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Most of the talk in the rifle world these days about bullets with high ballistic coefficients, high-magnification trajectory-compensating riflescopes, and rifles guaranteed to deliver one-hole groups. But while today’s long-range practitioners argue about the best high-dollar tripod to shoot from, there are folks out there filling freezers and putting antlers on the wall with lever guns just like their grandad used to use.
The lever-action rifle has evolved a fair bit over the last century, and with refined designs and modern ammunition, it’s now more capable than ever. Maybe somewhat surprisingly, in the midst of today’s long-rage craze, manufacturers are still introducing new lever-action rifles, and hunters are buying them up as fast as they hit gun-shop racks. There’s a wider variety of lever guns to choose from now than at any other time in recent memory. So, which one should you get? To help you with that, I’ve narrowed the field to a manageable number. Below are my picks for the best lever guns currently on the market.
- Best Overall: Marlin 1895 Trapper
- Best Classic: Winchester Model 94 Deluxe Sporting
- Best Modern: Browning Lightweight ’81 Takedown
- Most Radical: Mad Pig Customs
- Marlin 1895 Dark Series
- Smith & Wesson Model 1854
- Winchester 1895
- Henry Lever Action Supreme
- Henry SPD Predator
Best Overall: Marlin 1895 Trapper
best overall
Marlin 1895 Trapper
Pros
- Adaptable stock with ammo storage
- Compact and handy
- Versatile sighting options
- Element resistance
Cons
Expensive
45-70 only
Specs
- Overall Length: 33.25 inches
- Barrel Length: 16.17 inches
- Weight: 7.25 pounds
- Chamberings: 45-70 Government
- Price: $1,769
Marlin offers two varieties of the 1895 Trapper rifle, but they fitted their newest one with a Magpul ELG buttstock and forend. And it’s that stock and forend that puts this rifle in a class by itself. The forend is polymer with a recoil shelf at the front and with M-Lok slots along its sides and bottom. The buttstock is also polymer, but it has a hidden, trap-door compartment where you can fit an optional cartridge holder. (No unsightly butt cuff needed on this rifle.) The rifle also comes with a comb riser that you can attach to the trap door to better position your eye in line with a riflescope. This Trapper has a short Picatinny scope rail with an integral Skinner aperture sight and a Skinner Bear Buster front sight. All the metalwork, including the 16-inch threaded barrel, is stainless steel which contrasts nicely with the Nitride coated bolt and black hammer, loading gate, trigger, and screws. As far as I’m concerned, the new Trapper from Marlin represents the best melding of traditional and modern lever-gun features ever offered.
Best Classic: Winchester Model 94 Deluxe Sporting
best classic
Winchester Model 94 Deluxe Sporting
Pros
- Elegant
- Nostalgic
- Beautiful
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Overall Length: 42.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Weight: 7.5 pounds
- Chamberings: 30-30 Winchester, 38-55 Winchester
- Price: $2,429.99
When you think of a traditional lever-action rifle, you often think of case-hardened and deeply blued steel as black as a witches’ heart, surrounded by finely figured walnut. Many also think of the Winchester 94, which is the most iconic of all lever-action rifles. Winchester’s Model 94 Deluxe Sporting rifle puts it all together. It’s a pure, traditional lever gun that’s so fine, you might contemplate skipping a mortgage payment (or two) to get one. This rifle has a color-case-hardened receiver, lever, and nose cap; a crescent butt plate; and a deeply blued, half-round/half-octagonal 24-inch barrel. The stock is grade V/VI walnut with a statin finish as smooth as a politician’s lies. It’s also fitted with a traditionally styled Marble Arms adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, and it’s even drilled and tapped for scope mounts, though you might burn in eternity if you scope a rifle like this. Wild West stock detective and regulator Tom Horn would have traded his horse for a rifle like this.
Best Modern: Browning Lightweight ’81 Takedown
best modern
Browning Lightweight ’81 Stainless Takedown
Pros
- Compatible with modern cartridges
- Lightweight
Cons
Rudimentary open sights
Specs
- Overall Length: 40 inches
- Barrel Length: 20 inches
- Weight: 6.5 pounds
- Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, 300 WSM, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum
- Price: $1,429.99 to $1,519.99
Over the years, there have been several of what you might call “modern” lever-action rifles that can fire rimless, modern cartridges and feed them from a detachable magazine. The first was the great Savage 99, but it, the Winchester Model 100, and Sako Finnwolf are all long gone. The one that has remained is the Browning BLR. Of the current BLRs available, I like the Lightweight ’81 Stainless Takedown the best. It features Browning’s famous rack and pinion lever design, a non-reflective statin-nickel finish on the aluminum alloy receiver, a stainless-steel barrel, and a laminate hardwood stock. All you have to do is flip a single lever to take the rifle down for easy packing. Browning drills and taps the barrel on this rifle for an optional scope base, so you can mount a scout scope that will retain zero after takedown and reassembly. Packable, lightweight, and handy, it’s perfect for the lever-gun lover who wants to hike in deep with a modern cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor or 300 WSM. Really, if that’s you, the question is: Why do you not already own this rifle?
