Ep. 274 | Lever Guns - Pure Americana

It’s lever time! Mark Boardman, Jimmy Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn cock their repeaters for this podcast all about lever action rifles. They cover history, cultural significance, operating mechanism differences, Hollywood film influence, and more. If you didn’t want a lever gun before tuning into this podcast, you will now…Or maybe you’ll be inspired to blow the dust off a lever-action relic that’s laid dormant in the dark recesses of your safe and give it a spin. Either way, lever guns are just plain cool!
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[@retrogunroom]

Savage 99's and Marlin 336's make my heart sing.

[@leorapsonjr7659]

I had both sold the 336 because the 99 was my grandfathers. I do miss the 336 though.

[@shadetreemech290]

Absolutely!

[@davidvincent5701]

It's the podcast that every lever lover has been waiting for. Absolutely loved the scout rifle podcast too.

[@ChristopherEDenton]

What about Henry Lever Action particularly the Side Gate in .35 Remington and Long Ranger in 6.5mm Creedmoor

[@kevindoble5046]

​@@ChristopherEDenton Yes we love and want them all, bring'em along.

[@tjspence2390]

I figured the tactical lever gun was inspired by the fear of having ar’s taken away at some point. Lever gun being the next best option…. Plus the cool factor doesn’t hurt

[@chibineo24]

This was my interpretation too. I had one for hunting - follow up shots were near instant. I could accurately empty a mag faster than my 1911

[@TheWarriorWorkshop]

Agreed. I havent finished the episode yet, but that was my thought. I remember 10 years ago hearing people talk about a lever gun as an available option to those living in occupied states. That, coupled with the "new old" was what is fueling the movement.

[@LifeisGood-ye8rl]

It would be a a bunch other options before I reach for the lever gun. Steyr aug, Tavor, mini 14, m1a, hell m1 Garamond before the lever

[@sloth_e]

I think there's enough ppl into tactical stuff that they'd tactical up a wooden spoon and it would sell. 😂

[@35rem19]

See Australia

[@ksyoshi5796]

My first deer rifle, Winchester 94 in 30-30. A birthday present from my parents when I came of hunting age. My current deer rifle is a BAR in 30-06, but I bust out the Winchester from time to time to put some venison in the freezer for nostalgia sake. You better believe that ol’ Model 94 also rides with me on the ATV every time I’m in the woods. Nothing beats the way an old lever action carries, shoots and feels. The sentimental value alone in these guns is second to none. I dream of the day my daughter will get to take her first deer with the same lever rifle I took my first whitetail with, right here in WI.

[@C0wboyman]

This episode needs a part two really bad. So many great calibers in lever that didn't get mentioned. 22 WMR, .17 HMR, .308 marlin express, .338 marlin express, 38-55, .45 colt, .44 mag, .357 mag, 350 legend, .35 Rem. Please do a part duece

[@iangoulbourne8709]

307 win

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

Love my 35 Remington got mine back in 2000 for a song. Didn’t know anything about it till the 71 336 fell in my lap.

[@Bulldog458]

​@@Johnny-jr2lqdude that's an awesome find. I love my 35 Rem. I wish we could get some new production guns in 35 Rem. It's a great woods gun!

[@blackie1of4]

​@@Bulldog458Henry makes a beautiful 35 Remington ❤ I almost picked one up! I went with the 357 magnum though

[@ThomasCiciora]

Missed the 35 Remmington. The best Brush gun caliber ever.

[@cackler119]

Growing up, my Grandpa had a Savage 99 chambered in .308, my dad has that rifle now. I loved it so much I grabbed one in .308 myself. I really enjoy my .22 mag Henry, just need a Henry LeverX chambered in .357. As well as a 99 in every chambering they ever made it in, lol

[@texpatriot8462]

Best podcast episode you have done. A single shot episode would be cool.

[@1LTNOE]

"I don't bring my notes to annoy you, but I love it that they do" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Best comment ever in Vortex Podcast history 🤪🤩 Just love the podcasts with the three of you!

[@theworkshopmechanicchannel3296]

I’ve hunted with my bolt action for 25 years then one day I decided to buy a BLR PG Tracker in 300wm Then 9 months later I decided to buy a Marlin 444 Then 5 months after that I bought the last new Marlin 45/70 in 22in Then 6 months after that I found a near new Marlin 336w 3030 Then 4 months later I bought a BLR .22 in a grade 2 Checkard stock.

