At the onset of the 1886 winchester, lever actions were considered revolutionary in African big game hunting from what I have read. The .405 and .45-70 and others were robust performers by any standard. I have used lever guns in .30-30, probably the most popular deer caliber here in KY. I also have had the .35 remington, .45-70, and now shoot the .450 marlin in a guide gun for deer in the woods and intend to try it on hogs. At one time I used a high quality replica of the 1866 "yellowboy" in .45 colt for cowboy action. It was quite impressive in the accuracy department and smooth as silk mechanically. I had a Henry once but kept having the loading lever "bottom" on my hand and fail to feed...LOL. They have to compress the magazine spring in order to load cartridges if you've never used one.