RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

longrifle i dunno about you but i do not consider the 22-250 or 243 "lever action calibers"

the BLR is the only exception

Thats just the way I comprehended his post.

If your set on a long range(200 yard+) lever gun go with a BLR.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

Sighted in 2" high at 100 yards the typical 170 grain .30-30 load ought to be zeroed at 150 and only 5" low at 200, A center of the chest hold at that range would result in a good hit. The deer would definetly die, even if some folks doen't think much of the bullets energy at that renge. It don't affect me much I can't see well enough at 200 yards to shoot anything other than paper with iron sights. [X(]
For something really hot a Savage 99 in .300 Savage or .308 Winchester is pretty good, If you don't like either design you still run across bib bore 94s at gun shows and the .307 is the cartridge every .30-30 wishes it was with 300 fps more velocity with any bullet weight. The BLR is available in 7mm Mag.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

I certainly see where you are coming from. The Savage lever rifle along with the winchester model 88 are also other options that were chambered to non traditional lever cartridges. But those can be trick to find.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

You can get the 308 also in the Browning Lever gun. I had one in 7mm-08. It has been made in almost all the modern calibers. I see quite a few Savage lever guns at gun shows. I had a few of those, 300 Savage and 243 as well as the old takedown 303 Savage.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

You have been misinformed. The 30/30 is most definitely good past 100yds. In fact, if the rifle is accurate enough the 30/30 can realistically be used out to 200yds., but should probably be kept within 150yds. for best results.
Now, for longer range use, and for use with more powerful cartridges, you can get a Browning BLR in std. chamberings such as 243Win., 308Win., etc., or even in magnum
such as 7mmRem.Mag.
Another option is to find a good used Savage 99 in 308Win., or an old Winchester 88 in
308Win.
My personal favorite would be a Marlin in 356Win. Unfortunately, sales weren't what they hoped for, and that model was discontinued. The Marlin, I think, is about the best of the "traditional" style lever actions to be had, and the 356Win. had enough power to take on about any game in the lower 48 out to 200yds. (maybe 250). If you can find a good used one, and not have to pay an arm&leg for it, go for it. Ammo is still available from Winchester (200gr.).
Given what's available in the way of new lever actions I'd take a Marlin 30/30, and put a
Weaver 1-3x scope on it (or maybe a Leupold 1-4x). I'd not feel handicapped at all for shots on most deer sized game out to 200yds.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

Excluding hot handloads, I would look at the 450 Marlin. It wouldn't be too hard to get your dope on up to 200 yards. Enjoy.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

Nothing wrong with a 30-30 to 200 yards, IMO. The bigger question I have is WHY do you want a lever to shoot 'long range' as you call it?

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

gopher slayer,
If you could find a lever in .284 winchester you'd be filling the task you asked for in your first post in this thread. There are others that would do fine...but the .284 doeseverything the .280 can and in a slightly shorter package. a Model 88 in .284 would be REAL sweet...if you can find one for a decent price...that will be the hardest part.

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

Out of the lever guns I have I would think the ones that shoot flat enough to be a "200 yard gun" would be my .348 win model 71, my 45-70 1895 but that is hand loaded hot, my .300 savage 99 and a blr in .308 ..there are many others that I don't have. there are many older ones that have been discontinued, like .356,.358, .33.35 and many more ..Bill

RE: Best cal. of the leavers?
 

Browning makes lever guns in .243 and .308, those are both good performers.