Lever Actions

Thinking about getting a brush rifle, lever action, Marlin 444 or a 35 Whelan, any thoughts to these rounds, do you have a favorite ?

 

Yeah, they are Steaks . Can't beat a good Steak CD. Buy a cow man. Moo

 

well do you want a 9mm or a 11mm bullet coming out of the barrel?

exactly what are you trying to kill?

they both hit like a freight train i'd personally choose the .35 whelen over the .444 marlin if i had to pick one over the other. you're going to want to reload your brass on both of these cartridges. .35 whelen brass is cheaper ($39 per 100) than .444 marlin brass ($50 per 100). also a .35 whelen is just 30-06 brass necked up to accept a .358 dia. bullet. so if there is no .35 whelen brass around you could resize some 30-06 brass to .35 whelen. if i am not mistaken the .35 whelen has a longer effective range than the .444 marlin. also at one time there had been much talk of making the .444 marlin obsolete.

my future rifle plans include:

rebarrel my Saiga .308 to .358 win
rebarrel my Saiga .410 to .444 marlin
Rebarrel a Savage bolt action rifle to .35 whelen
Rebarrel a Savage bolt action rifle to .375 whelen

the .375 whelen is the largest dia. round that can be safely made from a 30-06 case.

i hope all that helped if not click below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rifle_cartridges
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_dangerous_game.htm

 

Thanks Zebra, that was a huge help. My brother has the 35 and I shot it years ago, as I recall it did shoot well, kicked pretty good. Where I live only allows shotgun hunting for deer and such, I am more of a rifle kind-of-guy, so the areas that allow rifle is pretty thick and dense. I was a good shot in the Army, but it has been years since I have fired a weapon, looking to get back in it, so your knowledge is greatly appreciated. I always loved the look of a lever action, (maybe it's a little cowboy in me), but I appreciate all of them. Thanks again.

 

glad to be of help. the 35 whelen will make quick work of a deer with one shot and followed by it hitting the ground. none that follow up shot and tracking bullshit.

i know you said you were looking at lever action rifles i'm sorry to say i can not recommend any as i do not own or shoot any. i can tell you that Savage arms makes excellent reasonably priced bolt action rifles in both left and right handed models that can easily bolt and barreled swapped to meet your caliber needs.

if i shoot something i want it to stay down and not get back up. so i'm a firm believer in that haunguns should begin with .40 and go up from there and rifles should begin with .300 and go up from there.

 

go with the .30/.30 marlin....awesome brush rifle(170 grains is a doozey!!!), as well as cheap to load!!!

 

Yes that is a nice rifle, and a proven name in weapons, I certainly will look at them.

 

Your choices for .444 marlin and 35 Rem. in a lever are in a Marlin. Are you planning on a new or used? Dealer cost on new a Model 444 over $400. A model 336C in 35 Rem. about $341. More deer have been taken with a 30-30 Win. than with most all other calibers combined and the ammo is available anywhere and cheap. A new Marlin 336W comes with swivels and a sling in 30-30 Win. for under $300. Used you can get alot cheaper. I still have my first deer rifle a Marlin 336 in 30-30 bought in 1972 with a Bushnell 3x9 scope that I would trust on white tail size game to 150 yards anytime. I now live in TX which means you can't hardly afford to hunt because everything is lease hunts. I travel to MO to hunt deer with my Dad and brother and our paticular conditions require thick brush and 400+ yd. shots over big track fields. I have therefore gone to a bolt gun in 300 Rem. SAUM. If I'm going to pay out of state fee's I'm going to come home with some meat. Later, and be safe.

 

Wow, thanks 4x4x4trd, that's some great info, yeah I'll probably buy new, it's something I'll have with me for a long time, I really appreciate well made, proven items. I wouldn't call myself materialistic, but I hate junk. So doing research on the bigger ticket items proves to be prudent. I have my truck, I have a damn nice pair of boots, a hand made knife (that fits my hand like a glove) and soon I'll have my rifle.

 

Hey I looked up Marlin Rifles and your right on with the models and calibers. The cost are pretty decent compared to some of the prices I have heard my buddy's talking about. They also offer many other .44mags, .44spl, 357mag, 38spl, and 308. They look nice but they have a stainless steel version of the 336c, do they perform any better ? Last any longer ? Cost a lot more ?

 

Hi CJ'
The 336SS and 1894SS in 30-30 and 44 Mag. are $420 and $450 dealer cost. Same rifles as blued just $80 to $125 more for the stainless finish. Your call on climate you'll be hunting. I don't have a problem properly caring for blued guns as in cleaning and oiling after use. The 44 mag. works fine at reasonable range. Further than 100 yds. I recommend the 30-30 in these two rifles. The new XLR line joint with Hornaday ammo in 308 and 450 are great rnds. in a lever gun and are stainless as well. They are new and run $525 or so and ammo is limited as of now. They are all fun. Also if you are considering Cowboy Shooting as well, the 1894C at $370 is fun but marginal on deer past 100 yds. Later.

 

Thanks 4x4x4trd, you are the man when it comes to these, I am going to get a nice sling, looking for some real nice saddle leather, any names I should keep my eyes out for ?

 

Your on your own there as long as it doesn't say made in china. It might contain lead you know. Later

 

try www.galco.com www.cheaperthandirt.com or check with your local leather goods or western outlet store. also you living in New England you should check out Kittery Trading Post. I used to live in RI and couple of guys where i used to work would take a day trip up Kittery, ME and Kittery Trading Post is the shit well worth the drive. they may have a website you could order from as well

 

Who makes a lever 35 Whelen? I have a Marlin 1895GS Guide Gun in 45/70, and love it.

 

Its been about ten years ago, and I stopped at a pawn shop and picked up a Ted Williams (Marlin?) 30-30 like new condition for $100.00 its just like a mod.94 Winchester and shoots awesome.

 

30-30 lever guns are alot of fun to shoot. How bout going with a 45/70 gubmint?

 

No factory lever actions out there in 35 Whelen, you can re-barrel a Browning 30-06 to 35 Whelen with no other modifications. Also a win 95 in 06 can be rebarreled.

I have a BlR light-weight 81' in .358 win and its a real shooter, have only killed one spike with it. Also have a Savage 110 that i re-barreled myself to 35 Whelen. The trick to the 35's is to use the right bullet. The standard 250gr bullet will zip right through a deer and really not expand much. There is no caliber or cartridge that will reliably, "drop em where they stand" unless you hit the CNS (central nervous system).

I hand load 200gr Remington core-lokt spire points in both 35's but for deer and black bear the .358 win really can not be improved on. The little BLR carbine is light, points real well and is really accurate. It has a detacable box mag, rotating bolt( so its a lever actuated bolt gun) 60 degree bolt throw, a fast 1 in 12" twist rate which will stabilize heavy bullets, and a folding hammer safety.

Havnt killed anything yet with the Whelen but it will do it well as long as i place the bullet right.I basically went to the Whelen for African plains game someday, and i think its really at home with elk and moose sized critters. For deer in close cover all the rounds out there work well but i like to be different and i handload so i dont have to worry about factory ammo.

 

As it stands now my brother who owns the weapon says he's going to give it to me since the area he currently lives (prison, ha ha) does not allow rifle hunting, actually lives in the low country of N.C. shotgun only boys ! I don't know, I feel kind of weird taking his rifle, I might just go to the dealer and pick something up.

 

hey jedi.......at least take it and hold onto it for him. and shoot it some.