What Is A Lever Action Classified As?

[Good Ol' Boy]

If this needs to be moved to the rifle forum have at it mods. I thought it best suited here.

Sounds like a silly question but I got to thinking about it while browsing guns online today.

What does a lever action rifle classify as?

To me, its basically the same as a SA revolver. On the revolver you cock the hammer which rotates the cylinder and makes a round ready, or chambers a round. With a lever action rifle you basically do the same thing albeit with a lever and no cylinder.

Seems like you could call them SA rifles. But I feel pretty certain I've heard them referred to as semi auto.

Now I know what a semi auto actually means, I'm just curious what lever actions are technically classified as. Seems like SA rifle would be realistic.

What thinks the group?

 

[Mike OTDP]

Lever-action. Or manually operated repeaters, like a bolt-action rifle.

 

[Mauser lover]

It’s a lever operated bolt. The trigger is single-action, but nothing revolves.

Actually, is it a lever operated bolt, or a lever operated falling block you’re talking about? A Winchester 94 is a lever operated bolt action, a Martini is a lever operated falling block.

 

[WestKentucky]

I wouldn’t quite agree with single action since most lever rifles you can manually cock and decock without working the action. Guns like my marlin 62 don’t have an external hammer so I would agree on those that single action seems appropriate.

 

[.308 Norma]

Now I know what a semi auto actually means

I have a single shot semi auto .22 rimfire - my first "real" gun BTW.

 

[Mauser lover]

I wouldn’t quite agree with single action since most lever rifles you can manually cock and decock without working the action. Guns like my marlin 62 don’t have an external hammer so I would agree on those that single action seems appropriate.

“Single-action” has to do with the trigger completing a single (one) action, doesn’t it? It releases the hammer/striker/firing pin. So, the trigger on all the lever guns that I can think of are single-action.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I have a single shot semi auto .22 rimfire - my first "real" gun BTW.

Now I'm intrigued.

How is a gun semi auto but single shot?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

To me, they are lever actions. Class by themselves.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Lever-action. Or manually operated repeaters, like a bolt-action rifle.

That probably sums it up best.

Manually operated repeaters.




But then, is that what you would call a SA revolver? Basically the same thing right?

 

[jmr40]

A lever action is a manually operated repeater. You can place them in a class by themselves, or lump them together with bolt actions, and pump actions. Or if you want to get really picky there are several different variations of levers, pumps, and bolt actions.

They have made single action revolving rifles in the past. I'm not aware of one currently in production.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I classify Lever Guns as the most Bad A** Gun a person can buy. When you pull that bad boy out, people know you don’t play around!

 

[.308 Norma]

Now I'm intrigued.

How is a gun semi auto but single shot?

It's a Winchester Model 55. I saw one at a gun show with a sign on it that said, "Winchester's Edsel."
Just like any other semi-auto, you have to "cock it" for the first shot, then when you shove a round into the chamber through the trapdoor like thing on top, it automatically put's the rifle on "safe."
When you take it off "safe" and fire it, it automatically ejects the empty case out through a port in the bottom of the stock, and re-cocks itself - again, just like any other semi-auto.
My mom and dad gave me my Winchester Model 55 for my 10th birthday in 1958. I'm not sure exactly why Winchester ever came out with such a rifle, but I suspect somebody might have thought it would be a great design for a kid's first gun. I know that's what my mom and dad thought - they told me so.
The thing is though, it wasn't a great design for every kid's first gun. That port in the bottom of the stock where the HOT, spent cases fall out is located right where I placed my left hand when I was 10 years old. I had an almost constant blister in the palm of my left hand until I grew a little.
BTW, I still have that rifle, and it still shoot great 64 years later.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

It's a Winchester Model 55. I saw one at a gun show with a sign on it that said, "Winchester's Edsel."
Just like any other semi-auto, you have to "cock it" for the first shot, then when you shove a round into the chamber through the trapdoor like thing on top, it automatically put's the rifle on "safe."
When you take it off "safe" and fire it, it automatically ejects the empty case out through a port in the bottom of the stock, and re-cocks itself - again, just like any other semi-auto.
My mom and dad gave me my Winchester Model 55 for my 10th birthday in 1958. I'm not sure exactly why Winchester ever came out with such a rifle, but I suspect somebody might have thought it would be a great design for a kid's first gun. I know that's my mom and dad thought - they told me so.
The thing is though, it wasn't a great design for every kid's first gun. That port in the bottom of the stock where the HOT, spent cases fell out was located right where I placed my left hand when I was 10 years old. I had an almost constant blister in the palm of my left hand until I grew a little.
BTW, I still have that rifle, and it still shoot great 64 years later.

Thats an awsome backstory, and informative.

But doesn't "semi auto" automatically load the next round?

 

[.308 Norma]

But doesn't "semi auto" automatically load the next round?

Well yeah, I guess so - IF there's another round in the magazine or clip to be "loaded" into the chamber. In the case of my Winchester Edsel, the "next round" is in my pocket.

