Ep. 274 | Lever Guns - Pure Americana 

Savage 99's and Marlin 336's make my heart sing.

It's the podcast that every lever lover has been waiting for. Absolutely loved the scout rifle podcast too.

My first deer rifle, Winchester 94 in 30-30. A birthday present from my parents when I came of hunting age. My current deer rifle is a BAR in 30-06, but I bust out the Winchester from time to time to put some venison in the freezer for nostalgia sake. You better believe that ol’ Model 94 also rides with me on the ATV every time I’m in the woods. Nothing beats the way an old lever action carries, shoots and feels. The sentimental value alone in these guns is second to none. I dream of the day my daughter will get to take her first deer with the same lever rifle I took my first whitetail with, right here in WI.

Growing up, my Grandpa had a Savage 99 chambered in .308, my dad has that rifle now. I loved it so much I grabbed one in .308 myself. I really enjoy my .22 mag Henry, just need a Henry LeverX chambered in .357. As well as a 99 in every chambering they ever made it in, lol

"I don't bring my notes to annoy you, but I love it that they do" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Best comment ever in Vortex Podcast history 🤪🤩 Just love the podcasts with the three of you!

I figured the tactical lever gun was inspired by the fear of having ar’s taken away at some point. Lever gun being the next best option…. Plus the cool factor doesn’t hurt

This episode needs a part two really bad. So many great calibers in lever that didn't get mentioned. 22 WMR, .17 HMR, .308 marlin express, .338 marlin express, 38-55, .45 colt, .44 mag, .357 mag, 350 legend, .35 Rem. Please do a part duece

Missed the 35 Remmington. The best Brush gun caliber ever.

Best podcast episode you have done. A single shot episode would be cool.

I absolutely love the lever gun I took my first deer about 22 years ago now with a Savage 99 .308. Been hunting with it ever since. It didn’t have a round count but it did have a loaded indicator on top. Ryan forgot to mention there was clip models in the 99 also. I just bought a Henry wood stock 45-70 that I put a red dot on. I’m going to try to carry more! Thanks guys really enjoyed it!

I’ve hunted with my bolt action for 25 years then one day I decided to buy a BLR PG Tracker in 300wm Then 9 months later I decided to buy a Marlin 444 Then 5 months after that I bought the last new Marlin 45/70 in 22in Then 6 months after that I found a near new Marlin 336w 3030 Then 4 months later I bought a BLR .22 in a grade 2 Checkard stock.

I have 2 lever guns. Henry .22 octagon was my first and my favorite .22 that is just fun. The second one I just picked up last fall for iowas straight wall deer season. A Marlin 1895G JP stamped (pre-Remington) in 45-70 with a short ported barrel and that thing is a freaking cannon… and is the most American thing you can think of Big, loud, and powerful. They’re timeless designs and fun as hell.

I love my Sako VL63 in .308. perfect for our Swedish driven hunts

I miss my 30-30. Far and away one of my favorite rifles. I am so excited that Ruger is putting the Marlins out again. I am getting one as soon as they release the 30-30 again. When that gets released, it will be in my hands.

In the late 90's Winchester issued a 94 in 444 Marlin. Made my day.

I absolutely love lever guns. Thanks for doing this podcast fellas. Ryan said nothing is new but I would bring the Bond Arms lever action AR15 to everyone’s attention. Possibly for sale late 2023. Edit: After listening awhile longer they mentioned the LevARgun I was thinking of.

Great episode, but I believe you should do a whole episode on the Savage 99. You briefly touched on the history, but they deserve more. I have 2, one in .243 and one in .308. My brother has a .250 Savage also known as the 250-3000 because it was the first civilian round to break the 3000 fps mark. And it was out of the 99. My grandfather carried a 22 high power and killed everything with it!!! It truly was a gun ahead of its time!!!!

Out of all my collection, my BLR is hands down my most grabbed rifle during deer season.

Another good example of a Lever Gun is the old TV show "The Rifleman" with Chuck Conner.

