Deer country with long shots is where a .270 Winchester earns its keep, and the BLR is one of the few lever guns built to handle it. The Lightweight 81 takes a detachable box magazine and a rack-and-pinion style lever, so it can use the pointed bullets that tube-fed levers cannot. That makes it a real hunting rifle for open fields and powerline cuts.

The pistol grip stock gives you a firm hold and a quick, natural point when a buck steps out. The name tells you the weight was kept down, which you will feel on the third mile of a hillside walk. The lever action is fast on a follow-up shot and keeps your cheek on the stock.

Pair it with a mid-weight .270 soft-point load for whitetail or a bonded bullet for bigger game. A scope mounts well on this style of rifle, and it is a good pick for the hunter who likes a lever but wants flat-shooting reach.

Like every firearm we list, this rifle ships to your FFL dealer, and the background check is done there on pickup.