Lever-action guns have seen a resurgence in the market. More manufacturers are bringing modern modifications and support to these "cowboy" guns.
This makes the lever action a very viable alternative to some semi-automatics when it comes to hunting, home defense, and competitions.
The calibers that lever-action rifles have available for sale on the market are numerous. They range from 22 LR and common handgun rounds up to 45-70 Government.
This makes the rifle extremely versatile by allowing you to tailor the rifle to the round you want.
The best utilitarian caliber to have a lever action in is 357 Magnum. This is because it can fire both 357 and 38 Special in addition to having similar terminal ballistics as 7.62x39 when using the Magnum cartridge. The wide array of loadings and handloading options for 357/38 means there is a load for every occasion.
Yes. Lever-action rifles can be suppressed, with many modern options coming with threaded barrels as a standard. This increases the utility and the potential hearing safety of the rifle.
Lever-action rifles are legal in almost all locations. But to be on the safe side, check your local laws before purchasing a new firearm.
Yes. Lever actions can be used for hunting. There is a long tradition of using various lever guns in thick brush for closer-range hunting due to bullet deflection. Check the laws for the area you will be hunting in to see which rounds are legal for the game you are hunting.
If you live in an area where semi-automatics are restricted, lever action rifles are a surprisingly viable option for home defense. They offer good ballistics, acceptable capacity, and are not heavily stigmatized.