Are lever actions making a comeback?

[DudeFromTheWest]

Im seeing more and more people interested in lever actions nowadays, and im wondering if we are seeing a comeback of them? Especially now since many people are trying to conserve ammo, more than auto-loaders can do, and in some cases calibers like .357, .35 Rem, .30-30, and .45-70 being more available then other standard calibers.

[BucDan]

Call of Duty made me want one. Not sure what caliber though

[OCEquestrian]

Call of Duty made me want one. Not sure what caliber though

CalGun response of the day! Almost spit coffee all over the keyboard.

[bergmen]

Comeback? They've never left.

Dan

[Ora Serrata]

You can thank Henry Repeating Arms and Rossi for that. When I was just old enough to start buying long guns myself in the mid-80's the readily available levers were all 30-30s. 30-30 Ammo was much more expensive than .22 so I bought a Ruger 10/22 instead. Sure, there were others available, but they weren't as common to the average non-hunting shooter/plinker.

Fast forward to the late 90's. Henry Repeating Arms starts up and starts making levers, and Rossi starts importing more than just inexpensive revolvers making pistol caliber lever actions available to the average shooter again.

[lastinline]

Semi-automatic firearms don’t use any more ammunition than any other type, including single shot firearms. As you are aware, it’s up to the user.

With that said, yes, lever-action weapons are gaining in popularity, for a variety of reasons.

[vino68]

The COD one is a 45-70.

[Epaphroditus]

The guns that won the west ... who wouldn't want one?

[200Apples]

Im seeing more and more people interested in lever actions nowadays, and im wondering if we are seeing a comeback of them?

Lever action long guns have been making a comeback for over 30 years. In fact, we can thank the SASS competition shooters for the gunsmithin' knowledge necessary to fix what ails the odd Marlin or two.

The comeback momentum is slow and steady. If you're just noticing it's because of the continuous! threat of semiauto centerfire bans and then the recent glut of new shooters due to the pandemic, grabbing anything left on the shelves there for awhile.

But since you're a DudeFromTheWest you already know these things, and you're likely already in possession of a lever or ten.

My interest in lever carbines began 10 years ago when I first shot a .357 Marlin 1894. We all know the .357 Magnum's reputation from a handgun, but from a 16" carbine barrel it's "a whole different animal", and even better. The round is a frickin' lazer beam to target. You will make hits. Probably the most fun you can have with your pants on.

I now own six Marlin (.357, .41, .44, .30-30, .45-70 and finally! got my hands on a 39A [.22 rimfire]) and two Winchester 1892 copies; one Rossi .357 and one Browning/Miroku/Winchester in .44 Mag for which I handload in Magnum brass a load ballistically similar to one of the four or five offerings of the 19th Century .44-40. In this case a 205 grain molycoated lead round nose flat point loaded over 6 grains Bullseye for 1100 fps from the 20" carbine barrel.

.45-70 from a 7.5-lb carbine can be more comfortable than standard .44 Magnum from a similar rifle, but the .45-70 loads are "Trapdoor" loads consisting of a 405 grain semijacketed lead rnfp over so much Alliant 2400 to 1200 fps... and a believe it or not, a flat shooter to 100 yards after which I would imagine the slug simply falls to the ground in a hurry. I've not attempted these loads to farther distances but there are folks who from 24" barrels will lob +/- 400 grain slugs to 300 yards and beyond holding 50' high.
They ring their gongs, though, and bust out laughing so we all know they're having a very good time.

Levers are where it's at, baby.

[rubbman]

Comeback? They've never left.

Dan

THIS!! I recommend 45/70.

[smittty]

No, not very popular and ammo especially 357 mag sucks, so just stick with the tactical stuff. If you see any 357 mag for low price pm me ;-)

[Dribear]

I enjoy some lever action (pun intended, I suppose). And the fact that you can match handgun caliber and have 2 for 1.

I have one lever gun currently.
I don't own any revolvers. Would like to have at least one in matching caliber revolver/lever rifle.

[Scratch705]

Call of Duty made me want one. Not sure what caliber though

mine was jurassic world.

[JacobR]

Don't call it a comeback, they never left.

[BucDan]

CalGun response of the day! Almost spit coffee all over the keyboard.

Hey hey hey! It created a new fan!

The COD one is a 45-70.

Mhmm, Alex Zedra. 45-70 is cool, but too expensive. But it's the OG round for a lever action. Right? Or was that the 30-30?

Can it shoot 38spl like how a 357 revolver can shoot it as well?