Lever Guns and Plains Game

[Wyit76]

Afternoon everyone!

Wanted to pick the brains of those more experienced today. I have seen a unanimous dislike towards lever guns on DG but see very little in the way of using them on PG. Though a lever gun has never been my "go to" rifle I have used one to take a few critters in the western US. The first mule deer buck I took with an iorn sighted 30-30 was a deer I will forever remember, not because of size but because of the enjoyment I got from the stalk. I intend to add a pronghorn and one day an elk with my lever gun but both are harder won than a rutting mule deer.

This being said what are your thoughts on a lever gun for hunting PG. Would you take one with iorn sights or is a scope a necessity? What cartridges would you take and what species would you use them on?

 

[JimP]

I think that it would be fantastic to take a lever gun on a plains game hunt, but you may have to be choosy as far as what cartridge.

Any of the 45-xxx or 50-xxx ones would work quite well. That 30-30 would also on a number of the smaller animals up to impala size ones, it would work on a kudu if you picked your shot. I'm planning on using my 348 Winchester in a M71 Browning on a elk hunt this coming year if I can draw the tag that I want. I would also leave them all open sights, a scope just doesn't look right on a lever gun even the 99 Savages, but if you have a BLR then it might pack a scope.

 

[Saul]

If I remember correctly (which is hard at this age), Allan Quatermain used a few lever guns, so you are fine in my book.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Why the DG dislike? I used a lever on both my buffalo, and they got really dead really fast. I have designs on hunting other DG with a lever.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

I was thinking about this. I did everything with a 375H&H in Namibia on my first safari last year, but I think my 71 in 348 Win would’ve worked fine and been a delight to carry around.

 

[Wyit76]

I think that it would be fantastic to take a lever gun on a plains game hunt, but you may have to be choosy as far as what cartridge.

Any of the 45-xxx or 50-xxx ones would work quite well. That 30-30 would also on a number of the smaller animals up to impala size ones, it would work on a kudu if you picked your shot. I'm planning on using my 348 Winchester in a M71 Browning on a elk hunt this coming year if I can draw the tag that I want. I would also leave them all open sights, a scope just doesn't look right on a lever gun even the 99 Savages, but if you have a BLR then it might pack a scope.

One of these years I will add a big bore lever gun to my collection, just haven't found the justification for it yet! A 45-90 or 50-110 would make for an excellent collection piece especially with something like a Kudu shoulder mount to complement it! Big Horn Armory also chambers a lever gun in 500 S&W, may be what I talk myself into when I get the drive to chase down a bull elk with one.

 

[Saul]

One of these years I will add a big bore lever gun to my collection, just haven't found the justification for it yet! A 45-90 or 50-110 would make for an excellent collection piece especially with something like a Kudu shoulder mount to complement it! Big Horn Armory also chambers a lever gun in 500 S&W, may be what I talk myself into when I get the drive to chase down a bull elk with one.

I wish Big Horn Armory would offer a straight stock.

 

[Wyit76]

Why the DG dislike? I used a lever on both my buffalo, and they got really dead really fast. I have designs on hunting other DG with a lever.

I believe it stems from people seeing the 45-70 as a DG cartridge but I speak only from what I have read not personal experience. From what I have read many dispise it because while it does meet caliber restrictions the energy is very low for DG.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Roger that.

That is what I used (Marlin GBL, handloads), with my outfitter's blessing, and it worked spectacularly for me.

 

[375Fox]

I don’t think it’s ideal but if you tell your outfitter during booking that’s what you plan to hunt with I don’t see issue. Hunt inside the limits for the cartridge and bullet you choose. I’d definitely put a scope on any rifle you plan to hunt with.

 

[BeeMaa]

If I were taking a lever action for PG, I’d want something that feeds from a non-tubular magazine. Something like a 308 WIN Savage 99 or 30-06 Browning BLR.

The tube magazine limits the bullets available and their performance suffers from the blunt tip.

I believe it’s absolutely essential to discuss with your PH your choice of firearm and bullet regardless of the chosen platform. It will allow them to make good decisions for you and the overall hunt experience.

 

[dlmac]

I wish Big Horn Armory would offer a straight stock.

Often the stock and light weight of the firearm in general makes big bore LAs a little rough to handle. It is not that a cartridge like 45 or 50 alaskan would not do the job...it will on both ends. As said is some other post a modern design LA is more than capable and easier to shoot.

 

[Daryl S]

Running 400's out of my M86/71 at 2,100fps. I'm quite sure I can get a 450gr. bullet doing the same. Recoil is not too bad, certainly not as bad as a .458 Win Mag in a bolt gun sans scope. IMHO that is.

