{"id":6960,"date":"2021-05-25T20:07:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T20:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=6960"},"modified":"2025-10-09T14:26:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:26:32","slug":"lever-action-for-home-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/lever-action-for-home-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Lever Action Rifles for Home Defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everybody and their brother seems to be in love with the AR-15 platform. But who can blame them? These lightweight, ergonomic, easy-shooting rifles are perfect for almost any shooting application. With this level of versatility, it\u2019s no wonder the AR-15 platform is also a popular choice for home defense. (See our article Shotgun vs Rifle for Home Defense<\/a> for more info.)<\/p>\n

Despite its utility, sometimes the AR gets a bad rap. Unfortunately, it is often mislabeled as an \u201cassault rifle\u201d (It\u2019s worth mentioning here that AR actually stands for \u201cArmalite Rifle\u201d and the name has nothing to do with assault). As a result, some states aren\u2019t as AR-friendly as others (I\u2019m looking at you, California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.)<\/p>\n

Also, with the current political climate, it’s hard to foresee what the future holds for the modern sporting rifle. It certainly doesn\u2019t look like it’s going to get any easier for this often misunderstood rifle.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the traditional cowboy lever action conjures warm, nostalgic images of the Old West. Its old-school look causes most anti-gun activists to overlook lever actions and focus their efforts on \u201cscarier\u201d rifles with a more tactical look (Sorry, AR-15). Its antique appearance also causes plenty of gun enthusiasts to overlook the lever action rifle as a viable option for home defense. However, the lever action isn\u2019t just for range-riding cowboys. There\u2019s a reason this tried-and-true design is still going strong.<\/p>\n

Home Defense<\/h2>\n

\"Shooting<\/p>\n

New threats seem to come out of the woodwork every day. As a result, American shooters are getting accustomed to demand surges for guns and ammo.<\/p>\n

When firearms and ammunition fly off shelves in record numbers, manufacturers and stores have a difficult time keeping up with demand. As a result, some homeowners are forced to make do with whatever they can get their hands on for self-defense. For some, that means relying on an old, hand-me-down vintage firearm.<\/p>\n

While any gun is better than no gun in a dangerous situation, readers may be wondering if they can use Grandpa\u2019s lever-action deer rifle for home defense. While there may be better options, Grandad\u2019s old Model \u201894 definitely isn\u2019t the worst.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at how these classic weapons fare in the area of home defense.<\/p>\n

A Brief History Lesson<\/h2>\n

The lever action rifle is a truly American design. Every successful lever action ever engineered has sprung from American ingenuity. Most have been manufactured on American soil, as well.<\/p>\n

The lever action is also deeply rooted in American history. It helped preserve the Union during the Civil War and tamed the western frontier. It has also fed and protected American families for generations.<\/p>\n

\"The
Winchester Model ’94 – Putting venison on dinner tables since 1894<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pair the legendary lever action with the famous .30-30 Winchester cartridge<\/a> (America\u2019s first cartridge to successfully use smokeless powder) and you have a team that has put more venison on dinner tables than any other combination in history.<\/p>\n

Walter Hunt originally developed the iconic lever action for the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company (better known for its famous offspring, Smith & Wesson and Winchester Repeating Arms Company). Introduced in 1848, Hunt\u2019s Volition Repeating Rifle had all the familiar lever rifle trappings, including the tubular magazine and repeating lever-action mechanism.<\/p>\n

The notable Spencer repeating rifle and Henry lever action were both introduced in 1860, just before the War Between the States. Union troops used both weapons. The Henry rifle was not-so-fondly referred to by Southern soldiers as the \u201cSixteen Shooter\u201d or \u201cthat damned Yankee rifle that you load on Sunday and shoot all week\u201d.<\/p>\n

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