Lever action brush gun

[HowSwedeItIs]

Afternoon guys,

I've been on the lookout for a hard hitting rifle for close range. I really like the idea of the Marlin guide gun, but you sure hear a lot about all the trouble they have with quality control and I would prefer to not have to work too much on a gun to make it function reliably. What are your favourite guns for taking down the bigger critters close up?

[north american hunter]

Theres a win 94ae in 44 mag for sale in the buy and sell, that would make a good bush gun

[bowhunter9841]

I have a marlin (remlin) 1895 in 45/70, by the barrel code it says that it was built in 2012. I am the second owner. The only problem I've had with it so far was over torquing the loading gate screw and breaking it. Other than that it seems fine, I've completely taken it apart a couple times and it doesn't seem to have any problems. The gun functions well! The real problem with the newer remlins seems to be cosmetic! The stocks have very poor checkering and don't fit the receivers well. Which has resulted in a small chip of the grip popping off of my rifle stock. Does not affect the way it shoots.

[obsessed1]

Marlin 1895 45/70 enough said

[Rem7]

Bought my new 45-70 Marlin Guide gun in 2012...taken a moose, an elk, and a whitetail at close range. no issues with it thus far...

[Dick284]

A vintage 35 Remington in a Marlin would do nicely too.
A 444Marlin is good also.

Just steer clear of the Marlington's!
Look for:
JM proof mark on the right hand side of the barrel just in front of the receiver.
Those are the good ones.

[Suka]

I'm partial to blr's, so my moose gun is an iron sights blr in 450 marlin. Last fall took a big bull moose at about 35-40 yds. 2" entrance hole right through the sternum with a 400gr. hawk over 50gr IMR 3031.
Wife shoots a 94 in 375win. It's also a nice calibre, shoots 220gr hornady leads. (Personally not big on marlin's, that's just us.)

To be honest if blr's came in 45/70 I likely would have gone that direction for the nostalgia factor, but they don't, so I use a 450 and to be honest I'm glad I did. I don't know if the brass every wears out???

[Dan4570]

I have a marlin 45/70 guide. JM though. Best gun I'll ever own. Would never trade it for anything.

New marlins. Strip them down. File every sharp edge with some emery cloth. Should be fine after that. Parts like loading gates and extractors are cheap at WGP. Dosent cost much to keep a few spare parts for any gun.

[GWN]

I have a Browning BLR in 30-06 that has been great, recently acquired one in 308 and am really looking forward to using it this season,

All of the choices mentioned above would be excellent, the BLR just does it with a little more style

[V-Diddy]

I have a new Marlin guide gun. Bought it last year. Cycles just fine and shoots better than most of my scoped rifles. Fit and finish seem to be just fine for the price point. I think Remington has improved their quality control since all the remlin nightmare stories started coming out. Go check out new one for yourself. You might not be disappointed.

[Huntsman]

I would have to say for me, I like carrying my Win 94- 30/30 with a good 170gr FN or 173gr gas checked cast boolit with Williams Fool Proof sights for thick bush and close quarter shots.
Or;
My Win 88/308 with Leupold VXI 3-9x40 on its lowest power shooting either a Nosler 168gr BT or better yet one of my cast 200gr gc boolits.

[HowSwedeItIs]

Thanks for all the great feedback guys, I sure appreciate it. You definitely hear a lot of good things about the Marlin 1895's too, and all the different kinds of .45-70 factory ammo certainly appeal to me as a non-reloader. I will definitely keep an eye out for the JM proof mark! I was very surprised to see that .450 marlin was so limited, I would be worried about a finicky gun that wouldn't shoot the Hornady rounds well. The BLR is definitely a dandy of a rifle though! That winchester on the buy and sell page sounds like it would be good too, but a few of the old timers I've listened to seemed to be wary of handgun rounds. Definitely a lot to go on here, I'll have to head out and peruse some rifles. Thank you all again

[Fuzzy39]

Let's through in a wrench😉 Savage 99 in 300 Savage. 150 grain bullet at 2700 fps is plenty of knockdown at near or farther ranges. Decent factory rounds available and great catridge to reload. Unfailing rotary mag that fits 5 rounds and one in the tube if you would be so inclined. Carries real nice and shoulders like a dream. I've got mine scoped with a 3-9 x40 Leupold VX-2.

All this 45-70 talk is getting me excited for a Marlin as well😜

[elkhunter11]

My favorite lever gun is my mint Winchester Big Bore in 356win. I have always liked the 94s more than the Marlins.

[abbgdr]

I've owned quite a few Marlins over the years. They are relatively inexpensive and all I've owned have been fairly accurate. I'm more of a fan of the Browning 1886 from the years before the tang safety and rebounding hammer. Worth considerably more than a Marlin, but you get what you pay for. Nothing wrong with Marlins, especially if you spend a little more on after market upgrades.

[HowSwedeItIs]

Definitely some interesting additions there, I had wanted an 1886 I saw at the Cabela's in Billings a while ago but I got distracted and someone else nabbed it before I could talk to the guys at PR.

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

HowSwedeItIs,

I do believe a Chiappa 1886 Kodiak may fit the bill for you! It is a stainless gun with a rubberized coating of some sort over wood for the stock and fore end and as such, I am not sure it has the looks you're after. Very practical and feels great though the coating can be marred up just as easily (if not more so!) than wood itself. In my estimation, it is a much better arm than one of the Marlin Guide Guns, also in .45-70.

