The Changing Face of Lever-Action Rifles

Above, new Smith & Wesson Model 1854 lever-action rifles. Photo by Smith & Wesson.

Lever-action rifles have been around since the 1800s, yet they are popular today.

It is interesting that lever guns are now being introduced in modernized configurations and calibers. This is what Grand View Outdoors calls "the changing face" of lever-action rifles.

They begin with:

“It’s wonderful! Lightweight, quick to point. A slick action. And bullets go right to the bead!”

You’d expect that reaction from a youngster with his first rifle. It came from a professional hunter in Africa, who’s handled rifles for 50 years and shot many tons of big game. He has killed lions, buffalo and elephants with his .458 and now backs up clients with a double in .500 Nitro Express. He was gushing over a lever-action .30-30 Win. carbine, a Winchester 94.

Born in the United States, lever-action arms are sustained by markets here. Oddly enough, veteran hunters on foreign game fields stand in line to fire them. Credit a link to our “cowboy” West. But these carbines are also practical: fast-handling, and with open sights now routinely left off bolt rifles. In Africa, hunters learn to shoot close, partly because brush often excludes long shots. Also, killing is more certain at short range. While tracking dangerous game, when shots can come at mere feet, no PH wants a scope.

Now, neither the .30-30 nor the .357 is suitable for big game where officially the term applies to really big beasts, such as buffalo. But for light plains game and predators such as the black-backed jackal, either cartridge works. The .30-30 Win. can down elk-size animals.

Lever-action rifles include not just “classics” whose forms and chamberings emerged during the late 19th century. Today they include stainless, laminate-stocked models, also those with polymer and carbon fiber stocks and “tactical” matte black finish. Barrels are threaded for brakes and suppressors. Some stocks adjust for length and comb position. Forends feature M-Lok slots. Picatinny rails up front beckon lights and other paraphernalia. 

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