Lever action build?

[Philly]

So I’ve built several bolt actions and I really enjoy doing it. Just today a friend of mine asked if I could build him a 45/70 in a lever action. I told him I had zero knowledge of building one. But then I thought who better to ask than the wealth of knowledge on the forum. So, has anyone on here ever built a lever gun? I was hoping to find a video but there isn’t any that I’m aware of. Thanks.

 

[Jesswil61]

The silence is defining!

 

[farmerjohn]

Yeah, I tried for a year to find someone reliable to rebarrel a Rossi 45LC or just shorten the existing barrel and and rechamber the hex barrel that's on it because of the oversized reamers most manufacturers use in that caliber. Found a guy in Texas that's pretty good but he's years behind and talked about the cost being... well more than two new kreigers plus chambering for one of my Bats. Couple of times more than the rifle cost new. Would be interested in seeing you find some one that does that type work, I would have business for him also, John

 

[jackieschmidt]

I know nothing of Lever Rifles.

my first thought would be that you have to start with a Rifle that has the room in all of the critical areas for the larger case?

 

[Mulligan]

Yeah, I tried for a year to find someone reliable to rebarrel a Rossi 45LC or just shorten the existing barrel and and rechamber the hex barrel that's on it because of the oversized reamers most manufacturers use in that caliber. Found a guy in Texas that's pretty good but he's years behind and talked about the cost being... well more than two new kreigers plus chambering for one of my Bats. Couple of times more than the rifle cost new. Would be interested in seeing you find some one that does that type work, I would have business for him also, John

Have you tried Dennis Prendergast at Kennear Rifles in WY?

He shoots Benchrest with us, and he and I had a great conversation about rebarreling lever guns and sleeving barrels a couple of weeks ago. I think a lot of his work is the cowboy levergun crowd. Sounds like those guys like to shoot 22 LR out of older 45/70’s and such?

CW

 

[DickE]

I did a Winchester '94 30-30 to a 30-30AI once, and a Browning BLR .223 to a .17 Remington. Barrels are not on very tight on either. Pretty straight forward. If you have done a bolt action you can do a lever gun. Or, just buy a Marlin in 45-70.

 

[OLeveraction]

When you say 'Lever Gun'.
A copy?
From Scratch?
Marlin and some Henry's are similar, Whinchesters 94, 95, 73 or, Savage 99 the Winchester 88 or Modern Henry Long Range and don't forget the Sako Finnwolf.

 

[Philly]

When you say 'Lever Gun'.
A copy?
From Scratch?
Marlin and some Henry's are similar, Whinchesters 94, 95, 73 or, Savage 99 the Winchester 88 or Modern Henry Long Range and don't forget the Sako Finnwolf.

I’m meaning like find an action and building one. But I can’t find the receiver. I think I’ll tell him to buy a complete rifle. Lol

 

[CharlieNC]

I'm sure you will get a bit of feedback on one of the lever gun forums. It it were me, I'd look for an old Savage 99 in 308..... Sweet! You could call Turnbull, a noted lever gun builder, and find out options to pursue.

 

[Philly]

I'm sure you will get a bit of feedback on one of the lever gun forums. It it were me, I'd look for an old Savage 99 in 308..... Sweet! You could call Turnbull, a noted lever gun builder, and find out options to pursue.

Thats great! Thanks for the info.

 

[rockhound78]

You will probably need to buy the complete gun. In decades at shows, I don't think I have seen just the action for sale

 

[OLeveraction]

If you could get a Marlin 1895 to cycle and chamber 500g RN that would be something.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

Here are a couple threads from a gun forum up here in Canada. A young gunsmith made a pair of highwall guns, from scratch. The thread is a fantastic read, and the finished product is truly spectacular. Incredibly talented young man. I think anyone would enjoy this.

My Highwall project... complete!

ok so where to begin... 9 years ago Rick at ATRS advised my that if i wanted to become a gunsmith, I should get an apprenticeship in a machine shop and hone my machining skills. So i did. I moved west, got signed up with a good custom shop, got my ticket and have been able to tinker all i want...

www.canadiangunnutz.com

This second thread follows him making a rifling machine and several other interesting projects.

What I've been up to...

As some of you may recall, about a year and a half ago I finished building a pair of Highwalls. Here's a link to that thread.https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1728182-My-Highwall-project-complete! So what ever happened? How are they working? Do I even use them? Heck yes...

www.canadiangunnutz.com