357 Lever Action Help

[ddcrawford]

I have been wanting a lever action 357 for sometime now and I'm finally ready to pull the trigger! I'm looking at guns in the lower end of the price range mainly because I don't want to spend a bunch of money and feel I have to baby the gun to keep from getting dings on it. I want something I won't feel hesitant to get out in the woods and use. As you would guess I have narrowed it down to the Marlin and Henry (steel version) but the Rossi is still a possibility. I'm really leaning toward the Henry because of the magazine design. I know it is not traditional but it sure seems a lot more functional to me.

Does anyone have words of wisdom that would help me make a decision?

[Ziptar]

I have been wanting a lever action 357 for sometime now and I'm finally ready to pull the trigger! I'm looking at guns in the lower end of the price range mainly because I don't want to spend a bunch of money and feel I have to baby the gun to keep from getting dings on it. I want something I won't feel hesitant to get out in the woods and use. As you would guess I have narrowed it down to the Marlin and Henry (steel version) but the Rossi is still a possibility. I'm really leaning toward the Henry because of the magazine design. I know it is not traditional but it sure seems a lot more functional to me.

Does anyone have words of wisdom that would help me make a decision?The Henry isn't a bad choice particularly in .357. I've not heard anything good about the 1894s produced since Remington took over Marlin and moved production to New York. A pre Remington (jm stamped) 1894 in .357 made in the original New Haven factory will run you $1000+. Not exactly knocking around the woods kind if money.

I'm a Marlin addict myself and IMHO the pre Remington Marlin rifles are the best particularly the the pistol caliber 1894s. They are built like brick out houses and shoot like a dream and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

That being said, Henry's are very good rifles. They are built well, actions are smooth as glass and they handle well. No loading gate, so what... There are times when a loading gate is royal pain.


Get the Henry, for the money you can't do better for a knock around rifle.

They've really grown on me over the last few years. I see a Big Boy Brass Carbine in my near future for sure. [emoji3]

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[AZ Pete]

I have an older Rossi, changed some springs, and smoothed up the internals, made it a great shooter for .38 and .357. Very accurate. Would prefer a M92, but for the price it is hard to beat.


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[trapper9260]

I have a Rossi 92 and I am happy with it for all i want to do with it.The price is good and for what you want to do it .you will be ok for how i see it.

[Gray Fox]

I have 2 of the Rossi 92 .357s, one 16" and a 20". Both have scout scopes. Both like the Lee 125 and 158 grain boolits, and the 6 cavity molds really yield lots of nice projectiles. I use Ranch Dog's method of dipping them in LLA (45-45-10) and they leave easy to clean bores. GF

[MyFlatline]

I am also a Marlin nut, my favorite 357 in the safe is the Henry BBS. Just sold one of the Marlins as I prefer the Henry hands down.

[Hick]

I have the Henry Big Boy in brass-- shoots great. It regularly hits 3" targets at 100 yards, using a Skinner peep sight and Lyman globe front sight. I had to smooth down the tang where the magazine opens and closes (was a little too hard to open from the factory). I highly recommend the Henry.

[FergusonTO35]

If you shop around you can get a Henry for not much more than a Remlin. Henry's customer service is outstanding should you ever need it. I have a 1982 1894C, it was the first gun I ever put my name on the yellow form for at the age of 19. Cost me all of $250.00 in probably 95% condition back in 1998 when nobody wanted lever actions. I love that little carbine and will never get rid of it, but I also wouldn't spend $1000.00 for one, or even $650.00 for that matter. I think the Henry is a better choice in pretty much every regard.

As far as Rossi goes, the guns can be nice but there is no telling whether Rossi itself will continue to exist. They have dropped alot of products recently, I think none of the .357 lever actions are still in production. I sure wouldn't buy one without looking at it first, and there is no way I would pay close to even Remlin price for it.

[fecmech]

The only real down side to the Henry is the weight. The Henry steel frame round barrel is a pound heavier than a comparable Rossi 92. I own 2 Rossi's and both have been trouble free and accurate. I won a Henry steel frame in a gun raffle and I gave it a good work out but sold it due to the weight issue. If the weight does not bother you it's hard to go wrong with the Henry and Henry customer service.

[trapper9260]

From what I know of that Rossi stop maken the 16" . But still make the 20" .I seen it wrote some place not long ago.

[Shawlerbrook]

I believe Rossi is only making 45 colts unless they started production again. I would love a 16” SS 357 mag.

[Mark74a1]

I would go with a Rossi if lower end but still reliable is your target. I had one and after a little filing on the internals, it was a nice and smooth action, trouble free and would feed and fire any 38/357 I put in it.

[rondog]

Marlin isn't making the 1894 in .357, although they've "promised" to bring them back. Nobody's holding their breath.