[@therjesslee]

Great episode, but I believe you should do a whole episode on the Savage 99. You briefly touched on the history, but they deserve more. I have 2, one in .243 and one in .308. My brother has a .250 Savage also known as the 250-3000 because it was the first civilian round to break the 3000 fps mark. And it was out of the 99. My grandfather carried a 22 high power and killed everything with it!!! It truly was a gun ahead of its time!!!!

[@craigbenz4835]

I'm down to five now, four in 300 Savage and one in 308. G, R, EG, and two F. I don't hunt with them as much as I used to, but that has more to do with how many tags I can now get.

[@jeffdaniels4945]

I absolutely love the lever gun I took my first deer about 22 years ago now with a Savage 99 .308. Been hunting with it ever since. It didn’t have a round count but it did have a loaded indicator on top. Ryan forgot to mention there was clip models in the 99 also. I just bought a Henry wood stock 45-70 that I put a red dot on. I’m going to try to carry more! Thanks guys really enjoyed it!

[@scruffyarms]

I miss my 30-30. Far and away one of my favorite rifles. I am so excited that Ruger is putting the Marlins out again. I am getting one as soon as they release the 30-30 again. When that gets released, it will be in my hands.

[@traceyevans2757]

Good luck dude… The new Ruger Marlins are so sought after and price gouged you’ll be super hard pressed to get one anytime soon.

[@kylecarpenter40]

I have 2 lever guns. Henry .22 octagon was my first and my favorite .22 that is just fun. The second one I just picked up last fall for iowas straight wall deer season. A Marlin 1895G JP stamped (pre-Remington) in 45-70 with a short ported barrel and that thing is a freaking cannon… and is the most American thing you can think of Big, loud, and powerful. They’re timeless designs and fun as hell.

[@Poohberty]

I love my Sako VL63 in .308. perfect for our Swedish driven hunts

[@jeffreybangs3740]

In the late 90's Winchester issued a 94 in 444 Marlin. Made my day.

[@craigbenz4835]

I wanted one at the time, but couldn't swing it. I ended up with a Marlin 1895, which wasn't a big deal back then. Many years later I found a Marlin 444 that I still have.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Out of all my collection, my BLR is hands down my most grabbed rifle during deer season.

[@user-px3ht8zd7s]

My Dad has a Savage 99 in 308. It's a pre-64 and he loves that gun! I know several guys that have it in 300 Savage and they love those as well. I have a Marlin 336 in 3030 and 22 long rifle. Absolutely my favorite 22 ever! Ruger makes a lever 22 long rifle, as well as a 22 mag. They look similar to the Savage 99 and have the Ruger rotary clip, which is awesome! Love the podcast! Please keep them coming!

[@johnroberts2595]

Would love to see you guys explore the lever action cartridges like .450 marlin, .338 marlin, .308 marlin, .444 marlin, .348 winchester, all the other odd ball but cool cartridges

[@MemeCity9099]

I don't know if any one has mentioned it yet in the comments, but the Winchester 94 actually wasn't originally chambered in the .30-30 when it came out. It's original chamberings was the .32-40 and the .38-55. The .30-30 came out in 1895.

[@craigbenz4835]

One of my favorites left the factory as a 32-40 carbine, and was later converted to a 30 WCF with a 24" barrel and half magazine. The receiver is from 1911.

[@davidk6070]

I own a Savage Model 99 chambered in 300 Savage that I inherited from my grandfather. It was manufactured IIRC in 1952. It's topped off with a Weaver 2.5x fixed power scope. It was my hunting rifle back in the day when I used to go hunting with my dad and brothers. I had left it in my brother's possession for the last several decades but finally took it back last year as I was getting back into shooting again. I always loved the look of the thing with the curved lever and no external hammer. I cleaned it all up and have taken it out a couple of times. It's no tack driver but it does OK. The biggest problem is probably the old scope. I had plans to upgrade the scope and make it into my hunting rifle once again, but the thing kicks like a mule and is just uncomfortable to shoot (a slip on recoil pad helped). The ammo is also hard to find and expensive when you do, so I've relegated her to safe queen status. I still love it though. My dad's hunting rifle was a Winchester 30-30 lever action, which is now in my brother's possession, along with some collector Winchester lever actions which my dad also owned. Love the levers.

[@ranchodeluxe1]

That's strange. I have three Savage 99 in .300 Savage. All sub moa rifles and I find the recoil very mild, even in my Grandpa's Featherweight.

[@calebjackson2631]

I absolutely love lever guns. Thanks for doing this podcast fellas. Ryan said nothing is new but I would bring the Bond Arms lever action AR15 to everyone’s attention. Possibly for sale late 2023. Edit: After listening awhile longer they mentioned the LevARgun I was thinking of.

