The problem of quality control is not limited to lever actions. I have had problems with most other actions, not so much as a factor of the type of action, but sloppiness in manufacturing. I have made it a habit to pull down any new gun, if for no other reason than to get out all the junk left in the gun from the manufacturing process. I have seen actions that looked like they were used as trash cans for everything on the factory floor. Most weapons manufacturers are owned by larger companies, so that guns are a minority of the basis of company profits, so the motive is just making money, not in making a quality product. Sadly, we consumers have shown time after time that we do not buy the best product, only the most advertised one.
As for using lever action rifles, especially in light of what I just said, I use them because they are the best choice for the particular of hunting that I do. I like to stalk, and to hunt woody and brushy areas, I am able to shoot them quickly with the necessary accuracy to take game. Any rifle you pick will have limitations. I had a very accurate bolt action 22-250, which was sudden death on groundhogs, but missed a 15 foot shot, because the scope I had on the gun only showed a fuzzy grayish blob as the crosshairs bounced around, the scope being set on 9x. I would have done better with an open sighted, single shot .22 rimfire. If I were to walk to the edge of a big field, then a lever action with a woods caliber and peep sights might be a handicap, but I have attempted a 100 yard+ shot only once for every 10 shots I have taken under 50 yards. So it boils down this, for myself, that lever actions are the right tool for the job.
