If Ca bans assault weapons, consider a lever action as an alternative

A substitute for what purpose,exactly?
HD? Hunting? Competition? Urban combat? Back woods survival stuff?

A man should always have a good lever gun for a variety of reasons.

The feds are not going to ban AR15's at least not in the next 6 years. And it'll be a very big fight if they ever try, as there are millions of them in private citizens hands.

Now California that's a different story, he's operating on borrowed time down there with AR15's; but don't give up, support CALGUNS and the like and fight back on the legislation. Even if they are banned in California, he will be given time to sell out of state anyways. I say enjoy them while he can and save up to buy a lever, as it would be the next best thing to an autoloader in my opinion.

As home defense I think a lever-action would be quite reasonable, a la a "Boston Special."

Naturally the rate of fire is slower, but a sight better than a bolt action in less than expert hands.

Pump actions would be good as well, but they're not as common.

There's plenty of info to be found on "tactical lever actions."

If the .gov says I own 10 guns and comes and takes all of them, how many do I have left?

That's right: 16


Out here in CA, it's getting to the point where they would have to just ban Semi auto rifles. The free market has found a way around majority of these silly laws and will likely continue to do so.

Most of our police officers out here don't know the difference between a muzzle brake and a flash hider (FH are evil), let alone what constitutes an "assault weapon"

ETA: a lever is just as good as any other method, I suppose.

The Combat Lever Action
https://homeguntraining.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/the-combat-lever-action-rifle/

The Craft of the Lever Gun
https://www.swatmag.com/article/the-craft-of-the-lever-gun-john-wayne-would-be-proud/

Hand Me Down Home Defense: Lever Action Rifles
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/lever-action-rifles-for-self-defense/

For home defense a lever gun will work just fine. I don't own an AR and really never felt a need for one. I don't own a lever gun either. I do own a bunch of pistols though and train with them almost every week. If you can put 8 rounds into a paper plate at 25 yards in 5 seconds I really don't see a need for an AR or even a lever rifle.

Training is the key, not the firearm.

There are better options.

Most of what we perceive to be true about lever action rifles is based on a century of us, our fathers, and our grandfathers watching Hollywood cowboy movies. Lucas McMcain was able to get off a dozen shots in a couple of seconds with a modified rifle shooting pistol rounds. In the real world that ain't happening, especially if you plan to hit anything.

The military seriously considered lever actions over 100 years ago and correctly determined that a bolt gun was the better choice. That is still true today.

* While it is possible to shoot a lever action slightly faster than a bolt gun the real difference is slight, especially with rifle cartridges. I can get off 3 rounds from a 308 bolt rifle in 2.1 seconds, a 30-30 in 1.7 seconds and a pistol caliber lever action in 1.5 seconds. That ain't much of an advantage.

* With the requirement that all 3 shots hit a paper plate at 50 yards I can do it with all 3 at right at 4 seconds, and I was faster with the bolt gun.

* With a lever action you must stand or sit up exposing yourself to return fire in order to operate the action. A bolt gun can be operated in the prone position or any other supported position faster than either a pump or lever action.

* With similar barrel lengths a bolt gun is lighter. Most people think of lever actions as light and quick handling. All of my sporter weight bolt guns are lighter with scopes on them than my lever action 30-30's with no scope. Even my heavy barreled target rifle, with a big scope on it is only 1/4 lb heavier than a Marlin 30-30 with a 1-4X20 scope on it.

* When it comes to ruggedness, reliability and accuracy it isn't even close, the bolt gun wins. Not to mention the ability to use much better rounds with about the same recoil.

I own over a dozen lever rifles and like them a lot. But if forced to give up semi-auto rifles such as my AR's I'd feel much better with a bolt gun in my hands set as a "Scout" type rifle. I don't believe that it has to exactly meet all of the Scout criteria. But a bolt gun with a 16-20" barrel in 223, or any of the 308 size cartridges with a detachable magazine holding 3-10 rounds and either good irons or low powered optics would be a better option than a lever 30-30. And it would cost less.

I have each of these with low power optics on them. Would pick up my AR's first, but either of these would be reached for before my lever guns.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26965.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26974.html

I have a Marlin 1894c in .357 Magnum and I have to admit that between old age and cancer it thumps pretty good, dislocated my rebuilt shoulder. I would advise him to advertise here if he is interested in trading or swapping out for a CA approved platform. He wont lose on the deal, but I must caution that wood and steel is different than tacticool and plastic. There is no buffer tube in real steel, a fact that I am constantly reminded of every time I go to the range lately. I really like my new Ruger Precision in 5.56, it may be a good substitute for him as well.

jval said:

My son lives in CA. He is concerned that the Feds and/or state will restrict or even ban AR15's. I suggested he sell them (if possible) and buy a couple lever actions with 8+ capacity. Problem is, levers are scarce and get scoffed up as soon as they become available. I bought my 357 in 2013. I was lucky enough to convince a friend who is getting older to sell me his 45 Colt. Both are Rossi's and function well.