Most Radical: Mad Pig Customs
most radical
Mad Pig Customs
Pros
- Adjustable stock
- Full length rail
- M-Lok forend
Cons
- Only available in 357 Magnum
- Expensive
Specs
- Length: 34.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 16.1 inches
- Weight: 7.3 pounds
- Chamberings: 357 Magnum
- Price: $2,999
Mad Pig Customs worked with Marlin to deliver a modernized rifle with expanded options for today’s lever-action lovers. This Model 1894 in 357 Magnum features a Midwest Industries stock machined from aluminum with a rubber butt pad, adjustable comb height, QD sling swivel sockets, and M-Lok slots for aftermarket shell holders. It also has a grip with Mad Pig Custom panels and a radically reshaped lever. There’s also a Midwest Industries aluminum handguard with a full-length Picatinny rail, M-Lok Slots, and fully adjustable ghost-ring sights. What’s a radicalized lever-action carbine like this good for? Well, it’ll work just fine for anything any lever gun in 357 Magnum will work for, and with the full-length rail, it’s compatible with every optical-sight option, including night vision and thermal. It’ll work just fine for hunting, home defense, and most importantly for fun on the range and for impressing your shooting buddies.
Marlin Dark Series
Marlin Dark Series
Pros
- Compact and light
- Versatile sighting options
- Adaptable butt stock and forend
Cons
Limited availability
Specs
- Overall Length: 34.63 to 35.50 inches
- Barrel Length: 16.17 inches
- Weight: 6.4 to 7.0 pounds
- Chamberings: 357 Magnum, 44 Remington Magnum, 30-30 Winchester, 45-70 Government
- Price: $1,519
It might be hard to look at Marlin’s Dark Series lever gun and call it traditional, but it still functions and operates like the lever gun your grandad carried. The difference is that Marlin has refined the Dark Series to be more appealing to modern-day shooters who like a more radical look as well as some modernized features. Built on the 1895, 1894, or 336 actions Marlin is famous for, this rifle is fitted with an aluminum handguard that’s M-Lok compatible. It also has a polymer butt stock with M-Lok attachment slots. The Dark Series rifle comes with a comb riser that you can snap in place for better eye alignment with a riflescope. Marlin threads the muzzle, and the gun comes with a radial port break and thread protector. To maximize sighting options, there’s a Picatinny rail that extends part way down the barrel, and the gun is fitted with an integral aperture sight. The front sight is fiber-optic with a Tritium ring for better performance in low light. The Marlin Dark Series rifles could be appreciated in a dense laurel thicket while looking for black bear, or at home for personal protection.
Related: Read a full review of the Marlin Dark Series here.
Smith & Wesson Model 1854
Smith & Wesson Model 1854
Pros
- Threaded muzzle
- Removable magazine tube
- Adjustable XS Sight and scope rail
Cons
A tad heavy
Specs
- Overall Length: 34.30 to 37.80 inches
- Barrel Length: 16.5 inches to 20 inches
- Weight: 6.95 to 7.5 pounds
- Chamberings: 357 Magnum, 44 Remington Magnum, 45 Colt, 30-30 Winchester, 360 Buckhammer, 45-70 Government
- Price: $1,279 to $1,499
Smith & Wesson re-introduced the 1854 rifle in 2024. It’s based on a rifle Smith & Wesson made in 1854, which was S&W’s first lever-action rifle. The 1854 is a side-eject lever-action made from 410 stainless steel. Originally only offered in revolver-cartridge chamberings, it’s now also available in 30-30 Winchester, 360 Buckhammer, and 45-70. Out of the box, the rifle comes with a Picatinny scope rail and an integral XS Sights’ aperture rear sight that pairs with a gold bead front sight. Smith & Wesson threads the barrels, and the rifle has a cross-bolt safety, which is common on modern lever guns. Smith & Wesson offers three renditions of their 1854 with either polymer or wood stocks, stainless or blued finishes, and different sight configurations.
Winchester 1895
Winchester 1895
Pros
- Powerful
- Nostalgic
Cons
- Rudimentary open sights
- Not optics compatible
Specs
- Overall Length: 42 inches
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Weight: 8.0 pounds
- Chamberings: 30-06 Springfield, 30-40 Krag, 405 Winchester
- Price: $1,599.99 to $2,029.99
Often considered the rifle of Rosevelt, the Winchester Model 1895 can hardly be called a modern lever-action rifle today. But in 1895, it was modern beyond everyone’s imagination. This was the first Winchester lever gun manufactured with a magazine below the action to allow the use of higher pressure cartridges loaded with pointy bullets. Chambered in 405 Winchester, the 1895 found favor with hunters like Teddy Rosevelt and Stewart Edward White in Africa, but Winchester also chambered it for the 30-06 Springfield. Winchester still makes this classic lever gun, and although the 1895 design is not compatible with a riflescope, the receiver is drilled and tapped for a side-mount sight. Granted, the 1895 is a long ways from new and lacks a lot of modern features, but as far as lever action rifles go, it’s just too good to leave off this list. After all, it is the original, “Big Stick.” In addition to the base model available in 30-06 and 405, Winchester offers a high Grade 1895 with fancier wood that is also available in 30-40 Krag.
