I really like lever action rifles - for hunting. The only way I will think of them as tactical is if the gun control folks get their way with semi autos. Of course, looking at Australia and now New Zealand the lever actions, after a few years, also fall to the anti gun crowd.
I know one can get very good and very fast with a lever action. I've seen it time and again at SASS matches. I've even seen a couple guys demonstrate them by using them in police qualification courses successfully. A Marlin .44 magnum is a formidable weapon at 100 yards or less when 10 or less shots solve the problem. Not so much if reloading is called for.
