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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
I wrote an article several years ago that illustrated my belief that the average armed citizen is best served with three different defensive firearms: namely, a primary handgun, a small deep concealment handgun, and a defensive long gun. This does not mean you should have only one of each, but these three general categories of... Continue Reading →
Last year I became interested in having a handy general-purpose rifle that is light to carry in the woods for extended periods and that makes a good trunk gun: something that is very rugged. I began researching modern scout rifles, guns that are to some extent derived from Jeff Cooper’s original idea. These bolt guns... Continue Reading →
What a complicated question. There is no wrong answer. Each has significant advantages and disadvantages versus the other. I am a decidedly rifle guy. I always was in my youth. However, I spent a few years as a dedicated shotgun guy and I was convinced it was my go-to defensive option for that duration. I... Continue Reading →
I am of the absolute opinion that the handgun is the top priority for the armed citizen. The vast majority of defensive gun uses, even in the home, are done with a handgun. They are small enough to be carried concealed, and also small enough to be much faster in deployment from quick-access safes in... Continue Reading →
