Big Horn Armory M89 Takedown: A Walnut-and-Steel Lever Gun in .500 S&W
The short version: Big Horn Armory's M89 Takedown is a Wyoming-made, Browning-inspired lever action chambered in .500 S&W that splits in half for transport, and in Athlon Outdoors' hands-on test it ran 100-plus rounds without a hiccup. MSRP is $3,999.
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If you appreciate a lever gun that is built rather than stamped, the M89 is worth a look. Big Horn Armory machines it in Wyoming from stainless bar stock, with no cast or forged parts, and pairs the dark metal with black walnut furniture. The name nods to John Browning's Model 86 and Model 92, which it resembles in function and looks, though it is scaled up to swallow the big .500 S&W cartridge.
The takedown is the headline. It borrows the idea behind Browning's 1905 takedown patent: a row of splines running the full height of the receiver locks the barrel section in place, rather than the interrupted threads most takedown levers use. Big Horn uses 17-4PH stainless and salt-bath nitriding, and says it proof-tested prototypes with over-pressure loads. Breaking it down is a matter of turning a knurled knob at the end of the magazine tube, which makes the rifle easy to stow behind a truck seat or in a bush plane.
On the range, reviewer Todd Burgreen fired Hornady, Winchester and Buffalo Bore loads from 300 to 440 grains. He reports a single ragged hole at 25 yards, 50-yard averages between 2 and 2.66 inches, manageable recoil compared with a .500 S&W revolver, and no zero shift after repeatedly taking the rifle apart and putting it back together.
Key specs
- Caliber: .500 S&W
- Barrel: 18 inches, 1:24 twist
- Overall length: 37 inches
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Sights: Skinner aperture rear; optional scope rail ahead of the receiver
- Build: CNC-machined stainless steel, black walnut stock and forend
- MSRP: $3,999
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Want the full story and photos? Athlon Outdoors has the complete article by Todd Burgreen.
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Summary by Beautiful Guns based on reporting by Athlon Outdoors. Deal links are affiliate links; Beautiful Guns may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.