Those of you that follow this blog know that most of my focus is on the defensive application of the handgun, as the name would imply, but I also share some content on long guns, particularly the lever rifle, as I espouse the ongoing usefulness of the platform. Though lever rifles have been popular in... Continue Reading →
Customizing the Modern Lever Gun
I get it, most guys come from a tradition where lever guns are supposed to look like what John Wayne carried in True Grit. I also like the beauty of a historic lever action. However, I am also one member of the growing crowd that has embraced the lever action rifle for its continuing utility. ... Continue Reading →
Lever Action Rifles for Personal Protection Part III: Running the Gun
Lever action rifles were designed as fighting weapons over 150 years ago. While modern semi-auto rifles are generally better for the specific role of self-defense, lever rifles are still incredibly capable weapons in the hands of those who can run them competently. I liken the lever rifle to the pump action shotgun: old technology but... Continue Reading →
Lever Action Rifles for Personal Protection Part II: Setup
While the primary concern for any lever action rifle to be used for defense is reliability, there are certainly some accessories and enhancements we want to put on the gun to bring it into the modern era of capability. Trust me, if the cowboys had the tools we do now, their lever actions would have... Continue Reading →
Lever Action Rifles for Personal Protection Part I: Gun Choices
The lever action rifle has seen a resurgence in the past few years and I have written about this trend several times. While there is a variety of speculation as to why this popularity has ticked up, including the idea that political restrictions might crack down on auto loading rifles, I think the simple answer... Continue Reading →
The Henry X Model Big Boy in 357 Magnum
I have always loved the lever action rifle. As a kid the Daisy Red Rider BB gun graduated into the 22 Rimfire Winchester lever gun, so the design was well engrained in my being early on. Most of my adult life, however, was spend with guns other than lever action rifles, but recent years have... Continue Reading →
The Resurgence of the Lever Action Rifle
While the lever action rifle has been an icon of American grit for the past 150 years, there seems to be an escalation in interest in this old design of late. I have also noticed an increase in interest in the bolt-action scout rifle concept in the past few years as well. Why are we... Continue Reading →
My Go-To Carbine: Not What you Might Expect
After spending some more time with the Marlin 1894c I have concluded that it is my favorite do-it-all long gun. It is the gun that I will put in the trunk for a road trip, a camping trip, or a weekend at a cabin on the lake. I am an AR lover at heart and... Continue Reading →
Marlin 1894c: A Recommended Self-Defense Alternative
Not long ago I wrote an article speaking of “the compromise gun.” I propose the idea that shooters are best served by minimizing the guns they use and train with to only those that are needed as rotating platforms can undermine your skills development. However, most shooters need a compromise gun, whether it be a... Continue Reading →