Lever actions for Survival?

Mr Creekmore:
Growing up in the Southern U.S. it seemed like just about every home in the area had a lever action 30.30 hanging up over the door or on the bedroom wall. Come deer season, the local hunters would put on their orange vests and hang that old trusty lever action 30.30 in the gun rack in back of the pick-up window. It’s hard to think of a time when the 30.30 lever action hasn’t been regarded as the American hunting, rife at least in the south. What do you think of the lever action 30.30 in the role of a survival defensive rifle? Thank you for your time. – Blazer in Alabama

My Two Cents: I would not feel the least bit under or out gunned with armed with the lever action 30.30. It is the standard lever action cartridge and will serve you well. If you live in a rural area, you can’t 30.30 cartridge for versatility. It is accurate and powerful out to 100 yards, and plenty of deer have been taken at ranges much farther than the 100 yard mark. Any retailer who carries ammo will stock 30.30 rounds as well as .38 spl., .22lr and 12 gauge shot shells. Buying a box or two of ammo every week is an easy way to stock up, if you are concerned about drawing attention to your purchases it is a simple matter to make them at a different location each time, starting over when you run out of local retail outlets.

Speaking of defense, which gun would you rather have the prosecutor show the jury if your home defense shooting goes to trial? An “Evil”, Black Assault Rifle, AK-47 or a familiar gun carried by childhood cowboy heroes? What I like most about a lever rifle is that you can top off the tubular mag without opening the action or removing the mag, this way you avoid leaving yourself open to an attacker while you reload.

The best survival or defensive weapon is the one you have. Skill is of more importance then action type or caliber. Practice and become skilled with your basic weapon and you will be more than a match for any punk who happens to wander into your territory. M.D.C.