Suggest a lever

[Bigjobss]

So I have been getting the missus involved in shooting recently and have decided that she needs her very own rifle.

I have decided on a lever because she is a lefty (handed, not politically) so we can both use it, but it is "her gun", I wont be putting a scope on it while she learns, I wasnt allowed a scope for my first few years and I agree with waiting.
She is only about 5'3" so something smaller and low recoil, only targets for her so cheap to feed and low recoil, probably a rimfire, not a .22lr as I already have one.

Any ideas on what to get? Under $1k, dont mind older/second hand.
Any newer leavers in rimfire with box magazines? If I was getting a 22 magnum variant I would prefer to make the most and use spitzer projectiles.

Cheers

[Daddybang]

Henry golden boy in .17hmr?
Not sure about price

[duncan61]

I had a brand new Lever Ruger in 17 HMR.It was about $700

[Bigjobss]

Thats a purdy little gun that would appeal to the missus, good suggestion

[Bigjobss]

I had a brand new Lever Ruger in 17 HMR.It was about $700

Why did you get rid of it?

[gunnnie]

Don't knock an older Winchester Model 92 in 32-20 or 25-20. Load these with cast pills and moderate loads won't knock your other half around with recoil. Plus there's the history aspect of using such a rifle & cartridge combo. You both can shoot classic cal lever silhouette with it also.

My missus is not a recoil fan either. So I started her with an old Erma 22lr lever. From there I've bought her a Mod92 44-40 made in 1897 & most recently a Mod94 commemorative Chief Crazy Horse in 38-55. I reload using cast pills and TrailBoss which produces moderate loads that my wife can handle easily off the firing bench.

The other option is even a 22mag or even a 357Mag.

There's plenty of options. See if there's anyone around with levers in varying cals, that your missus could try a few rounds through.

[Bigjobss]

Cheers Gunnie.
The missus is fond of antiques so an older firearm is on the radar, we have borrowed an old winchester 22wmr from a mate but she hasnt had a chance to use it yet, my only problem is oldies with tube fed mags and pointy bullets dont like eachother BUT a 357mag is something I havent thought of yet, that could be real cool.

[duncan61]

When I lived out the bush in the Gascoyne the tourist park operator covetted it and I sold it to him.When I purchased it I had no centrefire rifles now I have heaps

[Noisydad]

Don't knock an older Winchester Model 92 in 32-20 or 25-20. Load these with cast pills and moderate loads won't knock your other half around with recoil. Plus there's the history aspect of using such a rifle & cartridge combo. You both can shoot classic cal lever silhouette with it also.

My missus is not a recoil fan either. So I started her with an old Erma 22lr lever. From there I've bought her a Mod92 44-40 made in 1897 & most recently a Mod94 commemorative Chief Crazy Horse in 38-55. I reload using cast pills and TrailBoss which produces moderate loads that my wife can handle easily off the firing bench.

The other option is even a 22mag or even a 357Mag.

There's plenty of options. See if there's anyone around with levers in varying cals, that your missus could try a few rounds through.

I'll second this motion - any of these will suit her very well. Plus if you hunt around you may well pick up an original Winchester lever gun which are a pretty cool piece to own and use!

[in2anity]

Don't knock an older Winchester Model 92 in 32-20 or 25-20. Load these with cast pills and moderate loads won't knock your other half around with recoil. Plus there's the history aspect of using such a rifle & cartridge combo. You both can shoot classic cal lever silhouette with it also.

My missus is not a recoil fan either. So I started her with an old Erma 22lr lever. From there I've bought her a Mod92 44-40 made in 1897 & most recently a Mod94 commemorative Chief Crazy Horse in 38-55. I reload using cast pills and TrailBoss which produces moderate loads that my wife can handle easily off the firing bench.

The other option is even a 22mag or even a 357Mag.

There's plenty of options. See if there's anyone around with levers in varying cals, that your missus could try a few rounds through.

I'll second this motion - any of these will suit her very well. Plus if you hunt around you may well pick up an original Winchester lever gun which are a pretty cool piece to own and use!

