which .357

[clay]

I would like to purchase a .357 rifle to go along with my revolver, I dont have any specific needs for the rifle, just thought it would be fun. So my question is, whats available? I know that marlin and henry offer them in that caliber are there any other makers? What about barrel lengths? Are they offered in any thing over the 20" that marlin makes? I was told that Uberti makes one but it cost over $900. Thats a lot of money for someone like me to spend on what would basicly be a toy. Any how, any info would be appreciated.
thanks clay...

[Scrounger]

Rossi Puma. Navy arms markets the same gun, basically a modern 92 Winchester. Here's a link to Navy Arms:

http://www.navyarms.com/html/92_rifles-carbs.html

Here's some pictures of my Rossi I just picked up yesterday. It is .45 Colt but they also make it in other calibers, finishes, and barrel lengths.

[EDK]

There are WINCHESTER 73 replicas, but that is not a strong action and they're on the pricey side--COWBOY ACTION SHOOTERS AREN'T VERY SHY ABOUT USING THEIR WALLET TO GET STYLE POINTS FOR THE NEATEST/MOST AUTHENTIC TOYS!

If you look on the internet auctions, you might find a used MARLIN 1894 COWBOY with 24 inch octagon barrel. They are discontinued, so the market immediately picked up and prices also. Otherwise, either a 20 inch octagon COWBOY or an 1894C are your options there.

I had an original 1892 WINCHESTER charitably described as a wreck that I had rebuilt into a 357 in 1966. Nice gun, then I got interested in 44s and traded it. I have since had a 1894C and currently a 24 inch COWBOY that I'll keep. With my limited number of guns, I'd go with the MARLIN.

Whatever you get, do a search for GLENN FRYXELL's (sp?)articles on MARLIN 1894 rifles and cast bullets. John Taffin is a big 357 MARLIN fan also.

:castmine:

[Poohgyrr]

Marlins are good and a lot of people like them. There are also the M92 clones being made, by Rossi (and sold under a few different brand names), Cimarron, and maybe some others.

The used market also includes the Winchester M94s & M92s, and Brownings.

I personally prefer the M92 design and am waiting on a new to me EMF brand 20" short rifle.


This is a great site, and Paco's site has a lot of good information on .357 Levers:

The forum is here: http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=2

One article on Rossi's: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/rossi.htm

The general site with more articles, gunsmiths, etc...: http://www.leverguns.com/Default.htm

There is a lot of info there, hope it helps.

A great book on Levers, including great info on the .357 Levers: http://www.leverguns.com/store/paco_book.htm

[Four Fingers of Death]

If you look at my avitar, you will see one of my favourite rifles, a cleapo second hand 357 Rossi. Gobbles up 38s as well as 357s. Great little rifle! Cheap too. They make a long barrel one, which has a oct barrel and crescent butt plate. I have seen other suppliers in the states offer 24" standard barrels with normal buttplates (not as cool looking, but a much better bet to carry and shoot.

If using a scope is important to you, a Marlin would be a better choice (made in the states as well).

Mick.

[KCSO]

I bought a Rossi in 197?? as a companion to the 357 i packed on my hip and I carried that gun and shot it for many years. I passed it on to my wife for a cowboy gun and for stand deer hunting and she still uses it. Mine is as slick now as an original 92 and that gun will still put 3 158 hollow points under 3" at 100 yards with the factory irons. I currently shoot a Puma as my carry gun and it also works flawlessly. You shouod be able to get one under 5 and under 4 if you shop hard. They currently come in 16-20-24" barrels and with the 16" tube you will pick up 300 fps or more from the revolver velocity and that puts it in the light deer catagory. If yo are really interested I will try and fid a copy of an article I wrote a year or so back when I tested my old Rossi against a brand new one and a new in the box gun I bought from a freind that was stored for 30 years.

[clay]

Thanks so much for the info, looks like I better start buttering up the wife, she says I spend way to much on shooting and such. I'm a big guy, 6'1" and around 350#. I picked up a marlin with the 20" barrel and it just seemed so small, I'm thinking the 24" barrel would feel better, any advantages or drawbacks in the different lengths?

[Boomer Mikey]

Thanks so much for the info, looks like I better start buttering up the wife, she says I spend way to much on shooting and such. I'm a big guy, 6'1" and around 350#. I picked up a marlin with the 20" barrel and it just seemed so small, I'm thinking the 24" barrel would feel better, any advantages or drawbacks in the different lengths?

No real advantage to longer or shorter velocity wise, just what feels comfortable to you.

