Gun Basics: What Is A Lever Action Rifle?

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past few months, I have posted about lever-action rifles, particularly the Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle.

There are other other manufacturers of lever-action rifles and some, even today, have joined the pack with new rifles along with new innovations. 

But, what is a lever-action rifle? 

The answer may seem obvious, but fortunately, an article in Bear Creek Arsenal explains it all.

They begin with:

What is a Lever Action Rifle? History, Mechanics, and Why Shooters Still Use Them

Lever-action rifles occupy a unique position in firearms history and modern shooting sports. They're neither the newest technology nor relics of the past. Instead, they represent a mechanical philosophy that's remained relevant for nearly 200 years, evolving continuously to solve real-world challenges that shooters face. If you're curious about what makes these rifles tick, why hunters and sport shooters still choose them, or how they've managed to stay competitive despite newer designs, here's the complete picture.

To read more, go here. 

Best Gun For Beginners: Complete Guide

Above, a shooting outing with friends in Texas Canyon circa 1984.

The earliest I remember going to a shooting range with my dad was when I was around 12 years old. However, before that, I took a National Rifle Association gun safety class with my Boy Scout troop when I was eleven. 

The first guns I fired were pistols. I think it was my dad's Luger. 

On my own, the first rifle I shot with was my grandfather's Winchester 62A .22 caliber pump rifle I inherited. I still have it. The first gun I purchased as a Ruger 10/22 rifle. 

One may ask, "What is the best gun for beginners?" That may be a subjective question. One will get different answers from different sources.

Here's an article from Bear Creek Arsenal on that topic.

They begin it with:

Best Gun For Beginners: Complete Guide

Guns are more popular than ever, contrary to what anti-gunners may try to tell you. America, before the pandemic, was home to around 340 million guns. The pandemic changed gun-buying habits. According to thehill.com, “Americans purchased nearly 60 million guns between 2020 and 2022, according to an analysis by The Trace, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that tracks gun violence. Yearly gun sales are running at roughly twice the level of 15 or 20 years ago.” Today’s gun total for the U.S. hovers around 393 million – we have about 60 million more guns than people! 

Accounting for the fact that many of those pandemic purchases were by gun owners, that still means that millions of folks who had never before bought a gun got into the act and became a new gun owner.

This article will be broken into two sections… first, some basic firearms information, including types of guns, pros and cons, and usage information. The final part will be some specific recommendations. It is addressed to the first-time gun buyer, but experienced shooters may find it useful, as well.

To read more, go here.