It’s not that hard to understand why outdoorsmen and women love lever action rifles. Just ask hunters and shooters alike about what they think about the lever gun, and even those that don’t own one will usually give it a thumbs up. Some grew up hunting with a lever action; for many the 30-30 lever action was their first rifle as a kid, me included. I shot a Marlin 30-30 for all of my youth and it eventually made it to the mountains in Alaska with me to hunt Sitka black-tailed deer. I was told enough times that I was crazy for using a 30-30 in Alaska, so I finally bought a bolt action 30’06, but it was with reluctance I can tell you that. I loved my lever action and when hunting the ridgetops and swamp bottoms here in Kentucky, I have my Henry lever gun by my side.
I think that hunters and shooters alike love the lever action rifle for a variety of reasons. Of course, the nostalgia for the lever gun is a popular reason. Seeing these rifles in all the old western movies gives it a positive vibe and brand. I think these old movies helped tremendously with the branding of the lever gun and is a good enough reason to hunt with them and they do look cool.
Other people might prefer the rugged versatility of the lever action rifle. Its weight and solid shoulder contact make it a great brush gun. Lever guns are heavy, and while this might be a turn-off to some, it is more than welcomed by others. The weight helps to anchor the lever gun to your shoulder and make a quick shot in thick cover, where the lever gun shines. This is especially true when making an off-hand shot at a moving deer on public land where you know he’s in the thick stuff.
The lever action rifle is a great first gun for youth hunters. The look and feel of the lever gun is always a hit with youngsters. I remember getting my Marlin 30-30 from my dad and I couldn’t sleep that night and several nights after dreaming of opening morning. The durability of these rifles will take the abuse that a young person dishes out and will last a lifetime to be handed down from generation to generation.
The most common cartridges for the lever gun were short-range, often known as brush buster rounds. The 30-30, 45-70 and .44 Winchester Magnum ammunition were a few popular cartridges for the lever action rifle. There were a few lever guns that were chambered for long-range shooting, but most people used the brush busters because they wanted that short-range thick cover rifle and saved the longer-range cartridges for bolt action or semi-automatic rifles. At least this was the consensus when I was young and shot a 30-30. You can extend the range of these lever gun cartridges with a quality low power scope and make a very versatile hunting rifle. If you only hunt thick cover or big woods in hilly regions this could be the perfect set up for you.
Today, Henry Repeating Arms offers a lever gun chambered for longer range cartridges and is aptly named the Henry Long Ranger. The Long Ranger is perfect for deer hunting where longer shots are needed. The Long Ranger comes chambered for .223 Rem, .243 WIN, .308 Win, and the popular 6.5 Creedmoor and comes sighted or unsighted. The sighted version comes with buckhorn sights installed and is perfect for close shots on those ridgetops where big bucks like to cruise. All the Long Ranger models come drilled and tapped for a scope or Skinner Peep sights if you ever want to upgrade the sights. I own the Henry .44 Mag Big Boy rifle and love the fit and finish. My friend owns the Long Ranger and I’ve seen it up close and can tell you that I can see the Henry Long Ranger 6.5 Creedmoor in my future.
Another lever action I own and love is the Henry .410 shotgun. It quickly became my favorite squirrel gun ever. You must get close with this gun. The 2.5-inch chamber doesn’t allow for much over 25 yards. It is threaded for invector chokes. I added an extra full choke to mine and have shot squirrels to 35 yards, no problem. The Henry .410 lever action shotgun is great for the early season and into the fall, while the leaves are still on the trees. The leaves help cover your movements and you can sneak up on squirrels while they are still in the treetops. The Henry .410, loaded with No. 4 shot, packs enough punch to get through the leaves, and reach into the tops of those old hickory trees. I’ve even found myself grabbing the .410 Henry in the winter. Without the leaves getting close can be a challenge, but for many, the challenge is the allure of hunting and for them, challenge equals fun.
