357 lever gun guidance

[Wasalmonslayer]

Hello all
I am looking for a lever 357 to round out my bunch. I have winni 94's I have a marlin guide gun. I am looking like crazy to find a lever in 357 that is affordable.
I have found marlin 94's and winni 94's but I don't want to pay a grand. I remember when brand new winni 94's were $300. If I woulda know this was going to happen. I would have bought a shipping container full of them.
Sorry getting off course.
So are the Rossi 92's worth a hoot. I hear good and just as much bad. What is the skinny in the cast world.

Thanks
Wasalmonslayer

[A pause for the COZ]

I have a Rossi M92 357 magnum. I like it allot.
Couple things though. Mine was a little stiff out of the box, but it is now slicking it self up after use.
Also can have feeding issues with 38 special loads.
The M92 has a 1 in 30 twist rate compared to Marlins 1 in 16. Mine does not seem to like heavy bullets. 180gr or so.
But it really really likes 125 cast bullets. A light load of 4gr of unique or 5 gr of Herco behind the LEE 125gr rnfp.
Will shoot the bull out all day long at 100 yards.
Fun gun.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_7898.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_8343.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d66/Kelly2215/100_8371.jpg

[Jacko.357]

I am a big Rossi M92 Fan. I have a 24' Octagonal Barrelled Rifle. I fitted a Lyman Tang and a Marbles Folding Leaf Sight. I cant recall my twist rate but I've had my Rifle 4 or 5 Years. It does not like 125 gr Projectiles. I shoot 176 gr Ranchdog rnfp Projectiles and they shoot more accurately than I can hold it. Mine slicked up beautifully after a few hundred rounds. Mine feeds 38 Specials perfectly and .357's with SWC perfectly also. Best Rifle I own

regards Jacko

[dilly]

Rossi guns aren't bad. Sometimes they require a bit of finishing work. There is another forum on the web about them that ranch dog runs. They can help you get it slicked up over there if you do run into any issues.

[snaketail]

Rossis are fine - there is a ton of aftermarket items for them and YouTube videos showing you how to install them. I have a stainless 92 Rossi. I refinished the stock with TruOil and it looks a heck of a lot better now. I added a tang sight that looks good too. The action was rough at first, but it got better the more I shot it.
If I were starting over (read that as - "had more money") I'd look for a .357 Winchester with a 24" octagon barrel and add a receiver sight or a soule style tang sight (scout scopes never look right to me).
My "next" lever gun will be a 32-20 - all the bang, half the bite, equal takedown power, more fun, less powder, less lead, etc...

[Mlcompound]

Love my M92 in 357. Loves cast and is flawless with 357 or 38 with 158 swc seated long.

[fecmech]

I would recommend against the Winchester 94, particularly in the .357 caliber if you plan to shoot it a lot. I just sent one down the road myself. The action was designed for the longer 30-30 and larger case head. It seems to do ok with .44 mag and .45 colt but the smaller .357 case is problematic. The link is a soft mim part that wears quickly and will cause double feeds( had mine welded and reshaped it). The ejector is a brittle cast part that breaks easily and there is a little metal stop added to the lever to space the .357 cartridge that breaks easily also. If you only shoot a couple boxes of ammo a year it's probably not going to affect you. But if you plan on doing a lot of shooting I would look elsewhere. I have two Rossi's that have been trouble free for thousands of rounds.

[pietro]

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+1 - Go with a pistol-length action for a pistol-length cartridge.

The best available is IMHO a .357 Browning/Miroku B92, which would IMO needs some work to mount a peep sight & some kind of better front sight; A Marlin 1894 as 2nd choice (no alteration work req'd); with a Rossi M92, which (again) requires some D/T work to mount a receiver peep sight.
My Rossi .357 has a factory scout scope setup, being D/T'd under the longleaf rear bbl sight for a scout scope mount base.

I have nil experience with the newer "Winchester" (Miroku's) M1892's in .357 - but they appear to be better set-up, sight-wise.


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[fecmech]

Pietro--Used your trick on my B92/.357 and installed the Williams FP from my 94 angle eject on it. I'm hoping when resale time comes the holes on the top of the receiver will be less offensive than a couple on the side. I had the sight anyway so it was a no brainer for me.

[Wasalmonslayer]

Thanks for all the great input. I truely appreciate it.
I am hoping to get set up with a marlin or a rossi. I will install a peep after I aquire one. Two of my other levers are equipped with peep and I true enjoy shooting them.
I have been searching for awhile and one will show up sooner or later. I hate trying to buy in times of shortage it really inflates pricing to crazy levels.

