January 25, 2024
By Keith Wood
Lever-action rifles are hot sellers right now. Whether it is a counter-reaction to the long-range craze or simply an appreciation for the practical utility of a design that is more than 150 years old, lever guns are back in a big way. To feed that demand, firearm manufacturers are busy pushing new lever-action rifles to market. Multiple makers rolled out new lever-actions at the 2024 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Here’s a glimpse at what’s coming.
Marlin 1895 Dark Series When Ruger acquired the Marlin brand, I knew that it would be in great hands. Ruger has reintroduced various products in the company’s lineup, adding upgrades along the way. New for 2024 is the all-new 1895 Dark Series. Chambered in .45-70 Government, the Dark Series combines the mechanical virtues of a classic lever-action with modern design elements including a polymer stock with an adjustable comb, an M-LOK compatible railed forend, ghost-ring sights, a full-length Picatinny rail and a removeable muzzle brake on the threaded barrel. The 1895 is a 50-state legal general-purpose carbine suitable for anything from bear hunting to home defense.
Winchester Ranger 22 Not all lever guns are big bores. Winchester, one of the oldest brands in the lever-action world, is introducing the new Ranger chambered in .22 LR. This lightweight little carbine uses a machined aluminum receiver, a tubular magazine and a two-piece walnut stock. The rear sight is adjustable. The best part is that the rifle easily takes down into two sections, making it easy to stow under a seat or in a backpack.
Rossi R95 45-70 On the heels of the .30-30 R95’s success, Rossi is expanding its lineup to include a .45-70 chambering. This variant will be available in three hammer-forged barrel lengths 16.5, 20 and 22 inches. Both the 20- and 22-inch lengths will have a 5+1 capacity while the 16.5-inch Trapper will hold 4+1. Each of them will use a walnut-finished Brazilian hardwood stock. The front sight is drift-adjustable, and the rear Buckhorn sight is adjustable for elevation. Receivers are drilled and tapped 8-40 for scope mounting and the R95 is compatible with many aftermarket accessories design for the Marlin guns.
Advertisement
Uberti USA 1873 Hunter Uberti is putting a new spin on one of the most enduring designs in history, the 151-year-old 1873, a.k.a. The Rifle That Won the West. Chambered in either .45 Colt or .44 Magnum, the 1873 Hunter uses a 20-inch barrel with a 10-round tubular magazine. Both the forend and buttstock are made from walnut with checkered grip panels. Here’s the twist: the half-octagon barrel serves as a host for a Picatinny rail for mounting a Scout-style or red dot scope. Traditional? No. Practical? Definitely.
Smith & Wesson Model 1854 S&W patented its first lever-action, the Volcanic, back in 1854. To honor that history and step into the modern era, the company has introduced its new lever-action rifle. Chambered in .44 Remington Magnum, the 1854 has a 19.25-inch threaded stainless steel barrel, and a black synthetic stock with textured grip panels and M-LOK attachment points. Capacity is 9+1. This carbine combines a gold bead front sight with an adjustable rear ghost ring from XS Sights along with a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. There is also a Limited Edition model with a high-grade walnut stock and a black PVD finish.
Keith Wood
Keith Wood is a New York Times bestselling writer, and Co-Author of UNAFRAID: Staring Down Terror as a Navy SEAL and Single Dad. Keith is an avid shooter, handloader, gun collector, and custom gunmaker and has been hunting big game and upland birds for three decades. Keith has been an outdoor writer since 2007 and has penned hundreds of articles for various publications. He is the Field Editor of Guns & Ammo and a regular contributor to Hunting, Rifleshooter, and Handguns. He's also an attorney and government affairs professional. He holds a BA in Political Science from Stetson University and a JD from The Florida State University College of Law. A native of Florida, he and his family reside in Alabama.
Full Bio + |
See more articles from Keith Wood