The Marlins are easier to clean and in 357 are plenty strong but the Rossi M92's (1892's) cost less. I have both models in 20" and 24". For a tall guy like yourself the longer length of pull with the 24" models may feel better to you. I personally like the 20" models for cowboy shoots because they handle faster and I don't need to reach as far forward to cycle the action. My favorite 357 is a Navy Arms 20" "Short Rifle" with an octagon barrel in stainless steel but I really like the Marlin 1894 Cowboy with it's octagon barrel too. Navy Arms no longer sells 92's but the same short and long octagon rifle configurations as well as the round barrel carbines are offered by EMF. These folks are good people.

http://emf-company.com/1892-winchester-rifle-carbine.htm

I like the western style rifles for long range shooting because they have a narrow front stock, heavier octagon barrel, and a longer sight radius.

Well... I like them all!

Boomer :Fire:

Thumbnails of Puma 24" Western Rifle and Marlin 1894 Cowboy

[C A Plater]

Cimarron sell the 1892 made by Armi and sans silly safety. Not cheap though but the one I got to handle looked to be well made. http://cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/1892Model.htm

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Clay,

I've got both your rifles. A little 20" bbled saddle ring carbine, and a 24" bbled rifle! Nyah, nyah - they're not for sale!

Both mine are the Brazillian made Rossi's. The carbine is a "Puma" and I forgot the name of the importer for the rifle.

Once you get one, you'll wonder how on earth you ever survived without it though. I think if I had to get rid of all my guns except one, the .357 lever action would be my one remaining gun. It'll kill all the deer I need. It's a furious home defense gun. And right now, because it's so simple to feed, it's the gun that I know best.

Cast your own bullets outta wheel weights and you can reload a box of 50 for under $3.

Straight cases mean you don't fuss with case prep, lubing, trimming, yadda, yadda.

Lee Turret press can crank out about 200 rounds per hour at a liesurely pace.

Lee 6-cavity mold can drop 1000s of bullets in no time.

Tumble lube bullets.

So many people look at the ballistics of a gun when choosing, but when it comes to feeding the thing they can be a real pain. In a couple of evenings, you'll have hundreds of rounds to take with you to the range.

Then when you're at the range, because you've got such a pile of ammo, you get bored shooting from the bench. So you're more apt to try offhand shots. Then kneeling, then sitting. Then after a while, you're still not out of ammo, and your shoulder ain't sore yet, you'll start thinking, "How fast can I clear the pop cans off the rail?" And pretty soon, you're trying to think how to make a moving target...

There's something about High Powered rifles that seems to make guys want to sit at a bench and poke small groups. They miss out on so many other aspects.

[Old Ironsights]

I totally agree with the above. My 20" Rossi .357 (and Ruger SP101) will be the very last gun(s) to go.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/myrossi357.jpg

Beadblasted Stainless for durability and low shine.

Load hot for Deer or Subsonic for in-town catshooting.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_4952.jpg

Loaded with a dead-soft pure-lead boolit over 5gr BP/Sub & Farina/CoW, this .38sp load make less noise than a hot .177 pellet gun... and hits like a 100ftlb truck... (Needs to be HP tho...)

POA with irons at 25 yds is identical to POA of Factory 158gr SJSPs at 50yds.

[Scrounger]

I wish my .45 was a .357--- and looked like yours. Great looking wood.

[Blammer]

My 24" Win 94, lever gun loves the 200 gr FP with Lil gun powder.

I just can't find a mold that would cast this bullet, if I can I'd buy it!

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Stuff%202/DSCN5582.jpg

[Scrounger]

Here it is, on EBAY: RCBS .35-200-FP

http://cgi.ebay.com/RCBS-35-200-2CAV-RIFLE-MOULD-VG-COND-W-BOX_W0QQitemZ130105696425QQihZ003QQcategoryZ71118Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Four Fingers of Death]

I'd be reluctant to get a 24" Bbl for a knockabout carry /hunting rifle, the 20" is just about perfect and is like a wand. This goes for just about all levers (I have one 24" oct bbl and the rest are 20." The big fella is nice to look at and shoot, but is only seems to go to the range, the shorter rifles get carried afield all the time.

Gotta try those BP pop gun loads. :D

[Four Fingers of Death]

Loaded with a dead-soft pure-lead boolit over 5gr BP/Sub & Farina/CoW, this .38sp load make less noise than a hot .177 pellet gun... and hits like a 100ftlb truck... (Needs to be HP tho...)

POA with irons at 25 yds is identical to POA of Factory 158gr SJSPs.


It doesn't get any better than that! Mick.

[Old Ironsights]

RE: POA with irons at 25 yds is identical to POA of Factory 158gr SJSPs...


It doesn't get any better than that! Mick.

Should have said (and does now:

POA with irons at 25 yds is identical to POA of Factory 158gr SJSPs at 50yds.

[Blammer]

yes, the 24" tube gets a bit cumbersome in the field.

thanks for the link!

[dnepr]

I have a little rossi .357 that is great fun with 38 specials loaded with a 158 cast and 6.5 gr of HS6 cheap and fun to shoot. Enough poop to be more interesting than a .22 but almost as cheap.

