Short barrels and big bullets define the Taylor's & Company 1873 Carbine in .45 Long Colt. It is a compact version of the Winchester that rode with settlers and lawmen, and it handles like the lively saddle gun it is.

A carbine makes sense when you are on horseback, in a truck, or in a stand. It points quickly and carries lightly, and the action is slick enough for a quick second shot. The .45 Colt is mild, which makes it enjoyable for long days at a match and friendly for newer lever-gun shooters.

At a cowboy action event, a carbine in the same caliber as your revolver means one kind of ammunition. On a farm, it works as a handy rifle for varmints and predators at modest range. Hunters who prefer old patterns can use it for deer and hogs when the law allows a .45 Colt rifle.

Keep the loading gate clean, oil the lever pivot, and wipe the barrel after use. The carbine ships to your FFL dealer, and the background check is completed there before you take it home.