Rossi - who knows WTH Rossi is doing. New rifles of any kind have not been delivered in a loooong time. Word is, they've been revamping the factory, or their processes, something mysterious and secret. Supposedly, new Rossi leverguns WILL be seen again. Supposedly. Meanwhile, used ones sell like hotcakes.

So, Henry currently has the advantage in the .357 levergun market.

[ddcrawford]

Thanks to everyone for all this great information!

I'm on the group buy list for the MiHec Aluminum 8 Cavity 358429 Keith SWC. I'm hoping this will pair well with whichever of these I end up with.

[trapper9260]

I believe Rossi is only making 45 colts unless they started production again. I would love a 16” SS 357 mag.

I just check Rossi site and you are right they are only have the 45 Colts R92 ,

[Jack Stanley]

I've got one Marlin I like and still use on the range quite a bit , it sees a lot of .38 ammo I don't remember the exact year this one was made but it's safe to say the seventies . Quality is good and I'm thankful for that because the last time I needed to use Marlins customer service in the nineties they were almost as helpful to me as Genghis Kahn was to Asia . Never bought a rifle from them since .

I have handled a couple of Henry rifles and added a scope mount to one for a friend . Quality looked very good , I don't recall if I got a chance to shoot it or not . They looked nice enough that I'm waiting to handle one of their new single shot rifle when I see one in the stores . I'd love to see one in .357 magnum .

Jack

[MyFlatline]

Marlin made the 357 from 1979 to 1984 in the 1894C and 1985 to date as the 1894 CS, according to my books.

[Jack Stanley]

That narrows it down for me , this one is a "C" version , thanks !

Jack

[FergusonTO35]

As I remember, the standard .357 carbine was named the 1894C in catalogs from the late 90's and 2000's.

[Ramjet-SS]

My Henry BB carbine is an absolute tack driver. I can put rounds on target off hand at 50 yards as fast as I can run the lever. Groups of 5" or less is the norm under those conditions.

[quail4jake]

I like my highly modified Marlin '94, 1995. You just have to understand that this is a crude clubby version of a carbine that was at one time well made and elegant but with extensive stock cutting, shaping and reshaping, finishing of metal work it can be really nifty. Forget factory support, Marlin became a typical New England dying business that was just going through the motions. I'm sure it's so much better now...:veryconfu
Pound slug the throat and order a mold to fit (180 grain works well) size fat, .360 since microgroove makes for large groove diameter. Pour, size, load, fire and repeat! Lots of fun, drops deer very well!

[Lakehouse2012]

Ive also been looking for a 357 lever for over a year. Last night I stopped into my local shop and asked him again to search his dealer sources for ANY 357 levers. The only ones available new are the Henry's. I did get lucky though and found a great guy that happened to be selling one and swept it up. Should be here in a few days, might even be able to wrap and put under the tree...


I just check Rossi site and you are right they are only have the 45 Colts R92 ,

[rondog]

I just sealed a deal for a Rossi 92 in .357, 24", stainless, octagonal. Told him to hold off shipping until the 26th to avoid the Xmas chaos. Rifle's in excellent shape, have a pile of detailed photos. I have its twin in .45 Colt, if it's anything similar it's gonna be sweet! $450 + shipping, PayPal, BGC, transfer, etc.

[Shawlerbrook]

The repro 1873’s seem to be very popular in the CAS arena.

[ironhead7544]

Thanks to everyone for all this great information!

I'm on the group buy list for the MiHec Aluminum 8 Cavity 358429 Keith SWC. I'm hoping this will pair well with whichever of these I end up with.

I would wait until I get the rifle. Then test with that bullet. Had a Rossi and the 358429 was too long. Worked fine in 38 Special cases.

Lever rifles can be very fussy about what they will feed. My 1894 Cowboy in 44 Magnum will feed Elmer's bullet perfectly but chokes on generic SWCs. Most WFN designs will not feed, except for the 320 gr LFNGC from LBT. It does feed anything in 44 Special cases.

Right now, I would get the Henry if I wanted another lever rifle in a handgun cartridge.

[FergusonTO35]

One thing I like about lever actions is just how they get better with use. My 1894 would not cycle SWC when I first got it. Several thousand rounds later it eats anything. It's not picky about boolit or charge weight either, and the cheapo Lee molds work great.

[Texas by God]

My wife has mentioned letting her Rossi .357 62 src Puma go.
If she's serious I'll put it up on S&S. She says she doesn't need two carbines and the M1 is her bff.
Thomas

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[ddcrawford]

I just purchased the Rossi .38/.357, 20" model 92 SRC that Texas by God was speaking of in the post above. It is a very nice gun! Very nice people too, thanks Thomas!

