Looking for a beater(do they exist, what’s the going price)

Cluck Norris

Cluck Norris

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Looking for a beater lever gun, for the homestead, My first choice is 30-30, but 45-70, or maybe 44mag will do as well. It would be something that could ride around in the truck or bobcat, lighter then my ar10 and just be a handy rifle. Part of the cause to finally get one we have spotted coyotes out during the day recently and they are out of the reach of the g19 I normally carry. What’s the market like nowadays, do beater lever action even exist anymore?
 
All lever actions have become more popular. Prices have gone up considerably from a few years ago. 30-30 will be the least expensive. If ya want reasonable priced rifle forget all about 45/70, 357 and 44 mag. These are very desirable and the price reflects such.

If you cab find a 30 30 between 550 and 600 that would be a bargain. Most lever actions that are not .22 are going around 675 -- 750 for a well used 70's/80's era Winchester. Average prices are in the 750 to 875 range. Many auction sites have good lever actions in the 800- 950 range. Not gonna find a 47/70 for less than 1k. If ya do ya gotta wonder whats wrong with it?

A Henery will be the most popular and expensive.
Marlins are next and the Winchester is next only because of the numbers produced. BUT a good example will exceed the price of the above two.
Sometimes you may luck up on a puma or Rossi at a good price.

For your use you might want to consider an sks. Beater models can still be had in the 400- 550 range and some times a sleeper can be found in a pawn shop. Go for an all original sks. No extended magazines, scopes, chop jobs or aftermarket stocks. If you can find a Para -16 in barrel length- that's even better. May cost a bit more but worth it.
 
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Lafayette Gregory said:
For your use you might want to consider an sks.
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Zero desire for an sks, absolutely none, just not my type of rifle, don’t mind paying for what I want, just curious if they still existed.
I haven’t worked behind the gun counter for 4 years now and typical cost then was 400-450.00 (purchasing from the customer), then 550.00+ on the floor, so they really have increased that much comparably.
 
seems like $500 is the bottom of the market lately.

why not just an AR in 556? 300blk? etc

although it does seem super cool to carry a lever action and scabbard
 
vp9c said:
why not just an AR in 556? 300blk? etc
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I own a couple ar’s but I would like a 30caliber rifle(due to brush and such), my ar10 is great just heavy. Would prefer something like a lever action where it’s not semi auto, but has the ability to fire at a quick rate without taking my eye out if the sight picture.
Really in my opinion the lever action it going to be the best option for this.
Also I live in a rural area and a “good Ole lever gun” will not stick out near as much as an ar
 
@Chuck Norris:
I agree with you and have been moving this direction for a bit.... except I'd also feel fine with a lever in.357 mag. I am old enough to appreciate revolvers and Ballistics for 357 are impressive (surprising) from a 16-18" barrel.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .357 Mag Results

(statement of intent)
www.ballisticsbytheinch.com www.ballisticsbytheinch.com

And

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

Lever-Action Ballistics Comparison: .30-30 vs .357 Magnum - The Truth About Guns

&#9664Previous Post Next Post▶ By Chris Dumm Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson developed the .357 Magnum cartridge in 1934. The first of the ‘Magnum’ pistol cartridges, it was a big hit. Literally. While there’s still some debate over the cartridge’s ability to create...
www.thetruthaboutguns.com www.thetruthaboutguns.com
 
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Cluck Norris said:
I own a couple ar’s but I would like a 30caliber rifle(due to brush and such), my ar10 is great just heavy. Would prefer something like a lever action where it’s not semi auto, but has the ability to fire at a quick rate without taking my eye out if the sight picture.
Really in my opinion the lever action it going to be the best option for this.
Also I live in a rural area and a “good Ole lever gun” will not stick out near as much as an ar
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Not sure of your location, but Mid South Guns in Wagram NC had a pretty good selection of lever guns at decent prices for todays gun climate, a few weeks ago when I stopped in.
 
Maybe this is still available.

NC - WTS - Winchester 1894 30-30

1976 Winchester 1894 30-30 in good shape. Purchased from forum member here, found another gun in need more so this one needs to go. Smooth action and overall good shape with normal wear for age. Asking $525 no trades, can meet near Wake Forest or Youngsville or ship on your dime.
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com
 
Cluck Norris said:
Looking for a beater lever gun, for the homestead, My first choice is 30-30, but 45-70, or maybe 44mag will do as well. It would be something that could ride around in the truck or bobcat, lighter then my ar10 and just be a handy rifle. Part of the cause to finally get one we have spotted coyotes out during the day recently and they are out of the reach of the g19 I normally carry. What’s the market like nowadays, do beater lever action even exist anymore?
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Not for this to be a dweeb response, but: One man's beater is another man's grail. Is there a price range you consider to be in the "beater" range? I think that will help us weigh in and help you better.
 
jfanatic said:
Not for this to be a dweeb response, but: One man's beater is another man's grail. Is there a price range you consider to be in the "beater" range? I think that will help us weigh in and help you better.
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I feel like if I wait and keep my eyes open I should be able to find one between 500-650 by the first of the year maybe
 
Cluck Norris said:
I feel like if I wait and keep my eyes open I should be able to find one between 500-650 by the first of the year maybe
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$550 is what I paid for an all stainless Rossi Mdl 92 .357/.38 a couple / several years ago so, yeah, I’d agree.

