Looking for recommendations on 357 Mag. Levergun

[novalty]

Been trying to decide on a new firearm for plinking, and have been toying around with the idea of a handgun caliber rifle. Since I’m already setup for loading 38/357, it seems like a good fit. Was wondering what others are using and recommend for a reliable 357 lever-gun.

[redhawk0]

Get a Henry...solid rifle and made in the USA. I've got a couple Henry's now....very happy with both....a Henry fan for life.

redhawk

[novalty]

I’ve certainly been looking at them, but kind of like the idea of a load gate—just not sure I can justify the cost difference for something like the Uberti or Winchester 1873 for plinking.

[trapper9260]

For ammo to reload. I just use what I shoot in my BH and see how it shoots and if it need some fixing I do that when needed and keep notes.

[sghart3578]

I just bought a new, made in 2018, Marlin 1894C in 357 mag.

It is terrific. I really like it.

I have owned a JM Marlin 1894CS from the 80's for many years now. The new Marlin is just as accurate as my old one.


Steve in N CA

[redhawk0]

I’ve certainly been looking at them, but kind of like the idea of a load gate—just not sure I can justify the cost difference for something like the Uberti or Winchester 1873 for plinking.

Yeah...I get that. One of my Henrys is a 45-70. It does not have a load gate...but I figure if I can't hit a deer with the 5 loaded rounds that I have in it...I don't deserve the deer. Its real quick to empty though. pull the tube spring out and dump the rounds. (its more fun to shoot them though)

Its a personal preference for sure. For me...not having the additional button safety or half cock is what attracted me to them. I like the hammer transfer bar as the only safety.

redhawk

[35 Whelen]

I've had a '92 Rossi carbine in .357 for several years now and it is the lightest, handiest lever rifle I own. I find it's what I grab when I'm going to the pasture. They're much less expensive that Uberti's and Winchesters and far less picky about bullet style and cartridge length than the toggle link actions, which I love. I shot a hog with mine last December using a cast hollowpoint.

35W

[GMW]

The Henry All Weather in .357mag is the cat's meow!

[Handloader109]

So far love my new Rossi. I'd guess another 20 days till another boat arrives.. maybe with a box full of them...

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[novalty]

Haven’t found much for reviews on the Winchester 92. Are they a worthwhile option?

[indian joe]

Get a Rossi

[Jeff Michel]

Haven’t found much for reviews on the Winchester 92. Are they a worthwhile option?

If you want to mount a scope, no. You'll need a Marlin or a Henry. I have a Miroku made Winchester and have found it excellent in every respect. The new Marlins are, at least the three I've acquired are very good and get smoother the more they are used. I only have purchased one Henry and have no desire to have another. But there's a bunch of people here that like them a lot. I can't speak to Rossi, they have an excellent reputation for strength and again, a bunch of people have them and like them. Like the Miroku, you need to be pretty creative if you want to mount a scope.

[pworley1]

I have never had a problem with my Rossi with .357 or 38 spl.

[mattw]

If you can get your hands on the old pre-safety Marlin 1894C, you will have one of the best 357 leverguns I think has ever been mass produced. No crossbolt safety, "gold" trigger, slick action and microgroove JM stamped tube. It loves 158's and really loves 180's.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/931/42196982880_0e3e78d60d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/27hNyTA)

[Petrol & Powder]

Another vote for the Rossi. Wish I still had mine.

When I got it the interior surfaces looked like they had been machined with rocks but with a little work it cleaned up nicely.

[jmort]

I have two Rossi M92s which have been tuned by the best of the best SASS gunsmiths. Very slick guns. Not ths fastest, but the strongest. NOE has a scope mount for these. Compared to my two JM 45 Colts, two .45/70 JMs, and Winchesters, Mossbergs and JM 30-30s, I am happy with the Rossi M92. Unless I had a convient way to get any new gun tuned I would pay for an older JM or new Winchester. I would just get the new Marlin and pray it runs OK. I will say that my M92 Rossis all slicked up are my favorites.

[Butler Ford]

Marlin, Browning, Winchester and Rossi, I have or have had, they're all great. I've never had a Henry but the people that do sure do brag on them a lot.

[Drm50]

mattw has best advice, the pre Saftey JM Marlin 1894 is the best 357 that has been produced. I
had two of them when they were first out and wish I hadn't sold them. They are hard to find but
they are out there. I had a Rossi Puma for awhile, it functioned ok but I wasn't impressed with its
accuracy. I would not want to give advice on buying a new Marlin at this time. Some guys are
lucky and get a good one, others get lemons. Myself I'm done with Marlin & Remington. I will
still deal on pre safety JMs and the older milled Rems, but no new ones.

[jmort]

For that coin you can get a new Winchester or an Italian 73 clone

[fordwannabe]

I have a longer barreled Marlin presafety in 38/357 and highly recommend it. I also have a 16 inch 1980’s Puma, that Nate Kiowa Jones helped sort out. It would s also a winner with correct length ammo. That’s the long and the short of it�� Both are very capable firearms...but I reload and tailor the rounds to each gun.

