Brian894x4's FZJ80 build thread...part 2

[UCBerzerkeley]

I'm about to start reading the thread, but awesome, glad you decided to fill us in Brian. I actually checked the website today and was bummed to still see December as most recent update

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

Nice Winchester, making me want one. Any other comments you want to give about it? Something special about lever actions.

I have a question about that wooden box. So, I live in California. Naturally, any firearm needs to be in a locked container. Do you know if your box qualifies? Because I haven't figured out what I want to do about that scenario. What I do know is that my Remington 870 has never let me down and I hope never will

 

[Brian894x4]

Nice Winchester, making me want one. Any other comments you want to give about it? Something special about lever actions.

I have a question about that wooden box. So, I live in California. Naturally, any firearm needs to be in a locked container. Do you know if your box qualifies? Because I haven't figured out what I want to do about that scenario. What I do know is that my Remington 870 has never let me down and I hope never will

As far as the website, ya, I've really been neglecting it. Sorry about that and thanks for checking it. The reason has been lack of time and I've been working on a website for a railroad that I volunteer for. So I spend a lot of my spare time with that. Plus I get to run locomotives, so it's kind of new kick in the pants hobby of mine. But I promise I'll get back to the old website. I'm still doing what I always used to do, just haven't been able to document it as often as I used too. Here's my current railroad website, if anyone is interested....

www.oregonpacificrr.com

As far as the lever actions. I own a Winchester 94AE and a Marlin 1894. The Marline is hands down the better gun. Not even comparible. The Marlin has a tighter action, ejects and feeds much better and is just better built all around. The Winchester feels like a fairly cheap gun and the action is pretty loose, by design. The angle eject design is horrible and it really has a problem ejecting certain rounds, whereas the Marlin will eject anything.

However, both the Marlin and Winchesters are getting extremely hard to find, especially in .357. If you want a lever action and find a good deal, I'd still pick up a Winchester.

An alternative is the Rossi/Puma version which are fairly common. I'm not a fan of Brazilian made guns, but the Rossi/Pumas can be found in stainless and that would be REALLY nice to have. The Rossi Pumas seemed to be based on the 1892 Winchester design. I have no idea how reliable the Rossi/Pumas are. The stainless looks really nice and they feel nice to hold, but the feed ramp looks like it might be plastic...but hard to tell. In any case, if it was more reliable than my Winchester, I'd trade it for one in a heartbeat.

In the end, I don't think I would turn down any of the three guns. But Marlin is by far the best if you can find one. If you want shorter barrel (18" in the case of the marlin) and .357, the correct model number is Marlin 1894c or sometimes Marline 1894cs.

As far as the storage box...the African Outback drawer is lockable, so if all the state requires is a lockable and secure container that is either not easily accessible to the driver or is bolted to the rig, I would think this qualifies. I only have the wood box to keep the gun seperate and not obvious to passers by if I have my drawer open.

In Oregon there are few restrictions in terms of carrying guns like this, especially if you have a concealed permit. However, I always keep the rifle unloaded (completely unloaded) and locked in the back when I have, just so I don't spook anyone, including the police.

When looking for a camp gun to carry, one of the reasons I chose a lever action, I'm sad to say, is for the politically correctness of it. It's less scary to people than a black rifle, like a AR15 or even a shotgun. Including less scary to the police. But it's also light, compact and simple, so it's a nice little gun to have and far easier to pack around than some of the others.

Hope that helps.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Every time I look at this topic, it makes me want to sell my tundra and get a Land Cruiser...lol

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

As far as the website, ya, I've really been neglecting it. Sorry about that and thanks for checking it. The reason has been lack of time and I've been working on a website for a railroad that I volunteer for. So I spend a lot of my spare time with that. Plus I get to run locomotives, so it's kind of new kick in the pants hobby of mine. But I promise I'll get back to the old website. I'm still doing what I always used to do, just haven't been able to document it as often as I used too. Here's my current railroad website, if anyone is interested....

www.oregonpacificrr.com

As far as the lever actions. I own a Winchester 94AE and a Marlin 1894. The Marline is hands down the better gun. Not even comparible. The Marlin has a tighter action, ejects and feeds much better and is just better built all around. The Winchester feels like a fairly cheap gun and the action is pretty loose, by design. The angle eject design is horrible and it really has a problem ejecting certain rounds, whereas the Marlin will eject anything.

