Author: Lori Kinney
Source
The lever-action rifle, which originated in the United States, has been a popular firearm for over a century and a half. Although never officially adopted by the U.S. military, they were used extensively during the Civil War, and also became a favorite of American law enforcement officers.
Lever-actions are characteristically shorter and lighter than other rifles, making them ideal in certain situations, but their faster firing rate and mechanical complexities can present challenges with maintenance and accuracy. Nevertheless, the popularity of these unique rifles keeps them among the top-sellers in the U.S. and a favorite of many gun collecters.
Lever-action rifles are often limited in the types of ammunition they can use due to design constraints, typically confining them to low or medium-pressure rounds and a specific loading mechanism. Often, these rifles incorporate a tubular magazine that is positioned beneath the barrel, restricting them to flat point or round nose cartridges to prevent pointed tip bullets from igniting the primer of the cartridge ahead, potentially causing a discharge within the magazine. Consequently, many of the rifles listed here are chambered in less common calibers like .357 and .44 Magnum.
Several prominent gun manufacturers choose not to produce lever-action rifles at all, contributing to the fact that the ten firearms on our list originate from only four companies under five brand names. Henry Repeating Arms, based in Wisconsin, produces four rifles on the list, while FN Herstal, a Belgian firearms manufacturer, produces three models under the Winchester and Browning brands.
Based on a report from Gun Genius, which analyzes sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the 10 most popular lever-action rifles in America. The rankings are based on sales volume throughout the 2023 calendar year, although precise sales figures were not provided. Additional information on domestic manufacturing facilities and production volumes in 2021 were sourced from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This list is based solely on online firearm sales. Unlike many other online purchases, firearms are typically not shipped directly to the buyer’s address. Instead, buyers must coordinate the shipment of their firearm to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer, often a nearby gun store. Prior to transferring the firearm to the customer, the dealer conducts a background check as a standard prodecure.
These are America’s best selling lever-action rifles:
10. Winchester Model 1892 Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,170
- Available chamberings include: .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .44-40, .45
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Winchester U.S. rifle production in 2021: 0
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
9. Marlin Model 1894 Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,280
- Available chamberings include: .38 Special, .357 Mag, .44 Special, .44 Mag
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger U.S. rifle production in 2021: 736,664 (18.7% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
8. Henry Long Ranger Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,100
- Available chamberings include: .243, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .223, .308
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry U.S. rifle production in 2021: 296,948 (7.5% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
7. Browning BLR Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,150
- Available chamberings include: .243, .270, .308, .30-06, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .300 Win Mag
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Browning U.S. rifle production in 2021: 1
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Morgan, UT (Browning)
6. Winchester Model 94 Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,200
- Available chamberings include: .25-35, .30-30, .32 Win Spl, .38-55, .450 Mar
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Winchester U.S. rifle production in 2021: 0
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
5. Henry Golden Boy Series
- Approx. base retail price: $530
- Available chamberings include: .22 S/L/LR, .22 WMR, .17 hMR
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry U.S. rifle production in 2021: 296,948 (7.5% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
4. Rossi R92 Series
- Approx. base retail price: $620
- Available chamberings include: .30-30, .454 Casull,.38, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45, .45-70
- Parent company: Rossi
- Rossi U.S. rifle production in 2021: 0
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
3. Marlin Model 1895 Series
- Approx. base retail price: $1,280
- Available chamberings include: .45-70
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger U.S. rifle production in 2021: 736,664 (18.7% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
2. Henry Side Gate Series
- Approx. base retail price: $870
- Available chamberings include: .30-30, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45, .45-70
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry U.S. rifle production in 2021: 296,948 (7.5% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
1. Henry Big Boy Series
- Approx. base retail price: $850
- Available chamberings include: .327 Mag, .41 Mag, .38, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry U.S. rifle production in 2021: 296,948 (7.5% of all U.S. made rifles)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
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