[JoeJames]

I have a Henry Big Boy brass in 44 Magnum. I have not really decided whether to keep it, or go with trading for a Rossi 92. For one thing the Henry is about 2 pounds heavier than the Rossi, next, it does not have a loading gate, and last, the rear sight is problematic as far as adjustment. If I keep it I intend to get the Skinner peep sight and it is around $100 or so. I have been trying various 44 Special cast loads, and I have yet to find one that is accurate. Still up in the air over keeping it.

[Walks]

Counting just "Pistol" Calibers;
Rossi for 30+yrs in .44Mag, 25yrs in .357Mag & .44WCF.
MARLIN 1894CS 35+yrs, 1894CB 23+yrs .45COLT, .357Mag, .44Mag. All 3 first year production 24" bbl rifles.
UBERTI 1866 .45COLT Carbine, 1873 .44WCF Carbine & RIFLE.
You couldn't give me a free "henry", seen to many **** out at SASS Matches.

And getting an action job, particularly on a new gun. No I wouldn't consider it until I had put a 1000 rds thru the rifle. That allows you to find a bullet/load combo that will suit whatever your need for the Rifle/Carbine is.

Unless you entend to become a VERY SERIOUS SASS COMPETITOR, YOU NEED TO AVERAGE 2 SHOOTING SESSIONS A WEEK, 500RDS PER SESSION.
I would not get an action job. After that 1st 1000 rds the gun will be pretty smooth.
I made the mistake of having the First Cowboy Action Gunsmith "Ringo" do an action job on my new UBERTI 1873 rifle. Good LORD it became loose & sloppy, the LEVER would fall down an inch, tying up the gun. I had to take it to the EMF Inc Company GUNSMITH to get it rebuilt.

Is you want a fun gun, buy a ROSSI or MARLIN. MARLINS are easy to scope for accuracy testing. And if you put a WILLIAM'S FoolProof peep sight on a 1894C you should be able to get 1" - 1 1/2" groups at 50yds.

WINCHESTER, I wouldn't buy. 12+yrs ago an AMERICAN MADE Model 94 cost $4-500Dollars, today the japanese made guns are 3X that.

Go to a Big Gun Store and fondle them, ask at the Range of folks shooting them.
If you ask a SASS Shooter, he'll most likely tell you to buy a 1873 "Brush Popper" and get a short stroke kit with an aluminum cartridge lifter from a GUNSMITH. About $300 added to a $1500 gun.

Hope I haven't confused you too much. GOOD LUCK with whatever you choose.

[Texas by God]

Marlin. If they made it in 44-40 or 32-20 I would get one. My Rossis were accurate but they all needed help to work right. The 73s are too heavy and delicate for me. But I'm a hunter, not a CAS player.

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[cwlongshot]

I think that you will be happy with about any modern rifle. Each has its lil quirks. Weather that overall high cost, or availability.

I am lucky enough to have a older Marlin that's the cats meow. But I have had a Rossi and a couple Winchester '92's. Ergos its the '92 or its clones hands down. The Henry is newer, by all accounts it looks, feels and appears to be every bit as good as any other. Overall I would take the OLDER Marlin '94.

Here is my Marlin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/0883EC99-FEB8-410F-86E7-3058ED23C661-5352-00000B4AFF697AE3_zps8de8ef1e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/99FD1161-E3FD-4BB9-8287-7E82BCA2F5AC-5352-00000B4AF5B3EA6B_zpsc5bcb458.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894BUTTR.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894BUTTL.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894357magDETAIL.jpg

CW

[jmort]

I had Jim Bowie at The Cowboys and Indians store tune one of mine. He had a sign saying no 92s, but he was out and his wife said she would talk to him. He also did one of my Blackhawks. The difference between the stock Rossi M92 and the tuned M92 is huge. The other was done by Nate Kiowa Jones aka Steve's Gunz. Again, the diffrrence is huge. Both took some waiting, but well worth the wait. Go to the best gunsmith you can find.

[cwlongshot]

Marlin. If they made it in 44-40 or 32-20 I would get one. My Rossis were accurate but they all needed help to work right. The 73s are too heavy and delicate for me. But I'm a hunter, not a CAS player.

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Marlin made the '94 in both calibers and a couple versions thru the years.

CW

[Chad5005]

try to find a jm marlin youll be happy

[jmort]

I think that you will be happy with about any modern rifle. Each has its lil quirks. Weather that overall high cost, or availability.

I am lucky enough to have a older Marlin that's the cats meow. But I have had a Rossi and a couple Winchester '92's. Ergos its the '92 or its clones hands down. The Henry is newer, by all accounts it looks, feels and appears to be every bit as good as any other. Overall I would take the OLDER Marlin '94.

Here is my Marlin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/0883EC99-FEB8-410F-86E7-3058ED23C661-5352-00000B4AFF697AE3_zps8de8ef1e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/99FD1161-E3FD-4BB9-8287-7E82BCA2F5AC-5352-00000B4AF5B3EA6B_zpsc5bcb458.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894BUTTR.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894BUTTL.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/1894357magDETAIL.jpg

CW

This is a sweet looking JM
I have 6 and none have wood as nice as that. The grain is fantastic.

