Best Lever-Action Guns

Lever-action guns are hot again. Who could have guessed? If you’re looking to go old-school with your next firearm purchase, we have more lever gun options than ever before—even more options than were available back in the 19th century, when these firearms ruled the market.

Classic firearms @ TFB:

• Fudd Friday: Stevens 325 - When Bolt Actions Met .30-30
• Remington 1100 – 50th Anniversary Limited Edition
• TFB Review: Boyd's At-One Adjustable Gun Stock for the Remington 870
• The Rimfire Report: An Ode to the Legendary Ruger 10/22

Taylor’s & Co. has versions of the 1873 in both 24-inch barrel and 30-inch barrel in their Taylor Tuned lineup. Along with the more common .45 Long Colt chambering, they also offer .44-40 and even .32-20 in some configurations, a cartridge that would have been readily available in the 19th century.

If you’re more pragmatic and want a shorter barrel, they also offer 18-inch and 20-inch carbines, which might be more enjoyable for Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. Whatever you choose, the Taylor Tuned lineup is ready for fast shooting, with upgraded springs and polished internals for improved performance.

Best Lever-Action Deer Gun

A lever-action in .30-30 is the classic American deer gun, and it wasn’t just popular with hunters. This was also the rifle that armed explorers, police, jail guards, anyone who needed a compact, hard-hitting, fast-shooting firearm. But the main customer for these rifles was always the deer hunter, and ever since the 1890s, there have been two main choices, Winchester or Marlin. That’s still the case today.

Yeah, we know it’s a cop-out to say we’re going to tell you “the best” and then give you a choice of either/or, but that’s how it’s always been. The Winchester Model 94 has a bit more of a Wild West aesthetic, thanks to its straight stock. The Marlin 336 design is just about as old as the Model 94, but it comes with a slightly more modern-looking pistol grip and a flat-top receiver, so it’s much easier to use with a scope.

For most shooters, the choice will come down to which stock or forearm they prefer. The Winchester’s furniture is trim, and handles better; the Marlin’s furniture is a bit more clunky, but it is more conducive to accuracy. The other main factor is whether or not made-in-America matters. The Marlin (actually built by Ruger, now) is still manufactured in the States. The Winchester .30-30 rifles are made by Miroku in Japan. Quality for either manufacturer is excellent, so no worries there. Just pick whichever suits you.

Best Lever-Action Bear Gun

You can shoot smaller bears with a deer gun, but if you’re looking for something that will flatten the absolute largest bears, whether you’re hunting or just want self-protection while fishing or camping, then most outdoorsmen want a .45-70. And it’s always good if you can attach an optic, too; and if you can keep foul weather at bay (say, you’re riding up an Alaskan fjord on a sloppy day in a Zodiac, to get to a beach hunting spot). With all that in mind, take a look at Henry’s All-Weather Picatinny Rail .45-70.

Like Henry’s other modern tube-mag guns, you can load the rifle either from the end of the magazine or from the side gate; when it’s time to unload, you can empty the magazine from the end, meaning you must only work the lever once to empty the chamber. It’s safer than older tubular magazine designs. A peep sight gives you improved iron sights over the buckhorns found on many other lever guns; a Picatinny rail on the receiver lets you mount a traditional scope, or a reflex sight for faster, close-in shooting. That hardwood stock also helps soak up some recoil with added weight, with a buttpad coming pre-installed as well.

This is a very versatile rifle, with a great reputation for reliability (and a lifetime warranty if something goes wrong). A stainless finish keeps rust at bay, and a special treatment on the hardwood stock protects the furniture too.

Compared to all the Model 1892 clones on the market, the Henry Big Boy X has a superior tube magazine design, able to be unloaded from the end of the mag, which is safer. The muzzle can be tipped with a suppressor or other device; a Picatinny rail under the barrel and M-LOK slots on the side of the forend help you attach lights or other useful add-ons. Fiber-optic sights come standard, but an optic is easily fitted to the flat-top receiver. Definitely a firearm that you can trust with your life.