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Where does your son live? What does he do? Does he have legitimate family ties there that go back more than a generation? Those really need to be answered. And what is his freedom worth to him? It’s more than just a $600 AR we’re talking about. It’s the AR, the taxes, the crime, the cost of fuel, the cost o homes, the quality of the schools, the quality of the jobs.

For example. $200k in Oklahoma will buy you 10 acres of your own land and a 2,000sq ft home. Gas is $2.15/gallon. Our public schools are generally good schools. Our tax rate is 8.5-11%. We don’t have a lot of crime as long as you stay out of certain places in Tulsa and OKC. Good careers everywhere. From burger flippers to Google tech systems analysts. Door greeters to space and aviation engineers. If you can’t make it in Oklahoma, you have problems.

We don’t have the ocean. But we’re halfway to either of them.

If he just has to stay, I’d say an 1894 Marlin in 357 or 44 Mag would definitely fit the bill. 10+1 of either is no slouch in the firepower department.

.455_Hunter said:

A man should always have a good lever gun for a variety of reasons.

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I like them, because they are a slim profile. In the event of which, IMO, you could do no better.

jmr40 said:

There are better options.

...I own over a dozen lever rifles and like them a lot. But if forced to give up semi-auto rifles such as my AR's I'd feel much better with a bolt gun in my hands set as a "Scout" type rifle. I don't believe that it has to exactly meet all of the Scout criteria. But a bolt gun with a 16-20" barrel in 223, or any of the 308 size cartridges with a detachable magazine holding 3-10 rounds and either good irons or low powered optics would be a better option than a lever 30-30. And it would cost less.

I have each of these with low power optics on them. Would pick up my AR's first, but either of these would be reached for before my lever guns.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26965.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26974.html

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The real strength of the lever action rifle is the self contained magazine. Here's an idea: I'd love a bolt action rifle with a tube magazine in .357 magnum. Put a picatinny rail on the top for a red dot or light weight scope. Make it a purely form/function rifle.

I find working the lever while maintaining sight picture is easier with a lever (obviously not in a prone or bench position). Working the bolt can put one's arm in a less than normal operation as compared to running a lever underneath the action. I think in a shoot and move scenario the lever will pay dividends over a bolt in speed, whereas a bolt plays better prone or at the bench.

You could always consider a manually operated AR-15, like they have in England. No gas system.

AlexanderA said:

You could always consider a manually operated AR-15, like they have in England. No gas system.

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that's probably where most folks are going to go, to be honest.

i have been working on an idea involving a pump slide and a side charging upper. IDK if it is feasible, but as a concept, it might work.

When someone asks a technical question in a restricted state, we get a slew of posts that DO NOT answer that question but suggest someone RESIST or MOVE.

Those will be deleted. They do not contribute. If really outrageous, there will be warnings. Venting doesn't help the poster.

My contribution to the thread. Pistol caliber lever action guns are fine weapons. I suggest that you train with them extensively under stress of class and/or competition. I have seen folks try to use lever action guns in competition and they are prone to screw up the stroke and truly freeze the gun.

Thanks to jmr40 what is a very useful post to the OP.

I'd be confident with a lever once I'd trained and practiced with it.

I don't know if the SKS is legal in California, but I do own one and I'd go to it first, though, if it was. This is assuming I'm choosing between it and my Winchester .30-30. If my lever gun was in .357, I might lean that way for the more-manageable fire characteristics.

I doubt I'd feel I'll equiped with a short 30-30/35 Rem or even a pistol caliber lever gun. Maybe a small reflex sight. I'm not much of a rifleman in any respect but I have surprised a couple of AR wannabes with nothing more than a trapper length Winchester 94.

I’d imagine it would be fine. I’d imagine a 12 gauge would be better. I’d also imagine if you are taking 50 yard shots in defense of home.....you are probably going to jail.

I think lever action are a good choice.

Tin foil hat much? LOL

Lever action - the original American assault rifle.

cslinger said:

I’d imagine it would be fine. I’d imagine a 12 gauge would be better. I’d also imagine if you are taking 50 yard shots in defense of home.....you are probably going to jail.

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This.

Shotguns are the reason I don't feel the need to own AR's.

Depends on the use. Taking for granted every semi would be banned, because another semi is my first answer to a world without AR-15... For an assault weapon, I would choose a high capacity pump shotgun. For target or sniping, a heavy bolt action rifle. For deer stalking, a Winchester 94 30-30. For tree stand hunting, a regular bolt action rifle. For my home defense, a katana. For a bigger home defense, a pistol. For neighborhood defense, dogs, friends with lever action rifles using pistol cartridges, a baseball bat and a low powered scope on a short, light, bolt action rifle. For personal defense, a knife. For criminal defense, a lawyer.
I did not realize until now how versatile the AR-15 is.