[[“value”:”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to follow and signup for notifications!
Travis Pike
The Winchester 1892 lever-action rifle is one of the most popular designs ever created. It has been copied relentlessly, primarily in the form of pistol-caliber carbines. The Citadel LevTac 92 is one such clone, but with a modern twist.
These guns are manufactured by Braztech, the same parent company as Rossi. Since Rossi produces a fair share of its own lever guns, it’s no surprise to see a “Made in Brazil” rifle of this type.
The LevTac 92 isn’t your average everyday lever-action or a standard Winchester 1892 clone. The “Tac” in LevTac predictably stands for “tactical.” The rifle breaks from tradition by ditching old-school wood and blued steel for an all-black, ultra-modern, modular design.
Our test model is a .357 Magnum version that can also fire .38 Special. The LevTac is also available in .44 Magnum and a .410 shotgun configuration.
Modern Features and Design
The LevTac 92’s most prominent feature is the M-LOK handguard. It is exceptionally long and ready to accept almost any accessory. It’s modern, modular, and perfect for mounting lights, grips, and lasers.
The gun comes equipped with a high-visibility front sight and a rear peep sight. Complementing these is a rail designed for optics. It is mounted fairly far forward, which precludes the use of most traditional magnified sights; a long-eye-relief scout scope is your only real glass option. However, the setup is better suited for a red dot, specifically one with a low mount.
The barrel is threaded, making the addition of a silencer easy. I added a SilencerCo Spectre 9, which is capable of handling both .38 Special and .357 Magnum. The suppressor sits low enough to clear the iron sights and any red dot you might add.
At the rear, the rifle features a simple polymer stock. It includes sling swivels on both the stock and the handguard, so adding a sling takes no effort. It’s all topped off with a large loop lever that makes you feel like Chuck Connors in The Rifleman.
The tactical lever-action category is growing steadily, and the LevTac arrives with all the necessary trimmings.
Ergonomics and Handling
The ergonomics are a bit of a low point. The length of pull is 13 inches and non-adjustable. While it’s certainly functional, I’d love to see an adjustable stock or a series of spacers. Magpul makes the ELG stock with a spacer system, and a similar design would be a great addition here.
The loading gate will quickly teach you to use the following round to push the previous one forward. That gate will pinch your thumb if you aren’t careful. It could benefit from some beveling to provide more space for easier loading.
While many shooters love large loops, I generally prefer a standard size. It takes more hand movement to manipulate a large loop, and it is more difficult to use in the prone position. I don’t see much need for an oversized loop on such a light-recoiling gun. Furthermore, the action was initially stiff and didn’t glide smoothly on its axis, though it did “wear in” and clean up after a few hundred rounds.
The M-LOK handguard provides plenty of real estate for accessories and feels great in the hand. The downside is that the metal rail makes the gun front-heavy. It’s a trade-off you have to accept for that level of modularity.
Ballistic Performance and Suppressor Use
Despite the ergonomic quirks, this gun is incredibly fun to shoot—especially suppressed. Firing 158-grain .38 Specials through a suppressor is “Hollywood quiet.” The ammo is subsonic and slow; I swear you can almost see the rounds traveling downrange.
At 100 yards, the bullet is slow enough that there is a detectable delay between the trigger pull and the “ding” on the steel. With the suppressor mounted, the loudest noise is that impact. Because it’s a lever action, there is no cycling noise and no gas blown back into the shooter’s face. It remains pleasant even during rapid fire.
With .357 Magnum, the subsonic stealth goes out the window. I shot a variety of “spicy” loads, and the supersonic crack was noticeable. After swapping from .38 to .357 for the first time, I let out an audible “Holy crap.” Even suppressed, you still get that loud “bang” of lead hitting steel. I used lightweight, fast-moving 130-grain Winchester White Box, which hits hard and really makes the steel swing.
Shootability and Accuracy Potential
Recoil was negligible with every load tested. It is still a rifle firing a handgun round, so it won’t beat you up. I could shoot all day without fatigue.
While the lever felt a bit gritty, I could still cycle it quickly. I’m currently trying to get two shots off in under a second, though I haven’t broken the 1.5-second mark yet. It takes a lot of speed to work that big loop, but the low recoil makes it easy to stay on target between shots.
The iron sights are great for close-range work, but they tend to obscure small targets at a distance. Mounting a red dot made a huge difference, allowing me to shrink my groups to a consistent 2 inches at 50 yards.
Final Thoughts: Who Is the LevTac For?
As someone who lives in a “free state,” I don’t strictly need a tactical lever gun. However, I can see the appeal for shooters in states with strict semi-auto restrictions. This setup provides a capable defensive rifle with modern features.
Equipped with a red dot, a light, and a suppressor, the LevTac becomes an excellent home-defense tool. For me, it will likely serve as a “brush gun” or hog rifle, where it will excel at quick, close-range shooting.
The LevTac is a bit rough around the edges, but it suppresses well, recoils softly, and runs reliably. For the price, it’s tough to beat.
Travis Pike
The post Citadel LevTac 92 Suppressed: Modernizing the Lever Action appeared first on SilencerCo.
“]]
