How to Unload a Lever Action Rifle

Stay Safe, An Introduction to Gun Safety for Your Family Series. Basic Instruction on how to safely unload a lever action rifle.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• unload
• firearm
• gun
• safety
• lever
• action
• rifle

[pfcthiel]

The 1892 and many other models have no manual safety.

[loben65]

@olive0drab0fad

That is a Marlin 1894 cowboy for sure...

[tyleva1221]

Who buys a gun without this knowledge beforehand?

[ericktamberg]

I prefer to cycle the gun lever with the ejection port down. This makes the cartridges fall out the gun while the action is open. The gun will remain with empty chamber when the action is closed.

[KiwiBowhunter]

@Ruger22Rambo My M92 has no such safety, and cannot be unloaded through the gate in reverse.

[cmasailor]

i have a marlin 94 cowboy limited, when cycling the action too fast you can dink the primer with the floating firing pin, be careful and cycle slow.

[CptSmokeAlot]

@pfcthiel This does have the safety actually at 0:16 you can clearly see it depressed in the safe position.

[sucklava]

@MUSICALGUNNUT45 For home defense, I wouldn't recommend a rifle to anyone, given a lever action would probably be the gun I'd recommend. My reasoning is a rifle has a long barrel, making it fairly easy for an intruder to grab the gun.(Given for outdoors defense I'd agree completely with you). Shotguns are a good choice, no intruder would argue with a shotgun(i certainly wouldn't) I'd say the best would be a revolver, they can be loaded and ready to fire indefinitely with no complications.

[MUSICALGUNNUT45]

@lankinator24 Lever action rifles are actually one of the most practical platforms avaliable, even today. just as in the way of a pump action shotgun there will always be a place for them in the self defense / hunting world because of two reasons. there simple and can be mastered easily, And if a new shooter asked me what I'd recommend as rifle for home defense and sporting use i'd refer them to a lever action faster than an AR-15 for just those reasons.

[Ruger22Rambo]

@BRAK54 Lever actions have a safety on the underside of shoulder stock that prevents the gun from firing unless the lever is held against the stock. Also putting the hammer at the half cock position is another safety.

The Safest way to unload the gun is to put the hammer on the half cock position, then depress the loading gate and remove the shells from the magazine tube. Lastly cycle the bolt and unload the round from the chamber. Just trying to help.

[HyperElf9]

@lankinator24 I do

[Treblaine]

Safer to check magazine is empty first (bolt closed) then open the action to check chamber is empty (extractor may have failed leaving round in chamber)

THEN you can be sure no rounds are in the gun.

There is always the chance if following this video's method the last stoke is a short stroke, then checking the chamber is empty but on closing a fresh round is loaded from the magazine that would then be empty.

But a round could be in the chamber.

Best rule POINT IN A SAFE DIRECTION as much as pos!