 

[tarbe]

Afternoon everyone!

Wanted to pick the brains of those more experienced today. I have seen a unanimous dislike towards lever guns on DG but see very little in the way of using them on PG. Though a lever gun has never been my "go to" rifle I have used one to take a few critters in the western US. The first mule deer buck I took with an iorn sighted 30-30 was a deer I will forever remember, not because of size but because of the enjoyment I got from the stalk. I intend to add a pronghorn and one day an elk with my lever gun but both are harder won than a rutting mule deer.

This being said what are your thoughts on a lever gun for hunting PG. Would you take one with iorn sights or is a scope a necessity? What cartridges would you take and what species would you use them on?

I absolutely would hunt PG with one of my levers.

I would likely take either a M64 or a M71, peep sight only. If I took the M64 it would probably be the 30-30 and not the 32 Spl, just because of the better bullet choices (I have Partitions, A-Frames and TSX for the 30-30). Hmmmm, Northern Precision is now doing a bonded .321...so maybe I could take the 32.

The point is to hunt within the limitations of the weapon, because you want to. I think it would be a blast.

If I was hunting Eland, I might have to consider taking the 1886 in 45-70 with 350gr A-Frame. But the .348 with a CEB or A-Frame could work, too.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Afternoon everyone!

Wanted to pick the brains of those more experienced today. I have seen a unanimous dislike towards lever guns on DG but see very little in the way of using them on PG. Though a lever gun has never been my "go to" rifle I have used one to take a few critters in the western US. The first mule deer buck I took with an iorn sighted 30-30 was a deer I will forever remember, not because of size but because of the enjoyment I got from the stalk. I intend to add a pronghorn and one day an elk with my lever gun but both are harder won than a rutting mule deer.

This being said what are your thoughts on a lever gun for hunting PG. Would you take one with iorn sights or is a scope a necessity? What cartridges would you take and what species would you use them on?

How is your eyesight (?) using iron sights? ( Rethorical question).

A good scope on any rifle, is a whole lot more accurate, and extends a shooters range on animals one can't get to within 100 yards.

IMPO, forget the 30-30,....TIA.... Expect The Unexpected!! Although the 30-30 is a good round for: impala, springbok, and many other NA deer size plains game. I would opt for a lever action in a more potent caliber. ie 30-06, 270, 45-70, even in 308 at the minimum. One never knows what to expect or what they may want to add on to their list of animals.

 

[Daryl S]

350gr. Hornady FN is s GREAT bullet for larger PG, I would suggest, as it's great on moose-sized game. An 86 can get it running in the 2,200fps possibly 2,300fps range.
The original style Barnes FP is another good bullet, but the 350 Hornady likely tougher. I personally don't think 300gr. have any place, except on smaller game perhaps, even though the .45/70 Marlins and anything stronger like an 86 far outclasses the .450 BPE with any load 270gr. or heavier.
My 86/71 really shot well with hard-cast 450gr. BulletBarne bullets at 1,900fps.

 

[Bandera]

My buddy took a Marlin 1895 to Africa in 2023. By the end of trip nearly all the PH’s had made him an offer to buy it.
I feel like the perfect plains game cartridge is the 338 Marlin Express. Sadly this caliber is no longer produced.

 

[Daryl S]

Do you know what loads he used?

 

[Tundra Tiger]

My buddy took a Marlin 1895 to Africa in 2023. By the end of trip nearly all the PH’s had made him an offer to buy it.
I feel like the perfect plains game cartridge is the 338 Marlin Express. Sadly this caliber is no longer produced.

BINGO!!!!

I have an MXLR in .338 ME. This is what I used on my first trip. I took 8 PG animals, up to wildebeest and kudu. It performed flawlessly. It is my favorite rifle.

 

[Wyit76]

How is your eyesight (?) using iron sights? ( Rethorical question).

A good scope on any rifle, is a whole lot more accurate, and extends a shooters range on animals one can't get to within 100 yards.

IMPO, forget the 30-30,....TIA.... Expect The Unexpected!! Although the 30-30 is a good round for: impala, springbok, and many other NA deer size plains game. I would opt for a lever action in a more potent caliber. ie 30-06, 270, 45-70, even in 308 at the minimum. One never knows what to expect or what they may want to add on to their list of animals.

For now the eyesight is holding out, that is part of what draws me to iorn sight. I've always had an optic on my rifle and the idea of limiting myself and forcing myself to work harder appeals to me.

Saying forget the 30-30 but suggesting a 45-70 seems rather odd to me but I understand the idea of going with a box magazine and something like 270 or 30-06