Awesome podcast guys, my father has a BLR in .243 which he purchased 27 years ago and has put thousands of rounds through it and hasn’t missed a beat, looking at getting my own lever gun this year :)

Get yourself a someone who looks at you the way Ryan looks at a lever gun

My Dad has a Savage 99 in 308. It's a pre-64 and he loves that gun! I know several guys that have it in 300 Savage and they love those as well. I have a Marlin 336 in 3030 and 22 long rifle. Absolutely my favorite 22 ever! Ruger makes a lever 22 long rifle, as well as a 22 mag. They look similar to the Savage 99 and have the Ruger rotary clip, which is awesome! Love the podcast! Please keep them coming!

Would love to see you guys explore the lever action cartridges like .450 marlin, .338 marlin, .308 marlin, .444 marlin, .348 winchester, all the other odd ball but cool cartridges

‘It’s the 360 BuckHammer.” “BuckHammer? Are we just taking man words and putting them together now?” “Yeah! Pretty much that’s what happened.” Pure. Poetry.

Another fun lever-action cartridge that lost out to the 30-30 is the 25-35. Super fun to shoot and you can still find it. I was glad Ryan brought it up at the end.

I own a Savage Model 99 chambered in 300 Savage that I inherited from my grandfather. It was manufactured IIRC in 1952. It's topped off with a Weaver 2.5x fixed power scope. It was my hunting rifle back in the day when I used to go hunting with my dad and brothers. I had left it in my brother's possession for the last several decades but finally took it back last year as I was getting back into shooting again. I always loved the look of the thing with the curved lever and no external hammer. I cleaned it all up and have taken it out a couple of times. It's no tack driver but it does OK. The biggest problem is probably the old scope. I had plans to upgrade the scope and make it into my hunting rifle once again, but the thing kicks like a mule and is just uncomfortable to shoot (a slip on recoil pad helped). The ammo is also hard to find and expensive when you do, so I've relegated her to safe queen status. I still love it though. My dad's hunting rifle was a Winchester 30-30 lever action, which is now in my brother's possession, along with some collector Winchester lever actions which my dad also owned. Love the levers.

Thanks for keeping the videos coming. I really enjoy watching them!

I love lever action rifles. They are all I use. I have several. Everything from 405,348 , 30-30,32 spl, 44 mag,22 mag, and 22 lr. They work perfect.

I don't know if any one has mentioned it yet in the comments, but the Winchester 94 actually wasn't originally chambered in the .30-30 when it came out. It's original chamberings was the .32-40 and the .38-55. The .30-30 came out in 1895.

I have my grandfather's model 94 Trapper and it's still harvesting deer. I love it!!!

The part about the modern tacticool lever guns that seems to have been missed, is the states that you can’t have a AR you can have that lever gun.

Awesome conversation. I'm glad you mentioned T2 with Arnie wheeling that lever shotgun. I wanted to know what that was. i wasn't sure if it was real, lol. Great pod cast. Thanks to Ryan for the loads of info he has on the lever subject.

Great podcast. I do love my Browning BLR in .308 and Henry .22 lever guns.

As a lefty, lever guns like the BLR and the Long Ranger give me more choices without having to compromise as much. They’re pretty much ambidextrous. Instead of trying to track down left handed bolt guns in whatever flavor I’m wanting I can easily find a lever gun that’s pretty similar, and they’re sometimes cheaper to boot.

Inherited my dad's pre-64 Model 94 in 30.30 that stacked up more than it's fair share of venison before his eyes got tired and he graduated to a Savage pump 30.30 that he could put a scope on. The advent of Hornady LeverRevolution cartridges changed these rifles quite a bit IMO and cannot be overlooked. There is no gun I would rather take from the gunsafe during deer season. As far as limiting your hunting, they don't...what they limit is long-distance shooting. For those who are more interested in their ability to get within 200 yds of the game they are pursuing than dropping a trophy from way out there, they still do the job and are now available in a wide variety of cartridges in either tubular or box magazine if you think you have to have a more powerful cartridge than the traditional offerings.

I have a Savage 1899B in 25 35 Win. Got a 26 in. full octagon barrel with Lyman peep sight. The thing is heavy as all get out but that extra weight make it about the most lightly recoiling rifle. One of the few rifles I don't think I could sell.

Got my first gun a year ago, it had to be a Winchester 94, and I have no regrets.. always fun to shoot, ammo is affordable, there's something really attractive about those guns, I love carrying it in the woods

The John Moses Browning museum in Ogden, UT is a thing of beauty!