[@jaydunbar7538]

The part about the modern tacticool lever guns that seems to have been missed, is the states that you can’t have a AR you can have that lever gun.

[@kyotoau9095]

As an Ausatralian it is beyond my comprehension that those states exist. How is that not an infringement of 2A?!?

[@Wolvatore]

Awesome podcast guys, my father has a BLR in .243 which he purchased 27 years ago and has put thousands of rounds through it and hasn’t missed a beat, looking at getting my own lever gun this year :)

[@scotteger6271]

I’ve been eyeing the Henry All Weather guns in 45-70. There’s just something about that cartridge and a stainless lever gun that just seems right. As soon as I free up the required money to have one, and can find one, I will! That’s another thing about these lever guns to discuss…their availability and cost…they’re not always available which feels a little more exclusive and their cost is higher but they don’t seem to lose much, if any, value.

[@tracywehner5307]

Get the marlin 45- 70. I have one. It loads from the side. The Henry has a tube you have to pull out to load. Marlin is way better. Look at both guns before you buy one. I payed 600 for mine. They are way expensive today.

[@allannantes8583]

No get a Winchester 1886 in 45-70, that is the crème de la crème but it will cost you an arm and a leg. Beautiful, built by Miroku of Japan for FN of Belgium. Supreme quality. Do your research.

[@Launchpad_McQuack_Is_A_Chad]

I have a Savage 1899B in 25 35 Win. Got a 26 in. full octagon barrel with Lyman peep sight. The thing is heavy as all get out but that extra weight make it about the most lightly recoiling rifle. One of the few rifles I don't think I could sell.

[@craigbenz4835]

A few years ago I sold my 1899 F SRC in 303 Savage to someone who offered more than I could turn down. It was nice, but I didn't like it as much as he did. Sadly, to me, he turned it into a safe queen. I had to sell the dies and cases separately.

[@TheRealConMan98]

As a lefty, lever guns like the BLR and the Long Ranger give me more choices without having to compromise as much. They’re pretty much ambidextrous. Instead of trying to track down left handed bolt guns in whatever flavor I’m wanting I can easily find a lever gun that’s pretty similar, and they’re sometimes cheaper to boot.

[@wildcat_reloading]

Get yourself a someone who looks at you the way Ryan looks at a lever gun

[@user-wo2iw3kt8o]

I love lever action rifles. They are all I use. I have several. Everything from 405,348 , 30-30,32 spl, 44 mag,22 mag, and 22 lr. They work perfect.

[@ChitFromChinola]

Another fun lever-action cartridge that lost out to the 30-30 is the 25-35. Super fun to shoot and you can still find it. I was glad Ryan brought it up at the end.

[@chipsterb4946]

John Moses Browning first worked for Winchester. For decades. Then he hooked up with Fabrique Nationale in Belgium and worked on “Browning” firearms for more decades. Somehow in between he also designed semiauto pistols for Colt. The Winchester 1886 lever action rifle, Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun, Colt 1903 and 1911 pistols (among others), the 45 and 380 ACP cartridges, Browning A5 shotguns, Browning Hi-Power pistol, and the ubiquitous Browning M1917 machine gun that stayed in service forever. Yes - we should celebrate his birthday! The revolving action rifle preceded the lever action because it worked with percussion caps. The introduction of the King’s patent side gate was a huge step forward for lever action rifles. The magazine tube no longer had a long slot for dirt to get into and the magazine tube was much stronger. Also, you could put a forend on the rifle because the follower no longer had that exposed tab. That meant your hand wouldn’t get scorched by a hot barrel, and you didn’t have to move your hand as the follower moved backward with each shot. I’m having a hard time comprehending how between the three of you there isn’t a single Henry 1860, Winchester 1873, Winchester 1886 (or 1892 - same action for different cartridges), or a Marlin of any type. You are gun-loving American males. How is this possible? Replicas are fine. Miroku production Winchesters are beautiful, and Ruger might be making the best Marlins of the past 50 years. FIX THIS NOW! (Note: I do not own a Savage Model 99 so cannot throw stones in your direction about that. We all fall short there.)

[@jeffjones9141]

Awesome conversation. I'm glad you mentioned T2 with Arnie wheeling that lever shotgun. I wanted to know what that was. i wasn't sure if it was real, lol. Great pod cast. Thanks to Ryan for the loads of info he has on the lever subject.

[@andrewspringer3565]

Got a Savage 99 made in 1966. It works great and a great caliber;308.

