The lever motion rifle was one among our earliest repeaters, and has held a spot amongst America’s extra well-liked firearm platforms for the reason that Civil Battle. Many issues have modified previously 160 years, however the lever gun has remained. It’s been a steadfast companion for cowboys and deep-woods deer hunters alike, and is now serving a wholly new subculture of shooters: the tactical crowd. Historically styled lever weapons haven’t gone anyplace, however characteristic units from well-liked platforms just like the Armalite Rifle have been seeping into lever gun designs. These modern, futuristic-looking weapons provoke conflicting reactions from fashionable and traditional-minded shooters, however who’s proper? Can the tactical lever motion do something Grandpa’s hand-me-down can’t?
What Is a Tactical Lever Motion Anyway?
As typically occurs, phrases like “tactical” develop their very own connotation relying upon the tradition and context by which they’re used. When somebody refers to a lever gun — or every other gun — as “tactical,” what do they actually imply?
To most individuals, “tactical” is outlined by what the gun appears like. Most of the gun designs and options we label “tactical” in 2024 have their roots in army fight ways, however many options have additionally been refined in aggressive capturing sports activities. The basic M1 Garand and M1 Carbine are tactical rifles by definition, however a legitimate interpretation of what shooters as we speak would say is {that a} tactical gun incorporates military-like options, equipment, and finishes much like what you’ll discover on AR-style rifles.
Lever weapons incorporating a few of these modifications are met with blended suggestions. Many admire the historical past, legacy, and great thing about a wood-stocked lever motion with a worn blued end or a good-looking shade case-hardened specimen and assume much less of the tactical lever motion.
Lever weapons are presupposed to be searching rifles, and tactical lever actions are preventing rifles — or so some assume. They’d probably have a special opinion had they been among the many Graybacks when Henry rifles began displaying up on the Union strains. In that point and context, they had been certainly tactical. Even silver display screen heroes like Chuck Connors put a really tactical emphasis on their lever weapons. The truth is, if Hollywood had been the one enter, we’d clearly label the lever motion as a preventing rifle.
In the present day, most would agree that there are a number of options that typically outline a tactical lever motion versus a standard lever motion. Most of those options revolve round optimizing the gun for equipment. They embrace, however usually are not restricted to the next:
- M-Lok slots and/or Picatinny rail on handguard
- QD Sling cups
- Ghost Ring Sights and Picatinny optic rail
- Threaded muzzle
- Cerakote or different weather-resistant end
The Tactical Lever Motion Is Extra Versatile
The lever-action rifle has all the time been a flexible platform. Within the early days, it was a extra correct repeater that usually used the identical cartridges as a gunner’s revolver. The lever motion has been discovered on the battlefield, in saddle scabbards, and behind dusty truck seats. It’s been used for private safety, pest management, searching, leisure capturing, and extra.
Pretty much as good as classic-style lever actions are, there are actually ways in which they will obtain higher utility. Even for those who despise the flat-dark-earth and black tones together with the rails and gizmos, a few of these options undeniably make lever weapons more practical in quite a lot of conditions.
Optics Compatibility
Of us have been mounting optics on lever weapons for fairly a while, however optics and sights have come a good piece since grandpa scoped up that Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. We have now a slew of appropriate optics for tactical lever actions that embrace LPVOs, Red dots, and holographic sights. Hell, an avid hog hunter may wish to use a thermal scope. The tactical lever motion takes benefit of those platforms by together with a Picatinny rail atop the receiver — or being appropriate with one.
Many fashionable lever weapons embrace high quality high-viz sights and rails from corporations like XS Sights and Skinner Sights, nevertheless it’s their immediate compatibility with so many optics that offers them a bonus. Many optics are fast-pointing with lengthy eye aid so that you received’t must trouble with a clunky hammer spur.
This optics benefit actually does play to the tactical or self-defense utility for lever weapons, however is relevant in lots of searching eventualities too. For instance, the easy scout-style rail on the Taylor’s & Co. 1892 Takedown .44 Magazine., when fitted with a small pink dot, improves velocity and precision enormously, one thing that’s helpful in bear nation or when searching in thick cowl.
