bamaranger
New member
levers
I'm compelled to say I am not a fan of levers for beginners. Hey, many of us started with one, a M94 was standard fare for a kid when I was coming up, ususally 'casue Dad or big brother had got an '06. I LIKE levers.
But my experience with my boy (and wife) has conviced me that the management of the hammer/trigger with a round in the chamber is too much of a trick for small and weak hands. The lawyer safeties have improved this situation, much to my dislike, but the crossbolt still needs to be manipulated to work. Invariably, the good wife or bamaboy, at age 9-10, could not let the hammer down to half cock safely .......every time. We eneded up shooting my .357 lever as a single shot range device and not thumb cocking at all. Open acton, load 1 rd, shoot, repeat......or leave action open.
And there's some who do not still understand the traditional half cock. I don't see many levers in the woods these days, but more than a few adults with traditional levers and hammers, wander about with a loaded chamber and the hammer fully forward, the half cock NOT engaged. I've seen it.
I'm compelled to say I am not a fan of levers for beginners. Hey, many of us started with one, a M94 was standard fare for a kid when I was coming up, ususally 'casue Dad or big brother had got an '06. I LIKE levers.
But my experience with my boy (and wife) has conviced me that the management of the hammer/trigger with a round in the chamber is too much of a trick for small and weak hands. The lawyer safeties have improved this situation, much to my dislike, but the crossbolt still needs to be manipulated to work. Invariably, the good wife or bamaboy, at age 9-10, could not let the hammer down to half cock safely .......every time. We eneded up shooting my .357 lever as a single shot range device and not thumb cocking at all. Open acton, load 1 rd, shoot, repeat......or leave action open.
And there's some who do not still understand the traditional half cock. I don't see many levers in the woods these days, but more than a few adults with traditional levers and hammers, wander about with a loaded chamber and the hammer fully forward, the half cock NOT engaged. I've seen it.