[@TheMonst208]

The John Moses Browning museum in Ogden, UT is a thing of beauty!

[@gregmikk]

Another good example of a Lever Gun is the old TV show "The Rifleman" with Chuck Conner.

[@damianperrone3336]

I absolutely love my 336. The bad thing is the ammo availability. When I CAN find 30-30 its $2/round so not a lot of range time.

[@brazzy1467]

I have my grandfather's model 94 Trapper and it's still harvesting deer. I love it!!!

[@thesmartestmanintheworld2653]

‘It’s the 360 BuckHammer.” “BuckHammer? Are we just taking man words and putting them together now?” “Yeah! Pretty much that’s what happened.” Pure. Poetry.

[@fedup3582]

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to hunt with a variety of lever actions. I have taken a nice antelope buck with an 1895 chambered for 405, I have taken antelope with a 71 chambered for 348, antelope and deer with savage 99's in 308 and 243, deer and antelope with a 94 chambered for 30-30, an antelope with a 94 trapper chambered for 44 magnum with a peep sight, an antelope with a 64 chambered for 25-35, and a whitetail buck with an 1887 12 guage with a foster slug. I have owned and used marlins, 1895 in 45-70, and 336's in 35 rem and 30-30. While I think the marlins are fine rifles, I don't personally think they are better than the winchesters, just different. I no longer have the marlins but I do still own winchesters and savages. I had an 88 in 284, 92's in 44 mag, and 25-20, and a browning 53 in 32-20. Also 94 22's in 22 LR and 22 magnum. Unfortunately I was not able to hunt with them all and some I wish I had back but life happens. I do still have some that I hope to hunt more with, but advancing age and health issues are working against me. Modern "accurate" rifles are nice, particularly for those who want to play "sniper" these days, but I enjoy hunting with the classic lever actions. They are plenty accurate enough and their class and aesthetics add to the experience. Unfortunately far too many today don't understand these aspects. Too many today are only interested in 14 lb, "chassis" rifles that can deliver quarter MOA, and supposedly "reach out" to ranges that the vast majority of people have no business shooting too, at live game. They don't understand the enjoyment of using a classic bolt, lever, single shot, etc, with a beautiful wood stock, color case hardening, or maybe some elegant engraving, sporting a "standard " scope (as opposed to the monstrous "telescopes" with huge turrets that they can "twirl" to their hearts content), peep or open sights, and sneaking through the woods, mountains, desserts or wherever you choose to hunt stalking within range and taking your game with a beautiful, classic rifle that is as enjoyable to handle and admire, as it is to shoot.

[@andyhalvorson6140]

Thanks for keeping the videos coming. I really enjoy watching them!

[@BananaMagsinPyjamas]

Browning had a tactical, short, takedown BLR about ten years ago and it was really popular. Really hard to find now but those things were awesome

[@scottrosenblath5737]

First off wanna say…. Love the vortex nation content. ALOT of great info 👍 I am 28 and have been using my grandfathers sears roebuck in 30-30 for about 10 years now. Our deer hunt gang (lever action hunt club) uses almost nothing but lever action 30-30s. And my brother and I will carry out this tradition. Just love em. --Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

[@davidstephenson7194]

Inherited my dad's pre-64 Model 94 in 30.30 that stacked up more than it's fair share of venison before his eyes got tired and he graduated to a Savage pump 30.30 that he could put a scope on. The advent of Hornady LeverRevolution cartridges changed these rifles quite a bit IMO and cannot be overlooked. There is no gun I would rather take from the gunsafe during deer season. As far as limiting your hunting, they don't...what they limit is long-distance shooting. For those who are more interested in their ability to get within 200 yds of the game they are pursuing than dropping a trophy from way out there, they still do the job and are now available in a wide variety of cartridges in either tubular or box magazine if you think you have to have a more powerful cartridge than the traditional offerings.

[@1LTNOE]

Do a John Moses Browning podcast, and literally fill the table with cull guns, with the 1911 selection right in front of Jim 😁

[@paleoph6168]

They'll just spend the entire time talking about everything on the M1911 and forget about the other guns lol

[@vinceblasco]

I regularly get sub-MOA performance out of my 1943 Savage 99. It’s a wonderful rifle. A new production 99 in 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.8 Western would be something else. The 7mm-08 and 243 versions fetch crazy high prices now.

[@spenbour16]

The thought of that stainless blr in .243 is unreal

[@johntine2832]

I like the idea of the Lever AR Lowers in NY because it is easier to switch the lower into a lever gun than to change the pinned mag capacity to 5 rounds on a semi auto. The modularity of switching from semi auto to lever is appealing.