M-Lok, Pic Rails, and Equipment
A tactical lever motion will normally incorporate a minimum of some M-Lok or Picatinny rail — each of that are for accent mounting. M-Lok is solely a specifically-sized slot, or collection of slots, that mate with equipment that includes small tabs that undergo the slot and lock the merchandise into place. Picatinny rail is a standard cross-slotted rail onto which many equipment may be connected.
Listed below are a couple of of the helpful objects you possibly can connect to a tactical lever motion:
QD Sling Cups
QD sling cups are widespread on a number of the newer tactical lever motion rifles, and so they’re a godsend. They’re more practical, quieter, and fewer obtrusive than conventional swivel studs.
Threaded Muzzles
Lever actions additionally occur to make nice suppressor hosts, and operating a can in your tactical lever motion makes it extra nice and simpler to shoot precisely. Many suppressors just like the Silencerco Omega 36M and Hybrid 46M permit you to set up a muzzle brake on the gun and fix the suppressor over prime of that brake. Even for hunters, there are many quick, light-weight cans just like the .30-caliber Banish Backcountry that make a lever motion much more enjoyable to hunt with.
Benefit of Superior Coatings
Many lever weapons that fall into the tactical class include DLC or Cerakote finishes, which make them extremely proof against moisture and different parts. We are able to all admire the fantastic thing about a deep blued end, however these stand as much as onerous use higher — and also you’re not shopping for a tactical lever motion to be a protected queen you’re taking out to admire on particular events.
Authorized in All States
Regardless of being genuinely helpful for defensive and basic truck-gun purposes, lever actions are sometimes missed in favor of AR-style rifles. That’s understandably so, however in states and areas with tight gun restrictions, a tactical lever motion is usually a nice possibility for a defensive lengthy gun. Rifles chambered in .44 Magazine., .357 Magazine., or related can maintain plenty of ammo and are potent out of a rifle barrel inside 100 yards. When fitted with well-thought equipment and configured neatly, the tactical lever motion is a formidable rifle within the palms of a practiced particular person.
An Preferrred Truck Gun?
For some of us, a tactical lever motion is the final word truck gun — which is actually a do-all rifle that lives in your car. These can be the rifles you’d see hanging on window racks or, extra judiciously, stowed behind the seat or within the gun sleeve of these previous woven-blanket-pattern seat covers that grandpa had.
These lever weapons are jacks of all trades, and their fashionable coatings and supplies assist them stand as much as each abuse and the dusty neglect {that a} truck gun is usually topic to. They’re slender and stow simply, however are fast to carry into motion when wanted.
Many automobiles aren’t arrange like a 1974 Ford pickup anymore, however there are actually helpful rifle storage programs for contemporary automobiles too — like this one I’ve been using from Grey Man Tactical, which secures the rifle to the again of a seat.
High Tactical Lever Motion Rifles
There are a selection of producers producing what I’d name tactical lever actions, and much more customized builders and tinkerers modifying Henrys and Marlins. Right here’s a have a look at a number of the standouts within the area:
Marlin 1895 Darkish Sequence
Caliber: .45/70 Authorities
Barrel Size: 16.1 inches
Capability: 4+1 rounds
Smith & Wesson 1854
Caliber: .44 Magazine./.44 Particular
Barrel Size: 19.25 inches
Capability: 9+1 rounds
Henry X Mannequin
Caliber: .410 Gauge (.45/70, .45 LC, .44 Magazine, .327 Federal, .30/30, and others obtainable)
Barrel Size: 19.8 inches
Capability: 4+1 rounds
POF Tombstone
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Barrel Size: 16.5 inches
Capability: 20+1
FAQ
Lever motion rifles may be fairly good for self protection. They’re correct at shut vary, many don’t recoil badly, and they are often cycled shortly.
Browning chambers their BLR lever-action rifle in .300 Win. Magazine., however, mostly, the .45/70 is essentially the most highly effective spherical you’ll see in all kinds of tactical lever actions.
Closing Ideas on The Tactical Lever Motion
Many basic lever gun followers don’t look after the appears of the tactical lever motion, however they’re free to by no means purchase one. The disapproval by some doesn’t negate the sensible benefits that these good tactical options give the rifle. The added flexibility makes them extra apt to deal with quite a lot of duties — and to do it higher. As for my opinion? I feel something that stokes the capturing public’s curiosity within the lever gun is an efficient factor.