What I did was go to various mfrs websites, locate their industry - internet wide SKU or other #; then, entered that into WikiArms to see who traditionally had that item for best price *when* they had them in stock.

After that, it was just a matter of visiting each online vendor, creating an account and entering my email to be notified when the item came back into stock and having my FFL ready to send a copy of their FFL as soon as I got the item in cart.

In my case it was KY Gun Co that produced first and my FFL’s copy was already on file w them.

That gun is fun and it most certainly scratches an itch for me when I just need an excuse to get to the range, haha!

Notwithstanding all the forgoing I’ve seen and shot at enough coyotes to know, realistically, a lever‘d only be fast enough on a target that RARELY sits still, let alone “in range,” in comic books or an action movie … JUST ME but, I’d be considering a Ltwt AR (i.e., $440 PSA combo) with a beater scope …

But, obviously, I’d also get the lever gun as well (just not for far off moving critters)

Best o’ Success!
 
frakncylons said:
Maybe this is still available.

NC - WTS - Winchester 1894 30-30

1976 Winchester 1894 30-30 in good shape. Purchased from forum member here, found another gun in need more so this one needs to go. Smooth action and overall good shape with normal wear for age. Asking $525 no trades, can meet near Wake Forest or Youngsville or ship on your dime.
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com
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Looks like just what’s being discussed here! Fingers crossed it’s still available if you go for it, OP!
 
Cluck Norris said:
...do beater lever action even exist anymore?
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I don't think so. 20 years ago you could have spent a day pawnshop hopping hand had a trunk full of 336s for <$300 each. They were that UN-cool.

Cluck Norris said:
It would be something that could ride around in the truck or bobcat, lighter then my ar10 and just be a handy rifle. Part of the cause to finally get one we have spotted coyotes out during the day recently and they are out of the reach of the g19 I normally carry...
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I like levers a lot, esp Marlins, but for what you describe a mini-14 in stainless would be the ticket, IMO. Accurate (enough) for coyotes, even in the old skinny-barrel, factory peep-sights are knock-resistant and fine for 150yds or so. It's relatively small and looks "not-scary" to Karen with a 5 or 10 rd mag in it, like just another old .22 rifle . Not cheap $ though, and never have been.
 
Aardvark said:
I don't think so. 20 years ago you could have spent a day pawnshop hopping hand had a trunk full of 336s for <$300 each. They were that UN-cool.



I like levers a lot, esp Marlins, but for what you describe a mini-14 in stainless would be the ticket, IMO. Accurate (enough) for coyotes, even in the old skinny-barrel, factory peep-sights are knock-resistant and fine for 150yds or so. It's relatively small and looks "not-scary" to Karen with a 5 or 10 rd mag in it, like just another old .22 rifle . Not cheap $ though, and never have been.
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Except the mini is 223, I’m looking for 30cal projectiles
 
I did not see ONE lever gun at the Murder Beach Gun Show last week end...not ONE. There are 3,100 on GB now. A Rossi in .44 mag is going off in less than 2 hours. $679 with No bids....Best I see in center fire.....
 
Good luck trying to find a cheap one. Best bet would be word of mouth in your area. Somebody will be needing Christmas money soon.

The pistol calibers are decent out to about 100yds. If your shots are longer than that, I would stay with a rifle caliber if I could.
Lots of deer have fallen to the pistol caliber ones. Don't forget 32-20 was a popular hunting cartridge for lever actions for many years.
 
We talking guns, cars or women?

Beaters in the first two are hard to find. The latter on the other hand are all over the place.
 
As long as you aren’t that picky - you can find deals on basic rifles in 30-30
 
I just posted that link to the Mossberg 464. I just found that while I was scrounging around thinking about this ad.

I’m sure the fit and finish is not as good as a JM stamped Marlin, anybody get their hands on one?

is this like the Hi-Point of lever actions? meaning that it works, but it’s “ugly” so nobody wants one?

as a proud High Point owner, the idea of a sub $400 30-30 was appealing to me.

sorry for the small hijack
 
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I bought a win 3030 from a co worker of my now ex son in law about 12 years ago for $ 75.00. Told my brother about it, he said that's all it was worth! I sold it years later for $225.00. Seeing the amount of calls I got on it, I listed it to low! If it was in a pistol caliber, it would never have left my hands! It would be hard to beat a SKS as a truck gun!
 
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Coyote can be had with a 22 cal, but can’t deny the value of 30 cal in a utility gun. I regret selling my 1949 marlin 30-30. Wouldn’t go 45-70, it’s fine standing, but I wouldn’t want to shoot it sitting on a tractor, hard on the back esp if you start twisting around.
 
If it makes you feel better (worse 😂), they do exist. My uncle picked up a winchester 30-30 lever gun for $50. It’s rusty and needed a few screws, but it was cheap.
 
Cluck Norris said:
Looking for a beater lever gun, for the homestead, My first choice is 30-30, but 45-70, or maybe 44mag will do as well. It would be something that could ride around in the truck or bobcat, lighter then my ar10 and just be a handy rifle. Part of the cause to finally get one we have spotted coyotes out during the day recently and they are out of the reach of the g19 I normally carry. What’s the market like nowadays, do beater lever action even exist anymore?
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A Marlin in 35 Remington would be worth considering.
 
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