The Athlon Outdoors 2025 Rendezvous featured an impressive lineup of companies in attendance, including Smith & Wesson. During my time on the range with their guns, the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter, chambered in .357 Magnum, stood out to me the most. This gun represents a bold fusion of classic lever-action design and modern tactical enhancements, making it a compelling choice for home defense.
Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter -Hunting & Defense
Introduced as part of Smith & Wesson’s 2024 lever-action lineup, this rifle combines nostalgic charm with cutting-edge features, positioning it as a versatile tool for homeowners seeking reliable protection. With its durable construction, customizable platform, and impressive performance, the Stealth Hunter stands out as a formidable option in the realm of home defense firearms.
The Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter is a pistol-caliber lever-action rifle, designed to deliver the stopping power of the .357 Magnum cartridge in a lightweight, maneuverable package. Weighing 6.5 pounds and measuring 33.3 inches overall with a 16.3-inch barrel, the rifle is compact enough for tight spaces, such as hallways or doorways, commonly encountered in home defense scenarios. Its forged 416 stainless steel receiver, finished in corrosion-resistant Armornite, ensures durability and reliability in harsh conditions. The black synthetic stock, equipped with textured grip panels and a firm recoil pad, provides a secure hold and comfortable cheek weld, enhancing control during rapid firing sequences.
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Construction
The rifle’s construction draws inspiration from the Marlin 336, featuring a round bolt and enclosed receiver for enhanced strength, capable of handling high-pressure pistol cartridges like .357 Magnum, which has a maximum pressure of 35,000 psi. The two-piece firing pin design prevents out-of-battery discharges, adding a layer of safety critical for home defense. The removable magazine tube, a standout feature, allows for safe and easy unloading without cycling rounds through the action. This is a significant advantage in high-stress situations where quick unloading may be necessary. The action itself is smooth, with a large loop lever that facilitates operation with gloved hands or in adverse conditions.
Modern enhancements elevate the Stealth Hunter’s tactical appeal. The 10.5-inch Picatinny rail accommodates optics, such as red dots or scopes, while the M-LOK handguard with 15 slots supports accessories like lights or bipods, crucial for home defense in low-light environments. The rifle is equipped with high-quality XS Ghost Ring rear and HIVIZ H3 front sights, offering excellent visibility in both daylight and low-light conditions. The flat-faced trigger, breaking at approximately four pounds, ensures consistent finger placement and a crisp pull, enhancing accuracy. These features collectively demonstrate Smith & Wesson’s commitment to blending tradition with innovation, crafting a rifle that is both rugged and adaptable.
Home Defense
The Model 1854 Stealth Hunter excels as a home defense firearm due to its combination of power, versatility, and ease of use. The .357 Magnum cartridge delivers significant stopping power, capable of neutralizing threats effectively. Having the option to also use .38 Special ammunition offers reduced recoil, making it accessible to shooters of varying experience levels. This dual-caliber compatibility is particularly advantageous for families, as it allows for lighter loads during training or use by less experienced shooters.
With an 8+1 round capacity, the Stealth Hunter offers sufficient firepower for most home defense scenarios without violating restrictive magazine capacity laws in certain jurisdictions. Its compact size and lightweight design make it easy to maneuver in confined spaces, unlike bulkier rifles like AR-15s or shotguns. The threaded barrel (5/8×24) supports suppressors, reducing muzzle blast and noise, which is very beneficial in enclosed areas.
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Lever-Action
The rifle’s intuitive lever-action mechanism is a significant advantage for home defense. Unlike semiautomatic rifles, which may require complex gun manipulation under stress, the lever-action is straightforward, reducing the likelihood of user error.
The cross-bolt safety, easily engaged or disengaged, adds an additional layer of control. This ensures the rifle is safe when not in use but quick to ready when needed. The ability to mount optics or lights further enhances its utility, allowing users to tailor the rifle to their specific needs, such as adding a weapon-mounted light for nighttime encounters.
To really test the Stealth Hunter, I sent a request to Smith & Wesson for a demo gun I could use on the range. Soon it arrived, and I was excited to hit the range. Hornady provided the ammo for this session. This session would include three different rounds. First up was the Hornady .357 Magnum140-grain FTX Leverevolution. This load is optimized for lever-action rifles. It ran well, and groups averaged 1.9 MOA, with the best group at 1.5 inches, showcasing the rifle’s precision. The Leverevolution’s FTX bullet is designed for enhanced ballistic performance, offering excellent terminal ballistics for home defense while maintaining accuracy at moderate ranges.
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Hornady Ammunition
The second round I used was the Hornady .357 Magnum140 125-grain FTX Critical Defense. The patented Flex Tip technology used in Critical Defense ammunition eliminates the clogging and inconsistency that often plague hollow-point bullets. Hornady achieved this by using the same tip material used in LEVERevolution ammunition. It grouped well in the Stealth Hunter, with my average group being 2.15 inches and the best group of 1.8 inches.
The last round in the mix was the Hornady .357 Magnum 158-grain XTP. This round falls into their Custom line and features the same excellent terminal performance as their other offerings. This round performed almost precisely as the FTX round, with an average group of 2.15 inches and the best group of 1.9 inches.
Optic
I was sent the 1x MICRO Prism Scope from ZeroTech Optics to utilize for testing. This optic features a versatile and durable design that enables quick and clear sight acquisition across various shooting applications. It features four variable mounting height options and is CNC-machined from a solid billet of 6061-T6 aluminum. Other features include 13 adjustable brightness settings, including 3 NV, and a battery life of up to 50,000 hours.
The Stealth Hunter performed flawlessly across all loads, with no malfunctions or feeding issues. The action cycled smoothly, though a firm lever stroke was necessary to ensure reliable ejection, particularly with the heavier 158-grain loads. The HIVIZ H3 front sight was highly visible, allowing rapid target acquisition, while the red dot improved precision for less experienced shooters.
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Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter
The Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter excels as a home defense rifle due to its sturdy construction, modern features, and versatile performance. Its ability to fire both .357 Magnum and .38 Special ammunition caters to a wide range of users, from seasoned shooters to beginners. The rifle’s compact size, suppressor-ready barrel, and accessory-friendly design make it adaptable to a wide range of defensive scenarios. Range testing with confirmed reliability and accuracy, with groups under 2.5 MOA at 50 yards, well within the requirements for home defense.
Priced at an MSRP of $1,399, the Stealth Hunter offers excellent value for a premium lever-action rifle. Its combination of stopping power, ease of use, and customization options positions it as a strong contender against traditional home defense firearms, such as shotguns or AR-15s. For homeowners seeking a reliable, powerful, and modernized lever-action rifle, the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter is a standout choice that delivers on all fronts.
For more information, visit Smith & Wesson.
Specs
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| Width | 1.6 in |
| Length | 33.3 in |
| Weight | 104 oz |
| Caliber | .357 Magnum |
| Capacity | 8 |
| Barrel | 16.3” |
| Grip | Polymer |
| Sights | HIVIZ H3 |
| Optic Ready | Yes |
| Safety | Cross-bolt |
| Color | Black |
| Threaded Barrel | Yes |
| Barrel | 410 SS |
| Frame | Stainless Steel |
| MSRP | $1399.00 |
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