What hunter hasn’t thought about pursuing deer, elk or bear with a lever gun? It’s the Classic American rifle, after all – the star, or at least the supporting actor, in so, so many western movies; the trusty companion of old-time hunters and trappers; the weapon early settlers used to protect their herds, flocks and homes.
There’s romance in shooting a lever-action. If you currently carry one, you already know that. If you don’t, well . . . you know it, too.
Here’s a half-dozen awesome lever-actions that offer hunters more than great looks and a warm feeling inside. They’ll do the work they’re designed to do efficiently and effectively, just as any good tool should do.
Henry Big Boy Carbine – $729.99
If you need to pack a heavy-duty punch when shooting in tight spaces, this lever-action is an ideal choice. At just 35 inches overall, the Henry carbine (above) combines the features of the legendary Big Boy rifle with a short “Trapper-style” barrel and American-walnut stock and fore grip. An open semi-buckhorn rear sight and brass bead fore sight get on target quickly, while the large-loop lever can be operated while wearing shooting mittens or heavy gloves. Calibers: .357 Mag./.38 S&W Spec., .45 Colt, or .44 Rem. Mag./.44 S&W Spec.
Marlin Model 1895 Big Bore – $629.99-$979.99
All five versions of the Model 1895 (above) are chambered for the hard-hitting .45-70 Govt. cartridge, still a popular hunting round more than 130 years after it first emerged as a military cartridge. Each rifle features side-loading and ejection, plus deep, Ballard-type rifling. The differences among them are purely in styling. Choose between blued or stainless-steel metal work, and an American walnut or laminated wood stock and fore grip.
Henry Big Boy Steel Round-Barrel – $699.99
With its blued-finish barrel and receiver, and beautifully checkered woodwork, this rifle (above) has a classic lever-action look, while its compact size makes it a handy brush or truck gun. And though the rear open sight is fully adjustable, the receiver is drilled and tapped for easy scope mounting, if a telescopic sight better fits your hunting style. Calibers: .357 Mag./.38 S&W Spec., .44 Rem. Mag., or .45 Colt.
Henry .30-30 Lever-Action – $799.99
The .30-30 dates back to 1894 and has since become an iconic deer cartridge. Match it with one of the most storied firearm brands in America – Henry Repeating Arms – and it’s like holding a piece of history in your hands. This lever-action (above) is available with either a brass receiver and octagon barrel with a semi-buckhorn rear sight, or a blued steel receiver and round barrel with an XS Ghost Ring rear sight. Both receivers are drilled and tapped for ready scope mounting.
Marlin Model 336 – $479.99-$699.99
Marlin’s version of the venerable .30-30 lever-action is the Model 336 (above). Whatever your preference – blued or stainless- steel metal; checkered or plain woodwork – any one of the three can deliver downrange accuracy and lethal knockdown power at the target. The 20-inch barrels feature 12-groove Micro-Groove rifling, plus an adjustable, folding semi-buckhorn rear sight. Solid-top receivers are tapped for scope mounts.
If you admire the look and feel of a lever-action, but can’t see yourself shooting round-nose bullets on your deer hunts, check out the Long Ranger (above). It’s where classic handling and style meets modern-day accuracy and ballistics. The 20-inch free floating barrel brings long-range precision to the table, while the detachable box magazine allows for cartridges that propel bullets fast and far downrange. Calibers: .308 Win., .243 Win., or .223 Win.
Lever-action rifles are just downright fun to shoot, though spending a whole day at the range with your deer rifle might dent your wallet, not to mention your shoulder. Fortunately, there’s a slug of rimfire lever-actions available to shooters, too. Perfect for taking small-game, or just plinking, they’ll also help you hone your eye for the moment you line up on that 8-point buck.
This article was produced in cooperation with Cabela’s
Product images courtesy of Cabela’s
The
Funny that the rifle in the photo at the top of the article (Marlin 1894) isn’t one of the six in the list.
What about the Browing lever action in multiple calibers.
what has happened to the 444?