[@feoxorus]

I took my first mule deer with an old '94 (1949)in 30-30 that I had inherited. Most recently I used my Savage 99 (1959) in .308 to take a moose. But in WY, if you're hunting pronghorns you really need more range than 200 yards to work with. They get spooked when you're within a mile and start running, all you see is a dust cloud in the wind. And, the LeveRevolution ammo was a game changer for the way I felt about the 30-30.

[@markgrant3653]

Ryan, per your statement at 1:19: 00, I did get one of the new ones. The reason I got one of the new ones was the chambering. I have had a Ruger New Model Blackhawk for 15 years, and always wanted a lever gun in the same chambering. The problem was either a) I didn't have the cash at the time, or b) Marlin quit making them. You see, my blackhawk is chambered in .41 Remington Mag. A few years ago, enter the Henry Big Boy Steel, chambered in .41 Mag. so I snagged it up, and found that a cheap red dot was the perfect match. And best of all, my sister loves it. She will get a bruise if you look at too hard, she doesn't like my 103 year old Swedish M96 in 6.5x55 because it kicks too hard. but she loves the new Henry. I do too. I grew up with Mausers. from a '95, a '96, several different '98s, but I never knew that leverguns were SOOOO much fun. love it.

[@caseymelick8023]

It's tough to wrap your arms around the thought that these guys are experts. 40 years from now, they will be the gentleman I thought were experts 40 years ago.

[@garybarnhart8379]

Started out hunting at 12 using a 32 win special that my Dad bought for his kids to start out hunting with. I was the youngest of his 3 son's. I grew up in central Mt hunting white tails. That gun brought home a lot of game (deer and antelope). Great pod cast, keep them coming. By the way I'm 68 years young and I want a leaver gun to hunt with again.

[@stephencarmichael5156]

I have carried lever guns from the time I could hunt. Started with a 336 (Jm stamp with machine marks on the receiver). My Grandfather bought the 336 and bragged about his Marlin made a jam free 336 by having better moving parts. By my 20's I went to a BLR light. If I'm tracking deer I've got my lever gun in hand all day in the Big Woods. If I'm sitting in a log made blind I break out the single shot CVA crowbar.

[@daleswier8429]

Speaking of lever guns, how about all of the .22 caliber and .22 magnum caliber lever guns made throughout the decades? I'm a bit of a Marlin guy so I'm particularly aware of their Model 39A, and all of its variations. I wonder how many millions of those they have sold over the life of that model alone? One of the most fun lever guns ever for plinking entertainment and training. Very enjoyable podcast, keep up the good work, guys. Thanks.

[@MaxWray111]

.30-30 & .25-30 were the first small bore cartridges designed for smokeless powder. The .30-30 was considered a powerful, flat shooting cartridge at.the time, with a 4" drop at 200 yards when zeroed at 150.

[@stevieadamoschek9293]

I shot my 1st buck at 16 in the Adirondack mountains. I'm 63 now. It was a lever 3030. I was privileged to hunt with the old timers. 95% hunted with a lever gun mostly 3030. Marlin was the most carried gun for whatever reason. Nobody had a bolt action. Shots were 40 yards or less. Lever guns are still king there.

[@stevecochran9078]

I grew up watching Gunsmoke and other westerns in the late 60s and through most of the 70s that were running on tv either as a current series or syndication. Lever guns were my thing, later aka Appalachian assault rifles, as a result of the westerns' influence. A Daisy Golden Eagle BB launcher was my first lever gun followed by a Winchester M-94 in .30-30.

[@WillMartin-hw2uh]

Funny that you bring out the renewed interest in the lever action. I've been planning on using my 30/30s for deer season next year rather than my bolt gun. My bolt gun has been my "goto" for the last many, many years.

[@ranchodeluxe1]

Ya. Here in ranch country it didn't take the cowboys long to see the value in a Savage 1899/99. Flat sided receiver, no hammer, for easy carry and comfortable for the horse. Perfect balance and deadly out to 300 yards. I just bought one at a swap meet and found the ranchers name on it. The real beauty of the 99 is the workmanship of the barrel. All three of my .300 Savage rifles are sub moa rifles. That's no lie. And my 1899 in 30 WCF makes the accuracy of the 1894 and 336 look silly. And you are right about them being sold everywhere. I have my Grandpa's Featherweight in .300 Savage and three boxes of rounds, along with Weaver MK4. Purchased at the Coast to Coast Hardware in Belle Fourche, SD in 1957. He wasn't a target shooter. He came from a time when .22 lr rounds were sold individually, because everyone was poor. When he fired that 99, something died. Usually, just a huge mulie doe as trophy hunting didn't interest him. The gun was just the tool that filled his International Harvestor freezer. Which still runs perfectly to this day, over 70 years later.