[cwlongshot]

I gave my pop my second and it has plain wood too.. Not as good as a "regular" marlin!

I have been lucky I guess

I have a number of Marlins with nice wood.

Here is my 32-20

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/Marlin1894CL.jpg

This is a 375S

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/Marlin375.jpg

This is a more plain 45 LTD

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/CWLONGSHOT/Temp%20stuff/sporting%20pics/Marlins/MarlinLIMITED.jpg


CW

[jmort]

try to find a jm marlin youll be happy

The prices on the JMs keep going up. Fine by me. I recently got another .45 Colt and another 45/70. I think investment-wise they will keep climbing.

[novalty]

I guess Gunbroker is not the place to look for JM Marlin 94’s. There more expensive than a new Winchester 92 or 73. Will keep it in mind during my search. I’m just looking for a reliable plinking gun to take to the range—don’t plan on getting into Cowboy Action shooting. I’m already setup to load 38 and 357 and have a bunch of components, and a Levergun sounds like a fun addition to have at the range. Really appreciate everyone’s advice.

[pls1911]

Need to get out more.
Been out of the loop on values over the last year, as I don't want to buy another safe...
Have too many 93's, 36's, 336s...

Pre-safety 94C with maybe ...MAYBE 50 rounds through it.
What's it worth in 100% condition?
A safe queen, it's a sweet shooter with a peep sight. With .38 RN loads, it simply cannot miss beveridge cans out to 50 yards[/B]

[Goldstar225]

I had lusted for a Marlin for quite some time but was unwilling to pay the going rate for one. Two months ago I lucked into a deal on a JM (with safety) that I couldn't pass up. It's been even better than I imagined it could be and quickly became my all time favorite rifle. A joy to handle and shoot. My grandson is already casting covetous eyes on it after shooting it.

The newly released 1894C's are getting good reviews by those who have actually bought them and I would buy one with hesitation.

[rockydoc]

I have a new Winchester 92 and I love it. The trigger is the slickest I have ever witnessed on a lever gun. The barrel is very smooth. Fit and finish is great throughout. I didn’t think I would like the tang safety but I was wrong. It is great when handling the gun crossing fences and things like that, and also when unloading. It cost twice as much as a Rossi and I only got the Winchester because it was the only 357/38 levergun I could find at the time. I am glad no Rossi was available now, because this thing is worth the price. Very slick handling and accurate too.
I am pleased! No tuning or gunsmithing necessary.

[Walks]

MARLIN made a special run of .44WCF 1984 CB's just after the first run of Cowboy rifles.

They sent the receivers to ITALY to have them engraved & color case hardened. Then they came back to be assembled here by MARLIN. About $1500 each, the std CB was $500. Had a friend buy one, slugged the bore .430dia. Chambers were tight when loaded with .430 bullets. Thin REMINGTON was the only brass that would chamber with the blasted .430 bullets. I think he may have sold it off after He retired to NC.

I heard they may have made some std 1894CB in 44WCF. But I never saw one.

Two of my friends bought/shot ROSSI '92's right out of the box without a problem. Two .45 COLTS & 1 .44MAG, all 20" carbines, none of my ROSSI's ever needed GUNSMITHING either.

Only thing I can say is, some of them need to be fully stripped down and cleaned to remove the metal shavings left over from SOME prodution runs.

[salvadore]

Novalty, I bought the Muroku 92 short rifle a few months back. Since attaching a scope is not feasable and having geezer eyesight my first range sessions were pretty pathetic. I got a fiber optic front and a bullseye rear and really hunkered and got about 1.25" groups with all three loads tried @ 50yds. It is a well made and fitted shooter with excellent wood. I own two pre remington Marlins 39A and 94CL plus a post war 94 Winchester and the Muroku (sp) is as nice or better than those.

[Kraschenbirn]

I have an early (1971) Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag and a Rossi 92 in .357 and, IMO, there's not a lot to choose from between the two. No complaints on function with either gun and both, with the right load, are as accurate as I can hold with factory irons. I've never liked the 'feel' of a Henry...too heavy and, in my hands, has all the balance of a hunk of T-bar. No experience with a Winchester/Miroku, myself, so I'll only say they seem way overpriced. Just my nickel's worth.

Bill

[fecmech]

I have owned in .357 caliber:
1. Winchester 94AE--Very accurate,will not hold up to a lot of shooting(thousands of rds) due to parts breaking and unavailability of parts.
2.Browning B92--Nice gun, well made, high dollar, no more accurate or smoother than a tuned Rossi.
3. Henry--Not as smooth as the 92's and a pound heavier than other carbines.
4. Marlin--Had one of the last JM Marlins. Was rough, did not feed reliably and accuracy was so-so
5. Rossi--Can be a bit stiff when new, easily and cheaply tuned by a person with a modicum of mechanical ability. Reasonably priced and accurate. Carbines are D&T'd for a scout scope mount.
I've owned all of the above and still have 2 Rossi's with multiple thousands of rds. through both. The rest have all gone down the road for one reason or another. Just my opinion of the pistol cartridge lever guns.