Lever action shotguns

Nightcrawler · January 19, 2001, 02:49 AM

The sawed off on in Terminator 2 got me interested. How come no one makes lever action shotguns anymore? And the one in the movie...did they actually take a classic turn of the century lever shotgun and saw the stock and barrel down? Ouch...

Anyway, also, almost all repeating shotguns are pumps. There are plenty of semis, too, but most military and police choose pump. Are semi shotguns less reliable than, say, a semiauto carbine? If so, why?

[Edited by Nightcrawler on 01-19-2001 at 07:04 AM]

Dave McC · January 19, 2001, 06:22 AM

Winchester, Spencer, possibly Ballard,etc, made lever action shotguns of varying durability and performance. Elmer Keith mentions the Winchester,remarking that a lever action fan did OK with them, but pumps were a better choice.

As for the movie, Hollywierd strikes again.....

fal308 · January 19, 2001, 09:06 AM

Actually an Australian company is remaking a copy of the Winchester 1887 lever action shotgun. Just saw several at the SHOT Show. Main problem is that the retail price is something like $1200 IIRC.

mjcitra · January 19, 2001, 12:23 PM

I think the lever action is probably more prone to accidental discharges than slide or break action

mjcitra · January 19, 2001, 12:25 PM

Check out some of these lever action replica rifles. http://www.iar-arms.com/rifles.htm

Powermwt · January 19, 2001, 02:28 PM

I saw that Winchester just came out with a lever .410 that looks like a 94. Don't know what the cost is. MWT

ModIMark0 · January 19, 2001, 05:29 PM

There was a manufacturer or distributor in the U.S. that was to have had reproductions of the Winchester 1887 lever action shotgun available in 1998. The company's name is (or was?) TriStar Sporting Arms. Their address and phone number are P.O. Box 7496, N. Kansas City, MO 64116. Ph/.# 816-421-1400. I had gotten a nice sales brochure (included O/A shotguns and a Greener action sxs for cowboy action shooting) from them in '98, and it said that though the barrel length on their '87 was 26 or 32 inches, it could be shortened to ones requirements w/o any problems. Retail on the repro was $599. Hope this info helps.

Harley Nolden · January 20, 2001, 07:08 AM

ModIMK0:
The use of pumps by Police and military is reliability of function. In the conditions they put their shotguns manual operation is better.

Semi's systems can, and many times are, impaired because of extreme conditions. Pump guns on the other hand are manually operated and can be functioned with an extra effort. In addition: In my opinion, pump guns are more easily maintained and repaired than the semi's.

HJN

January 19, 2001, 02:49 AM	#1
Nightcrawler Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2000 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,945	Lever & Semi shotguns The sawed off on in Terminator 2 got me interested. How come no one makes lever action shotguns anymore? And the one in the movie...did they actually take a classic turn of the century lever shotgun and saw the stock and barrel down? Ouch... Anyway, also, almost all repeating shotguns are pumps. There are plenty of semis, too, but most military and police choose pump. Are semi shotguns less reliable than, say, a semiauto carbine? If so, why? [Edited by Nightcrawler on 01-19-2001 at 07:04 AM]

January 19, 2001, 06:22 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Winchester, Spencer, possibly Ballard,etc, made lever action shotguns of varying durability and performance. Elmer Keith mentions the Winchester,remarking that a lever action fan did OK with them, but pumps were a better choice. As for the movie, Hollywierd strikes again.....

January 19, 2001, 09:06 AM	#3
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Actually an Australian company is remaking a copy of the Winchester 1887 lever action shotgun. Just saw several at the SHOT Show. Main problem is that the retail price is something like $1200 IIRC.

January 19, 2001, 12:23 PM	#4
mjcitra Member Join Date: December 6, 2000 Posts: 39	I think the lever action is probably more prone to accidental discharges than slide or break action

January 19, 2001, 12:25 PM	#5
mjcitra Member Join Date: December 6, 2000 Posts: 39	Check out some of these lever action replica rifles. http://www.iar-arms.com/rifles.htm

January 19, 2001, 02:28 PM	#6
Powermwt Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2000 Location: Selah, WA Posts: 326	I saw that Winchester just came out with a lever .410 that looks like a 94. Don't know what the cost is. MWT

January 19, 2001, 05:29 PM	#7
ModIMark0 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Minneapolis,MN, U.S.A. Posts: 243	There was a manufacturer or distributor in the U.S. that was to have had reproductions of the Winchester 1887 lever action shotgun available in 1998. The company's name is (or was?) TriStar Sporting Arms. Their address and phone number are P.O. Box 7496, N. Kansas City, MO 64116. Ph/.# 816-421-1400. I had gotten a nice sales brochure (included O/A shotguns and a Greener action sxs for cowboy action shooting) from them in '98, and it said that though the barrel length on their '87 was 26 or 32 inches, it could be shortened to ones requirements w/o any problems. Retail on the repro was $599. Hope this info helps.

January 20, 2001, 07:08 AM	#8
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	ModIMK0: The use of pumps by Police and military is reliability of function. In the conditions they put their shotguns manual operation is better. Semi's systems can, and many times are, impaired because of extreme conditions. Pump guns on the other hand are manually operated and can be functioned with an extra effort. In addition: In my opinion, pump guns are more easily maintained and repaired than the semi's. HJN