I’ll third the 32-20 - they are surprisingly accurate for (originally) an old BP cartridge, and just perfect if you want mild recoil with a bit more heft. Only problem is, you really gotta handload for them...

[Bent Arrow]

A 32-20 or 25-20 would be nice choices, factory ammo is pretty expensive so you would want to be reloading......

[Slant225]

My missus has a thing for lever guns and is of slight build. She has a Winchester 1873 in 357mag, but the soft steel recoil pad on the butt was doing her shoulder no favours with factory loads. 10 rounds and she'd be done.
She tried some "wild west" factory loads from S&B with some success. The real winner though is the Trailboss loads with 125gr flat nose lead projectiles I loaded up for her. They recoil like a 22!! She loves it!
Her latest purchase is a BSA martini lever action in 310 cadet. Another low recoil load.
Both would meet the requirements of an "antique" looking firearm.

[wrenchman]

a henry steel boy or yellow boy or marlin in 357

[slickncghia]

A cadet would be an interesting option.

Or a nice cheap Rossi 357 might be more versatile.
Trail boss for her. Hotloads for some hunting use

[Bigjobss]

Good tips fellas, cheers.
357 sounds like a great idea, and the missus can also shoot .38 if the .357 isnt to her liking.

[cracker]

44-40 is pretty low recoil... the factory pistol loads are really low recoil

[Hangfire]

Henry 22lr got my lefty wife one put a red dot on it and she loves it. Easy to shoot fun plinker

[ausbushman]

A Marlin 1894m 22 mag if you can get one, very small and accurate, awesome little rifle

[Tripod]

A Marlin 1894m 22 mag if you can get one, very small and accurate, awesome little rifle

Not exactly something that most people will ever find in their local gunshop though is it.

[ausbushman]

A Marlin 1894m 22 mag if you can get one, very small and accurate, awesome little rifle

Not exactly something that most people will ever find in their local gunshop though is it.

Exactly, only ever seen 2 for sale in Australia, I am just showing off

[gunnnie]

Actually that's a good one also -310Cadet. I have two of these & the missus hasn't shot them yet. Will have to take one to the range next visit so she can try it out. All of the pistol calibre levers will be about ideal & honestly, reloading is the only way to go.
Combining history with the reloading & use of these rifles is an experience in itself.
If your missus finds that the steel buttplates are a tad uncomfortable, check out Limbsaver for a slip on buttpad. I have one that my missus uses when the 38-55 gets a bit much. The loads for it are a Westcasting 235gn pill over 18gn of 2207.
The Mod92 44-40 has a Spartan .430" 200gn pill over 11gns of TrailBoss. My Mod 92 32-20 with a medium heavy Sprinter barrel, uses Redback 90gn pills over 12gns of AR2205. The 310Cadets use 122gn HRCB heeled pills over 3.7gns of AP70N.

All shoot very well in our rifles with no problems. The missus can handle the loads for her rifles and would certainly handle these loads in the other rifles. The missus has even expressed interest in helping me reload ammo for her rifles. So it's been a win-win situation for me in more ways than one!

[Tripod]

A Marlin 1894m 22 mag if you can get one, very small and accurate, awesome little rifle

Not exactly something that most people will ever find in their local gunshop though is it.

Exactly, only ever seen 2 for sale in Australia, I am just showing off

Haven't even fired mine yet.

[ausbushman]

A Marlin 1894m 22 mag if you can get one, very small and accurate, awesome little rifle

Not exactly something that most people will ever find in their local gunshop though is it.

Exactly, only ever seen 2 for sale in Australia, I am just showing off

Haven't even fired mine yet.

Great little rifle, 22 mag ammo is a bit expensive

[gunnnie]

Missus & I spent the morning at Ripley range. I loaded up some 245gn cast pills over 7gns of TrailBoss for her to try. She loved it, not as much kick as the 2207 load & it shot almost to the same point at 50m. So the wife's happy now.