SB Cowboy Lever action.

[JDBraddy]

Shot my first cowboy match this weekend using a borrowed rifle, and loved it! Was considering getting a rifle to shoot this. Found a used Marlin 39 for $650, but it's pretty old, from the 1950's I think. Henry H001T lever gun for $400, and was looking at the Henry H003T for but it's almost $600. Have a Williams reciever sight already. Figured If I get one of the Henry's, I'd get a Lyman Globe for the front. Any warnings, suggestions, or advice?

[boats]

Around here used early 39A's sell for 400 dollars perhaps 500 if it's near perfect. 39A of that vintage in my opinion is the best choice for Rimfire CLA.

Boats

[Innocent]

Ditto on Boats' remarks.

Mary

[glen ring]

JD
I like the early marlin 39s . I have seen some good shooting when guys have used a pump Remington 22. Lon Pennington has shot an old pump 22 and he shoots it well. Find a 22 you like and that groups well and have fun.

[Tlee]

Shot my first cowboy match this weekend using a borrowed rifle, and loved it! Was considering getting a rifle to shoot this. Found a used Marlin 39 for $650, but it's pretty old, from the 1950's I think. Henry H001T lever gun for $400, and was looking at the Henry H003T for but it's almost $600. Have a Williams reciever sight already. Figured If I get one of the Henry's, I'd get a Lyman Globe for the front. Any warnings, suggestions, or advice?

It's all a matter of personal preference. I have both and prefer shooting the 39a, but I can shoot the H001T about as well. My son and his girlfriend both prefer the Henrys.

If you want to buy a NEW rifle, then hands down, Henry is the clear winner, both from out of the box quality to factory support. The Marlin I have has been back to them 3 times and it's issues were never addressed by them... It's only shooting well now because someone OTHER than Marlin recognized the issue and was able to repair it.

One of my Henrys had an issue and the factory sent me a prepaid shipping box to return it to them. They repaired it and returned it to me, zero cost out of my pocket. They're also willing to sell or send me parts at no charge (I broke an extractor once and told them I could fix it if I just had the part... They shipped it out, no charge). I later purchased a spare extractor, firing pin, hammer, and springs from them. They sold them to me without hesitation. I've been trying to get the same spare parts from Marlin for over a year and they refuse to sell them to me.

Out of the box quality of Marlins has been on a steep decline in the past several years, so my advice is to only consider buying one that's older, AND that you can shoot a match or 2 with before laying down the money.

My .02,

-Tim

PS - if you find an older 39A for $300-400, if it doesn't shoot well then you should be able to sell it and get your money back pretty easily. Most of the good ones are $500+, but even that doesn't automatically mean it's a good shooter. Try whatever you get with a variety of ammo (mine prefers high velocity Federal and Fiocchi... Same as the Henrys).

[Tlee]

JD -

It occurs to me that one other Marlin might be worth considering.... albeit rather "non-traditional looking" as far as lever actions go... The Marlin model 57 Levermatic. Make sure it's the model 57 as it has a tube magazine. There is also a removable magazine version of the Levermatic that would NOT be legal for SBCLA (I cannot recall it's model # though).

I know a couple guys shooting the Model 57s in SBCLA and they seem to like them.
They have a nice long sight radius (24" barrel, I BELIEVE), and were manufactured prior to Marlin having the majority of their quality issues.

The only caveat, that I've heard from those that shoot them, is you should make sure that you like the trigger of one that you're considering buying, because there are some with good triggers and some with creepy triggers, and they are apparently more difficult to stone or modify than say a 39A or 1894.

-Tim

[boats]

I would avoid a new Marlin. Our club matches see way too many have problems.

With all the internet gun sites not hard to buy a nice 1950's vintage. Go to the Marlin Collectors web site and download the year of manufacture document so you know what you are buying. My two 39A's are a "K" not micro grove and "L" micro grove. Either one is a very good shooting rifle. Thousands of rounds through L broke a firing pin perhaps 20 years ago K which is new to me replaced the ejector spring when I first set it up, Thats all they have ever needed.

On the bench beside target .22's they won't shoot groups with Anschutz bolt guns or Douglas barreled Single shots, however they will suprise you with how well they will shoot.

Boats