No doubt Smith & Wesson surprised many in the shooting sports in early 2024 when it introduced the Model 1854 lever action chambered in .44 Rem. The Model 1854 was the gun maker’s first lever action in the modern era, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson having produced the Volcanic lever action in 1856, and the Model 1854 met with wide acclaim for accuracy, functionality and sharp looks.

Now, Smith & Wesson debuts the next offering in this line, the Model 1854 chambered in .45 Colt. Like it’s .44 Mag. brethren, this 1854 features a 9+1 ammunition capacity, and a threaded 19.25-inch barrel made of stainless steel complimented by a stainless frame. 

The receiver features a 4.75-inch Picatinny base for mounting optics, an adjustable XS Sights ghost ring rear sight, and a gold bead front sight. The large loop lever works the action smoothly. The rifle sports a flat-faced trigger and removable magazine tube that allows you to safely unload the rifle.

Models are offered in a paired synthetic black polymer and stainless steel finish, as well as a walnut furniture combination with Armornite finish. My test model had the synthetic stock with textured grip panels and a black synthetic forend complete with three M-LOK attachments.

 Smith & Wesson describes its Model 1854’s as “the perfect blend of heritage and innovation.”  

Yes, the features and specs are impressive sounding, and the rifle is certainly a looker. But how does it shoot?

Optics Help

The adjustable XS Sights ghost ring rear sight and the gold bead front sight on my rifle were certainly first-rate. But for these rapidly aging eyes, I needed an optic to truly evaluate the Model 1854’s accuracy.

I chose the new Credo HX 1-10x28 LPVO rifle scope from Trijicon. A first-focal plane optic, the Credo HX 1-10 is a rugged, high-performance scope perfect for stalking game in thick vegetation or taking that long shot at a trophy buck standing on the far end of a corn field. The newest entry to the Credo HX line, the 1-10 model, provided me with extremely clear images, precision .25 MOA adjustments, and a red/green illuminated reticle.

The Credo HX 1-10 is compact, too, just slightly over 10 inches long and weighing a svelte 21 ounces. With its size and capabilities, the optic was a perfect choice for the lever action.   

50 Yards

I ran the Model 1854 with three brands of .45 Colt ammunition: Doubletap Standard loaded with a 160-grain lead-free hollow point bullet; Federal Premium American Eagle launching a 225-grain jacketed soft point; and Remington Performance Wheelgun and its traditional 250-grain lead round-nose bullet.

I zeroed the rifle and scope using the Wheelgun ammunition at 50 yards at my outdoor range, and within a half dozen shots I hit the bullseye. I kept shooting. Groups were in the 2-inch range, which was a little large, but it was a new rifle and of course I was new to the rifle.   

I was much more in tune with the Model 1854 by the time I switched over to the American Eagle ammo. Plus, I’d cleaned the bore twice with a copper brush and solvent, part of my usual break-in with a rifle. Groups were much tighter, including one five-shot cluster that drilled in at 1.0 inches.

Pretty outstanding.

Going Longer

It was not the best day to test the Model 1854’s accuracy at 100 yards, but it was the day I had. The wind blew steadily at 15 miles per hour, from my left and right at me, gusting to 32 miles per hour.

Why 100 yards for a handgun cartridge? Well, with the extra rifle barrel inches, a handgun round will generate more power than out of a revolver, extending one’s range and, for the hunter, lethality. But how much range was my question with the Model 1854.

My first shots at this distance were with the American Eagle ammunition. I shot twice knowing I’d have a significant drop and that was the case. The shots hit 10 inches low.

But that’s also the reality of traditional .45 Colt ammunition. Heavy bullets that leave a handgun barrel at 830 feet per second will drop considerably even with the extra fps gained from a rifle barrel. 

So, I had planned ahead and asked the good people at Doubletap for some of their .45 Colt and specifically requested what they might recommend for hunting. Doubletap is known for loading rounds at max SAAMI specs and sometimes beyond. 

The ammunition maker sent me three options: the above-mentioned 160-grain load; a 255-grain hardcast solid load rated at 1,450 fps from a 7.5-inch barrel; and a 360-grain hardcast leaving the same length barrel at 1,200 fps.

The 160-grain round leaves a 5.5 inch barrel at 1,125 fps (a good 300 fps faster than traditional loads). Guestimating an additional 20 fps gained for every inch of barrel on the Model 1854 put this round with a muzzle velocity in the vicinity of 1,400 fps.

That speed plus the weight on the bullet, I figured, would be able to effectively take down a deer at 100 yards.

Once zeroed, I shot 1.25- and 1.5-inch groups, three shots each with the Doubletap. Despite the wind, I also made a five-shot group at 2.25 inches. That would be a failure on the PRS Tour, but for the hunter taking on whitetails at 100 yards and under? More than accurate enough.

I can only imagine that the other Doubletap loads, with additional fps and heavier bullets, will be even better for medium-game hunting. Something I will test out in the field soon.

+P Ammo?

Of note, Smith and Wesson’s instruction manual for the Model 1854 does address the use of various ammunition types in the rifle. But the information reads somewhat contradictory, at least to this reviewer.

A chart on Page 11 of the manual lists Standard, +P and +P+ ammo types for .45 Colt. Standard .45 Colt ammo gets an “OK,” while +P and +P+ both receive a “NO.”

However, right below the chart is a paragraph explaining that +P ammunition “generates pressures in excess of pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures may affect the wear characteristics and may result in the need for more frequent service.”

Compare that explanation to the very emphatic following paragraph on the +P+ varieties of ammo. This ammunition “must NOT be used” in the rifle. The pressures generated with +P+ exceed “established industry standards,” and as such “could be DANGEROUS” to use in a Model 1854.

 My takeaway is +P is safe to use, but that doing so can accelerate wear and tear on the firearm. The latter is not surprising. But stay away from any +P+!

It is probably best to alert your customers to this issue and point them to the instruction manual.

Functionality

The lever action on my Model 1854 worked smoothly throughout my time with the rifle.

The flat-faced trigger was the most unique trigger I’ve used on a lever action. With the hammer back in the firing position, the trigger essentially swung free. No tension until I pulled it back approximately .50 inches and engaged the sear. At this point, my trigger snapped off at a clean 2 pounds, 5 ounces, on average.

The trigger also featured grooves along the front face for a very tactile engagement with my finger pad. 

The rifle’s synthetic stock felt good on my shoulder; the grip panels right above the lever and along the rear two-thirds of the forend produced a very firm hold. The forend sported those afore-mentioned M-LOK attachment points, and attaching a light on bi-pod is very easy.

The Model 1854 offers both a loading gate on the right side of the receiver and a removable magazine tube. Both worked well. The tube allows a shooter to unload the rifle’s non-chambered rounds. That means there is still one live cartridge to unload via the lever action. Yet, this still presents a much safer situation than levering out multiple rounds.

The cross bolt safety snapped in and out of SAFE positively. The hammer can also be kept at the half cock position, which disengages the trigger. 

For your more traditional lever action clientele, the Model 1854 is also available with a traditional walnut stock and forend at $1,399 MSRP versus the synthetic stocked version carrying an MSRP of $1,279.