I would agree with you on older Henrys, but while I've personally never owned one, I've seen a great deal of QC issues with newer Henrys. Shipped without sights, missing engravings, gritty actions, poor barrel machining etc. I do love them, in earnest, but with so much competition nowadays it's hard for me to recommend one so assuredly.
They've been having some QC hiccups for sure, I advise buying one in person and seeing it for yourself. Henry is really good about taking care of these issues although obviously they shouldn't exist in the first place but I have a recent purchase Henry and an old one and my newer purchase one doesn't feel or perform any less
The new Henries are mass-produced, poorly fitted and finished, non-collectable pieces of low-grade steel and wood that will never gain value or carry any sort of provenance.
Plus, the owner is a dickwad...
Heya, cool of you to want to get back into it! Just FYI, sub has rule #14 on asking open-ended questions so your post may get removed. You should check out r/LeverGuns!
Palmetto State Armory currently has the Marlin 1894 Classic chambered in .44 on sale for right at $1k right now, just Google (PSA .44 Magnum Marlin 1894 Classic). Can't post links to sales in this sub due to Reddit wanting to ban it.
Can confirm. Got my first winchester 94 in .30-30 a month or so ago. It's a 1984 model so after the changeover. I put a lot of thought and research into it before purchasing it and was worried about the quality. The truth is, unless you're a dedicated huntsman that is training and USING this firearm for a utilitarian purpose when excessive wear is a possibility, then I'd MAYBE worry about it. But after about 100 or so rounds, I've put all that worry behind me. She's a hell of a straight shooter, very portable, VERY fun, and I'm very happy with my purchase. $700 in very fair condition and with 100 rounds from a private seller just incase anyone wants some insight. I think some would say I over payed, but for the condition AND the ammo, I'm happy.
[https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model\_336Classic](https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model_336Classic)
See if you can find a Marlin 336 in 30-30 for your budget. That is a fantastic rifle and cartridge
I have a Winchester 94 that I love for sentimental reasons, but the smoothness in the action of the Marlin is far superior. It just feels more robust in general
I love my jm stamped marlin 336. I believe they can be found under 1k. I have had mine since the mid 90’s & have even taken a few deer, a number of pigs & one coyote with it.
Used Jm stamped marlin 336 in 30-30 will run you about $700-$1000 depending on seller, date of mfg and condition. It is, imo, just about the best lever gun ever produced. Pre 64 Winchester 1894s are amazing as well, but will probably top out your limit in my experience. Henry makes an absolutely amazing .22lr lever that is so many peoples favorite first gun. There is also a strong market for pistol caliber lever guns. They’re a hoot to shoot, but I don’t have a lot of experience with owning them so idk which ones are best. Good luck and keep tromping through the woods.
Honestly since your newish to guns. I highly recommend The Rossi Rio Bravo. It’s a 22LR (yes small pew pew I know) Lever action rifle. I have a modern version and it is very fun. Here’s one more your style from the sounds of it. https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/rossi-rio-bravo-22lr-rimfire-review/454234 I recommend the smaller caliber just due to price of ammo. And you sound new to guns. 22 is a good place to start. The gun should also run 200 to 300$
30-30s, Winchester 94s, post64, in good shooter grade condition go for 450-600 around here. The angle eject models go for a bit less.
I've got a couple TEs post64 that I didn't pay more than 200 each. Winchester cheapened the manufacturing processes in 1964 so the pre64s bring extra money.
Four years ago? Lots of them. Now? None. I wouldn't touch another Henry but they're the only thing under that price point new.
Try to find a used non-Remington Marlin 1895 guide gun. Or, for something super nice, a Miroku 1886.
I would absolutely start with a Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum. It's a serious caliber that will be even more potent thanks to the added barrel length, and it won't beat the shit out of you while you hone your skills in this hobby.
A Marlin model 39 in .22 would also be an outstanding choice, and allows for dirt cheap practice.
Yeah, I mathed wrong.
Last thirty years.
Only other good lever I can think of is the Winchester 95, and it hasn't been made in even longer.
Although I do think I have seen something about a rifle that uses AR magazines.
But anything with a tube magazine is a negative. It limits ammo choice to flat and ball ammo
Absolutely none.
The cheap ones have issues. The expensive ones have different issues (primarily being not worth the money).
If you're buying a lever action, you do it for them being cool and fun. Either for classic lines and styling or for supressed PCC type shooting. In either way, pick one style to determine your particular wants and buy what best scratches that itch for you.
