“A lever motion rifle? C’mon – this isn’t the nineteenth century. – why would anybody need a type of museum items?” I’ve heard that on occasion, and I’m amazed each time I hear it. Fashionable lever actions, just like the Smith & Wesson 1854 Lever Motion Rifle, have all the pieces essential to take this thumper from deer searching to self-defense.
Deer hunters have by no means given up on them. Firms comparable to Winchester, Marlin, Mossberg, and Henry, bolstered in more moderen years by Rossi and now Smith & Wesson, proceed to make rifles which have all the time been in style with hunters. Levers will not be solely good for searching. There are new self-defense-purposed rifles chambered in 9mm that use a lever motion for these states that don’t enable AR-type rifles. I’ve owned a number of levers in each .22 and centerfire calibers and wish to shoot them. My brother had a Winchester 9422 .22 Magnum lever rifle that he might choose a grey squirrel off a limb with at 50 yards. (I used to be going to say “Shoot the nuts off a gnat” however that didn’t sound politically right…). They are typically correct, simple to pack, and quick into motion.
We’re going to slender our lever motion give attention to the brand new Smith & Wesson 1854 in .44 Magnum. That is one attention-grabbing rifle!
Smith & Wesson 1854 Lever Motion Rifle
Dwell Stock Value Checker
Most shooters have not less than some data of lever motion rifles (and shotguns, too), notably these made by Winchester, Henry, Marlin, Rossi, and Mossberg – these are the massive gamers. Suffice it to say that this new Smith and Wesson rifle (the 1854 line was launched in January 2024) brings some attention-grabbing, new options to the combo. This ain’t your grandaddy’s deer-thumper.
Specs
Width: 1.6 in
Size: 36 in
Weight: 6 lbs., 12 oz. empty – my measurement
Caliber: 44 Magnum (additionally supplied in .45 Colt, similar worth)
Capability: 9
Barrel Size: 19.25″
Inventory/Grip: Polymer
Sights: Aperture rear, gold bead entrance
Optic Prepared: Sure (rail part on prime)
Security: Cross-bolt
Colour/End: Black/matte stainless
Threaded Barrel: Sure
Barrel Materials: 410 SS
Body: Stainless-steel
11/16-24 Threaded Barrel
Accepts mounts suitable with Marlin® 1894 gap patterns
Black artificial inventory with textured grip panels
M-LOK® artificial forend with textured grip panels
Gold bead entrance sight
XS Sights ghost ring rear sight
1:20″ RH Twist 8-Groove Rifling
Massive loop working lever
Cast 416 SS Receiver
19.25″ 410 SS Barrel
thumb hammer extension included
And, if you need a fancier walnut/blue model, they make one for $120 extra.
Musings
The rifle is attention-grabbing in my arms. It weighs over 6 kilos, however it doesn’t really feel heavy – truly, it’s fairly mild to hold round. The sights are attention-grabbing – a big XS ghost ring coupled with a gold bead up entrance. After all, if you need one thing else, you will have a nice-size Pic rail, which makes including a light-weight or laser simple. You may contemplate doing that, as that massive rear ghost ring aperture allowed for fast goal acquisition however made precision capturing arduous. The included M-Lok slots up entrance are new, for a factory-stock lever gun. And, if you want to clear the rifle, you’ll be able to pull the magazine tube off with out having to jack all of the rounds via the chamber. That’s a pleasant characteristic.
Searching in winter is perpetually a problem relating to holding your arms heat. Stiff, frozen fingers aren’t one of the best ways to govern a rifle. So, S&W determined to incorporate a big loop that permits you to put on your favourite heat gloves.
