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First Lever gun. Henry, Marlin or other ?

BCR1

I'm wanting a lever gun in .45 Colt but can't decide on brand. Another dilemma is a receiver made of brass or steel or case hardened steel for durability and strength if Henry made.

TIA,
Bill
 
I really want to like Henry; they've got a great marketing pitch. However, every time I pick one up I'm thoroughly impressed by furniture fitment, forends that are loose, and forend lines that resemble a fish belly. It's just a poor copy of the Marlin anyway, so now that Marlin is being produced again I'd really want to put hands on one of those before buying the knockoff. I would personally buy a Rossi R92 first and save a couple hundred bucks; at least that's a knockoff of a design I like. I'm also not one to send my guns in for service if something breaks, so that should figure into your decision as well. Every account I've read of Henry's customer service has been positive. Rossi... goes both ways it seems. Good luck
 
Kracken McGraw said:
Since Ruger is making the Marlins now they should be great. I would like to hear some feedback on these too from someone that has one.
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I have one made by Remington.
It doesn’t answer your question but I think it is far better made than I’d ever expect. Laminated stock is flawless and the very old expression ‘grown in the wood’ applies here as the the wood to metal fit is perfect. Mine is a 45-70 stainless with a big lever loop for gloves. Don’t like the insanely long picatinny rail. Being a BR shooter I’m never happy with accuracy, but this was a nice surprise. And my hand loads were better yet.
Bottom line, no complaints. Be glad to you a pic even though it’s a Remington version.
 
They (Reminton making Marlins) eventually got their act together. I think the later ones were very nice as good as the JM guns. This proves my theory, American industry is in the toilet because of managers and upper level bosses. The Japanese make cars here that seem to be as good as Japan made versions. Japanese auto makers have built more and more plants and use the same Americans that the auto industry says are too lazy to make a profit on. Back when the American car industry was failing, and many times sence. It is always blamed on the lazy American worker. Kinda an early version of Bud Lite mangers.
 
I have a 45 Colt Henry, it does a decent job. I have quite a few old marlins, I consider them a superior firearm. If you go on gunbroker and search lever action 45 colts you’ll find quite a few options, they are popular for cowboy shooting and so we benefit from the competition. There’s 600+ 45 colt levers to look at. You’ll find some marlins, winchesters, probably some browning limited editions and a bunch of other companies making copies of old model 45 colts. My choice out of the bunch would be one of the Marlin JM models, the half octagon barreled rifles are a great choice. I have the Henry surpressed and have a great time with it.
 
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I bought my first 30-30 lever gun about 10 years ago.
Every single Marlin I shouldered I was looking right at the back of the receiver. I had to lift my head off the stock some to see the iron sights.

Shouldered a Win 94 and every single time, my eye was looking right down the sights perfectly.

I bought the Winny
 
I've got 2 Henry's a 357 newer side gate that I love. Looks feels and shoots great. A henry golden boy that shoots and feels great but the finish isn't aging well. Plating is flaking off. I purchased a newer ruger that I liked but just didn't wanna take it out in the field. (To nice to beat up.) So can't comment on it shooting wise. Fit and finish was beautiful. My buddy just picked up the new marlin 44 that was released. Again it looks and feels amazing.

What's your intended use? Show piece? Field use? Truck gun?

I bought 1 rossi and action felt rough. I traded it off shortly after. I've have few jm marlins and they always felt ready to use in the field and already had the bumps and scratches to make me not afraid to use it.
 
I have owned Winchester, presently have two Marlins and a Browning. At every casual plinking session everyone fights over using the Browning. Short lever throw is nice.Find someone with a Browning , shoot it and you will buy one.Look for a good used one.-Sorry, was thinking rimfire…
 
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I bought a Marlin 30-30 in the early 70's....then bought a Henry 357/38 about 10 years ago.
I have never had a problem with either of them. They are both fun to shoot and have been very reliable.
I think you would be happy with either one.
 
Deceased friend asked me to sight in one of his Henry lever rifles. Most miserable lever I ever shot. You had to physically hold the lever up in a tight position to get the trigger to work. What the heck?

