Top lever-action rifles for Texas hogs

[nightraven8]

Top lever-action rifles for Texas hogs? Best .30-30 options for brush country with quick follow-up shots? I would appreciate some suggestions.

 

[MikeR]

Find you a Marlin 336 and be happy.

 

[LDB]

Henry should always be on the "suspects list".

 

[DonD]

Get a REAL lever action. S&Ws 1854 that handles full power 45-70, more than enough for anthing in N. America.

 

[BrotherHubb]

Marlin 336 35 Remington is pretty effective on hogs and deer. 45-70 is effective but way more recoil. 44 Mag will work if short range.

 

[Drycreek]

Depends I guess on personal preference. I have three Henry lever guns, a .45 Colt, a .41 Magnum, and a .22 WMR. Any of them will kill a hog if you hit him well. I really like the Henrys, they are the most accurate lever guns I have ever had, and I’ve had a few. But…….if I want to get serious about hog killing, I grab my AR in 6.8 SPC or another in 7.62x39.

 

[Bull]

Before I went primitive my go to gun was a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington.

I can also recommend the Marlin 1894 models. Any hot loaded .44 magnum, .45 Colt WILL dispatch hogs quite well. One thing to note is that Marlin chose a slow twist rate for it's .44 magnum chambered rifles. The 240 grain factory standard offerings shoot well but anything heavier and hotter may not.
I got lucky and found an old Marlin in .44 in a pawn shop. That had a relined barrel. It would handle Buffalo Bore 320 grain .44 mag ammo very well and was amazingly accurate shooting very heavy bullets.

It is my opinion that everyone should own a rifle in 30-30 as it's just too handy in so many situations. However, choose the right bullet for it. I cannot recommend the Power Point. In my experience that bullet will not reliably expand.

 

[Mschroeder40]

Henry model x 30-30

 

[scooter1954]

Henry model x 30-30
View attachment 243

Oh my, thats a mighty fine looking weapon.

 

[Bull]

Find you a Marlin 336 and be happy.

The Marlin 336 C chambered in 30-30 can be purchased at nearly every pawn shop across the nation for a reasonable price. Hardwood stock or Walnut, they shoot the same, just a little price difference. Best to buy one that is pre Remington buyout. Stamped JM on the barrel. Yes, don't buy a Remain so to speak.

Also, chose a good bullet for it. I won't recommend the Winchester Power Point. But,the Hornady Flex Tip, PMC Stare fire https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pmc+eldor...s.gunauction.com/7424082033/Picture%20256.jpg

Winchester Silver tip do get favorable notes from me and I've used them all with great success. Good luck and let us know your results.

 

[dennyntx]

I can only use straight wall cartridges where I hunt so I use a stainless 24 in. Octagon barrel Rossi .357 Magnum get the job done

 

[GaryS]

If I get another opportunity to hunt hogs, I'll be bringing my Marlin 336C in .30-30.

 

[Bull]

I also loved the fact that I could carry the same ammo in my Rugeer Vaqueros. The extra barrel length of a rifle really transforms pistol cartridges.

 

[dennyntx]

I also loved the fact that I could carry the same ammo in my Rugeer Vaqueros. The extra barrel length of a rifle really transforms pistol cartridges.

That's what I like I have .357 stainless blackhawk and the .357 Rossi just having the one ammo is definitely nice

 

[Wendell Reich]

Why top eject?

Anyway, I have a G-force 357 mag. It was cheap. $550 or so. Worth every penny.

It is a great little gun. Im pretty impressed with it. Put a red dot on it, Aimpoint or Delta Point Pro or RMR. I put a cheap Vortex on it since it’s not a gun I use a lot for hunting. I put an Omega 36M on it and shoot the 38 spl which are subsonic.

I can give a thumbs up on this gun.

 

[Wendell Reich]

Ah. I misread the post. “Top” not “Top eject”

Ok, I have a Henry X in 45-70. It’s a good gun. Accurate. Looks sharp, only downside is that I don’t like the length. Wanna shorter one since they wear cans. So, I bought a Marlin 1895 Magpul edition, 45-70. I love this one. It’s sharp, the adjustable cheekrest, 6 round storage in the stock, and SiCo Hybrid 46 really helps with recoil. Even at max loads, this gun isn’t hard to shoot.

If I had to have one only, it would be the Marlin 1895, hands down. The stock and shorter barrel are the selling point, for me.

 

[Wendell Reich]

Top to bottom
Henry X 45-70 with Delta Point Pro
G-Force 357 with a Vortex red dot
Marlin 1895 45-70 w Magpul stock and Aimpoint PRO.

 

[Chief Snorkel]

My Rossi 92 in .45C will definitely get the job done with +p XTP Mag loads, but if you buy a Rossi, be prepared to do a bit of fiddling. Great rifle once sorted out. My Henry Big Boy, also .45C, only needed zeroing, and is a tack driver.

 

[Drycreek]

Do you load for your Henry .45 Colt or shoot factory ? I have one too but I haven’t shot it much at all.

 

[Chief Snorkel]

Do you load for your Henry .45 Colt or shoot factory ? I have one too but I haven't shot it much at all.

I hand load. 45 C ammo has been non existent in Lufkin for a long time.

 

[Drycreek]

I hand load. 45 C ammo has been non existent in Lufkin for a long time.

PM incoming

 

[Top 'O Texas]

Top to bottom
Henry X 45-70 with Delta Point Pro
G-Force 357 with a Vortex red dot
Marlin 1895 45-70 w Magpul stock and Aimpoint PRO.
View attachment 253


View attachment 250
View attachment 251
View attachment 252

Why is the RDS backwards on the second from top! Looks to be a delta point pro

 

[Wendell Reich]

Why is the RDS backwards on the second from top! Looks to be a delta point pro

Good eye. I set it on there for the picture and I set it on backwards.i had a Trijicon on there (mount still attached) but took it off to put on my 458 win mag.

 

[Top 'O Texas]

44 Mag ('84) is and was the only pistol cartridge I had until '15 when I bought a 9mm (Mod1 M/P), so that lead me too buying a Rossi 92 in 44 Mag. A really good gun, but wish it wasn't a top eject. Then in '17 through a 4H raffle I won a 1895 SBL in 45-70. Low recoil (or should I saw felt recoil) for a big cartridge. My 15 yo loves shooting it. When it comes to pigs/hogs around here you better bring a minigun, unless you only want to shoot 1!

 

[Drycreek]

44 Mag ('84) is and was the only pistol cartridge I had until '15 when I bought a 9mm (Mod1 M/P), so that lead me too buying a Rossi 92 in 44 Mag. A really good gun, but wish it wasn't a top eject. Then in '17 through a 4H raffle I won a 1895 SBL in 45-70. Low recoil (or should I saw felt recoil) for a big cartridge. My 15 yo loves shooting it. When it comes to pigs/hogs around here you better bring a minigun, unless you only want to shoot 1!

Yes, yes, ain’t we blessed with pork ! In case you don’t know, that would be sarcasm, if I never saw another one, I’d die a happy man !

 

[Top 'O Texas]

Yes, yes, ain’t we blessed with pork ! In case you don’t know, that would be sarcasm, if I never saw another one, I’d die a happy man !View attachment 275

They didn't bother the alfalfa, but tears up plenty of other summer crops. Feedyards hate them and for good reason! When we fed cattle in our feedyard the pigs would fill the bunks and eat what's in there and crap in the bunk.

 

[MrbigTexan]

I sure do like my Henry Long Ranger in 6.5 Creedmoor.