If you’re a fudd at heart, but you’re still feverish for a rifle with tactical features… sort of… perhaps the new Rossi R95 Triple Black is the prescription you need. This new blacked-out lever-action has just hit the market along with a laminate-stocked counterpart for those who are anti-tacticool.

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Rossi R95 Triple Black

The R95 series is Rossi’s answer to the current shortage of .30-30 leverguns (prices have gone nuts due to the supply-demand curve getting wayyyyy out of whack). These rifles first appeared in the summer of 2023, with combined features of the best lever-actions already on the market: A flat receiver top, for easy optics mounting. A pistol grip stock that combines the recoil control of the Marlin 336 with some of the fast-handling wrist geometry of the Winchester 94. If you’re into John Wayne movies, these rifles would do you nicely.

You can easily mount just about any optic you want, or stick with the irons that are included. (Rossi)

However, some buyers wanted threaded muzzles and other practical features borrowed from the tactical world. That’s what the R95 Triple Black offers, starting with a 16.5-inch barrel. The muzzle features 5/8×24 threads for the shootist who wants to attach a can or a brake. The theme continues with a black Cerakote finish on the metal; there’s also a Picatinny rail pre-installed, with a peep sight at the rear.

The lever comes pre-wrapped in paracord for comfort, and there’s a thick recoil pad when the shooting gets hot and heavy. However, with magazine capacity limited to 5+1, you’re going to have to reload pretty quickly. That may make some users prefer the pistol-caliber R92 Triple Black model, which shares many of the same features but has a higher magazine capacity.

MSRP in the US is $1269.99; find more details on Rossi’s website.

Rossi R95 Laminate

If the R95 Triple Black is the tactical version, this is the Gucci take on the platform. A 20-inch barrel is standard (with no provision for a muzzle device). It does have the same optics rail and peep sight combo as the Triple Black.

The R95 Laminate has no tactical features such as a threaded muzzle. (Rossi)

As with other all-weather lever guns we’ve seen over the past decade, the R95 is built of stainless steel and the stocks are a gray laminate. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same idea as the rest of the R95 lineup.

A classy-looking lever rifle that nobody will mistake for an antique. Just the thing for hunts in bad weather. (Rossi)

The asking price for this one is $1199.99 on the Rossi website. See more about the rifle here.