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The Cowboy Assault Rifle: Why Every Texan Needs a .30-30 Lever Action

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The lever-action .30-30 Winchester is one of the most iconic guns of the west. It’s renowned as a great ranch rifle or saddle gun, but did you know that it’s been called the cowboy assault rifle by many gun enthusiasts? Some of the remarkable attributes of this finely-crafted weapon have earned it the title of cowboy assault rifle. Join us as we take a special look at the lever-action .30.-30, with a little help from the experts at Guns.com.

Big Game Cartridge

The Cowboy Assault Rifle: Why Every Texan Needs a .30-30 Lever Action

Photo: Max McNabb/Instagram

A lever-action rifle chambered in Winchester .30-30 is the perfect problem solver. First off, the .30-30 is one of the greatest game cartridges ever made. It packs enough punch to solve almost any problem you might encounter. With an effective range of 200 to 300 yards, a single .30-30 round is enough to drop small game, and if you’re facing down a predator, the .30-30 can stop it in a hurry. From deer to black bears, feral hogs to mountain lions, the .30-30 has what it takes to get the job done right. It’s even been used to bring down moose and caribou. The .30-30 is considered the entry-class of big game hunting cartridges, and its relatively light recoil means you can quickly and effectively get the next round chambered, then aim and fire again.

Why it’s Called the Cowboy Assault Rifle

The Cowboy Assault Rifle: Why Every Texan Needs a .30-30 Lever Action

Photo: Max McNabb/Instagram

Not only is this a good saddle gun, but a .30-30 lever-action is also excellent for self-defense purposes. In fact, it’s an underrated weapon in a fire-fight. Of course, a modern semi-automatic rifle like the AR-15 is hard to beat and faster to rechamber than any lever-action, simply because a semi-auto automatically cycles and rechambers a new round after each shot. However, the lever-action has some definite benefits. Loading the cowboy assault rifle couldn’t be any easier—just thumb a round into the loading gate. This allows you to “top off” the rifle, meaning you can fill the magazine to capacity, lever a round into the chamber, then thumb in an extra round. It’s easy to see why this classic weapon came to be known as the cowboy assault rifle.

When loading a lever-action rifle’s tubular magazine with .30-30 rounds, you’ll want to use round-nosed or flat-nosed ammo to ensure safety, in order to prevent a cartridge with a sharper point from striking the primer of the cartridge above it in the magazine. No one wants to be in the fiery situation of holding a rifle that has bullets going off prematurely in its magazine.

Not a Target for Gun Grabbers

The Cowboy Assault Rifle: Why Every Texan Needs a .30-30 Lever Action

Photo: Max McNabb/Instagram

The generational popularity of the .30-30 Winchester lever-action and its iconic status as an Old West-style firearm means that it can often fly under the radar of gun control advocates and unconstitutional laws that violate the 2nd Amendment. Because it’s seen as a cowboy rifle, it doesn’t frighten gun-control advocates like those so-called “evil black assault rifles.” The importance of this fringe benefit can’t be overstated, especially considering that, according to Breitbart News, Joe Biden’s gun control policy includes a “provision that could require every AR-15 rifle be registered under the National Firearms Act of 1934.”

Many 2nd Amendment supporters are concerned that mandatory registration of semi-auto rifles is only the first step toward the federal government attempting to confiscate Americans’ weapons, violating our right to bear arms. Should we find our nation outlawing semi-auto rifles and attempting to disarm lawful citizens, a lever-action .30-30 could come in handy. The ability to thumb-in fresh rounds through the loading gate allows for speedy reloading, and being able to top off the rifle means you have plenty of rounds ready to fire. The .30-30’s stopping power ensures that you can bring down any predator you might face, whether of the four-legged or two-legged variety.

Great Craftsmanship Means a Fun Shoot

The Cowboy Assault Rifle: Why Every Texan Needs a .30-30 Lever Action

Photo: Max McNabb/Instagram

Beyond all that, a lever-action .30-30 is simply a fun weapon to shoot. When you purchase one from Guns.com, you can be sure that it’s carefully-crafted, smooth operation makes your rifle a joy to shoot. If you enjoy vintage firearms or the best of modern-day rifles, shotguns, and pistols, check out Guns.com.

Guns.com is your one-stop shop for firearms, ammo, and gear. A trustworthy source, Guns.com works within federal regulations to make your online gun buying experience stress-free and easy. No hassle, no headaches—just great deals from the knowledgeable, friendly Guns.com team.