Your smoothest, most reliable gun

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:53 pm

I don't shoot my guns a lot but as best I can tell my smoothest feeding and probably most reliable guns are my Browning model 71 with 348 Win. cartridge and my pre-64 model 70 Winchester with 270 Win, cartridge.

Although I know I and many here have no problem whatever with the model 86 Browning and Winchesters feeding the heavy 45-70 cartridge/bullet but seems to me the tapered and less nose heavy 348 cartridge in the model 71 is better balanced and makes for more reliable feeding. The model 70 and 270 are just a flat-out smooth feeding combination.

What's your most reliable, smoothest feeding guns? (Shouldn't we exclude the single-shots?

)

Don

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:07 pm

My NKJ slicked-up Rossi 92.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:17 pm

Marlin 39A, 1967 model, very used when I got it about 10 years ago, have put at least 35,000 rounds through it , has never stuttered.

Steelbanger · Post by **Steelbanger** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:22 pm

Marlin 336 CB, 38-55. Just about 5,500 rounds through it and smooth as silk.

rossim92 · Post by **rossim92** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:37 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:My NKJ slicked-up Rossi 92.

I have a rossi too. Not bad with the action , but I think i will get nkj to slick it up when works picks up this fall.

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:12 pm

I am very partial to my Uberti-made 1876 in .45-60 and 1873 in .32-20. Both feed and function very smoothly and after giving them each a trigger job are a pleasure to shoot.

SHASTA

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:16 pm

Smoothest by far is my Marlin 1889 in 44-40 manufactured in 1892

stew71 · Post by **stew71** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:18 pm

I'd have to say my 30 yr-old Mossberg 500 duck gun. Goes bang every time, eats anything I put through it, and hasn't jammed except when I do something stupid like drop it in the rice paddy mud

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:29 pm

I'd say it's my Marlin 1894c, shot the most and never a problem, feels slick and reliable, now has a hair trigger to boot.

My 336's are close but are occasionally stiff.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:34 pm

I have a Mauser 98 mannlicher stocked sporter thats right slick . Also a circa 1964 Remington 700BDL 06 thats right slick .

But maybe by a small amount my little old mid 1990's vintage Remington Model 7 in 260 REM is the slickest I own . Or could it be that early 1960's Mannlicher Schoenauer 308 rifle .Of course some of those old 444 Marlin's I have are pretty easy on the lever hand as well !

Hells bells I dunno , they all suit me pretty well !

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:19 pm

1926 winchester model 92 in 38-40....most accurate too!

new pig hunter · Post by **new pig hunter** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:39 pm

my 1979 Winchester BigBore94 (.375 Winchester). I still cannot believe how smoothly & effortlessly the action moves that long cartridge from the magazine tube into the chamber.

Cheers,

Carl

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:53 pm

Levers? No doubt the 9422 and 9422M. That 1951 Win 94 is most definately smooth, but I have not run ammo thru it. The 88/.284 is real sweet, as well. I have a Model 72 that I can run the bolt as fast as a lever....

COSteve · Post by **COSteve** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:58 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:My NKJ slicked-up Rossi 92.

+ 2 (For both my Rossis.)

While I followed Nate's DVD and installed the parts myself instead of having him do it, the end result is the same. They are both sweet.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:59 pm

Shasta wrote:I am very partial to my Uberti-made 1876 in .45-60 and 1873 in .32-20. Both feed and function very smoothly and after giving them each a trigger job are a pleasure to shoot.

SHASTA

Not my favorite gun but my Henry 22 lever by far has the smoothest action.

msmith1228 · Post by **msmith1228** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:09 pm

Remington 572 pump that I bought for $60.00.
Mack

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:16 pm

Well, I guess I'd have to say the first AK-47 I bought years ago because it's never malfunctioned even once in over 20 years, the action is loosy-goosy and incredibly easy to deal with, and it's even got a good trigger on it (go figure). But back to the realm of reasonableness I'll say my Winchester 92 clones, with my Chiappa 92 in Colt 45 as my fav.

Oly

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:35 pm

1950's Rem 760 Carbine in'06

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:02 pm

Nothing slicker and smoother than a Krag.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:14 pm

Charles wrote:Nothing slicker and smoother than a Krag.

