Anyone have suggestions, I've never owned one but interested in getting one probably not hunting but western style for targets

I suggest the new Ruger Marlin model 1894 in 38 Spl/357 mag.

Win model 94- time tested. The marlin knockoff is good too.

I have a pre safety marlin in 357 mag and enjoy it. I also have a 1979 39a marlin that's fun. No idea on any of the quality in the new models.

I’m a BLR fan. I have a .300 WSM and a .308. My son has five of them. My two are at a gunsmith now, I’m finally getting the triggers cut to three pounds.

I agree the new Ruger/Marlin in 38/357 would be a good option unless you already shoot 45lc or 44mag

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model_70410/

the Winchesters and Marlins started going for crazy money

if you were into hunting with it then something heavier hitting than 38spl would make sense but if you want to just have some fun and shoot 38spl will get you there and be fun and

Any comments on 45-70s

Ruger Marlin 1895 trapper would be my choice. Lots of great reviews.

it is great if your going after game or bear protection.

just for fun shooting $$ and recoil

Start with what you want to do with it , what attributes are desirable , what are undesirable

I would love to find a way to justify the Ruger/Marlin Trapper 45-70 or guide gun

I may just do it some day when I have the $$ just because but they are not cheap to shoot.

45-70 ammo starts at 2 dollars a round and 3-5 dollars a round is rather common

44mag gets you 50 rounds for about the same money as 20 rounds of 45-70
38spl will get you 100 rounds for about the same money as 20 rounds of 45-70

I have 2 .One is a model 94 win. and the other is a model 99 savage. I've been eyeballing a Henry 308 for quite some time but it's a little spendy. Oops forgot, I also have a Henry 22 that I really like it's my go to trapping gun.

I have a JM stainless 45-70 that I carry when riding my saddle mules/horses for bear protection, (we're in grizzly country here) it punishes on both ends when the trigger is dropped. That being said if you do any reloading , reduced loads can make it pleasant and more affordable to shoot.

You only said targets so why not start with a .22?

Savage 99’s

… you’ll shoot your eye out kid

The 9422M is the ticket for me. Cycle one slowly and listen to it. Also the Henry's are fun and available. and come with a complimentary eye patch.

If you're just wanting a lever action to play with and target shoot; go and buy one of those Henry .22 lever actions.
Unless you load, target shooting with any kind of center fire is going to get expensive real quick in this day and time.

45-70? Factory shells will cost you couple of bucks a piece.
IF you load and IF you have the stuff to cast your own bullets and IF you scrounge your lead for free you can load that 45 70 for 15 cents a round or so. The cost of a primer and powder.

If you don't already have all that equipment and the knowledge to use it there will be quite a cash outlay and learning curve though.

Following.

I want one too.

Already have reloading setups for 30-06 and Colt 45 but I'd be open to other calibers too.

I'm leaning towards Henry, but that's also not set in stone.

I would use it for shooting whatever needs shot, which might include deer, coyote (not worried about the fur), hogs or people,

My boy has killed quite a few deer with his Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine in .44 mag. He really likes it.

It's a beautiful looking gun and a sweet shooter in a compact version that is very handy.

I Love my Winchester 1894’s! 25-35, 30-30, 32 Spl & 38-55. I have acquired a few more since this picture was taken. All are 100 plus years old and still work like a Gatling Gun! Plus 30-30 ammo is the cheapest of all to shoot.

if you reload for 45colt then 45 is a very good way to go
holds a good number of rounds
45 will take a deer, hog , coyote or man

45 isn't a long range cartridge but inside 100 yards no problem

I never had a lever gun. But living here, it would be wrong not to have one. So after doing some research I ended up with a Mod 94 Winchester in 30-30. I thought it is not easy to get more Americana than that. Folks may argue about that but it works for me. Mine is from 1948

For plinking be hard to beat the Henry lineup. For hunting opportunities the BLR is pretty hard to beat ! Far more versatile caliber selection.

This would be a possible route to go if you're just wanting a "classic" levergun to go bang with on the cheap.

https://chuckhawks.com/puma_92_carbine.htm

Those rossi 92 copies aren't as cool as original winchesters or as "authentic" as some of the Italian repros but they can be found for a good price and for the most part check all the boxes.

even those are up to about 750+ for a hundred more you can be in a henry

I thought about those and back when they were 400 and all the others were 6-700 for a 357 , 44 , 45 lever gun they made more sense.

of course back then you could get a post 1964 model 94 for about 350-400 and a 336 used in the Glenfield wood for 250-300

Love those old Winchester rifles. Beautiful pile of guns you have there.

45/70? I have the Marlin Guide Gun in one. Love that rifle, short, light, easy to pack and very comfortable to shoot. Those that go on about 45/70 recoil either have never shoot one or are shooting Buffalo Bore or similar loads. Most factory 45/70 ammo is anemic due to all the old trapdoor rifles around that it is unsafe to shoot any even relatively high pressure loads in. I hand load for mine, usually either 405 grain bulk Remington corelocs or 405 cast bullets I cast myself. For reference the "factory duplication load" in most reloading manuals is 33 grains of 4198 for a 405 grain projectile. I load 39 grains with the corelocs to get them to expand properly (the factory loads don't mushroom at all, the jacket is too thick for the velocities generated) and anywhere from 33 to 39 grains with the cast bullets. In a six and a half pound gun recoil is MUCH lighter than my Savage 99 in 308, I would say felt recoil is on par with your average lightweight 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Marlin first introduced their guide gun in 45/70 and 450 Marlin with a ported barrel, they had so many complaints they soon dropped that feature. I would never recommend getting one with a ported barrel, they are absolute ear breakers and not only is there no noticeable difference in recoil, Marlin never claimed there to be any. The ports were designed to reduce muzzle flip, I've yet to shoot a lever action rifle (or any other manual action) where there was enough muzzle flip to slow me down getting back on target after chambering the next round.

Other than the ported model I can highly recommend the Guide Gun, but then I've been happy with every Marlin lever gun I have shot except the ported ones. Savage 99s were also a very nice lever gun, although they do tend to have more felt recoil than other models chambered in the same caliber. Brownings are very nice, and come in Magnum calibers. Winchester 94s, are traditional, and the old ones are generally very smooth, it is an inherently weak action though so if you like pushing the envelope with hot loads, steer clear. Nothing wrong with Henry's, but in my opinion they are overpriced for what they are. If you are looking at rimfires there are lots of good ones out there, but Ruger made one in 22 and 22 magnum that looks like a lever action 10/22 that is accurate, reliable and will feel comfortable and familiar to anyone used to a 10/22.

My old Marlin 336 30-30 shoots a 1/2 inch group at 100 yards all day long with the Leupold 1x4 scope I have on it.Not bad for a carbine brush gun.Winchester Power Points 170 grain.Killed a mountain of deer with it over the past 40 years.