A general discussion on the future of lever action rifles

[wingnut]

From another board. "Mule Deer" is gun writer John Barness.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthrea ... 13634495/1

[North Country Gal]

Good read. Mostly preaching to the choir, though. The key comments for me were about who is shooting lever guns, now, and that's us, folks, the baby boomers. We grew up with lever guns and TV westerns. Yes, lever guns will always be around, but as we baby boomers disappear from the shooting market, we'll be taking most of the demand and interest in lever guns with us. Even in our very rural area, where deer hunting is a religion, it's rare for us to see young shooters or even middle-aged shooters using lever guns when we're at the range. In fact, as far as rifles we see being used at our range, it's all bolt guns and AR platform guns. Just a sign of the times.

[RanchRoper]

It is mostly bolt rifles at our range other than a couple of people shooting levers handed down by their families.

[PT7]

Ditto on a "good read." I've only read 1/3 of the discussion thread, but will finish it.
Always like to read about lever-action rifles.
And Mule Deer likes to write.

Even though my SGC or .357 AW Big Boy are always outnumbered at the shooting ranges, most often someone comments or is interested is this style rifle. And the ROs regularly make comments, and enjoy looking at them, too. Glad that Henrys are such good lookers. Makes those chats the more enjoyable.

Thanks for the post.
PT7

[JEBar]

The key comments for me were about who is shooting lever guns, now, and that's us, folks, the baby boomers. We grew up with lever guns and TV westerns.

Bingo .... a quick look at our forum's age demographics (link below) confirms it

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... t=age+poll

[JayZuv]

Thought I'd add a different perspective to this.

The generation I am a part of spends a lot of time in various forms of media. One of these is video gaming, and recently old western themed games have become popular. In these, you can carry a number of lever guns throughout. I would like to think that perhaps this might become a factor in getting younger people more interested in traditional style firearms, and away from some of the tactical stuff. Unfortunately, I think the bigger problem is that people my age are becoming less and less interested in guns, and maybe even frightened by them due to all of the bad press all over the internet. It would be nice have a way to get the younger generations involved, and educated on both safety, and the sheer enjoyment one can have with their favorite rifle.

[RanchRoper]

Not sure how one could improve on a lever action...seems like they hit paydirt back in 1860/1870's.

[markiver54]

Thought I'd add a different perspective to this.

The generation I am a part of spends a lot of time in various forms of media. One of these is video gaming, and recently old western themed games have become popular. In these, you can carry a number of lever guns throughout. I would like to think that perhaps this might become a factor in getting younger people more interested in traditional style firearms, and away from some of the tactical stuff. Unfortunately, I think the bigger problem is that people my age are becoming less and less interested in guns, and maybe even frightened by them due to all of the bad press all over the internet. It would be nice have a way to get the younger generations involved, and educated on both safety, and the sheer enjoyment one can have with their favorite rifle.

AMEN!

[Les]

Good read. Mostly preaching to the choir, though. The key comments for me were about who is shooting lever guns, now, and that's us, folks, the baby boomers. We grew up with lever guns and TV westerns. Yes, lever guns will always be around, but as we baby boomers disappear from the shooting market, we'll be taking most of the demand and interest in lever guns with us. Even in our very rural area, where deer hunting is a religion, it's rare for us to see young shooters or even middle-aged shooters using lever guns when we're at the range. In fact, as far as rifles we see being used at our range, it's all bolt guns and AR platform guns. Just a sign of the times.

I think you have summarized the situation perfectly, NCG. It is the same here. I don't know the exact numbers, but I would guess that lever-guns only account for around 1% of sales - the rest is made up of bolt-actions, semi-autos and AR lookalikes.

[PT7]

Just finished reading the 24hourcampfire thread, which OP Wingnut pointed us to. Quite a number of interesting comments made....here are some of them.
PT7

If you are a horseman you will find a levergun fits a scabbard better, is more narrow and less affects your ability to keep your leg on your mount's side. It also pulls out of the scabbard easier . My 2 cents.

I know this for sure, if I go to the range and seated beside me are frustrated bolt action rifle shooters , I pull out a levergun and they smile a little . Oh....what do we have here! Leverguns are fun, including the big bores.

Heck, I don't know for sure, but, it seems there is a up tick in lever rifle purchases, especially in handgun calibers. Maybe they're just more fun to shoot[me], maybe it's another current fad with some shooters, or, shooters just plain like 'em. As for me, I no longer hunt "big game", deer elk. So, I bought a couple handgun lever rifles just to shoot and have fun with. Enjoying rifles and shooting. Nothing wrong with that. My bolt rifles would shoot further, if needed, probably more accurate; but, more fun? No way.

Yeah, pistol caliber leverguns are about the epitome of fun.

Finally, a helpful "signature" comment, if anyone sees one when in the fields...

"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills

[GunnyGene]

Lever vs. Full auto sub gun. Dylan Holsey video. I doubt lever guns are going to disappear any time soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5PLnlRVqKQ

[markiver54]

Lever vs. Full auto sub gun. Dylan Holsey video. I doubt lever guns are going to disappear any time soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5PLnlRVqKQ

Very impressive, especially as such a young man!

[PT7]

Sure a lot better than a "discussion," and most entertaining.
Great video, Gunny.

What a cool lever gun victory

[GunnyGene]

Sure a lot better than a "discussion," and most entertaining.
Great video, Gunny.

What a cool lever gun victory

Actually, I'm a little surprised that y'all hadn't seen this before. It's been out for several years. Oh,well. So many video's, so little time.

You may know of him as Matt Black and he's still in the game.

Here's a little more about him and his shooting career. Article from last year.

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/11/ ... -shooting/

And here's another one of him shooting a 10.5sec stage, back in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CG8-r1GZaw

[markiver54]

Unreal!! Wow! Kid can shoot!

[Vaquero]

Ditto

RP

[wingnut]

There are 2 major reasons the younger set shows up with levers at my range:

They are left handed and they don't want semi-auto hot brass flying by their face, also, LH bolts are spendy.

And, this-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1LrRIQzMHU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baoexxeUVdY

[Blackdog]

I have a Winchester 94 that I use for Lever Action Silhouette matches. A Local "gunsmith" told ,e he could lighten the trigger pull to 2 pounds. But when I came in with my 94 he looked up and said - Oh, I don't work on antiques." I explained that it was a new rifle, but he insisted that it was a antique. He only works on black rifles.

Guess I'll have to find an real "gunsmith" and not this self-taught wanna-be.

M

[Flinch]

I have a Winchester 94 that I use for Lever Action Silhouette matches. A Local "gunsmith" told ,e he could lighten the trigger pull to 2 pounds. But when I came in with my 94 he looked up and said - Oh, I don't work on antiques." I explained that it was a new rifle, but he insisted that it was a antique. He only works on black rifles.

Guess I'll have to find an real "gunsmith" and not this self-taught wanna-be.

M

An "Armorer", and I use the term loosely, may be able to drop in a match trigger on a black rifle. A real gunsmith can work on just about anything.

[JEBar]

when I came in with my 94 he looked up and said - Oh, I don't work on antiques."

Guess I'll have to find an real "gunsmith" and not this self-taught wanna-be.

M

trigger work on a Henry is as much art as it is science .... one simply can't turn a screw or install an aftermarket trigger .... doing so requires honing several parts to improve their interaction .... this requires micro adjustments followed by testing .... if the gunsmith hones too much material, he can't put it back .... I know this can be done because our gunsmith has taken care of 2 of ours .... finding a real gunsmith would serve you well