That's for sure! Mine is "as issued" and it's the smoothest working action I've ever had.
Second would be my custom '03 tied with my 1886 in .33WCF.

jb

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:28 pm

My Winchester 9422 is the smoothest and it goes BANG every time no matter what type of ammo I use LR, L or S. of any make......

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:29 pm

Glock 27

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:41 pm

My 375 Winchester is the best of the bunch in the Levers
and its the newest

Bolt guns is my 300 H&H 721 Rem

ollogger

Marvin S · Post by **Marvin S** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:49 pm

RIHMFIRE wrote:1926 winchester model 92 in 38-40....most accurate too!

Must be something with them Mod 92 1926 MFG 38WCF's mine is a real sweetheart also.

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:44 pm

Pitchy,

In my experience, though I never owned one, the Henry 22 lever gun may be the easiest and smoothest I've ever tried. I handled one in a sporting goods store one time.

Actually it's a bit of 'apples and oranges' when we compare the little rim-fires with the center-fires.

I had a Winchester 94/22 and it was smooth. May have another but this time in MRF. I think it's as good as it gets--and it says WINCHESTER on it too!

The model 92 Brownings and Winchesters are lovely little guns. Also as good as it gets. Expect I'll bite the bullet and pay too much for another Browning in 357 mag. Should have kept the first one.

Don

JDL · Post by **JDL** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:26 pm

My BLR in lever action and Mannlicher-Schoenauer in bolt action.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:27 pm

1972 20" 12ga Ithaca Deerslayer Deluxe
Absolutely like butter and most reliable of anything I got.

ps---have a 1972 Winchester 70 (Featherweight).243 that is extremely smooth.

But----I have come to the idea of having several Win 70's (I hate the safeties)

Should be able to shoulder a gun,bring it to arms and not have the safety OFF!

I am careful as anyone else on handling them(but maybe its just me)but they can easily brush against a coat etc.and you look at it and It's switched to fire. (pain in the butt)maybe several of mine just switch to easy??????????
That .243 and my 1980 XTR 70 in 7MM Mag have to watch it. (the 1987 300 Win Mag/works much harder and seems better)???

geobru · Post by **geobru** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:56 pm

Smoothest big bore is a pre-64 model 88 in 308.
Most reliable, 70's vintage BLR, also in 308.

Smoothest rim fire, 9422M

toby · Post by **toby** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:07 pm

Hate to say it, but my 10/22 is after getting a little slicked up. After that it would be my Nylon 66.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:17 pm

game keeper wrote:My Winchester 9422 is the smoothest and it goes BANG every time no matter what type of ammo I use LR, L or S. of any make......

mine too!.....very slick action

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:18 pm

Never really gave it much thought until you asked the question, but if I really am truthful it would be my BL-92 in .357 mag and its little brother the BL-22 (.22). Both are under the Browning name and I have had both for about 20 years. They started smooth and reliable and have just gotten better with a little age.

I've got a couple of old Winchester 94's that aren't bad either. My two smoothest handguns are probably my S&W Mdl. 29 (.44 mag) and my S&W Mdl. 18 (.22). Guess I'll have to do a little more testing. Good excuse to go to the range.

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:20 am

Browning BL-22...my personal best...Ruger LCR-357, the double action is amazing... :)

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:08 am

My Gen3 Glock 17. Pure reliability.

But my Rossi 92 is getting slicker by the day.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:38 am

Believe it or not, my '94 .375 Win top eject has the sweetest action. You can almost breathe on the lever and make it cycle, the trigger has a crisp break at 2.5# of pull.

Probably second on the list is a 1917 Gustav M96 Swedish Mauser in 6.5 X 55, slick action an absolute tack driver too.

Have had to replace the barrel once on the '94 BB, but only after it had chucked over 15k of jacketed bullets out it. Probably have another 5k or so since, still spot on too.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:40 am

1979 Manufactured Marlin 444S

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:16 am

Rifles: Tie between older Interarms Rossi 92 SRC 44 Mag, always slicker n'--but smoothed even further with time, and a ca 1954 M94. Browning 92s and 86 very smooth but also very low mileage.