That said there are so many guns that fit just this purpose, we are truly blessed! These include but are surely not limited to classics such as the Savage '99, the lovely Browning BLR as mentioned by other above, the Remington Pump Rifles (and Browning BPR for that matter, though BPR's can be a challenge to find at times).

Of course I can not ever neglect to mention the devastation and useful effects available from a slug gun in the thick stuff! That's a choice that can work out very well, in the right hands.

[Rio56]

Marlin 1895....in a 45-70 ----with 300 grain Barnes Vor-tx or HSM 430 gr Bear load

[Canuck Bob]

My 70's 444 has operated flawlessly for decades. If you don't reload 45-70 might be a better bet than the 444, 450 Marlin, and the 356 Win. Simply a statement on supply not the fine cartridges.

An early pre safety would be my choice and worth the wait IMO.

[Dean2]

Even hunting in the bush it is still possible to end up with a 300 yard shot on a cutline so to me limiting oneself to a 150 yard cartridge doesn't have a good upside. I own or owned Marlin, Winchester 94, 1873 and 88, Savage 99, and Browning levers in 45-70, 444, 44-40, 38-55, 375 Win, 308 Win, 300 Savage and 7 Rem Mag.

The Big Bore levers are very useful for fast handling year round carry guns where you have no intention of shooting anything that isn't right on top of you or for shooting Bear control up close. In those situation it is really hard to beat the 45-70 or 444 and 375 Winchester.

For an actual hunting gun, a scoped Browning BLR in 7 Rem Mag or 308, or a Winchester 88 or Savage 99, are all fast handling, quite accurate and will easily take game to 400 yards. With the rotary mags, and ability to shoot spitzer bullets they have all the advantages of a lever and none of the disadvantages of the short range or tube fed calibres.

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Even hunting in the bush it is still possible to end up with a 300 yard shot on a cutline so to me limiting oneself to a 150 yard cartridge doesn't have a good upside. I own or owned Marlin, Winchester 94, 1873 and 88, Savage 99, and Browning levers in 45-70, 444, 44-40, 38-55, 375 Win, 308 Win, 300 Savage and 7 Rem Mag.

The Big Bore levers are very useful for fast handling year round carry guns where you have no intention of shooting anything that isn't right on top of you or for shooting Bear control up close. In those situation it is really hard to beat the 45-70 or 444 and 375 Winchester.

For an actual hunting gun, a scoped Browning BLR in 7 Rem Mag or 308, or a Winchester 88 or Savage 99, are all fast handling, quite accurate and will easily take game to 400 yards. With the rotary mags, and ability to shoot spitzer bullets they have all the advantages of a lever and none of the disadvantages of the short range or tube fed calibres.

Can i add a BLR in 358 win to this list

[So Nova *!%]

Ok I have the blr in 308 it is a '71 and as the second owner the wood and metal is still pristine. The original owner didn't put studs on it so it is shoulder carry, or cross arm, or bring a buddy to carry it.
Not overly heavy, but uncomfortable after a few miles then you're wishing for a scabbard, or a sling.
But I digress, the blr's are almost too beautiful for brush work.
I had a (savage) 99e in 308 that I would have definitely called a "working" gun, would have had no problem taking it into the thickest brush.
Just my $0.02

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by So Nova *!%

Ok I have the blr in 308 it is a '71 and as the second owner the wood and metal is still pristine. The original owner didn't put studs on it so it is shoulder carry, or cross arm, or bring a buddy to carry it.
Not overly heavy, but uncomfortable after a few miles then you're wishing for a scabbard, or a sling.
But I digress, the blr's are almost too beautiful for brush work.
I had a (savage) 99e in 308 that I would have definitely called a "working" gun, would have had no problem taking it into the thickest brush.
Just my $0.02

I bought two BLR. One is a safe queen that i shoot at the range, the other is a beater i use for hunting. i agree that the savage 99 is a total workhorse rifle.

[Nate_K1500]

ive got a great condition Winchester 94 in 30-30 that uses a scope and or iron sights (scope is side mount to allow both) makes a great deep bush gun (its also for sale if you're interested, PM me)

[bb356]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

My favorite lever gun is my mint Winchester Big Bore in 356win. I have always liked the 94s more than the Marlins.

x2

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Canuck Bob

My 70's 444 has operated flawlessly for decades. If you don't reload 45-70 might be a better bet than the 444, 450 Marlin, and the 356 Win. Simply a statement on supply not the fine cartridges.

An early pre safety would be my choice and worth the wait IMO.

Likewise Canuck, my 444 Marlin works flawlessly. The simplicity of the Marlin mechanism is such that one could completely field strip with the "toolman" on your belt should the need arise. The model 94's although a great gun are much more needlessly complicated in my opinion. Personally, I must be one of few whom the crossbolt safety doesn't bother. It's never been accidentally engaged in a hunting situation. But I find it useful when cycling the rounds safely out of the tubular mag. when the day is done.

[GET"R"DUN]

My vote goes to the Browning BLR in .358 win. Perfect balance of gun and power and even a bit of range over some others mentioned. I currently have one posted in the buy and sell if anyone is looking to scratch an itch. Here is an interesting article on the attributes if the .358win.

http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Misc/...inchester.html

Happy hunting

[HowSwedeItIs]

Whoa, lots of great guns there guys, I sure appreciate all the help

[bb356]

Originally Posted by bb356

x2

and just to add that the 307 and 375 are no slouches either ... and the walnut is handsome on the xtr

[honda450]

444 for me pre Remington. I also have a 38-55. Trying to get a really old 38-55 off my buddy, just got to feed him enough whiskey. hehehe

Gotta buy a 30-30 one of these days.