I’ve been eyeing the Henry All Weather guns in 45-70. There’s just something about that cartridge and a stainless lever gun that just seems right. As soon as I free up the required money to have one, and can find one, I will! That’s another thing about these lever guns to discuss…their availability and cost…they’re not always available which feels a little more exclusive and their cost is higher but they don’t seem to lose much, if any, value.

I attribute my love of lever guns to watching John Wayne movies with my dad and grandfather as a kid, even though neither of them used one to deer hunt. Took me awhile to get around to putting one in my quiver, but picked up a mid-70's 336 in 30-30 a few years back. I took a nice raghorn bull elk still-hunting through some thick timber a couple years ago, just anchored him with one shot. One of my favorite elk hunts, simply because of the gun. And the Hornady LeveRevolution ammo is the bees knees. Thanks guys! Well done once again!

Sprawling and rambling. Love it!

Started out hunting at 12 using a 32 win special that my Dad bought for his kids to start out hunting with. I was the youngest of his 3 son's. I grew up in central Mt hunting white tails. That gun brought home a lot of game (deer and antelope). Great pod cast, keep them coming. By the way I'm 68 years young and I want a leaver gun to hunt with again.

First off wanna say…. Love the vortex nation content. ALOT of great info 👍 I am 28 and have been using my grandfathers sears roebuck in 30-30 for about 10 years now. Our deer hunt gang (lever action hunt club) uses almost nothing but lever action 30-30s. And my brother and I will carry out this tradition. Just love em. --Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

The thought of that stainless blr in .243 is unreal

Got a Savage 99 made in 1966. It works great and a great caliber;308.

I see lever gun, I thumbs up.

You guys do a great job. I always go back to the lever guns also.

The first rifle I bought was a Rossi Puma. In .44-40, in 1992. I still own it, and it's still the first rifle in the safe (closest to the door). I have hunted a fair amount with it too. On a point of order, the tube-magazine lever really was the firstmass-produced repeating shoulder arm. The first production repeating bolt gun was the Vetterli, in about 1867.

Funny that you bring out the renewed interest in the lever action. I've been planning on using my 30/30s for deer season next year rather than my bolt gun. My bolt gun has been my "goto" for the last many, many years.

I regularly get sub-MOA performance out of my 1943 Savage 99. It’s a wonderful rifle. A new production 99 in 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.8 Western would be something else. The 7mm-08 and 243 versions fetch crazy high prices now.

I shot my 1st buck at 16 in the Adirondack mountains. I'm 63 now. It was a lever 3030. I was privileged to hunt with the old timers. 95% hunted with a lever gun mostly 3030. Marlin was the most carried gun for whatever reason. Nobody had a bolt action. Shots were 40 yards or less. Lever guns are still king there.

Do a John Moses Browning podcast, and literally fill the table with cull guns, with the 1911 selection right in front of Jim 😁

Great podcast I am a lever gun fan as well, right now own 3 but, have owned 3 others in the past. One which I regret selling. Thank you for bringing your guns so we can see them. Really like that 1895 that Ryan has. Great program again keep up the great work all of you do, Mark keep printing!!!

Browning had a tactical, short, takedown BLR about ten years ago and it was really popular. Really hard to find now but those things were awesome

Pre-64 (1956) Winchester M94 in .30-30 with a Sig Romeo5 mounted on a Skinner Sights mount attached at the rear sight dovetail. Perfect setup and north woods deer slayer for older guys like me who can no longer see the sights so good. The skinner mount doesn’t require any drilling and tapping so preserves the old rifle’s value.

I like the idea of the Lever AR Lowers in NY because it is easier to switch the lower into a lever gun than to change the pinned mag capacity to 5 rounds on a semi auto. The modularity of switching from semi auto to lever is appealing.

Love this show. Probably have watched it 8 times between RU-vid and Apple Podcasts. Lever action rifles are just special. They’re iconic. They’re romantic. They’re just heartwarming. Too many westerns as a kid? Maybe! But they shoulder great and they carry easy.