Pistolas? Tie again, between my .32 Vaqueritos (take your pick) and USFA Rodeo .44 Sp--both tuned just so. The low mileage Rodeo (and very low mileage - as in none - SAA .44 Sp ca 2008, also tuned) the king of slick. Snick snick

Various Montado, Sheriff, and Vs /NVs also tuned 'n very smooth,...all good so far with high future expectations, but not enough mileage yet to reach the above guns' lofty status. They'll get there!

Reliablility honorable mention: 6-44 Inland M1 Carbine in the family since NIB 1945. Nary a hiccup in 67 years other than with some junk "commercial" reloads in the 70s and a few early (70s-80s) import mags.

willygene · Post by **willygene** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:02 pm

My Rossi 92in 357 16inch trapper

gak · Post by **gak** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:13 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote:Believe it or not, my '94 .375 Win top eject has the sweetest action. You can almost breathe on the lever and make it cycle, the trigger has a crisp break at 2.5# of pull....

My friend's .375 BB is also a sweetie as you describe. And that's with very low miles.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:47 pm

1907 Win 92 32-20

like buttah.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Tue May 01, 2012 4:59 pm

I guess the smoothest and most reliable has to be my Uberti '73 in 44-40 although I have a Winchester '92 in 32-20 that's been to NKJ and is dead reliable and very smooth for a '92. It's just not possible for a 92 to be as slick as a '73.

tman · Post by **tman** » Tue May 01, 2012 5:39 pm

Have both the .375 BigBore and the model 71. Got to agree!

Martini450 · Post by **Martini450** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:27 pm

My '57 Winchester 94 30WCF, inherited from dad, definitely wins for smoothest action, although I have a Krag that comes awfully close; kind of hard to compare a bolt with a lever. As far as reliablility goes they pretty much all go bang whenever you squeeze the trigger, and nothing I have has any problems with feeding.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:03 pm

I reckon it is my 1892 Winchester 32wcf made in 1917. I have been shooting that rifle since the early 1950's, smooth and slick.

Batman1939 · Post by **Batman1939** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:32 pm

Pitchy wrote:
Not my favorite gun but my Henry 22 lever by far has the smoothest action.

I agree with you on both counts Pitchy--not my favorite, but likely my smoothest.

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:33 pm

Of what I presently own I would have to say my Savage 99F. Feed slick and I don't feel the cock on lock of the action as I usuall cycle quickly and don't feel the extra resistance. My 9422 that I sold was slicker though.

Nicknack · Post by **Nicknack** » Wed May 02, 2012 2:52 am

Mine would have to be my Winchester model 92 32 WCF made in 1926 with a 24'' original Winchester octagon stainless steel barrel and it shoots very tight groups,and is slick as.
I would never sell it as my kids would disown me as they all want it left to one of them when i depart this world.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Thu May 03, 2012 4:50 am

My most reliable gun ever would have been my old 9422 which I sold about 18 years ago. It was as accurate as I could wish for with Powerpoint ammo and I don't recall it ever failing me in 10s of 1000 of rounds, even when I was using it to commercially harvest rabbits, which involved 200 - 300 rounds per day 6 days a week.

Today, not including revolvers, I own a 4 year old 39A, an 1894CL in 32-20, and an 1894 Cowboy in 357.
I'd swap the 39A for one that's 20 or more years older and give the other guy $100 into the bargain. I have only recently started with the 32-20 but am rapidly growing very fond of it. I love the feel of the 357 cowboy and it has not missed a beat in several 1000 rounds, but its refusal to do a good job with cast ammo dulls the appeal somewhat, but I live in hope.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri May 04, 2012 3:21 am

My Colt SAAs. The workings feel like they're made of oiled glass.

For long guns... it'd have to be my M-1. Effortless.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:50 am

For smooth and accurate, nothing I own beats my original Winchester 1895 38-72.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Fri May 04, 2012 11:26 am

The little EMF-Hartford model 92 in .357mag. who ever worked on it had a gift,smooth as silk with a reciver sight on it its just like shooting a scope.

.