guess is 1969 or early 1970’s. It’s serial number has an A prefix in the mid 600k range. It’s real clean inside and looks like it’s been taken care of it’s whole life, something I plan to continue. I’m going to try a peep type sight but if that doesn’t work a Leupold 4x or 2.5-8x vx-3hd will likely find it’s way on it.

 

Looks like 1970 started A387575 and 1971 started A667385......so mid- to late 1970 most likely. My peep was so easy to use, I was 3 for 3 on Pa. bucks with it before I got my high school graduation present - Remington 760 Gamemaster pump - then the Savage was used as my second day gun. Haven't shot at a deer with it since before 1975. May never hunt in Pa. again due to their new regs, so I may never kill another deer with it. It is now my primary gun IF I go back to Pa. as I gave my 760 to my son.

 

What new regs. ? Waiting for bucks to mature??

 

Pa. has had the 3 points (1" or longer) to a side where I hunt for around 20 years now. They have changed from 'buck' only to concurrent 'buck and doe' then back to buck only but now toss in the special doe permit areas - forgot the proper term. Mostly it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving opener and that Sunday to hunt for me. Used to have a somewhat easy drive to camp on Friday morning after turkey day......some 'Black Friday' crazies in a few towns I drove thru, but not too bad. Get to camp and have 3 days to prep everything for the traditional Monday opener. Now it is the Black Friday crazies + everyone else trying to get to their camps before Saturday's opener. Get to camp and rush to get everything organized in hours, not days. Too old for that shit. Oh, and the NEW hunters that the Saturday opener has recruited (more licenses sold by the Game Commission) are a bunch of ASSHOLES from what my group had noticed - NO ethics on encroaching on others, loud voices like they are the only people that matter.

In the mountains of Pa where I hunt, antler size isn't necessarily an indication of age, SJBlack......not great food (minimal ag), so so genetics add to this equation. Supposedly, spikes, 3 & 4 pointers are 'protected' here, unless you are a 'junior' hunter (15 or younger) or possibly in the military (again I am not sure due to changes in regs). In the 20+ years of this protection, I have seen exactly 1 spike and 1 other buck that may have been a forkhorn - too thick to try and count points on this moving buck. Took me over 10 years (in the same good spot) to even see any buck period. They didn't all turn into 5 pointers or larger overnight. Higher antlerless/doe kills have likely eliminated many of them.

SORRY FOR THE RANT everyone. I can delete this if asked.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I did not realize they threw in the Sat. pre-rifle hunt.

 

Just bought my first lever gun. Winchester 1894 saddle ring 30-30 manufactured in 1914, SN 724***. I've been wanting one for years and finally found one that didn't break the bank.

 

Plinking 355 grain WLNDGC Hard Cast 1780fps rounds, did I mention it's a .45 Colt.

 

I had marlin 357 jm regretted to sale.
Because I updated to marlin 44mag ss jm.

And last marlin I bought is 45-70

 

I'm lookng for a Marlin 357 in SS. I found one, but they are crazy money right now. Was close to $4k. So pissed I passed on buying one before the shit hit the fan. So many times I've checked them out at the gun shop.

That's a fine looking rifle you got there.

 

I got Savage in 300 with the 24" barrel. Been in my family for a long time. It's my deer rifle. Not sure of the age. I know it's pretty old. It's a tack driver though.

 

That’s expensive since the msrp only 1k,
I saw on last year this time, the shop only ask 1.2k. Another regrets

 

i have a Model 1894 from 1927, saddle ring carbine marked 30 WCF … it’s been refinished with new wood.

and an oldie, a 32-40 from 1897. The bore is bad, so I’m considering having it rebored to 38-55

I have a pile of other leverguns too

 

Is Marlin just not making rifles right now? There are other lever guns. Really like the stainless Marlins though. You can get a Rossi in 357 for about $700, but not really feeling that rifle.

 

Ruger hasn't set up operations to manufacture Marlins yet. Promising the end of the year.

 

Marlin was purchased by Ruger at the Remington breakup.

Ruger is going to put Marlins back in production, but I am not sure as to when.