I would love to see the tactical lever laser gun that ejects the AAA Batteries 😂

He seems quite proud of his 64, which I can understand. I have a 64 chambered for 25-35 that I am quite fond of. I have taken it antelope hunting in Wyoming and made a good shot on one. I look forward to doing more hunting with it.

Awsome talk. my grandpa left me his Remington model 88 in 308 it has taken countless deer and two cow moose. I absolutely love it

Another great video, guys. I have a BLR in .358. It’s a great gun for still hunting the Adirondacks.

I love my marlin 1929 .410 was my grandma's wedding present, and my first gun. I learned to bird hunt and deer hunt (a deadly accurate slug gun on Minnesota farmland whitetails). My grandma's 1st gun, my dad's 1st gun, and my 1st gun. I still occasionally hunt (pheasants&grouse) with the gun.

Thank you very much🎉 Most excellent 👍

I have BLR in .30-06 White Gold Medallion, I just picked up 1895 Winchester in .405 Winchester. I have pretty nice collection of other lever actions too.

John Moses Browning first worked for Winchester. For decades. Then he hooked up with Fabrique Nationale in Belgium and worked on “Browning” firearms for more decades. Somehow in between he also designed semiauto pistols for Colt. The Winchester 1886 lever action rifle, Winchester Model 12 pump shotgun, Colt 1903 and 1911 pistols (among others), the 45 and 380 ACP cartridges, Browning A5 shotguns, Browning Hi-Power pistol, and the ubiquitous Browning M1917 machine gun that stayed in service forever. Yes - we should celebrate his birthday! The revolving action rifle preceded the lever action because it worked with percussion caps. The introduction of the King’s patent side gate was a huge step forward for lever action rifles. The magazine tube no longer had a long slot for dirt to get into and the magazine tube was much stronger. Also, you could put a forend on the rifle because the follower no longer had that exposed tab. That meant your hand wouldn’t get scorched by a hot barrel, and you didn’t have to move your hand as the follower moved backward with each shot. I’m having a hard time comprehending how between the three of you there isn’t a single Henry 1860, Winchester 1873, Winchester 1886 (or 1892 - same action for different cartridges), or a Marlin of any type. You are gun-loving American males. How is this possible? Replicas are fine. Miroku production Winchesters are beautiful, and Ruger might be making the best Marlins of the past 50 years. FIX THIS NOW! (Note: I do not own a Savage Model 99 so cannot throw stones in your direction about that. We all fall short there.)

My stepfather has a 1966 30-30 Winchester Centennial octagon barrel gold plated never been fired with the original box. Beautiful gun.

I have 3 lever guns and I want more I have BLR also in 308 a Henry 22 it was my first rifle igot when I was 12 and a Marlin 336 35Rem . Being Left handed a it easier to use a lever action than find a left hand bolt action

Thanks for another great episode guys. Quickly becoming a big VNP fan! On the tactical lever craze and in lieu of your mention of Australia’s laws, I suspect that restrictive states that are tough on AR/semiauto ownership are a driving factor too. I grew up shooting all kinds of lever guns and love them. Would love to see more modern innovations like the BLR & Long Ranger to incorporate more modern cartridges and easier-to-maintain designs in the platform - would be great do-all guns for a lot of people.

My first gun, other than the Exel .410 my grandfather gave me when I was 5 years old, was a Marlin model 30aw for Christmas of 1992 when I was 11 years old. Of course still have it and even though since then I've owned several High Caliber bolt-action rifles I always go back to whitetails with my good ole' lever-action!!

"took alot of the magazine to do it" i was in tears!

It's tough to wrap your arms around the thought that these guys are experts. 40 years from now, they will be the gentleman I thought were experts 40 years ago.

Would love an episode on single shots, I'm looking at simplifying and lightening my hunting setup without paying crazy money for a carbon stock and barrel. Love what you guys do.

Lever guns are my favorite to hunt with despite owning semi auto and bolt options that'd be more practical. It is a feeling you get when doing so. R92 .357 is my favorite

Gotta love them levers, love the oddball ones like the savage 99,the ruger 96 and the winchester m88

Great Podcast! Love the old 30-30 Winchester. Fast to point, light weight and still a viable gun today.

