Best Lever Guns for Cowboy Action Shooting

The rifle that does the most work

A typical cowboy action stage asks you to run a pair of single-action revolvers, a shotgun, and a lever rifle against the clock, while dressed like it is 1885 and answering to an Old West alias you registered yourself. The sport began in 1981 at the Coto de Caza range in Orange County, California, and the Single Action Shooting Society that governs most matches was formed in 1987.

The rifle is usually loaded with a full magazine and run hard, which makes it the gun where action design, smoothness and caliber matter most. A heavy, stiff lever that is fine on a deer stand will feel like a punishment by the third stage.

First, the rules that shape your choice

Before buying, read the current SASS Shooters Handbook. As of the January 2026 edition (Version 28), a few rules decide which rifle you can use:

• Ammunition: rifle ammunition must be all lead, single projectile. Centerfire loads need a minimum power factor of 60, no velocity under 400 fps, and a maximum of 1,400 fps for rifles.
• Classic Cowboy: requires a rifle of 1873 or earlier manufacture design (or a replica) in .40 caliber or larger rimmed cartridges.
• B-Western: requires a rifle of 1880 or later design (or a replica).
• Frontier Cartridge and Frontiersman: black-powder categories that allow any SASS-legal pistol-caliber rifle.
• Staging: rifles are staged with the magazine loaded, action closed and hammer fully down on an empty chamber.

Quick picks

1. 1873-pattern rifles: the default answer

The Winchester Model 1873 was the first lever-action rifle to use a centerfire cartridge, the .44-40, and roughly 720,000 were made between 1873 and 1923. Its action descends from the Henry and the 1866 and was built around pistol-length cartridges, which is exactly what cowboy action calls for. A short pistol cartridge means a short lever stroke, and on the clock that matters. It is also era-correct for Classic Cowboy when chambered in .44-40 or .45 Colt.

Modern reproductions come from Italy's Uberti and from importers such as Cimarron and Taylor's, while Miroku in Japan has built the Winchester-branded version since its 2013 reintroduction.

Taylor's offers its 1873 Comanchero line in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt, among other options.

2. 1892-pattern rifles: compact and strong

John Browning designed the 1892 for Winchester, one of a run of lever actions he created for the company alongside the 1886 and 1894. Modern 1892-pattern rifles are commonly chambered for .357 and .44 Magnum, loads you will never need in a match but might want for other uses.

For cowboy action, a well-tuned 1892 can be fast and handy, and it is legal in B-Western as an 1880-or-later design. Out of the box, some 1892-pattern rifles feel stiffer than an 1873, and some shooters have them smoothed by a gunsmith experienced with cowboy guns.

Options include the Winchester-branded Miroku 1892, Chiappa's 1892 Trapper, and the Heritage 92 Ranch Hand.

3. Marlin 1894: the modern American option

The Marlin 1894 is a side-ejecting, solid-top pistol-caliber lever with a loading gate on the side, and Ruger is building it again. The Classic series lists a .357 Magnum with an 18.63-inch barrel and 9-round magazine, plus .44 Magnum and .45 Colt versions with 20.25-inch barrels and 10 rounds, all in American black walnut with semi-buckhorn sights. Marlin lists these as limited availability.

Side ejection means brass goes sideways instead of up past your face, and the crossbolt hammer-block safety can be ignored during a stage as long as it stays in the fire position (confirm your match's rules for safeties). The 1894 is an 1894 design, so it fits B-Western rather than Classic Cowboy.

4. Henry Big Boy and Side Gate: available and smooth

Henry's pistol-caliber Big Boy rifles show up at plenty of matches because they are widely available and smooth out of the box. The catch has always been loading: traditional Henrys load through a removable inner tube at the muzzle, which is slow for a timed reload. Henry's Side Gate models solve that by adding a receiver loading gate while keeping the tube.

Henry uses a transfer-bar safety with no half-cock notch. Staging with the hammer fully down on an empty chamber fits Henry's design and SASS staging rules. If you already own a .357 Big Boy, read the site's Big Boy .357 review before buying something new.

5. 1866 and 1860 replicas: the brass-framed classics

The Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy," with its brass frame and the loading gate invented by Nelson King, replaced the Henry and was made through 1873. Reproductions in pistol calibers are popular for Classic Cowboy; check the maker's caliber list, since Classic Cowboy requires .40 caliber or larger. The 1860 Henry, with its slotted magazine tube and no forearm, is reproduced by Uberti and by Henry Repeating Arms in .44-40 and .45 Colt.

Both are wonderful pieces of history. Brass frames are softer than steel, so they are best kept to the mild lead loads cowboy action uses anyway. The original Henry design's lack of a forearm also means your support hand sits on the magazine tube or barrel, which can get warm during a long stage.

Picking a caliber

.38 Special/.357 Magnum is the most common answer. Light .38 lead loads are soft, inexpensive relative to other pistol rounds, and match nicely with .38/.357 revolvers. SASS-style lead loads such as Magtech Cowboy Action in 125 and 158-grain lead flat nose are in the .38 Special ammo section.

.45 Colt and .44-40 are the classic big cartridges, required for Classic Cowboy at .40 caliber and up, and more fun with black powder. Both are available in the .45 Colt and .44-40 aisles.

.44 Magnum/.44 Special works too, but is less common for cowboy loads.

What to skip

A box-magazine lever like a Henry Long Ranger or Browning BLR is not what SASS has in mind; the sport is built around pistol-caliber rifles of period design. Big rifle cartridges like the .45-70 belong to other disciplines. Modern features such as rails and optics are another reason to read the handbook before buying, because category rules on rifle design are specific.

The call

Pick an 1873-pattern rifle in .38/.357 if you are new and want a rifle that suits nearly every category.

Pick an 1873 or 1866 replica in .45 Colt or .44-40 if you want to shoot Classic Cowboy.

Pick a Winchester or clone 1892 if you want a compact, strong rifle for B-Western and other uses.

Pick a Marlin 1894 or Henry Side Gate if you want a modern U.S.-built rifle, or already own one.

At home, store every match gun unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately. The revolver half of your kit belongs on our sister site, wheelguns.co.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.