Lever Gun Technique

[Dog Guy]

For those who shoot lever action a lot: can you describe your "manual of arms" regarding placement of your trigger finger from the time you break a shot until the time you break the next shot? Where/how do you index your trigger finger while cycling the lever, particularly if you are shooting under time pressure? Also, are you able to maintain a good cheek weld while cycling the action? Reason: I'm thinking of exploring lever guns, but I need to keep track of my somewhat numb trigger finger. I do pretty well once I figure out how to keep it out of trouble, so I'm seeking guidance on the correct steps, and timing of those steps. Thanks in advance for any help.

[JHC]

Yes on maintaining cheek weld. It's easy. Regarding the trigger, I look at this way. If I'm shooting an AR carbine once and plan to shoot again in a big hurry, I don't index my finger outside the trigger guard between shots.

I don't on a lever gun either. Just get off the trigger, maybe like "flip and press" with pistol. [edit: a BIG flip and press with the trigger finger flying out straight then returning - per next post down] I say maybe cause I've never gotten the hang of that with a pistol.

Case in point from the other day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/78036189@N07/43145524792/in/dateposted-public/

[Redhat]

When I shoot one, as soon as I start to operate the lever, my trigger finger points straight and outside the lever while cycling the action and returns inside the trigger guard when the lever is closed.

I have no desire to smash my finger when closing the lever nor do I want my finger to hit the trigger unintentionally during the rearward movement of the lever.

As to maintaining cheek weld, it depends on the design / length of bolt travel and how close you like to get to the sights. Some rifles are longer / shorter than others so it's just something you have to work with slowly to be sure you CAN keep cheek weld while cycling the bolt.

[Dog Guy]

JHC are you doing anything specific to keep from trapping your finger between the trigger guard and the end of the trigger? That's where I have a problem: I open the action, then when I close it, my finger is prone to being smooshed against the bottom (tip) of the trigger.

[JHC]

JHC are you doing anything specific to keep from trapping your finger between the trigger guard and the end of the trigger? That's where I have a problem: I open the action, then when I close it, my finger is prone to being smooshed against the bottom (tip) of the trigger.

Holy shit I have no idea! I've been shooting them since 1972 (childhood) and never experienced that and have never given it much thought. If I'm target shooting slowly I index out of the trigger guard like we did on pistols back before we learned to frame index. But if on game trying to be ready for a fast follow up shot, it's just snick snick as in the vid.

Pause . . .

Damn, I had to get that Win 94 out of the safe and run it fast to find out! My trigger finger FLIES out straight during the cycling of the lever then comes back into the trigger guard as I prep for the next shot.

Thanks for asking. LOL

[Dog Guy]

Thanks. I figured on something along those lines, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something really simple.

[JHC]

Thanks. I figured on something along those lines, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something really simple.



Get one. They are a scream.

[Malamute]

As described above, definitely trigger finger outside the guard when cycling the lever. I think once you program yourself to do it, you can do it at about any speed.

[Jared]

The lever gun can sort of force you to get that finger out of there, as it is possible (as an 11 year old Jared can tell you) to pinch the snot out of your finger if you don't do a good job getting it out of the way when you close the action. Yes, I did that as a boy. No, the gun didn't fire because the lever wasn't closed all the way yet. I've recently rediscovered the lever gun, and I'm very glad I did.

[jlw]

For those who shoot lever action a lot: can you describe your "manual of arms" regarding placement of your trigger finger from the time you break a shot until the time you break the next shot? Where/how do you index your trigger finger while cycling the lever, particularly if you are shooting under time pressure? Also, are you able to maintain a good cheek weld while cycling the action? Reason: I'm thinking of exploring lever guns, but I need to keep track of my somewhat numb trigger finger. I do pretty well once I figure out how to keep it out of trouble, so I'm seeking guidance on the correct steps, and timing of those steps. Thanks in advance for any help.


Here's a review of my abbreviated Social Levergun (https://civiliangunfighter.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/aar2-lee-weems-and-his-deep-and-abiding-love-for-the-levergun/) class at the 2018 TacCon. I'll be repeating the class at the 2019 TacCon in New Orleans.

I keep the gun in the shoulder as I work the lever and for both emergency and speed reloads although I do teach an alternate method for those who don't have the strength to do so for the loading.

[41magfan]

Those Cowboy Action shooters have certainly cracked the code on how to run a lever-gun. I realize they used modified, short-throw actions but I suspect a lot of their techniques translate well. It might be worth seeking one of those guys out (or at least watching some videos) for some pointers.

[Dog Guy]

Good ideas. Thanks.

[Malamute]

I thought that likely also, but watching videos, they are what id consider gaming it, using the short throws and flicking the fingers to work the lever rather than getting much force into it, with the trigger finger in the guard and shooting light loads. Some are wicked fast, but that technique doesnt always translate in practical use.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

I have really giant hands, and this is a still from a video of me shooting in slow motion, but it gets my finger (nobody likes a fingerless dentist) safely away from the slamming parts. This was the last round in the mag, hence why it isn’t in my the pocket of my shoulder, but still in my eyeline.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180712/4877bdfb24208094850836cb8588b1c6.png


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[JHC]

Those sleeves doe!

[JHC]

I thought that likely also, but watching videos, they are what id consider gaming it, using the short throws and flicking the fingers to work the lever rather than getting much force into it, with the trigger finger in the guard and shooting light loads. Some are wicked fast, but that technique doesnt always translate in practical use.

You reminded me of John Taffin's lamenting of where that sport started and where it went. We have a big such club where I shoot and its fun to watch but, as you say.

[Lester Polfus]

I thought that likely also, but watching videos, they are what id consider gaming it, using the short throws and flicking the fingers to work the lever rather than getting much force into it, with the trigger finger in the guard and shooting light loads. Some are wicked fast, but that technique doesnt always translate in practical use.

I foudn that to be the case as well. I think that the nuances of efficiently running a lever gun in a practical setting are in danger of becoming a lost art. It does my heart good to see that practical levergun class.
SouthNarc had a Levergun PSP on TPI, but the last couple times I've tried to log in it looked like the site was having problems.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

Those sleeves doe!

They help for shooting lever guns too. [emoji6]


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[Jared]

I thought that likely also, but watching videos, they are what id consider gaming it, using the short throws and flicking the fingers to work the lever rather than getting much force into it, with the trigger finger in the guard and shooting light loads. Some are wicked fast, but that technique doesnt always translate in practical use.

My mother and father both shoot a lot of cowboys action matches every year. They don't run the short stroke kits and things like that. Then again, they really aren't spending a ton of time in the winners circle either.

I will say this, dad can flat out run a rifle. I've pretty much surpassed him with a pistol, particularly anything with a timer, but man to man, with a lever action rifle, I can't touch him.

[Malamute]

Im also encouraged to see people valuing and teaching practical lever gun work.

Small game hunting can be good practice and good fun. In Az the bunny and jack season was all year. Throwing moving stuff to shoot at is fun.

The larger calibers, anything with rifle length cartridges wont adapt to short stroking well, but can still be run quickly. Perhaps not in quite the same league for sheer speed as the comp guns, but for practical calibers and uses, well enough.