[Pereira]

Congrats on the purchase.
I have one of Puma/Rossi 24" SS octagon barreled models.
Only thing I did to mine was remove about a third of the magazine spring.
Since then it feeds and shoots what ever you put in it.
Four inch plate @ 100 yds all day long, no problem.
Even took a nice 8 point the first year I had it.

RP

[ddcrawford]

Congrats on the purchase.
I have one of Puma/Rossi 24" SS octagon barreled models.
Only thing I did to mine was remove about a third of the magazine spring.
Since then it feeds and shoots what ever you put in it.
Four inch plate @ 100 yds all day long, no problem.
Even took a nice 8 point the first year I had it.

RP

Thanks for this info! I'll have to keep that in mind as I try different loads.

[Estacado]

I have a 20" Henry BB Steel 357. Love it! I loaded up 158g SWC bullets for it. Fire great in my Henry. Will not cycle thru my friends Rossi. Personally, I really like the tube loading/unloading.

[FergusonTO35]

I love my little 1894 but I think I am going to get a Henry at some point. The extra weight will help when shooting stout loads, I'll save the Marlin for lighter stuff. I've long been intrigued by the capabilities of warm .357's and the Henry seems like an excellent choice.

[Bazoo]

Between marlin and henry, I choose marlin because of weight and balance.

[Texas by God]

I just purchased the Rossi .38/.357, 20" model 92 SRC that Texas by God was speaking of in the post above. It is a very nice gun! Very nice people too, thanks Thomas!Thanks David we enjoyed meeting you too!

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[FergusonTO35]

Most of the time, when we talk about .357 carbines we are discussing deer level loads with heavier boolits. I must say, .357 carbines do great with mid level loads too. I gave my 1894 some exercise today with the Lee 358-125-RF over 7.2 grains IMR 4756 and Remington 5.5 primers. In the poor light of the indoor range she was making cloverleafs at 25 yards. My very accurate Henry H001T .22 couldn't do any better. Recoil and muzzle blast are a total non-issue, the only difference in shooting the two rifles is the .357 has a tiny bit of muzzle jump, really just a hop, when it fires.

[kaiser]

I also have two Puma's, one SS and the other blued (16" BBL). They both function and shoot very accurately with 158 and 180gr bullets, which is my preference. While I like the Henry, it is too bulky and heavier than it needs to be in this pleasant to shoot cartridge. The Marlin 1894 is a nice compromise in weight and bulk, but is a compromise (to me) none-the-less. I'd like to have one in a Uberti 1873, but would worry about the "toggle link" action being able to handle "full throttle" .357 loads for very long; no doubt, the '73 is the "slickest" action of the bunch (again, IMO). The Puma '92 is a handy, light weight, rifle that will take on virtually any .357 loads you can put in it.

[FergusonTO35]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a very nice 16" Rossi with no bolt safety for $300.00 a few years ago.

[rondog]

I just sealed a deal for a Rossi 92 in .357, 24", stainless, octagonal. Told him to hold off shipping until the 26th to avoid the Xmas chaos. Rifle's in excellent shape, have a pile of detailed photos. I have its twin in .45 Colt, if it's anything similar it's gonna be sweet! $450 + shipping, PayPal, BGC, transfer, etc.

This rifle arrived Friday, and it's PERFECT! Although I'm the 3rd owner, it's reported the first two owners never fired it and it's pretty obvious that it hasn't been fired. This thing is spotless! NO brass marks on the loading gate or carrier, and the bore/rifling is pristine. It's just as cherry as it can be, even came in the original box with all the papers and accessories. All told, I've got about $515 in it.

[FergusonTO35]

Nice! You going to modify it in any way?

[kaiser]

Rondog- Congratulations on a great deal; I've never even seen an "octagon" stainless! If you are able, please post a picture!

[Thin Man]

About 5 years back I found a 16" Rossi .357 in a gun store that was selling it (and others) on consignment as an estate sale. The rifle looked very clean and had the early Interarms import stamp on it. The past owner had removed the rear sight (replaced it with a dovetail filler blank) and had a receiver sight installed on the frame. Bought the rifle and was out the door for $350. After several rounds of testing I found this rifle very much favors the Lyman 358156 boolit for groups, but allows decent recreational groups with the Lee RF (125 and 158) boolits. Any boolit heavier than the 158-160 range opens up it's groups enough that I will not use them in this rifle. This rifle cycles so well I do not need to open it up for improvements, just the luck of the draw on that one.

[FergusonTO35]

Hey Thin Man, you ever think about selling or trading it?

[FISH4BUGS]

The older Rossi 92's are the best. Those that are marked InterArms are the early ones. If you can find one, snap it up.

[FergusonTO35]

I used to drool over them at a sporting goods store in Lexington in the early 90's. $300.00 and a few years of age was all that kept me from getting one!