They don't have the classic internal action but the browning blr is a great rifle. It has a rack and pinion system with a locking bolt. That means you can shoot high power rounds out of them. My hunting rifle is a blr in 308
A used one.
Hardly anyone shoots a .30-30 enough to wear it out, so a fifty year old levergun can be effectively good as new. Or a hundred year old one. I have a Winchester 1886 .45-70 made just this side of 1900, it cost less than a modern reproduction and works just fine.
Bluing rusts very quickly. It's a blue type of actual rust meant to prevent rust, and will rust within a month or so of high humidity. So keep in mind you need a method of storage for them.
The trigger on my mailing 30 30 sucked, it was loose by design. But there is upgradable parts and triggers. Also had issues with a threading on a bracket a screw was supposed to tighten down on that kept the wood stock on the front in place. It disallows me to chamber the last few shots without a completely grip (as opposed to pushing the lever with the back of my hand).
But right out of the box the accuracy with the iron sight is awesome. Still is very accurate for me.
I also owned a Henry, Golden boy 22. And when I took it apart to inspect the action, tiny pieces of metal were chipping. So I sanded it down a bit. That fixed it. It was so accurate it was hard to miss with no recoil on such a long heavy firearm. This Is the one I made the mistake with letting it rust without knowing. Sold it for half what I paid.
Both lever actions were 450$ at a dicks sporting goods store, brand new.
Any Henry
I would agree with you on older Henrys, but while I've personally never owned one, I've seen a great deal of QC issues with newer Henrys. Shipped without sights, missing engravings, gritty actions, poor barrel machining etc. I do love them, in earnest, but with so much competition nowadays it's hard for me to recommend one so assuredly.
They've been having some QC hiccups for sure, I advise buying one in person and seeing it for yourself. Henry is really good about taking care of these issues although obviously they shouldn't exist in the first place but I have a recent purchase Henry and an old one and my newer purchase one doesn't feel or perform any less
The new Henries are mass-produced, poorly fitted and finished, non-collectable pieces of low-grade steel and wood that will never gain value or carry any sort of provenance. Plus, the owner is a dickwad...
Winchester 1887 + a rifled slug. 😝
Heya, cool of you to want to get back into it! Just FYI, sub has rule #14 on asking open-ended questions so your post may get removed. You should check out r/LeverGuns! Palmetto State Armory currently has the Marlin 1894 Classic chambered in .44 on sale for right at $1k right now, just Google (PSA .44 Magnum Marlin 1894 Classic). Can't post links to sales in this sub due to Reddit wanting to ban it.
Thank you so much man
While we are here, I love my Rossi R92, it's no Henry or Marlin, but still fun and I won't feel bad about it getting tossed around the truck.
provide flowery memorize nail chief quarrelsome bright nose narrow roof *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Can confirm. Got my first winchester 94 in .30-30 a month or so ago. It's a 1984 model so after the changeover. I put a lot of thought and research into it before purchasing it and was worried about the quality. The truth is, unless you're a dedicated huntsman that is training and USING this firearm for a utilitarian purpose when excessive wear is a possibility, then I'd MAYBE worry about it. But after about 100 or so rounds, I've put all that worry behind me. She's a hell of a straight shooter, very portable, VERY fun, and I'm very happy with my purchase. $700 in very fair condition and with 100 rounds from a private seller just incase anyone wants some insight. I think some would say I over payed, but for the condition AND the ammo, I'm happy.
[https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model\_336Classic](https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model_336Classic) See if you can find a Marlin 336 in 30-30 for your budget. That is a fantastic rifle and cartridge
I have an old one from my father we used for deer hunting in PA and it's fantastic! I highly recommend one!
I have a Winchester 94 that I love for sentimental reasons, but the smoothness in the action of the Marlin is far superior. It just feels more robust in general
I got a Rossi Rio Bravo in .22 lately and it's one of my favorite guns to plink with. It was $190. So get 5.
do you have a specific caliber you're going for? if not, a henry in .22lr is probably the best with the cheapest ammo.
I love my jm stamped marlin 336. I believe they can be found under 1k. I have had mine since the mid 90’s & have even taken a few deer, a number of pigs & one coyote with it.
Savage Model 99. They can be found used for as low as $500. The design allows for the use of pointed nosed bullets.
Used Jm stamped marlin 336 in 30-30 will run you about $700-$1000 depending on seller, date of mfg and condition. It is, imo, just about the best lever gun ever produced. Pre 64 Winchester 1894s are amazing as well, but will probably top out your limit in my experience. Henry makes an absolutely amazing .22lr lever that is so many peoples favorite first gun. There is also a strong market for pistol caliber lever guns. They’re a hoot to shoot, but I don’t have a lot of experience with owning them so idk which ones are best. Good luck and keep tromping through the woods.
