Lever action rifles may not be the best option for anything anymore. That may or may not be debatable, but they seem to be a good option for almost everything. You can debate with me about that all you want, and I’ll just nod and smile.
Here on the East Coast of the good ol’ US of A they make phenomenal hunting arms. Everybody calls them “brush” guns in a semi-disparaging way. Though I don’t really hunt much these days, I can’t recall many circumstances that I would have needed to reach out beyond the range of a good lever gun.
This past year I decided to “tactify” one—a newish, Marlin 336 30-30 to be exact. Well truthfully, I just decided to set it up in a configuration that I thought could function equally well in two very unlikely scenarios: namely, that I find time to go hunting or that I find myself in need of another long gun as we defend the homestead.
I live in an urban context, so please do recognize the tongue pressed firmly against my inner cheek.
I replaced the old-school sights with Williams Fire Sight
, giving me a nice ghost ring/peep sight option. I then mounted an XS Lever Scout Mount and a Bushnell TRS-25
. I selected a Protec mounting clip from Nebo tools and a matching Streamlight PT 2L
. I fitted her with a knurled thumbscrew from Grizzly Custom Shop just because I could.
I put an Allen cartridge holder
on the butt of the stock. I’m still in search of a better option in this department; all you manufacturers don’t line up at once!
In the end, I’m quite pleased with this little jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Is she as fast or light as an AR? Nope, but she is pretty darn fast and I’d call her “handy” in the weight department. Is the capacity significant? Her seven rounds certainly isn’t insignificant, and I think a similar technique to that used when keeping my 870 topped off and in the fight works with this rifle. Is it a long-range gun? No, but I don’t live in a primarily long-range environment, and I’m pleased to report that those Hornady LeverRevolution rounds really do extend its range a bit.
What can I say? I just like this gun and I’m keeping her. Lever guns have more fun!
I thought I was looking at my own Marlin for a second. The ONLY difference is that I cut my barrel down to 18 1/2 inches, and the magazine tube a bit shorter than that. I only lost 1 round magazine capacity. I also added the Specter gear three point sling to mine.
Awesome.
I thought I was looking at my own Marlin for a second. The ONLY difference is that I cut my barrel down to 18 1/2 inches, and the magazine tube a bit shorter than that. I only lost 1 round magazine capacity. I also added the Specter gear three point sling to mine.
Awesome.
edit. Mine has the profile like a .45-70 guide gun now. If you search for ‘Marlin Marauder’ online, you can find some neat write ups of the conversion process. Marlin should re-introduce the marauder.
I like your idea Brian.
A lever action can be pretty accurate, more than most semi-auto. The limitation could be the ammo, but caliber like the 45-70 are used in 1000y competition without any problem, and there are lever actions, like the Browning BLR, chambered in caliber like 308W and 300WM more adequate for long range purpose. The problem with lever action calibers is that they drop like a rocks, so you have a short point blank range and beyond that, you have to know the exact distance to the target to be able to hit it. In an urban environment that’s not an issue by the way.
Its strong point for me, it’s reliability. The lever mechanism is simple and rarely fails, and with some training, on can be as fast as with a semi-auto… or pretty close.
I’d always liked to purchase one, a 444 or 450 marlin to hunt hogs here in the Mediterranean scrubs.
What’s your impression on the TRS-25? Have you tried it in the bushes yet?
Upside to this very rifle set up is that if you shoot someone in your house it’s a little more “reasonable” looking in a court of law.
Upside to this very rifle set up is that if you shoot someone in your house it’s a little more “reasonable” looking in a court of law.
AlessioBaldi As always, thanks for weighing in friend. I have tried the TRS-25 in lots of settings including the one you mention. I think it performs adequately for my purposes. It’s strength is not range (there’s no magnification). I think it excels in lower light conditions. Also, it is quick and keeps it’s zero well. At 25 yards you can cover a silver dollar sized hole as fast as you can work the lever– that fills my niche pretty well.
I always loved lever guns. Maybe due to my first gun being a Winchester ’94. What ever the reason they have a special place for me, and any use you can justify is a good one.
Someday I will get a lever gun in .44 mag to complement my S&W 629. Little higher capacity than the .30-30 lever guns, a cartridge I already use and load, and plenty good for the distances I’d need it. It’s a pistol caliber carbine, old school style.