I personal a Henry Massive Boy in .44, the shiny brass receiver/luxurious-blued barrel model. I hesitate to take it to the deer woods as a result of I don’t wish to scratch it, and I additionally don’t wish to cowl that mirror-like, shiny brass with tape that may go away goo throughout. So, I take advantage of different weapons. I might not be afraid to take the Smith & Wesson 1854 outdoors, although. The stainless end is hard and simply mounted if it will get scratched. Would I desire a flowery walnut inventory with old-school-blue metallic? Positive, however plain ol’ polymer has its place. There’s no beating your self up in the event you scratch that good walnut inventory as a result of there isn’t any good walnut inventory. This rifle is briar-patch-friendly when it comes to scratch resistance and brief sufficient to suit via the brambles.
One final thought considerations the barrel size. At 19.25 inches, you will have the very best of two worlds. Many lever weapons have barrel lengths of both 16 or 20 inches. Just a few stretch to 24 inches, however I’ve by no means been all in favour of these. For deer-caliber rifles in our close-range woods, the shorter barrels work simply fantastic. This gun, with its under-twenty-inch barrel size, is sweet the way in which it’s. Or, you would add a suppressor and nonetheless have a rifle that handles effectively. The caliber is excellent for our close-in Indiana whitetails… I discussed above that I don’t know what number of deer I’ve killed with my S&W 629 8-3/8″ revolver stoked with my do-it-yourself mid-range forged bullet masses. This 19.25-inch barrel will likely be higher. I positioned my Garmin Xero C1 Professional chronograph beside the rifle once we shot it to see simply how a lot sooner the bullets are flying than from my revolver. Speak about knock-down vitality from a pistol cartridge! I’ll have these outcomes beneath.
Vary Time
Talking of capturing, how did the Smith & Wesson 1854 do? My provide of manufacturing unit 44 Magazine ammo is a bit restricted, so I shot what I had. As soon as upon a time, I used to be an unrepentant .44 hand loader, however manufacturing unit ammo is what pursuits shooters who don’t dwell subsequent door to me.
I’m blessed to have a 100-yard vary in my yard, so I headed there. I arrange targets comparatively close-in at 25 yards to verify the zero – I needed to modify the rear sight rather a lot, so I stored the targets shut. At any price, deer we shoot round my home are normally not more than 50 yards out, so a 25-yard zero is workable. Anyway, the ultimate zero was in the direction of the highest of the goal so bullet drop at 50 yards wouldn’t be a difficulty. I used a Caldwell Final Goal Stand which makes it simple to unfold three targets out at a time.
Caldwell despatched me a pair extra gadgets that made it simple to check the rifle – their Secure Desk Lite and the Rock Deluxe Capturing Relaxation, as proven right here. The rear bag got here from Ransom Relaxation.
The desk is moveable, has 5 locking legs, and is sturdy. As for the Rock Deluxe relaxation, they’re not kidding – when you lock that pet down, it’s not shifting. Caldwell certainly made this capturing session simpler.
Anyway, my oldest son and I put some manufacturing unit .44 masses via it. We shot the next from my provide of .44 Magazine ammo:
PMC Bronze 180-gr JHP — 2174 fps/1889 fpe
Hornady Leverevoltion 225-gr FTX — 2165 fps/2342 fpe
Fiocchi Vary Dynamics 240-grain JSP — 1478 fps/1164 fpe
Accuracy Outcomes
I believe that if I take this rifle into the woods come deer season, I would purchase a field or two of the Hornady Leverevolution. The poly tip retains the rounds secure within the tubular journal, and the accuracy potential – coupled with over a ton of vitality – would make fast work of a whitetail. The 180-grain load did very effectively, too… an alternative choice!
Sighting The Accuracy Answer
I purposely didn’t put an optic on the rifle, as I attempted to check all the pieces because it got here from the field. Nevertheless, as I came upon, this rifle will profit from an added optic. I arrange at 50 yards, and we each fired teams with all of the ammo. The teams weren’t that nice, to be trustworthy. It shot low and never very tight.
