Today, I was pleased to get my hands on the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter chambered in .357 Magnum. This lever-action rifle blends classic design with modern enhancements, which makes it a viable option for home defense, hunting, and maybe even competition shooting.
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Since it’s not semi-automatic, it’s compliant with many states’ regulations for long guns. This new Stealth Hunter is offered in addition to the classic stainless and wood stock options already available.
How Does It Shoot?
I shot it standing at an indoor range at about 20 yards — hardly putting it to work. Still, I enjoyed shooting it in .357 and shot it pretty well with a fairly tight grouping. The action was smooth, locked up tight, and opened back up without undue force.
I like that it has a cross-bolt safety. The trigger was surprisingly crisp, too. The handguard was gripable without feeling like it was cutting my hands with Picatinny rails everywhere. This is probably my favorite tactical lever gun to date.
Sleek Design and Durable Build
The black Armornite finish treatment covers the 16.3-inch 416 stainless steel barrel, stainless receiver, and aluminum M-Lok handguard.
This gives the rifle a striking appearance and enhances its durability and resistance to wear and tear. The large loop lever is another notable feature, providing ample space for cycling the action smoothly, even with gloves on.
Superior Optic Options
The front sight is a HIVIZ H3 fiber optic, which offers excellent visibility in both low-light and daylight conditions. Paired with the adjustable ghost ring rear sight, acquiring targets quickly and accurately is a breeze. For those who prefer optics, the extended Picatinny rail offers plenty of real estate for mounting scopes or red dot optics.
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Impressive Performance
The rifle’s performance is equally impressive. The .357 Magnum cartridge provides a good balance of power and recoil. It’ll also shoot .38 Special so there are excellent options for everything from plinking to home defense to hunting.
The tubular magazine holds 8 rounds and can be unloaded from the end without cycling the action to discharge unspent ammo.
Benefits of a .357 Magnum Caliber Rifle
One of the key benefits of having a rifle chambered in a pistol caliber like the .357 Magnum is its versatility. For those who already own a .357 Magnum revolver, the ability to use the same ammunition in both firearms simplifies logistics and reduces the need to carry multiple types of ammo.
Additionally, the rifle’s longer barrel can enhance the cartridge’s performance, providing greater accuracy and increased velocity compared to a handgun.
This makes the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter an excellent choice for both hunting and self-defense scenarios. The Stealth Hunter is also available in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt.
Lightweight and Versatile
The polymer stock is lightweight and durable, contributing to the rifle’s overall weight of just 6.43 pounds. This makes it easy to carry and maneuver, whether in the field or at the range. The 5/8-24 threaded muzzle includes a thread protector.
This standard size allows you to use the myriad suppressors or other muzzle devices on the market — make sure your can is rated for .357.
Technical Specifications
Here are some additional technical specifications for the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter:
- Caliber: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt (specs may vary)
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Action: Lever-action
- Operating Lever: Large loop
- Receiver: Forged 416 stainless steel with Armornite® finish
- Barrel: 16.3 inches (41.4 cm) 410 stainless steel with Armornite® finish
- Muzzle: 5/8-24 threaded, with thread protector
- Rifling: 1:14 RH twist
- Front Sight: HIVIZ® H3 fiber optic
- Rear Sight: Adjustable ghost ring
- Stock Material: Polymer
- Overall Length: 33.4 inches
- Weight: 6.43 pounds
- Magazine Type: Tube
- Mount Type: Extended Picatinny rail
Is the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter .357 Magnum for You?
The Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter in .357 Magnum is an intriguing rifle that combines the best of both worlds: the timeless appeal of a lever-action design with the benefits of modern technology.
What do you think? Is this a rifle you’re interested in, or is it too tacticool?
Check out the original press release and S&W’s launch video here.
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I hate to say this, but in my opinion that’s a dang ugly rifle. I guess I’m old-school, but I hate all the polymer (let’s just call it plastic) weapons. Even though this is available with a wood stock, I can do without all the tactical crap that often accompanies many of todays weapons. Just give me a simple, beautiful all-metal weapon with a wonderful wood stock and functional iron sights. IF I purchased this rifle I would pass this “heirloom” to the person I liked least.
I really dislike the “pistol grip” style stocks on lever actions chambered in pistol calibers. I especially dislike S&W’s magazine design and that it shorts you a round in comparison to other rifles of similar length. We’ll see if it lasts.