I grew up watching Gunsmoke and other westerns in the late 60s and through most of the 70s that were running on tv either as a current series or syndication. Lever guns were my thing, later aka Appalachian assault rifles, as a result of the westerns' influence. A Daisy Golden Eagle BB launcher was my first lever gun followed by a Winchester M-94 in .30-30.

The Winchester model 88 in .284 Win Mag - powerful medicine in A SHORT MAGNUM!! A deadly elk rifle hardy in the Pacific Cascades for giant Roosevelt Elk or across the canyon in the Rocky's for Mountain Elk.....My personal favorite lever gun....

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to hunt with a variety of lever actions. I have taken a nice antelope buck with an 1895 chambered for 405, I have taken antelope with a 71 chambered for 348, antelope and deer with savage 99's in 308 and 243, deer and antelope with a 94 chambered for 30-30, an antelope with a 94 trapper chambered for 44 magnum with a peep sight, an antelope with a 64 chambered for 25-35, and a whitetail buck with an 1887 12 guage with a foster slug. I have owned and used marlins, 1895 in 45-70, and 336's in 35 rem and 30-30. While I think the marlins are fine rifles, I don't personally think they are better than the winchesters, just different. I no longer have the marlins but I do still own winchesters and savages. I had an 88 in 284, 92's in 44 mag, and 25-20, and a browning 53 in 32-20. Also 94 22's in 22 LR and 22 magnum. Unfortunately I was not able to hunt with them all and some I wish I had back but life happens. I do still have some that I hope to hunt more with, but advancing age and health issues are working against me. Modern "accurate" rifles are nice, particularly for those who want to play "sniper" these days, but I enjoy hunting with the classic lever actions. They are plenty accurate enough and their class and aesthetics add to the experience. Unfortunately far too many today don't understand these aspects. Too many today are only interested in 14 lb, "chassis" rifles that can deliver quarter MOA, and supposedly "reach out" to ranges that the vast majority of people have no business shooting too, at live game. They don't understand the enjoyment of using a classic bolt, lever, single shot, etc, with a beautiful wood stock, color case hardening, or maybe some elegant engraving, sporting a "standard " scope (as opposed to the monstrous "telescopes" with huge turrets that they can "twirl" to their hearts content), peep or open sights, and sneaking through the woods, mountains, desserts or wherever you choose to hunt stalking within range and taking your game with a beautiful, classic rifle that is as enjoyable to handle and admire, as it is to shoot.

I have a 1973 Marlin 336 in .30-30. It was my dads hunting rifle before I started going out in 2005. Shot my first deer with it, but these days it takes a backseat to my Tikka t3x lite in .308. Someday it’ll be my future sons first gun.

Ive always loved the lever actions. My grandfather most likley inspired me the most. He had a huge collection of the limited edition stuff that winchester put out. He bought a mod 94 in .22 the year i was born to give me when "i was old enough". I was 6 when he did but i didnt shoot that gun till i was about 10. It was meant for me to keep through my life in pristine condition as my grandpa always thought it would be worth a fortune by the time i hit 21. Sadly i lost it in a house fire 4 years ago. It was with me 40 years.

Love my savage three sisters 240 ,270 and 308 !

Ya. Here in ranch country it didn't take the cowboys long to see the value in a Savage 1899/99. Flat sided receiver, no hammer, for easy carry and comfortable for the horse. Perfect balance and deadly out to 300 yards. I just bought one at a swap meet and found the ranchers name on it. The real beauty of the 99 is the workmanship of the barrel. All three of my .300 Savage rifles are sub moa rifles. That's no lie. And my 1899 in 30 WCF makes the accuracy of the 1894 and 336 look silly. And you are right about them being sold everywhere. I have my Grandpa's Featherweight in .300 Savage and three boxes of rounds, along with Weaver MK4. Purchased at the Coast to Coast Hardware in Belle Fourche, SD in 1957. He wasn't a target shooter. He came from a time when .22 lr rounds were sold individually, because everyone was poor. When he fired that 99, something died. Usually, just a huge mulie doe as trophy hunting didn't interest him. The gun was just the tool that filled his International Harvestor freezer. Which still runs perfectly to this day, over 70 years later.

Another fine podcast.

Huge fan of levers. I'm also pretty into inclined planes, wedges, the wheel and axle, pulleys, and screws.

