lever technique

[Dr. Fresh]

This may be silly, but how do y'all use your levers? Do you put your fingers inside the loop and push forward, or rest them on the outside of the loop and pull?

 

[CajunBass]

It never occured to me that there was any other way than fingers inside the loop. I started shooting a Mattel lever action that way about fifty years ago, and haven't ever tried anything else.

 

[jmr40]

Inside

 

[steak-knife]

I've seen women and children who don't have the arm/wrist strenght to smoothly work the action, use the "outside" way. Apparently, the outside way is also easier on the knuckles.

 

[woof]

They make lever wraps to make the inside way easier. Also oversize loops for gloves. The only time I use the outside method is if I'm shooting from a bench and taking time to spot shots before cranking in the next round.

 

[vicdotcom]

Apparently, the outside way is also easier on the knuckles.

I always wrap my loops with paracord so it doesnt dig into the knuckles.

 

[HarleyFixer]

I have a big loop and just spin it.

 

[rcmodel]

Always inside the lever, and always from the shoulder.

We see people all the time that haven't figured out that's the way to run one, and they lower the rifle to mid-level out in front of them to work the action every shot.

rc

 

[Gunfighter123]

The inside --- there is a past Cowboy Action Womans Champ called Island Girl who won many titles by holding the lever on the outside and useing her thumb to work the trigger --- worked for her !!!
Go to here and click on rifle World Records;
http://www.spencerhoglund.com/worldrecords.html

 

[Dr. Fresh]

I put my fingers inside as well.

I was curious because my Winny 1866 copy has a really stiff action and for a while I found it easier on my knuckles to use the outside method.

 

[Leadhead]

Fingers inside except the pinky I find it more comfortable outside and behind the lever.....

 

[Brian Dale]

Fingers inside, resting against the outer part of the loop rather than against the stock. That way, I don't smack my knuckles as hard when I cycle the action.

I hunt with an empty chamber. When I'm ready to shoot, I run the lever as I'm raising the rifle to my shoulder.

If I'm practicing, then I cycle the action after each shot with the rifle still at my shoulder, as rcmodel posted above.

Once I've taken a shot at a live animal in the field, I wait, rifle shouldered and watching, before I run the lever again. I leave the hammer down on the fired case and watch to see whether I'll need to move before firing again. An adrenaline rush / buck fever / tunnel vision makes it possible to go running across a field with a cocked hammer over a live cartridge. No, I haven't done that. Don't want to.

If I need to shoot again, it's quick and easy to run the lever without dropping the rifle from the shoulder.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Marlin 39A and 1894c, Ted Williams 30-30, operate them all from inside the lever and at the shoulder.