[Bret4207]

I have a Puma in 44 Mag and wish it was a 357. Full house loads out of a 5 3/4 lb rifle get your attention. The 357 would be about perfect for a truck/tractor/general use rifle.

As to barrel length- I LOVE my 26" Savage 99, but in a tube magazine rifle, I'd want a half mag on anything over 20". Looks and balance.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

yes, the 24" tube gets a bit cumbersome in the field.

ROTFL! I also do a lot of hunting with an Early Virginia longrifle, which sports a 42" barrel. My 24" bbl lever gun is as "light and handy" as I could ever wish for. The 20" carbine is for my wife and boys.

Hey how do you load for that 200 grain boolit? I've got a Lyman 195 grain RN that does well over Lil' Gun, except in my lever actions. A) I'm a bit hesitant to put RNs in the tube magazine B) I thought the rifling twist was too slow and didn't get great accuracy. Don't know what the twists are, but they don't make a full turn in the barrel.

[Poohgyrr]

This picture has had me wanting a beadblasted stainless M92 for a while now, I like how yours is setup. That is what I was looking for when I found the 20" short rifle. I still plan to buy one, just have to wait a while.........



I totally agree with the above. My 20" Rossi .357

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/myrossi357.jpg

Beadblasted Stainless for durability and low shine.

[Boomer Mikey]

The 200 grain RCBS 35-200-FN is a great bullet for 357 Magnums but you should push them hard in Pumas as the twist rate for Pumas is 1:30". The Marlin 1894's twist rate is 1:16" and will handle lighter loads better.

The RCBS 35-180-SIL is an excellent bullet too.

A great full power load for the 35-200-FN is 13.5-15 grains of H110 or WW296 with a F205 rifle primer and bullets seated to 1.65" COL. This will feed the lever guns and Ruger revolvers well... as usual, start low and work your way up. The Federal small rifle primer works well with this combination and you'll get high powder loading density with this long bullet crimped over the ogive.

Boomer :Fire:

Thumbnail of the RCBS 35-200-FN loaded to 1.65" COL in a 357 Magnum case and crimped over the ogive lightly (bottom) and an RCBS 35-180-SIL seated in a Dan Wesson 360 Magnum case (top).

The picture on the right shows the 200 seated in a 357 case full length, this works well in TC's and NEF's.

If you have one of those loooong chambers like TC's and NEF's have, you may want to try a Dan Wesson 360 Magnum case and trim to your chamber's length. The 360DW case is 1.410" long (bottom right).

[Blammer]

Black J- I put 15 gr of Lil gun in my 357 mag for my win 94. The bullet is a flat point, on the top and sits flush with the primer on the next shell, so no worries.

I wouldn't put RN in my lever gun either... don't know what the twist on my Win is, I'll have to find out. :D

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

15 grains of Lil' Gun under a 200 grain boolit?! How deep do you seat the bullet. I don't mean OAL, but the actual depth of the bullet in the case?

[Blammer]

.3 or so of the bullet.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Blammer,

Sorry to bother you with nit-picking, but since there isn't official data with Lil' Gun and 200 grain boolits, I don't want to make any stupid mistakes.


.3 or so of the bullet

Is that 30% of the bullet's length is in the case? Or is that 3/10 inches inside the case?

[Blammer]

hold on let me get you some real specific number here....

[Blammer]

OAL of loaded cartridge 1.770
Case Lenght 1.280
Amount of bullet showing in loaded case .490
Lenght of bullet (just bullet) .890
Amount of bullet that is seated in the case .400

[Blammer]

Here is a pic of where on the bullet the .400 mark is. It is where the bullet radius ends and there is a slight lip. Don't know what it's called but it's above the crimping groove.

I had to seat deeper so it would function in my lever gun.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Stuff%202/DSCN5582here.jpg

[Old Ironsights]

That's an awfully pointy bullet...

What happened to your meplat? That one looks like it's around/less than 30% ...

[Blammer]

don't know....

I do know that It shoots a pretty good 200 yard group. :D

[45r]

you can hollow point those bullets with a forster hollow pointer and the small metplat will help getting it centered.you can make the hollow point any size you want and they will do a number on the critters.

[BAGTIC]

If you look at my avitar, you will see one of my favourite rifles, a cleapo second hand 357 Rossi. Gobbles up 38s as well as 357s. Great little rifle! Cheap too. They make a long barrel one, which has a oct barrel and crescent butt plate. I have seen other suppliers in the states offer 24" standard barrels with normal buttplates (not as cool looking, but a much better bet to carry and shoot.

If using a scope is important to you, a Marlin would be a better choice (made in the states as well).

Mick.

What kind of game do you shoot with that .357 downunder?

[TedH]

Another vote for the Rossi 92! Great little rifles.

[Gaucho Gringo]

Each to his own, I can not hit anything with a barrel of less than 24" and heavy. With a long heavy barreled rifle I am deadly, with a short light barrel I would do more damage using the rifle as a club. Just me.