243 Lever Action

R

rcal2014

New member
HI all, I'm looking for a lever action in 243 for a sweet calling/deer rifle. This will eventually make it's way down to my daughter, so I have a couple questions. I am looking really hard at the Henry long ranger, but haven't been able to come up with many reviews on it. I have looked at the BLR as well and have heard a lot of good things about it, but also bad things about the trigger. It seems to me it's either a love or hate type of trigger and if it's fairly heavy, I will probably not like it. I would like to get some opinions on which way to go here, as always I'm open to other suggestions, but the idea of an accurate fast handling lever 243 really has me going. If anyone has a wife or daughter that hunts with either of these rifles, please chime in on their likes and dislikes, as well as what you all think. Thanks.
 
rcal I had aBLR and had the trigger worked on and it was fine after that. One of the few guns Isold and do not miss it . It was in 222 and ok accurate. First lever gun I ever had and some things you do not think of . Fire a round from a rest then pick it up to jack a new one in,bed it down again for the next shot.Lever is a gouge in your arm if you carry in the crook of your arm. It froze up several time in snow storm and cold.I think a 99 is a better option. I have a friend who has used a 99 in 308 for elk. Another thing if you have big hands it wont fit the lever on either one. Get one if you like it in spite of what I say. They will freeze.I do hunt in lots of snow and cold and storms.
 
I have a win 88 and a sav 99 both in 308 and hunted with them for years. Triggers are heavy, accuracy ok for hunting. I did consider turning one into a 22-250 or a 243 for calling but went the AR route instead. I also thought about a Henry but have been advised against it as they lack in the accuracy dept. I don't have any personal exp with the Henry. I'm not sure but believe the win. and sav. were both offered in 243 if you wanted to look for a good used one.
 
Savage 99, old steel receiver and short action Browning BLR '81, Winchester 88, Sako Finnwolf...
 
Originally Posted By: why I also thought about a Henry but have been advised against it as they lack in the accuracy dept.

Did that advice come from someone who's actually owned one or just something they read on the interweb.....
Not looking for a fight....just curious....
 
He is a range owner and friend and usually his infor is good. I saw the 223 advertised and thought it might be worth a look.
 
Regardless of what you get it seems to me that all the lever guns are really lively and balanced ------Then you put a scope on and things get a bit clumsier quick !Get what you like .
 
I'm partial to a Savage 99, I've owned a dozen or so over the years from 25-35 to 375 Win. All have been very accurate, most of the collectables are gone because I can't shoot open sights/peep sights any longer. Some of the common one I've given to my niece's and nephews. I did have one in 243 that a fellow brought in and wanted me to mount a scope on and sight in for him, very nice rig have thought very hard on getting one in 22 Highpower, 243 or 22-250(they did make a few) or even rebarrelling one to 22-250 or 219 Zipper for coyote hunting.

With Weaver bases and low rings with a straight tube 1-4x20 scope you can have one h--l of a nice calling gun. I still use mine in 375 Win for still hunting or tracking deer with a 1-4x20 scope in a Weaver pivot mount and it will shoot sub MOA groups at 200 yards.

I still use a 22 Highpower for coyote hunting but it is an O/U combo gun.
 
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Originally Posted By: whyHe is a range owner and friend and usually his infor is good. I saw the 223 advertised and thought it might be worth a look.

Thanks...
 
Thanks everyone. I have a couple marlin 22s and killed a little over 200 rabbits in the blizzard of 07 with it. Never had a problem with the action freezing up, that's interesting. I will look at the older models as well, the only reason I was set on a long ranger was because they advertise it to shoot with the bolt guns regarding accuracy.
 
Zero experience with the Henry. Good experience with the BLR in .243. Bought it late 80s stuck a Leopold 2 x 7 on it was a very accurate little rifle.
 
Is there any issues with reloading ammunition and it not fitting in the magazine? I reload for everything I have so if one rifle had a larger magazine it would definitely be looked at a little harder.
 
Originally Posted By: LodgepoleRegardless of what you get it seems to me that all the lever guns are really lively and balanced ------Then you put a scope on and things get a bit clumsier quick !Get what you like .

The Henry Long Rangers are designed to be used with a scope. They don't even have iron sights.
I own 5 Henry's and have found all of them to be accurate.
 
Originally Posted By: sandy hicksBlr or savage 99 too classy to settle for henry.
I'll put a Henry Long Ranger against either one of those. Plus it's 100% made in the USA and have the best customer service in the business.
Do you even OWN a Henry or are you just a rifle snob?
 
I believe the Henry's to be accurate rifles as a rule. You can always get a lemon though. There are gunsmiths that can make the BLR trigger very nice.

The one review I've read on the Henry, it was in .308 and the accuracy was very good. The trigger was also better than what you normally get in a lever action. The review is on "Guns and Shooting Online" but you have to have a paid membership to read it.

I like the action of the Henry better than the BLR because the trigger and internals don't swing out with the lever like they do on a BLR. I don't like the fact the Henry doesn't have iron sights, even though the only time I'd ever use them would be if the scope failed. I also don't like that the Henry only has a 20" barrel. I would prefer a 22" or 24" barrel with a .243 and at least a 22" barrel on a .308, even a lever. If the Henry came with a longer barrel I would get one, have iron sights installed and get some trigger work done.

These are just my preferences, I'm not saying they are the best way to go.
 
Not a snob, I have 4 henrys in the safe right now. They make a good rimfire but not great. 2 out of four needed that great customer service. Funny thing is I expect the stuff that I buy to work right the first time regardless of price.

Do you have a blr or savage 99. I do, both 308, both are extremely reliable, no need for customer service. The 99 is older than me and the blr is almost my age.
 
Originally Posted By: sandy hicksNot a snob, I have 4 henrys in the safe right now. They make a good rimfire but not great. 2 out of four needed that great customer service. Funny thing is I expect the stuff that I buy to work right the first time regardless of price.

Do you have a blr or savage 99. I do, both 308, both are extremely reliable, no need for customer service. The 99 is older than me and the blr is almost my age.

We are not talking about a rimfire. We are talking about their Long Ranger which is a completely different firearm altogether. I had a BLR in 270 and got rid of it due to poor accuracy which a lot of people report. A friend of mine had a Savage that used to jam quite a bit.
 


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