Lever-Action Fun

Versatile Handloads for Small Game

- John Haviland

A traditional lever-action cartridge is less than an ideal choice for coyote hunting or any shooting requiring an extended reach, with its relatively low chamber pressure and blunt-nosed bullets required for its magazine. But it would be a shame to leave a lever-action home during an outing. Working the action is part of the enjoyment of shooting a rifle. A lever-action rifle amplifies that pleasure with a “click” as the locking lugs disengage and the bolt slides back to cock the hammer, a clack as a cartridge emerges from the magazine and lifts into alignment with the chamber and the slick bolt going forward to chamber the cartridge.

Some homework may be required to develop a suitable small-game load with a lighter-weight bullet for lever-action rifles. Keep in mind, a light bullet fired at a relatively higher velocity most likely hits higher than standard-weight bullets. A rifle with a rear aperture sight with plenty of vertical adjustment, or a scope, can easily be adjusted to compensate for that difference. Many older lever-action guns came with a rear sight that provided multiple sighting options, such as the Winchester three-leaf “express” or the Lyman Model 21 rear aperture sight on one of my Winchester Model 94 carbines. However, ordinary open sights may not have enough adjustment. Installing a taller front sight does lower bullet impact. But it is simpler to juggle bullet weight and also powder charge weight that can alter trajectory to mesh with open sights.

Let’s discuss handloading four cartridges linked to lever-action guns to see how they can be kept in the field and shooting all year.

.25-35 Winchester