Leverguns

[Brad Y]

Had a play around at a field rifle shoot on saturday and really enjoyed it. Aside from the fact that I was using a 308 bolt action which was heavy as hell to try and hold up on target. So I kind of have the idea in my head that a levergun in 30-30 or 357mag would be really good for 100 and 200m (and also for plinking targets around the farm and any scrub bashing as well.) The other guys using levers had it really sorted in the rapid fire areas.

Basically we shoot 100 and 200m field rifle. That is standing and sitting or kneeling. 300m is shot laying down and I can use my 308 or 223 or 20 practical off a bipod for that. So all I need is something that will be able to hit the target at 200m. Will probably shoot it open sights or go put a very small fixed power on it.

What is everyones opinion calibre wise.

[303]

30-30 has it all over the 357mag mate. Esp if you load those Leverloution pointy things from Hornady. The 357 is not a 200m rifle

[johno1]

Get the best of both worlds mate, forget the 30-30 and keep your eye for a nice savage 99, rotory magazine in 300 savage. You wont find a better lever action

Johno

[fenring]

Browning BLR in one of the many flat shooting modern cals might not be traditional but it will make those 200m shots a soda. .357 is no 200m round.

The BLR '81 Lightweight looks like a pretty conventional levergun.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... 34&tid=006

[stinkitup]

The BLR has always caught my eye, didn't realise they came in so many cals though thanks Fenring, a 358 win BLR would be nice. Do they eject to the right? So if you were a lefty do they make one that ejects to the left??

Ryan

[303]

http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/blr_02_262_om_s.pdf

Eject to the right. BLR's are kinda cool my pick would be an older steel reciever. Savage 99's are sweet but the magazines can be dicky to reload in a hurry unless you get the detachable mag. A mate of mine has one in .375Win not a bad rifle. My pick would be a .358 Win.

[Con]

Find a beat up Marlin in 30/30 and rechamber with a slightly heavier 22cal barrel in 219Zipper. I reckon it'd be a hoot!
Cheers...
Con

[johno1]

303, wash your mouth out

Simple mag to load, to many don't push the rear of the case down first. Its that simple. If your mate has genuine 375 win then he has a very scarce rifle. not sought after, but scarce. The 99s were made in 358win also in several different styles.

But, wait until you try a genuine H carbine in 303 savage. It does'nt get any better

Johno

[303]

Hey each to their own I found the 99 fiddly to load under pressure of a wounded buff in thick scrub (not my shooting, the owner of the 375's handy work). I think his is a rebarreled (sprinter) 375.

[johno1]

That could be the problem, the rotor or carrier is calibre specific. You can frig about altering them but it never works properly on a rimmed straight wall case. On bottle necks its easier to play with

In tests done years ago against the marlin & winchesters the rotory mag 99 was the fastest cycling lever action. They also tested it against the laterr 99C, clip fed, no competition. the old rotory mag 99 is the fastest lever action out there.
Bill Ruger even converted one to semi auto, now that would have been something. Its in the NRA museum

Johno

[deadkelly]

there not levers but there's heaps of really cheap 303 25 smle's out there . i just bought one for the same reason in 303 270 , mild recoil & noise , fast to cycle , stripper clips , 10 shot mag ect ect .

[303]

There's a good point DeadKelly. Not that I'm biased towards SMLE's or anything I know a guy that has a 303-25 for sale as well if anyone is interested. I think its built on a P-14 in fact so its even stronger and can be loaded to its full potential.