{"id":6850,"date":"2021-07-22T17:15:40","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T17:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=6850"},"modified":"2025-10-06T18:37:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:37:03","slug":"lever-action-vs-bolt-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/lever-action-vs-bolt-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Lever Action vs Bolt Action Rifles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hang around a rifle range, deer camp, or gun club for any amount of time and one thing becomes abundantly clear: shooters can argue the paint off the broadside of a barn. Gun guys (and gals) are very opinionated people, and we aren\u2019t afraid to defend our favorite rifles to the death (and that\u2019s only a slight exaggeration).<\/p>\n

When it comes to rifle designs, things can get especially heated pretty quickly.<\/p>\n

The action is the most important part of any rifle. The type of action determines how the gun loads, fires, and ejects cartridges. The action not only defines the rifle, it also determines the weapon\u2019s inherent strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n

However, which action is \u201cbetter\u201d mostly depends on how you plan to use your rifle.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at two of the most popular rifle actions still in use today – the bolt action and lever action. Before we\u2019re finished, you\u2019ll have a basic understanding of how these designs work, the major pros and cons of each, and what jobs they do best.<\/p>\n

Lever Action Rifles<\/h2>\n

A True American Hero<\/h3>\n

The lever action may be America\u2019s most important contribution to the world of firearms. First introduced in the mid 1800s by Colt (The Colt Model Ring Lever Rifle) and patented by Volcanic Repeating Arms<\/a> (The Volition Repeating Rifle), the lever action rifle was the first successful repeating action ever developed.<\/p>\n

Multiple lever action designs hit the market in the years leading up to the Civil War, including several long-standing designs by Winchester, Marlin, and Henry. Since then, nearly every successful lever action design has come out of the United States.<\/p>\n

A symbol as American as baseball and Mom\u2019s apple pie, the lever action rifle served American troops during the War Between the States, helped tame the American West, and has put more venison on the table than any other rifle design.\"\"<\/p>\n

The Low-Down on Lever Actions<\/h3>\n

The lever action is a fairly basic design. When the lever is pulled down, the action moves the bolt and firing pin backwards, ejects the empty cartridge, and lifts a new cartridge into the chamber.<\/p>\n

When you return the lever to the starting position, the new cartridge is pushed into the chamber, and the bolt and firing pin are pushed forward. Then, when you pull the trigger, the hammer strikes the firing pin, which then hits the cartridge primer, setting off a series of events that eventually sends the bullet out the muzzle and downrange toward your target.<\/p>\n

Advantages of a Lever Action Rifle<\/h3>\n

Lever action rifles are fast, hold plenty of ammunition, and are one of the most reliable action designs ever created. Most models also have a consistent trigger pull.<\/p>\n

Their relatively short barrels and flat-sided receivers make the average lever action perfect for stalking or hunting from horseback. It slides easily in and out of a saddle scabbard, sits nicely in the hand, and shoulders intuitively.<\/p>\n

All these features have contributed to the lever rifle\u2019s enduring popularity. However, the style\u2019s stunning good looks and rich history may have done more to influence the design’s broad following than anything else.\"\"<\/p>\n

Disadvantages of Lever Action vs Bolt Action<\/h3>\n

While there are plenty of things to love about the classic lever action rifle, it isn\u2019t all sunshine and roses. The lever action has some drawbacks.<\/p>\n

Cleaning<\/h4>\n

Cleaning a lever action is no easy feat. There\u2019s a lot of disassembly that needs to happen before you can give it a good scrubbing. Some manufacturers actually suggest you tote your lever rifle to a certified gunsmith when it needs to be cleaned.<\/p>\n

Tubular Magazine<\/h4>\n

Most lever action models feature a tubular magazine located under the barrel. Since this type of magazine lines up cartridges end-to-end, modern ballistic tips or other loads with pointed projectiles can cause major problems. Some aerodynamic tips can become damaged in tubular magazines. Those pointy tips can also press against the primer of the cartridge in front of it, causing it to accidentally fire inside the magazine, particularly if the rifle is dropped.<\/p>\n

In the not-so-distant past, if you had a lever action with a tubular magazine, you were limited to flat-point or round-nose bullets. However, Hornady\u2019s innovative LEVERevolution ammo uses more aerodynamic bullets with soft, synthetic tips that compress under pressure. The design prevents the tips from denting primers when the cartridges are lined up in a tubular magazine. Hornady LEVERevolution<\/a> provides the enhanced ballistic performance of a spitzer, without the dangers associated with using them in a tubular magazine.<\/p>\n

Cartridge Selection<\/h4>\n

The standard lever action is relatively weak compared to most bolt actions. This limits most models to chamberings for low- or medium-pressure cartridges, which also limits the standard lever action’s effective range and its potency for taking down large game<\/p>\n

.30-30<\/a> is by far the most common lever action chambering. Introduced by Winchester, this cartridge was the first cartridge to use smokeless powder and was actually developed specifically for their Model 1894. The Winchester \u201894 also happens to be the best-selling lever action rifle of all time, selling more than 7 million rifles over more than 100 years of production.<\/p>\n

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\n $29.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n 20rds - 30-30 Remington 150gr. Core-Lokt Soft Point Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n $29.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n 20rds - 30-30 Remington 170gr. Core-Lokt Soft Point Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n