I've seen several threads (on several forums & on bookface) about leverguns here of late, almost all have been centered around modernizing them for "defensive" or "tactical" use.
I love lever guns myself.
Like all red blooded American boys, I grew up watching westerns. I wanted to be the "good guy" who would grow up to go get the "bad guy".
Still, I think a levergun has no role in
tactical (as in "military") use.
Just my honest opinion. I've been to war. Sorry, (not sorry) I want my AR.
Now
defensive use... that's a different story altogether. Now were talking the old "good guy V bad guy" type deal.
If the role of the weapon is to protect yourself and you family from criminals in a home defense role... now we're talking about an application where the old cowboy gun can still work. (even though there
are better options)
Maybe all you
have is a levergun.
Maybe you live in a place surrounded by commie leftie voters, and can't
have an AR or AK.
Maybe you travel to those God forsaken hell-holes.
So... with that premise, let's talk about what MAKES a good "defensive" levergun.
The question is (NOT...
IS a lever gun a good choice for a defensive weapon?
What makes it a good one?
What's good about them?
What can we do to better suit them to their role?
Remember we're talking "defensive use" here, so think anti-personnel, close range.
Opinions, and insights welcome... just don't be an ass about it. (like they did over on the Hide)
1. First consideration is caliber.
There are many to pick from. Lever guns have been around over 100 years, however the two that shine above all others today (IMHO) are the .357 & .44 Magnums.
These are in potent handgun calibers, and they really smoke out of a carbine barrel, gaining quite a bit of velocity.
Sure, hunting rounds like 30-30 or 45/70, are more powerful, but that also means they're designed for game. Sometimes LARGE game. Real good chance (damn near sure thing) they'll zip right through your average bad guy at defensive ranges.
That's what were talking about here for a "defensive" weapon.... Shooting at bad guys. (in other words, people) If you have to protect yourself from a criminal... it's not all that likely to happen on an empty mountain somewhere. It will be at home. (where ever that may be)
As said, the .357 & .44 Magnums are both potent handgun calibers, and they both gain velocity when fired through a carbine length barrel. The bullets, designed for handguns, (not talking hard cast hunting loads) have a much better chance of expanding violently, dumping ALL their increased energy INTO the target. Yeah, they can, and do sometimes still punch through, but not 45/70 through. This rapid expansion most often also limits penetration. Many of the ballistic gel tests I've seen in videos show penetration to around 14 or 16 inches (or thereabouts) making the chances of shooting through so many walls less. That expansion, violent rapid however, creates devastating wound channels. And yeah, you can still hunt deer sized game with them. Once you have your caliber, think ammo capacity. (you can never have too much right?) First thing... a levergun isn't even in the same ballpark as an AR. You don't get 30 rounds per mag, with very quick mag changes. Not only that, but the longer, more hunting oriented rounds like 30-30 & 45/70 vastly limit your already small magazine capacity. Capacity that is not only already limited, but that requires a lot more training to get fast with on reloading... than does an AR.
Again, the magnum handgun rounds for the win.
2. Sights.
Ok, here again, us being levergun fans (or people living is "mostly free" states) are starting off behind the curve right outta the gate. Being a very old design, typical levergun iron sights leave a lot to be desired. Myself... I'm not into semi buckhorns. Full buckhorn could basically be used as a king sized peep sight, but I still think there are better options for these old beauties. If you in the "I don't want to add an optic" club, at least consider upgrading to a set of quality peep sights from one of the aftermarket companies now making products for our rifles.
Red dots. Being the author of this particular thread, and a combat veteran who somehow (by the grace of God) survived multiple combat tours (the last one getting pretty sporty at times) I'm just gonna come out and say it...
GET A RED DOT.
OK, sure, if your rifle is for multiple use, a LPVO may be a better choice. You can see the target better at range, and still have 1x (plus an illuminated reticule in most cases) for close in defensive duty. Thing is, a LPVO is still a "scope". That means it will still have "scope shadow" if you mount the gun wrong because your live is on the line, and you might just be freaking out a bit and rushing things. Or maybe you're hiding behind cover firing from some awkward shooting position, and can't get your head just right behind the scope. The eyebox on a scope will NEVER be as forgiving as that of a red dot. The newer ones are good, and theire getting better all the time, but there is still NOTHING... that is faster at target acquisition, than a red dot.
If it's a "defensive" rifle... get a red dot for it.
3. Weapon mounted light.
Lots of pros & cons people talk (argue) about when it comes to having a weapon mounted light on a handgun... but for a rifle...
Just put a light on it.
Takes both hands to shoot most rifles, (that is how they're designed after all) and it takes the both to run a levergun action, unless you dismount the gun between shots. Hand held lights just aren't gonna work here. Oh, and yes... you do need a light. Bad guys tend to like night time, or dark places. Besides, the planet is spinning so it's dark half the time anyhow.
4. On gun ammo.
Magazine capacity is ,as we've said, limited. Even with the shorted handgun rounds, you may be starting out with 9 or 10 rounds loaded... Now, for most defensive shootings, that's plenty.
Plenty unless there's multiple attackers perhaps...
Plenty unless & until you start missing the bad guys...
Good chance you will too. Especially when you're scared, mad, or both, and maybe you just got woke up at 3am to boot.
I've got multiple war deployments behind me, and can attest to the fact that I missed... a lot more than I hit.
Have a way to store some extra rounds on the gun be it an old school leather ammo cuff, one of the new styles (and ugly as sin) buttstocks, or what I did, just put the velcro ammo cards on them like you see on shotguns. These can be ordered in pistol calibers as well. 1o in the gun, 10 more on the stock makes for 20 rounds available just grab and go. If I have time to grab an extra ammo card, that's 10 more I can slap on when these are gone.
5. Sling.
Slings are great. My standard thing is every long gun gets a sling. There will most likely be times you need to use your hands, but don't want to lay your rifle aside.
Leverguns, however, are different. Here I have some wiggle room. If I had to walk forever with one maybe.
One of the real nice things about a lever gun is their compact design, and the easy one handed carry by just grabbing the thing around the receiver.
This also one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of traditional scopes on a levergun. You loose that ability.
For mine, I chose no sling. I don't think one would get in the way, jusy didn't feel like going to the expense of adding one. (especially as it's a takedown anyhow)
To start off the discussion, here's my pick. (that I pray I never have to use)
It's a Chiappa 1892 takedown in .44 Magnum.
I also have a Rossi 92 in .357 Mag, (identical set up) but I like this one better.
1. It's a .44 Mag. Like I said there ARE better options, so if going with a handgun round, I'll take the big one. I want, but don't need, (and can't afford) a 500 S&W, so the .44 mag will suffice.
2. It's a takedown, so it can go in a bag with me, hidden away from prying eyes to a hotel room when traveling.
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Discuss...
I mean it... Let's discuss.
I'm no certified expert. (though the wife may think I'm "certifiable" at times)
I don't work for Hornady or Chiappa.
Just throwing my thoughts and what I've learned out there.
Oh, and I meant to say discuss... or go away... LOL. (as in "If you can't say something nice...")
If you
don't feel a levergun makes a good defensive weapon... fine... then this is not the thread for you.
(that's what I meant by "don't be an ass about it" back at the top)
I hate it when people poop on a thread.
www.midwayusa.com