[@johnndavis7647]

The Moidel 92 was chambered in revolver cartridges. 25-20, 32-20 and 44-40. Marlin made a 32 mag, 357 and 44 mag in modern times. It's handy to have a revolver and carbine that take the same ammo.

[@flashgordon99999]

Great podcast. I do love my Browning BLR in .308 and Henry .22 lever guns.

[@peterconnan5631]

The first rifle I bought was a Rossi Puma. In .44-40, in 1992. I still own it, and it's still the first rifle in the safe (closest to the door). I have hunted a fair amount with it too. On a point of order, the tube-magazine lever really was the firstmass-produced repeating shoulder arm. The first production repeating bolt gun was the Vetterli, in about 1867.

[@19DannyBoy65]

29:45 It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that Mark’s beloved .300 WSM is still listed on Browning’s website as a current chamber offering in all current BLR models except the BLR Lightweight ‘81

[@a.dunwoody4567]

Lever guns are my favorite to hunt with despite owning semi auto and bolt options that'd be more practical. It is a feeling you get when doing so. R92 .357 is my favorite

[@tomdibenedetto1645]

Thanks for another great episode guys. Quickly becoming a big VNP fan! On the tactical lever craze and in lieu of your mention of Australia’s laws, I suspect that restrictive states that are tough on AR/semiauto ownership are a driving factor too. I grew up shooting all kinds of lever guns and love them. Would love to see more modern innovations like the BLR & Long Ranger to incorporate more modern cartridges and easier-to-maintain designs in the platform - would be great do-all guns for a lot of people.

[@vcrudelejr]

The Winchester model 88 in .284 Win Mag - powerful medicine in A SHORT MAGNUM!! A deadly elk rifle hardy in the Pacific Cascades for giant Roosevelt Elk or across the canyon in the Rocky's for Mountain Elk.....My personal favorite lever gun....

[@jackdye4266]

I have a 1927 Savage 99 in 30-30, it's a take down model it has the brass rotory magazine with the round count window, it's been in my family since the late 40s when my grandfather bought it

[@gunnarschutz8897]

You guys do a great job. I always go back to the lever guns also.

[@davidwagner1635]

Great podcast I am a lever gun fan as well, right now own 3 but, have owned 3 others in the past. One which I regret selling. Thank you for bringing your guns so we can see them. Really like that 1895 that Ryan has. Great program again keep up the great work all of you do, Mark keep printing!!!

[@johnnash5118]

Last week, I was thinking about the territory I was going to Black-tail hunt in- NW Oregon’s Trask unit, in mostly alder and maple with some doug fir and a creek marshland running through it. My go-to rifle has been my Ruger M-77 Tang Safety in 260 Rem AI, but in close quarters, it’s too much gun for deer, so I started thinking about what I didn’t have, a brush gun. Just a few days later, I was visiting my mom and step-dad and naturally talked about deer hunting and where I was going. During the conversation, my mom gestured to my step-dad to get out the rifle; he then went across the living room to his old-school glass doored cabinet and brought over a lever-action. It turned out to be a Savage Model 99 built in 1912 (straight lever and stock.) My mom said, son this is yours, your grandpa gave it to me, now it’s yours. I won’t get into the emotional details, but I was over-joyed with emotions that I had something as important as this heirloom. My great-grandfather on my grandmother’s side bought it new in 1912, hunted with it for 23 years, then gave it to my grandfather as a wedding gift. He gave it to my mom in ‘95 to be given to me, she kept it for 27 years in storage until last Wednesday, on my 60th year. Why she kept it until she was 85? I don’t know; now I’m wondering if there are/were more guns. Lots of surface rust and loss of bluing, and the stock and forearm are cracked. It’s not a collector’s item in this condition, so I may have it reblued after I get it assessed. I already purchased the wood replacements through Boyd’s and will keep the serial numbered originals in my safe. It’s interesting that the forearm has a later serial number dated the following year, there must’ve been a lag in wood production.

[@williambehrend5452]

Gotta love them levers, love the oddball ones like the savage 99,the ruger 96 and the winchester m88

[@davewinter2688]

99, 88 and 96 hardly odd balls. Thousands of 99's and 88's sold and still around and in service. The Ruger just wasn't made very long.