However, both the Marlin and Winchesters are getting extremely hard to find, especially in .357. If you want a lever action and find a good deal, I'd still pick up a Winchester.

An alternative is the Rossi/Puma version which are fairly common. I'm not a fan of Brazilian made guns, but the Rossi/Pumas can be found in stainless and that would be REALLY nice to have. The Rossi Pumas seemed to be based on the 1892 Winchester design. I have no idea how reliable the Rossi/Pumas are. The stainless looks really nice and they feel nice to hold, but the feed ramp looks like it might be plastic...but hard to tell. In any case, if it was more reliable than my Winchester, I'd trade it for one in a heartbeat.

In the end, I don't think I would turn down any of the three guns. But Marlin is by far the best if you can find one. If you want shorter barrel (18" in the case of the marlin) and .357, the correct model number is Marlin 1894c or sometimes Marline 1894cs.

As far as the storage box...the African Outback drawer is lockable, so if all the state requires is a lockable and secure container that is either not easily accessible to the driver or is bolted to the rig, I would think this qualifies. I only have the wood box to keep the gun seperate and not obvious to passers by if I have my drawer open.

In Oregon there are few restrictions in terms of carrying guns like this, especially if you have a concealed permit. However, I always keep the rifle unloaded (completely unloaded) and locked in the back when I have, just so I don't spook anyone, including the police.

When looking for a camp gun to carry, one of the reasons I chose a lever action, I'm sad to say, is for the politically correctness of it. It's less scary to people than a black rifle, like a AR15 or even a shotgun. Including less scary to the police. But it's also light, compact and simple, so it's a nice little gun to have and far easier to pack around than some of the others.

Hope that helps.

Super informative post Bryan, both about the website and the firearms. I spent all last night doin some reading on lever actions, and I have all but fallen in love with the Marlin 336 (or maybe the big brother 444). In terms of the lever vs politically correct - well - a traditional wood stocked lever action just "fits" in the woods better than any of the aforementioned rifles in my opinion, so no biggie there. But I see your point, yah, it's too bad

 

[fowldarr]

I also have a Winchester Model 94, but mine is in 44 mag. Big slow moving bullet, but when it hits something....

And mostly it would be used in close range situations, plus, it's an absolute blast to shoot (albeit a little pricey right now)

Now, I just wish I had another 80

 

[Brian894x4]

Just got back from a 6 day "expedition" in Eastern Oregon. First longer trip in a very long time...lots of lessons learned with the mods, both good and bad. Will post up soon. Right now need sleep (in a real bed) and to figure out how to get dust and dirt out of every single nook and cranny of the rig...and myself.

 

[Brian894x4]

I've added some LONG overdue updates of my rig and modifications on the Land Cruiser section of my website, for those that might be interested.

http://www.brian894x4.com/ExpeditionLandCruiserFZJ80.html

Lots of new pictures and updates over the last year that I've failed to mention here or there.

Here are the pages in my Land Cruiser section have the updates....

Exterior of the rig:
http://www.brian894x4.com/ExpeditionLCExterior.html

Interior of the rig:
http://www.brian894x4.com/ExpeditionLCInterior.html

Engine/Axles/etc of the rig:
http://www.brian894x4.com/ExpeditionLCEngines.html

Action shots (OK, these aren't really "action" shots so much, more like poser exterior shots)
http://www.brian894x4.com/ExpeditionLCAction.html

There's a lot of mods I haven't covered since I last did a major update a long time ago, including the lockers, sliders, roof rack and interior configurations, new computer set up, etc.

Here's a quick pic from the trip to Eastern Oregon last weekend. This is the ghost town of Susanville, with the rig parked at the upper mine looking down at the one of the last surviving houses of the town.

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

Frikken awesome Brian. Going threw the update now