Now I seem to remember it was a centerfire like maybe a 6.5 Creedmore, so maybe something in a 45 Colt or 44 Magnum might be different.

My 1966 Marlin 44 magnum is a joy to shoot. I have killed lots of deer and fair beat it over the decades. Looks good, shoots good today. All you need to know.
 
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Kracken McGraw said:
Since Ruger is making the Marlins now they should be great. I would like to hear some feedback on these too from someone that has one.
Click to expand...
I have one of the new Ruger/Marlin 45-70s, love it. Waited till the price came down a bit. They are making more and more models but it’s been slow. My guess would be the 45 colts will be awhile, I hope I’m wrong though. I’d probably buy one if they do make offer it.
 
CaptainMal said:
Deceased friend asked me to sight in one of his Henry lever rifles. Most miserable lever I ever shot. You had to physically hold the lever up in a tight position to get the trigger to work. What the heck?

Now I seem to remember it was a centerfire like maybe a 6.5 Creedmore, so maybe something in a 45 Colt or 44 Magnum might be different.

My 1966 Marlin 44 magnum is a joy to shoot. I have killed lots of deer and fair beat it over the decades. Looks good, shoots good today. All you need to know.
Click to expand...
Not a good evaluation to compare a decades old gun to suggest the quality of one made today. The difference can be between night and day. Like comparing a S&W from the fifties to one made in the seventies (post Dirty Harry). Quality vs junk.
 
mongo chicago said:
Not a good evaluation to compare a decades old gun to suggest the quality of one made today. The difference can be between night and day. Like comparing a S&W from the fifties to one made in the seventies (post Dirty Harry). Quality vs junk.
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Just curious why you called out the 70's S&W's as "junk".

I have several from the time frame that still shoot extremely, held up over time. I have over 100,000 rounds through my first Model 17, 22 rimfire and it's still in time and shoots 10's all day long off a bench.

While I don't have it anymore, my Model 14, 38 Special, held an X ring at 50 yards off a Ranson Rest with hollow base wadcutters and never failed me in competition.

I qualified Distinguished expert with both the Model 17 and 14 in the 80's, both guns manufactured the 70's.

My Model 19's has over 50,000 rounds albeit, 38's and 38 plus P's and still shoots reliability and accurately. Again, a 70's product.
 
K22 said:
Just curious why you called out the 70's S&W's as "junk".

I have several from the time frame that still shoot extremely, held up over time. I have over 100,000 rounds through my first Model 17, 22 rimfire and it's still in time and shoots 10's all day long off a bench.

While I don't have it anymore, my Model 14, 38 Special, held an X ring at 50 yards off a Ranson Rest with hollow base wadcutters and never failed me in competition.

I qualified Distinguished expert with both the Model 17 and 14 in the 80's, both guns manufactured the 70's.

My Model 19's has over 50,000 rounds albeit, 38's and 38 plus P's and still shoots reliability and accurately. Again, a 70's product.
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Had a total of 15 of them. The pre 70s were of much better quality. The 70s guns and up until the turn of the century were of much lesser quality. Right out of the box --- revolver chambers that weren't properly honed, out of timing , ejection rod spring that was half the proper length. The common saying was "when you buy a S&W you should buy two and maybe one will work. Their quality was so poor that they practically came out with a new gun a month so that would be collectors would buy the first edition and that would keep them in business. After DIrty Harrry, the demand increased and their policy was to get as many guns out as fast as possible and if there was a problem, the purchaser could send them back for warrantee service. Problem was that the gun came back without being completely fixed. The only two good S&Ws I had were a K-22 and a 25-something. Both were purchased used and both made before Dirty Harry. The first S&W I bought in decades is a 22LR Victory. So pleased with it that I am giving their M&P 22 Magnum a try.
 
I just bought a Henry Big Boy steel with a side gate in 44 magnum. ($905.00) I was shooting max loads, and it kicks but functions flawlessly. The recoil loosens up the forearm and stock screw. It took about 9 seconds to fix that. But from now on, I'll be shooting reduced loads. Thumbs up on this new Henry
 
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