Hornady LEVERevolution: Revolutionizing Lever-Action Ammunition

Lever-action rifles have long been celebrated for their rugged reliability, nostalgic charm, and versatile performance. However, the traditional flat-nosed ammunition required for tubular magazines historically limited the ballistic potential of these classic firearms. Hornady’s LEVERevolution product line has transformed this landscape by introducing modern innovations that bring advanced ballistics to lever-action rifles.

By incorporating patented Flex Tip Technology, Hornady has made it possible to load spitzer-style bullets safely in tubular magazines. This breakthrough not only extends the effective range and enhances downrange accuracy but also improves terminal performance, ensuring ethical kills. In this article, we explore the technology behind LEVERevolution, its key benefits, and take an in-depth look at the five most popular calibers in the line for lever-action rifles: 30-30 Winchester, 35 Remington, 45-70 Government, 444 Marlin, and 308 Marlin Express.

The Innovation Behind LEVERevolution

Flex Tip Technology (FTX)

At the heart of LEVERevolution is Hornady’s patented Flex Tip Technology. Traditional lever-action ammunition was restricted to flat-nosed bullets to prevent the risk of accidental primer detonation in tubular magazines. Hornady’s Flex Tip innovation overcomes this limitation by integrating a soft polymer tip onto a spitzer-style bullet.

• Enhanced Ballistic Performance: The FTX bullet features a streamlined, secant ogive design that minimizes aerodynamic drag, resulting in a flatter trajectory and improved velocity retention over longer distances.

• Superior Terminal Ballistics: On impact, the soft tip is engineered to collapse, initiating rapid, controlled expansion for effective energy transfer and reliable stopping power.

• Safe for Tubular Magazines: The flexible tip eliminates the risk of the bullet’s point striking the primer of the next cartridge, making it safe to load spitzer-style projectiles in traditional tubular magazines.

Advanced Propellants and Consistency

Hornady pairs its innovative bullet design with high-performance propellants that burn consistently. This ensures uniform muzzle velocities and tight shot groupings, which are critical for both precision shooting and ethical hunting. Consistent performance in varying environmental conditions enhances reliability and confidence in every shot.

Popular Calibers in the LEVERevolution Line

Hornady’s LEVERevolution is available in a variety of calibers, each tailored to the unique requirements of lever-action platforms. Among these, the following five calibers have become favorites for modern lever-action rifles:

30-30 Winchester

The 30-30 Winchester is a timeless cartridge, long synonymous with lever-action hunting. With the LEVERevolution upgrade, the traditional round now fires a 160-grain Flex Tip (FTX) bullet that extends its effective range while maintaining a flat trajectory and consistent energy output.

• Performance:

  • Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 2,400 fps

  • Energy: Around 2,046 ft-lbs

• Best Use: Ideal for medium-range deer hunting on whitetail and mule deer.

• Popular Lever-Action Rifles:

  • Browning BLR in .30-30 Winchester

  • Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 Winchester

  • Henry Big Boy in .30-30 Winchester

35 Remington

The .35 Remington offers a step up in energy and penetration compared to the 30-30. In the LEVERevolution line, its 200-grain FTX bullet provides the necessary punch to penetrate dense cover while maintaining reliable expansion. This makes it an excellent choice for hunting larger game or for use in wooded, brushy environments.

• Performance:

  • Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 2,225 fps

  • Energy: Around 2,206 ft-lbs

• Best Use: Excellent for hunters targeting larger deer or black bear in dense brush.

• Popular Lever-Action Rifles:

  • Browning BLR in .35 Remington

  • Winchester Model 94 in .35 Remington

  • Henry Big Boy in .35 Remington

45-70 Government

A true classic with over 150 years of history, the .45-70 Government remains a favorite for big game hunting. When enhanced with LEVERevolution’s modern bullet design, the 325-grain FTX bullet delivers exceptional energy retention and deep penetration, making it perfect for ethically taking down large or dangerous game at moderate ranges.

• Performance:

  • Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 1,800 fps

  • Energy: Around 3,032 ft-lbs

• Best Use: Ideal for hunting large or dangerous game, ensuring ethical kills with deep penetration.

• Popular Lever-Action Rifles:

  • Henry Big Boy in .45-70 Government

  • Winchester Model 94 in .45-70 Government

444 Marlin

The .444 Marlin offers a versatile solution that fills the gap between lighter and heavier lever-action cartridges. Enhanced with LEVERevolution, the 265-grain FTX bullet in the .444 Marlin delivers a flatter trajectory and improved energy retention, making it well-suited for various hunting scenarios, particularly in brush or wooded terrain.

• Performance:

  • Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 2,400 fps

  • Energy: Around 3,389 ft-lbs

• Best Use: Perfect for brush hunting and medium-to-large game, where extended range and high energy are required.

• Popular Lever-Action Rifles:

  • Marlin Model 444

  • Winchester Model 94 Lever Action in .444 Marlin

Advantages of LEVERevolution Ammunition

Extended Effective Range

With its high muzzle velocities and reduced aerodynamic drag, LEVERevolution ammunition extends the effective range of lever-action rifles well beyond what was possible with traditional flat-nosed bullets. Shooters benefit from a flatter trajectory, which minimizes bullet drop over moderate distances.

Enhanced Accuracy

The combination of Flex Tip Technology, a streamlined secant ogive design, and advanced propellants results in tight, consistent shot groupings. This enhanced accuracy is a game-changer for both hunters and competitive shooters, allowing for precise, ethical kills.

Versatility for Various Applications

LEVERevolution is available in multiple calibers to suit a wide range of hunting scenarios—from medium-range deer hunting with the .30-30 Winchester to big-game applications with the .45-70 Government. This versatility makes it an appealing choice for a diverse group of lever-action enthusiasts.

Modernizing Classic Lever-Actions

By updating traditional ammunition with modern ballistics and safety features, Hornady’s LEVERevolution line revitalizes classic lever-action rifles. This innovation allows these rifles to compete with more modern platforms, delivering improved range, accuracy, and terminal performance without sacrificing their classic charm.

Final Thoughts

Hornady’s LEVERevolution has fundamentally transformed lever-action ammunition by introducing modern ballistic technology to a classic platform. Through its patented Flex Tip Technology and advanced bullet design, LEVERevolution enables spitzer-style bullets to be safely loaded in tubular magazines, resulting in extended effective range, enhanced accuracy, and improved terminal performance.

Among the popular calibers in the LEVERevolution line:

• The .30-30 Winchester stands out as a timeless option, ideal for medium-range deer hunting.

• The .35 Remington offers a balanced blend of energy and recoil for wooded or brush environments.

• The .45-70 Government delivers legendary stopping power for big game at moderate ranges.

• The .444 Marlin provides versatile performance with a flat trajectory, perfect for brush hunting.

Paired with quality lever-action rifles from respected manufacturers such as Browning, Winchester, Henry, Ruger, and Marlin, LEVERevolution ammunition empowers modern hunters to achieve ethical, precise, and reliable performance.

Check out our ammo inventory and let us know if there's something you'd like that we don't have on the website or in stock. Our goal is to have everything you need so if we're lacking, say the word and we'll fix it!

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