[@williambehrend5452]

@Dave Winter comparatively, to the winchester 94/ marlin 336 or 95 they are though. I get alot of questions when I pull out one of three I mentioned at deer/bear camp or when a group of us go somewhere shooting. To guys like yourself that know their not oddball but to less knowledgeable gun owners they kinda are.

[@tehunter6569]

Pre-64 (1956) Winchester M94 in .30-30 with a Sig Romeo5 mounted on a Skinner Sights mount attached at the rear sight dovetail. Perfect setup and north woods deer slayer for older guys like me who can no longer see the sights so good. The skinner mount doesn’t require any drilling and tapping so preserves the old rifle’s value.

[@jonathanbennison9220]

Perhaps, especially, if you are USAmerican? I'm Canadian bred, with European and Métis heritage... And Canadian Armed Forces military training... , and I think that a lever action is cool. I'm absolutely fascinated by the idea, of a modernized, lever action rifle.

[@joshuarvinson]

I attribute my love of lever guns to watching John Wayne movies with my dad and grandfather as a kid, even though neither of them used one to deer hunt. Took me awhile to get around to putting one in my quiver, but picked up a mid-70's 336 in 30-30 a few years back. I took a nice raghorn bull elk still-hunting through some thick timber a couple years ago, just anchored him with one shot. One of my favorite elk hunts, simply because of the gun. And the Hornady LeveRevolution ammo is the bees knees. Thanks guys! Well done once again!

[@mussersbowsboatsandscience6610]

I have BLR in .30-06 White Gold Medallion, I just picked up 1895 Winchester in .405 Winchester. I have pretty nice collection of other lever actions too.

[@lecoureurdesbois86]

Got my first gun a year ago, it had to be a Winchester 94, and I have no regrets.. always fun to shoot, ammo is affordable, there's something really attractive about those guns, I love carrying it in the woods

[@fedup3582]

He seems quite proud of his 64, which I can understand. I have a 64 chambered for 25-35 that I am quite fond of. I have taken it antelope hunting in Wyoming and made a good shot on one. I look forward to doing more hunting with it.

[@kyotoau9095]

The thing I've noticed about BLR's is many people that own one end up owning two or more. Though the same can be said for many other lever guns. There's just something about them!

[@pens87668]

I have a 1973 Marlin 336 in .30-30. It was my dads hunting rifle before I started going out in 2005. Shot my first deer with it, but these days it takes a backseat to my Tikka t3x lite in .308. Someday it’ll be my future sons first gun.

[@MrJimmyWiles]

I would love to see the tactical lever laser gun that ejects the AAA Batteries 😂

[@johnpeschon2996]

I love my marlin 1929 .410 was my grandma's wedding present, and my first gun. I learned to bird hunt and deer hunt (a deadly accurate slug gun on Minnesota farmland whitetails). My grandma's 1st gun, my dad's 1st gun, and my 1st gun. I still occasionally hunt (pheasants&grouse) with the gun.

[@OutOfPockets]

Would love an episode on single shots, I'm looking at simplifying and lightening my hunting setup without paying crazy money for a carbon stock and barrel. Love what you guys do.

[@JaneDoe-ek4ue]

My father gave me his savage 99 in 30-30 cal. It was made in 1902 according to the serial #. Its my favorite rifle. It still looks and shoots great. Took it out a few months ago and made a bulls eye at fifty yrd with the first shot

[@jfritzke]

I was super lucky to find the new Ruger-Marlin 1895 Trapper in October. With a Hybrid 46 it's just barely longer than a 20" carbine and is super handy in the woods. And with a red dot, it's the perfect deer slayer on our deer drives in NW Wisconsin.

[@DavidJones-lw2lp]

Fantastic podcast. A suggestion for a future similar subject content, with a Euro twist, which I reckon Ryan M can handle is Kipplauf rifles and their associated cartridges. Thanks for the awesome content guys! 👍🏻

[@jerryhammack1318]

Savage 99 , Browning blr, marlin all are fine lever action perfection . Wish more were produced in .218 bee and .32-20. ❤❤❤

[@45-70Guy]

Awkward silence when Jim responds “yea” about the notes being annoying. I love that stuff. In the north east in the thick woods an open sighted short barrel lever action is all you need for a quick snap shot at close ranges, 100 yards and in. 50 yards being the majority of the max range.

[@chuckmccullough5382]

Sprawling and rambling. Love it!

[@anonymousf8406]

9.3x62, 9.3x64 Brenneke, 9.3x66 Sako, 9.3x57, and any other 9.3 cartrage. Also a podcast on African Pg and Dg rounds including big bore black powder and Nitro Express...there are a ton of carriages to do in that area.

[@georgekasza7295]

Old marlins, Winchester's and 99's and browning's are a the best rifles ever made. Hard to pick a favorite,

[@texaspatriot9159]

You guys forgot to mention that cowboys used to carry a revolver and their lever action chambered in the same caliber. I have a Henry chambered in 17hmr It pairs real nice with my 10 shot 17hmr Chiappa single action revolver.

[@VortexNation]

The ol' companion gun! It came up at one point, but we may not have given it enough time. Maybe a future podcast in and of itself :)

[@texaspatriot9159]

@@VortexNation Sweet !! Thanks guys

[@nuckyduk15]

Don't feel bad Ryan, I went out and retired my 7 Rem Mag the day y'all released the 7mm PRC episode. I still have the Remy, but it'll sit in the back of the case for awhile. I hope y'all run an episode on the 360 Buckhammer. I think Remington is a few years too late given how popular the 350 legend is. Once again Remington will take a back seat to Winchester 😂.

[@deezJ155]

Great Podcast! Love the old 30-30 Winchester. Fast to point, light weight and still a viable gun today.

[@thelockstockandbarrelpodca6595]

@Ryan M. The reference you guys were seeing to a “double action”versus “single action” or single point lever, versus double point, lever, refers to how many hinge points there are on the lever. The Winchester model, 94,model 92 and 71, have 2 “hinge” points on the floor plate. One at the very front of bottom of receiver. And one at the front of the trigger guard. With the Marlin slab side, having one single large hinge point at the very front of the trigger guard which is all one piece with the lever.

[@stevefrompa7181]

I've yet to find a general purpose hunting rifle I prefer over my 1963 savage 99f in 308.

[@thespeedofchillax]

i can say the browning blr chambered in 243 win is an amazing lever gun. the lightweight '81 is the model of the blr to go for, i plan on reacquiring one soon for sure. so your hunch thay 243 lever gun would be nice is correct, get a lightweight '81 and you'll see for sure.... the other browning that is amazing is the bl-22, it's by far the best 22lr lever gun one can get, imo.

[@gocraiger]

Love this show. Probably have watched it 8 times between KZbin and Apple Podcasts. Lever action rifles are just special. They’re iconic. They’re romantic. They’re just heartwarming. Too many westerns as a kid? Maybe! But they shoulder great and they carry easy.

[@user-vf3gf4xq3v]

You guys do a great job of providing detailed and accurate information in a manner that is quite entertaining. I think what Wilki is referring to in their description is how the Win 94s and later Win models have a lever and a pivoting double fulcrum as opposed to a fixed lower fulcrum attachment point for the lever on the Marlin. I’ve never heard it expressed that way but my guess is that’s likely what they’re referring to in there characterization of single vs double. Bolt gun revolution of the early 1900s killed the Win 1995. Also its heavier than the 94, more expensive, and holds less rounds so I suspect that was part of its demise. I have several lever guns old and new but I don’t hunt with them much anymore. You guys likely haven’t experienced this yet but when you get old the sights get fuzzy. An aperture sight will buy you some time but there comes a time when even that is not enough. I can’t bring myself to scope my lever guns. I have bolt and semi-auto guns with glass for use on serious hunts.

[@joshuafrahm8778]

I have a Marlin 1894CB .357/.38 with the octagon barrel, and even though it's a newer one from the "bad years" it's one of my favorite guns to shoot.

[@firemedic23-5]

My first gun, other than the Exel .410 my grandfather gave me when I was 5 years old, was a Marlin model 30aw for Christmas of 1992 when I was 11 years old. Of course still have it and even though since then I've owned several High Caliber bolt-action rifles I always go back to whitetails with my good ole' lever-action!!

[@georgeprice7046]

I have a marlin in 35rem. Have not taken a deer with this gun yet. I'm hoping that Ruger has purchased the Marlin brand that they will start offering the Marlin 45-70 '95 in the standard 22" barrel like marlin did. Also, I would love for them to bring back the '95 45-70 in the cowboy gun with the 26" barrel. I love the marlins and would love to see many of their offerings come back. Such as the Marlin XLR with the 24" barrels and cahamberings as the 444 marlin, the 450 marlin, 338 marlin, 308 marlin, etc. I thought that was really cool. I would also like to see Henry, since it had gotten into the Long Ranger model, come out with a model that would chamber the standard or long action cartridges such as 270win, 30-06, and 25-06. Heck, even the new 7PRC...... Well, a man can dream