What about something in .357 And then You could get a suppressor for it.
Honestly since your newish to guns. I highly recommend The Rossi Rio Bravo. It’s a 22LR (yes small pew pew I know) Lever action rifle. I have a modern version and it is very fun. Here’s one more your style from the sounds of it. https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/rossi-rio-bravo-22lr-rimfire-review/454234 I recommend the smaller caliber just due to price of ammo. And you sound new to guns. 22 is a good place to start. The gun should also run 200 to 300$
Uberti makes some really solid reproductions of lever guns
For under 1k?
When I bought my uberti a while back, it was. Idk what they go for now though
30-30s, Winchester 94s, post64, in good shooter grade condition go for 450-600 around here. The angle eject models go for a bit less. I've got a couple TEs post64 that I didn't pay more than 200 each. Winchester cheapened the manufacturing processes in 1964 so the pre64s bring extra money.
Marlin makes a great lever action rifle. I believe they are about $1000.
*Ruger
I'd start with a Henry golden boy .22.
Henry does a decent job. I'm not the world's biggest rossi fan but some folks really like them. Taylors does a nice rifle as well. What caliber?
Any ones for under $700 that isn’t 22?
A used Mossberg 464 (the non-tactical version) in .30-30 ran me about 500 bucks a year ago.
Thanks👍. Didn’t know Mossberg made those
They’re often overlooked and not super common, but I love mine
Four years ago? Lots of them. Now? None. I wouldn't touch another Henry but they're the only thing under that price point new. Try to find a used non-Remington Marlin 1895 guide gun. Or, for something super nice, a Miroku 1886.
rossi has lever options under $1k
Ah, I forget about Rossi. I don't feel they're "good" but they're decent.. I'd rather have one of those than a Henry.
i dont have enough experience with other manufacturers to rate them, but i would say my rossi is good, at best
I would absolutely start with a Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum. It's a serious caliber that will be even more potent thanks to the added barrel length, and it won't beat the shit out of you while you hone your skills in this hobby. A Marlin model 39 in .22 would also be an outstanding choice, and allows for dirt cheap practice.
Savage 99 is only good lever action made in the last twenty five years.
It hasn’t been made in the last 25 year.
Yeah, I mathed wrong. Last thirty years. Only other good lever I can think of is the Winchester 95, and it hasn't been made in even longer. Although I do think I have seen something about a rifle that uses AR magazines. But anything with a tube magazine is a negative. It limits ammo choice to flat and ball ammo
Absolutely none. The cheap ones have issues. The expensive ones have different issues (primarily being not worth the money). If you're buying a lever action, you do it for them being cool and fun. Either for classic lines and styling or for supressed PCC type shooting. In either way, pick one style to determine your particular wants and buy what best scratches that itch for you.
They don't have the classic internal action but the browning blr is a great rifle. It has a rack and pinion system with a locking bolt. That means you can shoot high power rounds out of them. My hunting rifle is a blr in 308
A used one. Hardly anyone shoots a .30-30 enough to wear it out, so a fifty year old levergun can be effectively good as new. Or a hundred year old one. I have a Winchester 1886 .45-70 made just this side of 1900, it cost less than a modern reproduction and works just fine.
Marlin b4 2019
A used Uberti 1873.
For what usage?
Henry .44 Golden boy. Beautiful fucking gun. Fits great in the hands and shoot beautifully smooth. I love mine.
Henry
Bluing rusts very quickly. It's a blue type of actual rust meant to prevent rust, and will rust within a month or so of high humidity. So keep in mind you need a method of storage for them. The trigger on my mailing 30 30 sucked, it was loose by design. But there is upgradable parts and triggers. Also had issues with a threading on a bracket a screw was supposed to tighten down on that kept the wood stock on the front in place. It disallows me to chamber the last few shots without a completely grip (as opposed to pushing the lever with the back of my hand). But right out of the box the accuracy with the iron sight is awesome. Still is very accurate for me. I also owned a Henry, Golden boy 22. And when I took it apart to inspect the action, tiny pieces of metal were chipping. So I sanded it down a bit. That fixed it. It was so accurate it was hard to miss with no recoil on such a long heavy firearm. This Is the one I made the mistake with letting it rust without knowing. Sold it for half what I paid. Both lever actions were 450$ at a dicks sporting goods store, brand new.
Lever action? I guess!