In levers, Winchester is the name to beat. It's not that they make the best, it's just that it's the brand most identified with lever action rifles and so it commands the highest resale prices. Marlin makes a very good lever, as does Browning. The Henry is also a terrific rifle, and it's all made in America, and they have several different models to fit fashion (beautiful brass) or function (flat black for hunting). If you find an old Savage 99, those are terrific rifles and a bit unique in that they use a rotary magazine. In a used Winchester, you really, really want a pre-1964 rifle. After that, they changed to cheap parts and design to try to lower the price, and the rifles aren't as nice - and also not nearly as pricy.
One thing to look for is how the rifle ejects. If it ejects out the top, that makes it hard to mount a scope. (That is, if you want to mount a scope.)
As for caliber, pistol calibers are fun to plink and shoot small game. Rimfires are also fun for that. If you want to hunt larger animals, then I highly recommend the venerable .30-30. It's the oldest smokeless cartridge, and it has probably dropped more legitimate deer than all other calibers combined. (The .22 has dropped the most deer, as that's the midnight poacher's choice.) The 30-30 is easy to shoot, does a great job out to at least 150 yards, and is not expensive. If you decide to reload, Hodgdon has a powder called Leverevolution that is specifically made for lever action rifles and will give you absolute maximum velocity without high pressure. Varget and several other powders work really well also. Stick with round-nosed bullets for safety's sake, unless you are using a Savage 99. (Yes, I'm fully aware that someone will swear there's no safety problem with pointed bullets in a tubular magazine. I'm not willing to take that chance, so I will stick to - and recommend - round noses. Besides, within 30-30 range, you don't need spitzers.) Avoid the sabot rounds that may still be lurking out there. Everyone jumped on that bandwagon in the 1980's and nobody found them to be any better than regular bullets. Likewise, don't go too crazy on larger calibers. It's a light rifle by design and recoil can be brutal. Stick with the range of calibers it was designed for.
Someone mentioned that he had a post-64 rifle and it was "good enough". There ARE things that a good gunsmith (or even a patient amateur) can do with a lever action rifle to make it work more smoothly. Check out YouTube for videos of some of the cowboy action shooters. Those lever rifles are super smooth!! A little polishing here and there can change a rifle from mediocre to fantastic in pretty short order.
Lastly, don't buy a lever action rifle just because you're scared the bullies in Washington are going to confiscate your semiautomatics. Buy one because it's lightweight, reliable, and fun to shoot.
I thought about mentioning that, but I was already on the verge of turning a response into a novel.You are aware that the leverevolution powder is for loading leverevolution ammo, right? View attachment 183713 pointy flex tip rounds are perfectly safe and seriously extend the flat shooting range of the 30-30
Damn hoss.I guess it depends on what you want to use it for
30-30 has been uses doe hunting doe a long time.
Personally I went with a 16 inch 357 m92 rossi.
I like the ability to top load if necessary.
16 inch is a very convenient weapon.
Parred with a ruger security or seevice six and you've got most of your bases covered .
I recently picked up a coonan 357 as a retirement gift to myself. Sweet 7 rounds easy to shoot and quick to reload.
This. On my need list.Marlin 1895 Dark in 45-70 will be the next lever gun I buy. Look it up. they also have them in 30-30.