Henry Lever Action Supreme
Henry Lever Action Supreme
Pros
- AR15 magazine compatible
- Suppressor ready
- Light and compact
Cons
- Limited cartridge options
Specs
- Overall Length: 36.65 to 38.00 inches
- Barrel Length: 16.5 to 18.0 inches
- Weight: 6.43 to 6.65 pounds
- Chamberings: 223 Remington/5.56 NATO, 300 AAC Blackout, 450 Bushmaster
- Price: $1,360
In recent years, Henry has been very innovative when it comes to the lever gun, and new for 2025 is their Lever Action Supreme Rifle. This rifle is available with a free-floated 18-inch barrel when chambered for the 223 Rem/5.56 NATO and 450 Bushmaster, or a 16.5-inch barrel in 300 AAC Blackout. It is also compatible with AR15 high-capacity magazines. The Lever Action Supreme also has an AR15-like rotary bolt, but the action is driven by a quad-bar linkage and slider crank mechanism. It has a tang safety, but there’s no external hammer, and the trigger is user adjustable. The rifle comes with a fully adjustable rear sight and blade front sight and is drilled and tapped for scope mounting. Its receiver is aluminum and finished with hard black anodizing, and the checkered wood stock is American walnut. Whether you’re in a state unfriendly to the AR15 or just prefer the lever action for general purpose application, with its high capacity and compactness, the Lever Action Supreme could be a great alternative to the AR.
Henry SPD Predator
Henry SPD Predator
Pros
- Carbon-fiber barrel
- Threaded muzzle
- Adjustable comb
Cons
- Only available in one chambering
- Expensive
Specs
- Length: 38.06 inches
- Barrel Length: 18.0 inches
- Weight: 6.21 pounds
- Chamberings: 223 Remington/5.56 NATO
- Price: $2,510
The Henry SPD Predator is one of the most unusual lever-action rifles we’ve seen in a long time. It’s a modernized version of Henry’s Lever Action Supreme, but it’s been modernized in a practical as opposed to a radical manner. This rifle is may be best described as a varmint rifle—a lever-action varmint rifle. It was developed by Henry’s Special Products Division, which is where it gets its SPD name. It has an 18-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel with a threaded muzzle. The stock is laminated hardwood, but it has an integral adjustable comb to allow for a good cheek weld and proper eye alignment with a riflescope. This may be the only factory-offered lever-action rifle that comes without sights. Instead, it has a forged-carbon-fiber Picatinny rail, and it is unique in that it comes with a Harris S-LM bipod. Additionally, it may be the only factory lever-action rifle that comes with a three-shot sub-MOA guarantee. If you are looking for a dedicated lever action varmint/predator rifle, this modernized and lightweight rifle from Henry is in a class all its own.
How We Tested Lever Action Rifles
There are two types of lever-action rifles. The first is classically styled, tube-fed lever gun generally chambered for legacy cartridges like the 30-30 Winchester and 45-70 Government. The other is lever-action rifles fed from an internal or detachable magazine that’s situated below the action. These rifles are chambered for more modern cartridges, like the 223 Remington and 308 Winchester. As a lever-gun nut going way back, I’ve either tested, or shot, or hunted with nearly every lever gun that’s hit the market in the last, oh, 40 years or so.
Lever guns aren’t like bolt-action rifles, where there’s a big new batch of them every year. Instead, new models come out a few at a time. As a result, if we only looked at the lever guns that are new this year, we’d be leaving out some of the best guns currently available. With that in mind, based on my extensive experience shooting and hunting with lever actions of all types, I made my picks for the best new lever guns to come out in recent years, but I also included a few not-so-new models to make sure there was something for everyone and for every pursuit.
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4 Comments
What about Rossi? I’d put my R92 against all of them. Can’t pick a best when you don’t even try them all
Brother I’ve had 2 Rossi’s and they work just fine but now I have a new Marlin trapper 357mag and the overall quality , and fit/finish of the Marlin is just top notch over the Rossi.
I was going to come down and say the same thing! Also I don’t trust Field and Stream they are owned by Dicks Sports apparel who is Anti-gun and doesn’t believe in the Second Amendment!
Hello. We are not—and never have been—owned by or affiliated with Dicks Sporting Goods. The “Field and Stream” retail stores they used to own were in no way associated with the Field & Stream media company. Thank you.