I have a 1927 Savage 99 in 30-30, it's a take down model it has the brass rotory magazine with the round count window, it's been in my family since the late 40s when my grandfather bought it

I lucked into a Savage 99 in 300 Savage last year with the round counter. I also was fortunate to pick up one of the new Ruger Marlins thanks to some fortunate timing and having the funds at the time. It compares very favorably to my older Marlin Guide Gun 45-70, slightly surpassing it even due to the threaded muzzle. Between me and my dad we’ve got 3 Winchester 30-30s, one from the ‘40s, one from the ‘50s and one from the ‘60s. My favorite though is probably my Henry 22LR cause it’s got the big loop and is a can slaying machine followed closely by my 22Mag Henry Mares Leg. I also have a 44 mag Henry with the synthetic stock and a Interarms 45 Colt with the big loop. Lastly I have a IAC reproduction of the Winchester 87 in 12ga. Lever guns in general are some of the most fun guns to run; smile inducing machines of joy! I love me some lever guns and this was a fun episode for me!

I was super lucky to find the new Ruger-Marlin 1895 Trapper in October. With a Hybrid 46 it's just barely longer than a 20" carbine and is super handy in the woods. And with a red dot, it's the perfect deer slayer on our deer drives in NW Wisconsin.

Scout rifle podcast was elite.

Savage 99 , Browning blr, marlin all are fine lever action perfection . Wish more were produced in .218 bee and .32-20. ❤❤❤

I took my first mule deer with an old '94 (1949)in 30-30 that I had inherited. Most recently I used my Savage 99 (1959) in .308 to take a moose. But in WY, if you're hunting pronghorns you really need more range than 200 yards to work with. They get spooked when you're within a mile and start running, all you see is a dust cloud in the wind. And, the LeveRevolution ammo was a game changer for the way I felt about the 30-30.

I have a Marlin 1894CB .357/.38 with the octagon barrel, and even though it's a newer one from the "bad years" it's one of my favorite guns to shoot.

My father gave me his savage 99 in 30-30 cal. It was made in 1902 according to the serial #. Its my favorite rifle. It still looks and shoots great. Took it out a few months ago and made a bulls eye at fifty yrd with the first shot

29:45 It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that Mark’s beloved .300 WSM is still listed on Browning’s website as a current chamber offering in all current BLR models except the BLR Lightweight ‘81

Love lever guns! I've got a Model 71, never hear anybody mention them, glad that you did!

Speaking of lever guns, how about all of the .22 caliber and .22 magnum caliber lever guns made throughout the decades? I'm a bit of a Marlin guy so I'm particularly aware of their Model 39A, and all of its variations. I wonder how many millions of those they have sold over the life of that model alone? One of the most fun lever guns ever for plinking entertainment and training. Very enjoyable podcast, keep up the good work, guys. Thanks.

Old marlins, Winchester's and 99's and browning's are a the best rifles ever made. Hard to pick a favorite,

Great show!!

I absolutely love my 336. The bad thing is the ammo availability. When I CAN find 30-30 its $2/round so not a lot of range time.

Awkward silence when Jim responds “yea” about the notes being annoying. I love that stuff. In the north east in the thick woods an open sighted short barrel lever action is all you need for a quick snap shot at close ranges, 100 yards and in. 50 yards being the majority of the max range.

Australia gets a shout out!!! Thank you! I/we appreciate it! We do have a lot of rules down here. Pump shotguns.. no. Pump Rimfires and Centerfires.. yeah no worries! Bolt Action and Levers are all ok thank goodness. We also have some more creative offshoots like “Lever Release” which use a gas piston but hold the bolt open until you manually operate a lever or button to chambers a round and get into battery. Verney Carron Speedline is one such example. But back to levers! Loved the podcast! Thank you. Personally, I have a Winchester 88 Carbine and fell in love with the full stock lever actions. There are only a few ever made, Marlin Levermatic, Winchester 88, Sako Finnwolf, Noble 275 & Ruger 96! They’re a different take on the classic lever. In saying that, I’ve been loving that Browning BLR Takedown for a long while! They’ve been hard to come by down here for a few years but I’m thinking 2023 might be the year! We can get aftermarket 10 round magazines for them too.. banana style!!! Oh yeah!!! 🤙