Tucker Daubs doesn't need a history book or a television show to remind him of the Old West. He lives it every day. High in the Colorado mountains, on a ranch that's been running cattle since the 1890s, Tucker works the same rugged ground as generations before him, and his rifle of choice hasn't changed much either. You'll soon learn he doesn't carry a lever-action rifle for nostalgia. Tucker carries one because it still works better than anything else for the life he leads, a life where the country's wild, the job's tough, and the rifle under your leg might just save the day.
Here are his thoughts on lever guns:
Are you a lever-action rifle fan? If so, why?
Absolutely. A lever-action is a highly reliable, all-around rifle packed into a thin, lightweight package.
What's your favorite lever-action rifle? Why?
It's a close race between the Winchester 94 in .30-30 and the Winchester 1895 in .30-06, but the 95 takes the cake.
Do you ever feel handicapped as a hunter with your lever-action rifle?
I actually feel the opposite. When you use them to their full potential. For me, I'm better off with a lever gun than a fancy modern rifle. You get faster target acquisition and quicker follow-up shots, and staying on target is easier. Sure, with a bolt-action, you can be fast if you're well-practiced, but a lever gun just makes it easier, especially on running shots when paired with a peep sight. I can crawl through the brush with a fast-handling lever gun and still make a 200-yard shot easily, and a 300-yard shot if I've kept my practice sharp.
How has the lever gun impacted the hunting community?
A well-built lever-action is a fantastic addition to the hunting industry. As a brush gun, there's nothing better.
Does the lever gun have unique traits that make it the gun of choice for you as a hunter?
The Winchester 94's thinness makes it the best saddle gun for sitting under your leg for a long ride. It is also reliable in all weather. I've hunted when it was cold enough to freeze my bolt action shut. Although not impossible, I have never had that happen with my lever gun.
Why do you think lever guns have surged in popularity over the past few years?
Mostly from TV shows like Yellowstone. Very few people are really using them to the fullest.
Do you expect that surge to continue?
The popularity will continue to surge up and down in different markets as the years go on.
What are your fondest memories of hunting with your favorite lever-action rifle?
As someone who has taken all the big game species in Colorado (except mountain goat and desert bighorn), many with an open-sighted lever action, the best was a cow moose with a 1895 30-06. Or the time I had problematic bullets while shooting a bear that made for a wild time with a Rossi 1892 in 45 Colt.
If you could only have one lever action, which one would it be and why?
My favorite lever action is the 1895 30-06. It has easy-to-get ammo and a wide selection of bullets for all jobs.
What other roles should people consider a lever action for outside of hunting? Are there any that are underrated?
I'm working on a suppressed lever-action idea for predator trouble we have with our cows at night. The truth is the same for any application: no gas pop adding extra noise and fast working.
Daubs ended his thoughts with:
"All of this takes into account that I don't run scopes of any lever actions. That completely defeats its purpose as a small, thin saddle rifle. Most people think the cowboy days are over, yes, the plains trail drives are over, but nothing has changed in the mountains since the ranch I work on started in the 1890s. On the open range we run, a horse is still the only way to gather cows that spend the summer free range with no fences holding them in. We are able to use cars on our ranges less than the old timers could 70 years ago. Also, remote, many places are eight hours of travel, mostly on horseback, and into the far reaches of the ranges. If you get into trouble, you're on your own. Hunting or working, a saddle gun is a great tool that's still needed. Not to mention all the other problems that a gun can be used for. The small package of a lever action is ideal for my work and hunting needs! There's also a lot of argument about the build of Marlin vs Winchester in terms of quality and accuracy. The 94 and the 336 are highly produced rifles, with the 94 having over seven million and the 336 over four million. We will have some great examples on each side and poor ones. I don't feel either can be called better, except in weight and size, with width being my determining factor."
Learn more about Tucker Daubs views on lever guns, ranching, and Colorado here.