We determined that the XS ghost ring rear sight, which was very massive, can be actually good within the woods with decrease ranges of sunshine since it’s so huge and permits fast goal acquisition. Nevertheless, it wasn’t simple for us to get excessive precision from it, because it was designed for quick capturing at closer-in ranges. A snap shot at a doe 30 yards away? No drawback… each the ammo and the rifle can be up for that. A closely-aimed shot on the similar deer at 75 yards? You may wish to anticipate her to get in a little bit nearer. No less than the targets confirmed promise with the hundreds I used…all three targets present teams of barely greater than an inch at 25 yards.
The last word sighting answer, in fact, is to stay a scope or a purple dot on the rifle. S&W has made that dead-nuts simple with the Picatinny rail on the highest of the gun. Right here’s the place side-ejection shines. I seen that they designed the 1854 to make use of aspect ejection and never prime ejection (a la Winchester), so any optic you wish to use is appropriate. As our Aussie mates may say, good on ya, S&W!
After testing the rifle extra fastidiously on the vary with its open sights for the evaluation at nearer vary, I’ll put some type of optic on it and actually wring it out. I’ve zero doubt that the teams will tighten up and add yards to my efficient vary. These of you who’re used to utilizing an aperture sight just like the XS will in all probability not have any bother in any respect capturing the rifle because it comes out of the field. However, my aged eyeballs want a little bit of a lift.
One different factor… a six-pound-plus rifle in .44 Magnum won’t kick very arduous. Oh certain, it let you understand if you pulled the set off however it wasn’t unhealthy. I figured it delivered round 10 kilos of recoil vitality, relying upon the load. That’s tolerable. The environment friendly rubber butt pad helped tame the recoil. Additionally, the threaded barrel will settle for a muzzle brake or suppressor which can additional assist reduce the kick you are feeling.
Different Sighting
I’m including this paragraph later, as I simply obtained a Burris Quick Hearth 4 purple dot sight from that firm. It is a sight that works on handguns and lengthy weapons. I can’t wait to sight it in, though I’m unsure I might enhance on the iron sights when it comes to accuracy. The FF4 is a continuation of the Quick Hearth sequence, has 4 reticles and 4 brightness settings, and comes with a climate defend. That is one good sight for a rifle like this.
Photograph Time
To Sum Up
Since I used to be a really younger whipper-snapper and a household good friend introduced my brother and me lever-action BB rifles for Christmas one 12 months, I’ve been a fan of that fashion of motion. I as soon as owned a Winchester 94 in .30-30. I kick myself each time I consider it for promoting it again within the ’80s however at the moment, you couldn’t hunt deer with centerfire rifles in Indiana. That’s modified now. I additionally personal a Henry Massive Boy in .44 Magnum.
Even with the pistol-caliber .44 Magnum, you might be getting some critical oomph within the ballistics division out of this rifle. Take into account {that a} .30-30 170-grain bullet will fly at round 2200 fps. Now, I’m not knocking the ol’ warhorse – loads of freezers have been stuffed by hunters utilizing that caliber. All I’m saying is which you could come near the .30-30 with a 180-grain .44 Magnum load when it comes to velocity and vitality out of this lengthy barrel. Granted, the .30-30 bullet is extra streamlined and supplies higher down-range ballistics however at across-the-hollow deer ranges, that hardly issues. Should you already personal a .44 revolver, this rifle makes an incredible companion for it when it comes to shared ammo. Add within the extra velocity this rifle’s 19.25-inch barrel supplies and you’ve got a winner.
Should you’ve been fascinated about including a lever-action rifle to your gun secure, you may wish to try the Smith & Wesson 1854. It is extremely mild, useful, and versatile when it comes to including optics, lights, lasers, and so forth. – that provides to its worth for my part. Plus, it’s virtually weather- and scratch-proof. Even if you need the flowery walnut-shiny-blue model, you’re coated. This one just isn’t going again. Let’s hear from you beneath in the event you’re a lever fan!
About Mike Hardesty
With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved capturing and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Dwelling in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged writer, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.