Thanks
wasalmonslayer

[yoter]

Had problems with the extractor breaking on my Marlin 357. Went through two before i traded it off.

[Artful]

I have Several Marlin's and like them but the 357 is better suited to a Win '92 size carbine. Mine is a older Rossi and it's done well by me. So if you run into a pre safety Rossi - that would be my suggestion.

[lar45]

I have a Rossi M92 357 mag and really like it. I've had nothing but good results from it. My Youngest Son took his first Deer with it, a 3x3 Mulie, with one shot, 180gn cast.
I bought it about 7 years ago for $225. :)

[FergusonTO35]

Winchester/Browning is missing out on boatloads of cash right now by not bringing over every Miroku 1892 .357 they can get ahold of. With Remlin on sabbatical and Rossi not convincing people that they are for real, I bet every one of those Mirokus would sell before they hit the shelf even at $1000.00+.

Fecmech- when you do decide to get rid of that Browning please give me a holler!

[Gunnut 45/454]

I have the Marlin M94 in 357 mag, bought it for the wife to hunt deer. Excellant Rifle and at the time I bought it $799 was cheap as you can't find a Real Marlin M94 any more for less then $1200-1500. It loves 158gr Lee cast and shoot's the Lee 125gr like popcorn. Is an absolute hammer with 180gr Speers. With 357 Mags or 38's it don't care.

[Lonegun1894]

I have 2 Rossi .357s and 1 Rossi .45, and then a .45 Win94 and a .357 Win94, and the Rossi's are better suited to the handgun rounds than the Winchesters. I have shot a friends Marlin, and while it was a great shooting gun, the slower rifling twist in the Rossi's allows me to use softer lead at higher velocities for better performance on game than either the Marlin or the Winchester will allow. You can smoothen them up yourself or just use them and they will get nice and smooth, depending on how patient you are. My Rossi's got great after about 300-500 rounds through them, depending on which specific one were discussing.

[pietro]

Pietro--Used your trick on my B92/.357 and installed the Williams FP from my 94 angle eject on it. I'm hoping when resale time comes the holes on the top of the receiver will be less offensive than a couple on the side. I had the sight anyway so it was a no brainer for me.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101684&stc=1&d=1396893842




Nice work ! :)

The beauty of the Williams FP94AE or 5D94AE receiver sights is that the aperture holding horizontal bar resides BEHIND the sight base ILO atop it - usually allowing eazy-peazy zeroing, using the issue (height) front sight blade, due to the relatively lower aperture position, compared to side-mounted peep sights & the XS top-mount peep sight for the M94AE.



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[FergusonTO35]

If I came across a nice Rossi at my usual shop and liked it I would buy it. I know that if there was a problem the shop would make it right even if Rossi wouldn't. Even if that meant sending it out on their dime for repair or giving me a different gun. Love those guys!!

[dverna]

Do not dismiss the 1873 clones in .357. Very fast and smooth.

Don Verna

[Wasalmonslayer]

Thru all this chat someone offered up a 357 marlin.
I was not expecting that!!
It was even at a very fair price.
This site is full of good people!
I have a huge respect for all the people on this site.

I cannot say thanks enough times
Wasalmonslayer

[pietro]

Thru all this chat someone offered up a 357 marlin.
I was not expecting that!!
It was even at a very fair price.
This site is full of good people!
I have a huge respect for all the people on this site.

I cannot say thanks enough times
Wasalmonslayer



Didja gettit ? Pics R mandatory, ya know !



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[Wasalmonslayer]

I made the deal now just waiting for the postal guy to drop it at my ffl.
I will submit a pic as soon as I get my paws on it.

Wasalmonslayer

[Artful]

Congratulations - don't forget pictures of your first groups shot out of it.

[FergusonTO35]

Glad to hear it. Now that Ohio has legalized straight wall rifle cartridges for deer hunting my 1894 is heading across the river this fall.

[Wasalmonslayer]

Well I finally got my hands on it.
I broke it down scrubbed it well lubed it up and shot the snot out of it. Over a 100 rnds of 150 gr lead lubed with home brew. It is a pop cans worst nightmare at 50 yrds. The gun shoots better than the operator.
It is a micro groove and after all those shots the barrel bore is mirror bright. So much for micro groves leading :)
Thanks again guys for all the input.
I had so much fun shooting it I was thinking it might need a Rossi 92 in the safe as a friend :)

[GL49]

Nothing is for real without pictures.:smile: