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Favorite 3 Lever Gun Calibers

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June 22, 2025, 07:45 AM
cworetired
Favorite 3 Lever Gun Calibers
25-20,32-20 both small game guns. 357 for alot of fun, my 44 sometime for deer. Win 88 in 308 a lever gun I have used for deer since I bought it while in high school and I am 71 now. Not to forget my 39 Marlin.
June 22, 2025, 08:02 AM
trapper189
Would you be able to share a suppressor between your 357 and a 35 Remington?
June 22, 2025, 08:09 AM
P250UA5
I've only got a 30-30, and it'll never get sold.
If i were adding a new one, probably a 22lr & 45/70




The Enemy's gate is down.
June 22, 2025, 09:03 AM
ruger357
Everyone needs a .22 and .30-30. Beyond that I like my 357 and 44 lever guns. I’m considering a 41 magnum as well.


-----------------------------------------

Roll Tide!

Glock Certified Armorer
NRA Certified Firearms Instructor
June 22, 2025, 10:19 AM
cslinger
quote:
Originally posted by hudr:

I want one more lever in 22LR.
For the grandkids, of course.


Of course. Wink

Also all, I believe it is pronounced/spelled “Thutty Thutty”, although HBAR (Hillbilly Assault Rifle) is also acceptable. Razz


Take Care, Shoot Safe,
Chris
June 22, 2025, 02:06 PM
patw
I love my .22 and .357 so far. I might add a 30-30 if/when I get something bigger.
June 22, 2025, 03:17 PM
Anubismp
I've taken a liking to 45/70 with the old buffalo loads. You can push them harder in a modern gun but thats great for plinking and atleast historically they seem to have been an effective loading.
June 22, 2025, 10:35 PM
400m
.22 Hornet or .41 Magnum. I find rare calibers interesting for no good reason.

Oops, you said 3 suggestions. Maybe .243 WIN.
June 22, 2025, 11:56 PM
P220 Smudge
I had a really nice Marlin 1894C in.44 Mag. It was a giggle to shoot, but I got tired of paying .44 Mag prices for what amounted, for me, to being a plinker. I traded it.

That was over 20 years ago. I tell you now, if it had been in .357 Mag, I'd still have it to this day. A good replacement for it in .357 is still on my "some day" list.

The others I have are .22 and .30-30. The .22 gets shot a fair bit, I never shoot the .30-30.


______________________________________________
"If the truth shall kill them, let them die.”

Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
June 24, 2025, 08:15 PM
AUTiger89
Wow, .243 is an interesting suggestion. If I ever get a Savage 99, it'll be in .243, preferably with a removeable mag.

quote:
Originally posted by 400m:
.22 Hornet or .41 Magnum. I find rare calibers interesting for no good reason.

Oops, you said 3 suggestions. Maybe .243 WIN.





Phone's ringing, Dude.
June 25, 2025, 06:09 AM
RichardC
A Henry Lever Action Supreme in 6MM ARC would be nice.


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June 26, 2025, 05:29 AM
gearhounds
I have levers in .22, .357, .44 mag, 30-30, 45/70 and .308. If I have to rank on how often I actually shoot them; .22, .44 mag, and .357 mag- all Marlins.




“Remember to get vaccinated or a vaccinated person might get sick from a virus they got vaccinated against because you’re not vaccinated.” - author unknown
June 26, 2025, 09:13 AM
guido_sst
For me:

.22 LR
.38/.357
.300 Savage

All classics, all available in some really great rifles.
June 26, 2025, 02:51 PM
xmod
For me .44 mag is the way to go, especially if you pair it with a revolver in .44. My combo is a Marlin 1894 sbr and Ruger Super Blackhawk.
June 26, 2025, 07:15 PM
lyman
one Browning repro 1886 carbine in 45/70 and an original Winchester 92 in 25-20


toyed with the idea of a 38/357 but have not bought one, yet



https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
June 26, 2025, 11:14 PM
BB61
quote:
Originally posted by cslinger:
.357/.38. Versatile
.22 LR Fun
45-70 Mutant ninja zombie grizzlies.


^^^
Winchester (Miroku) or Marlin for the .357 /38
Browning BLR or if you can find one a Winchester 9422 for the .22LR
Marlin (Ruger) SBL for the 45-70.


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June 27, 2025, 08:47 PM
MPB
30-30 and 45-70 are my choices.
July 01, 2025, 10:07 PM
SgtGold
22lr, 357 Magnum, and a caliber to be named later because I only have two.


_____________________________
'I'm pretty fly for a white guy'.

July 02, 2025, 09:58 AM
Ironworker
I think all of the answers are good. I have a few lever guns. Some are in fairly obscure calibers, such as .358 Winchester and .348 Winchester. But I think .22, .44-40, and .30-30 would be my choice for classic lever action calibers. I think those three calibers would probably do most of what you would need or want a lever action for.
July 06, 2025, 09:38 PM
copaup
45-70 for big stuff.
30-30 just because.
.357 for fun.

Where I grew up, as soon as your parents deemed you responsible enough to have a deer rifle they presented you with a Marlin 336 in "thuty thuty." I'm barely exaggerating. Literally everyone I knew that hunted had the same rifle and every one of them got it as a birthday present.

Once you outgrew the lever gun and decided you needed something bigger you had choices. Almost all of those choices involved 30-06, but there were choices.

I still have one 30-30. A pre 64 Winchester. It's a gorgeous thing for a rifle that was clearly used and not babied, but I'd never take it out in the field now. In my mind it's retired from being a hunting gun.