 

[Ignition Override]

"Blast" category.

Here Clint Eastwood and Shirley McClain are about to have a blast.
The target is on a bridge support. His left shoulder was penetrated by an arrow.

"Two Mules for Sister Sarah". No mules or other animals were harmed during the production.

 

[JohnKSa]

Not all lever actions cock the hammer. One of the first ones, the Spencer, didn't. Also, not all lever-actions are repeaters. There are a number of single-shot lever-actions.

But doesn't "semi auto" automatically load the next round?

This is a good example of how trying to break things down into very simple categories may not always work.

A gun that recocks itself and ejects a shell is certainly performing some automatic functions. It's just unusual for it to do that without also loading a round. So is it semi-automatic? Well, by the very basic definitions of "semi" and "automatic" it fills the bill. But it doesn't fall into the normal category that we call 'self-loading'--a term generally used interchangeably with 'semi-automatic'.

So what is it? In cases like that, it's best to use whatever designation the manufacturer/designer gave it rather than trying to force it into a category it doesn't really fit into.

 

[LaneP]

Well yeah, I guess so - IF there's another round in the magazine or clip to be "loaded" into the chamber. In the case of my Winchester Edsel, the "next round" is in my pocket.

This may qualify as a unique special category type of action, referred to as the "partly automatic".

 

[Englishmn]

It's a Winchester Model 55. I saw one at a gun show with a sign on it that said, "Winchester's Edsel."
Just like any other semi-auto, you have to "cock it" for the first shot, then when you shove a round into the chamber through the trapdoor like thing on top, it automatically put's the rifle on "safe."
When you take it off "safe" and fire it, it automatically ejects the empty case out through a port in the bottom of the stock, and re-cocks itself - again, just like any other semi-auto.
My mom and dad gave me my Winchester Model 55 for my 10th birthday in 1958. I'm not sure exactly why Winchester ever came out with such a rifle, but I suspect somebody might have thought it would be a great design for a kid's first gun. I know that's my mom and dad thought - they told me so.
The thing is though, it wasn't a great design for every kid's first gun. That port in the bottom of the stock where the HOT, spent cases fell out was located right where I placed my left hand when I was 10 years old. I had an almost constant blister in the palm of my left hand until I grew a little.
BTW, I still have that rifle, and it still shoot great 64 years later.

It's also an open bolt gun.

 

[buck460XVR]

What does a lever action rifle classify as?

To me, it's a "lever action". No different than a pump, bolt, rolling block, break action, etc.

To me, its basically the same as a SA revolver.

SA means the pulling of the trigger performs one action.....releasing the hammer. As opposed to DA which performs two functions, cocking the action and releasing the hammer. Personally have never seen a DA long gun(other than revolving carbines) and have always thought the SA/DA was a handgun thingy. With Handguns, the SA/DA is not just a revolver thingy, but also pertains to Semi-autos.

I'm sure there will be a Grammar Nazi coming along that will define all of this to us.

 

[Hokkmike]

My view of lever action rifles is a little whimsical. They are Americana, real cowboy stuff. They are treasured as advanced technology for their time in many great John Wayne flicks. And DON"T go trying to tell me that Matt Dillion and the Lucas MCCain,"The Rifleman", didn't exist ! ! ! ! ! ! (Mike covers his eyes and ears)

The renown DEER RIFLE in the good old .30-30, the Winchester Model 94, is the iconic lever gun. My 1894 Marlin Cowboy is a hoot to shoot as well. I can't decide which one I'd rather take on the prairie or into Dodge City.

Now lets talk about the .45 long colt....... Later maybe.... (can you hear -Yellow Ribbon- playing?)

Alas but I deviate - sorry OP. Just having a little fun here.

To your discussion - in my opinion if a lever could be easily fired from a prone position there would have been no reason to invent the bolt action. That being said, the bolt is also a bit more accurate. Throwing more onto my fire - levers should NEVER be scoped where bolts stand out with good scopes.

Happily - I shoot both. That is the way it should be.

 

[zdc1775]

Now I'm intrigued.

How is a gun semi auto but single shot?

Here's another unique one for you. A Semi-auto Revolver.

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/early-automatic-pistols/webley-fosbery/

 

[Speedo66]

I classify the original '73 I had as an early assault rifle, with its 14 round capacity.

 

[King Medallion]

"Blast" category.

Here Clint Eastwood and Shirley McClain are about to have a blast.
The target is on a bridge support.

"Two Mules for Sister Sarah". No mules or other animals were harmed during the production.

I bet her ear don't feel too good no mo.

View attachment 1089808

 

[film495]

they are certainly not auto or semi auto anything. there is a lot of weird information out there, earlier in the week I was looking at some article off a major internet site, and they were referencing magazines as calibers, or something that was just so far off it was kind of embarrasing or should have been to the editor.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think "lever action" is a distinct category of its own, no need to try to cram it into some arbitrary classification with substantially different guns.