.357 Magnum Carbines

redlevel · Sep 1, 2009

Anybody have one they have put a bunch of rounds through? Feeding problems? Will they feed a full wadcutter loaded in .38sp cases? Feed hardcast swc bullets okay?

I have a Win. 94 Trapper in .45 Colt. I like it, and while the action isn't super-smooth with the big swc bullets, it does feed reliably. I just feel like I really "need" a carbine, preferably a Trapper length, in .357. I would use it mostly for plinking at cans, feral cats, armadillos, etc, so it would be nice if it would feed my .38 wc loads. Comments or suggestions?
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Bullet Bob · Sep 1, 2009

Go to Leverguns.com (I think that's right) and do a search (please); you will find "loads" of info.

It seems to vay among the maker. I have a Browning 92 in .357 that will not feed .38's without assistance from me.
I have seen threads on the site above about different guns that would.

sigp220.45 · Sep 1, 2009

I had a Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum that feed .38 Special ammo just fine - that was all I ever shot in it. I originally used jacketed hollowpoint ammunition, then switched to lead hollowpoint which leaded very badly. The rifle functioned just fine - but it was an awful pain cleaning the lead out.

Andy Griffith · Sep 1, 2009

The Marlin 1894CS is the only one that will feed the shorter .38's reliably, but definitely not wadcutters- the OAL is to short and will not feed from the magazine correctly.

I believe that I read that someone does make a custom lifter and short throw action for the Marlin so it will feed .38 Short and Long Colts though...but maybe I'm thinking of something else.

canoeguy · Sep 1, 2009

My Marlin 1894 Cowboy Special in .357 will chamber .38 Special 158 grain LSWC fine, but accuracy is not as good as with 158 grain lead round nose. 158 grain jacketed bullets in .357 cases give the best accuracy, about 1.5 inches at 50 yards, 158 grain LRN just a lttle looser, about 2" at 50 yards.

I have only had it a couple months and haven't hunted with it yet, but will this season. It is a fun gun, light and handy. I just got back from a vacation to the Highlands Region of Virginia, near Galax, and that rifle and my Smith and Wesson Model 66 (4") accompanied me on several hikes and canoeing trips on the New River. The carbine was deadly on floating debris, cans, etc. from the canoe....

617fan · Sep 1, 2009

I have a SS Puma and it has no issues with .38 Special 158 RN. I haven't tried any other .38 specials in it. But its a sweet little gun.

Erich · Sep 1, 2009

Anybody have one they have put a bunch of rounds through? Feeding problems? Will they feed a full wadcutter loaded in .38sp cases? Feed hardcast swc bullets okay?

I have a Navy Arms import Rossi 92 Short Rifle (20" octagon barrel) - I've only put a few hundred rounds through it.

It will not (reliably) feed a full wadcutter in a .38 case.

It will feed hardcast SWCs all day, every day (in either .38 or .357 cases).

My best group is right at 1" at 50 yards, and a bit under 3" at 100 yards. Were I at home instead of on this work machine, I'd put up photos.

Your thoughts about shooting .38 Special loads out of this gun are right on: I'm in no way exaggerating when I tell you that, from my gun, the FBI Load feels like shooting .22 LR from my Remington 597. (My shooting buddies have shot these guns side by side and agree.) I feel that the .357 lever carbine is an underappreciated gem (and I'm really partial to the 92 action, myself).

walkinghorse · Sep 1, 2009

"It will not (reliably) feed a full wadcutter in a .38 case.

It will feed hardcast SWCs all day, every day (in either .38 or .357 cases). "

+1

Mine is an older Rossi with 16" barrel. Older defined as having the ?leering cat medallion? on the off side, you know PUMA.

With wadcutters it is a cranky singleshot, SWC, feeds well with either .38 special or .357 magnum. Has sometimes stumbled with the 110HP grain .357, so back to SWC or RN lead. really likes those.

Like to use .38 special at a long distance? You can shoot, take the rifle down from your shoulder, and watch the bullet mortar in, seems like a long time later.

This is the gunsmith for the 92 actions. He even has a DVD available for those that want to tinker themselves Rossi 92 Specialist, Nate Kiowa Jones a.k.a. Steve Young - Professional Gunsmith

snakeman32 · Sep 1, 2009

I bought one of the New England Firearms single shot rifles in .357. I got one with the iron sights but they only make them with scope mounts now.This thing will deffinately shoot anything and is very accurate with any factory or hand load I have tried. Just recently I rented a reamer and reamed it out to .357 Maximum. Now it will shoot three different cal. and is still accurate. I know it isn't a carbine but it is something else to consider.

snakeman

S/W - Lifer · Sep 1, 2009

I've got a Savage 24 in .357 Magnum over 20 GA. 3" Magnum. Not exactly what you are talking about but it sure is handy. Since you load by hand bullet design or power level does not matter. I'm pleased with it.

Faulkner · Sep 2, 2009

Andy Griffith said:
The Marlin 1894CS is the only one that will feed the shorter .38's reliably. . . .

Not so. I have a EMF model 1892 carbine with 20 inch barrel that has taken a steady diet of .38's with no problems at all. No telling how many rounds of the .38's my wife and kids have fired through mine at the range, like shooting a .22 LR on steroids, yet they've all taken at least one whitetail with it using .357 rounds.

I also have a Winchester 94 carbine in .357 with 16 inch barrel. It'll cycle .38's, but it can be finicky about it at times.

imashooter2 · Sep 2, 2009

My Marlin 1894C will feed empty .38 cases, but it's not the way to bet. I got lucky. I read plenty of posts from guys that have trouble with SWC.

That said, my standard load is the SAECO #353, a 180 grain RNFP in mag cases.

Texas1941 · Sep 2, 2009

1894 Guide Gun

I have Marlin 1894 Guide Guns in 44 Mag and 357. The 44 will feed most anything in a 44 Mag case as long as the OAL is at or just under maximum. It will feed 44 spl cases with no problem as long as I use jacketed bullets, or RNFP cast bullets. SWC bullets are all rough feeding and some won't feed at all, depending on exact configuration.

The 357 will feed just about anything in a magnum case with no problem, again as long as the OAL is at or just below maximum. If the OAL is too short, feeding can be a little rough, but rounds will usually cycle. With 38 spl cases, just about any lead RN or RNFP will feed with no problems. In my particular rifle, 38 spl SWC loads will usually not feed without deforming the bullet in some way and some SWC profiles won't feed at all. I've tried very few 38 spl jacketed bullets in this rifle, so I don't know how well they do.

My 357 is not a tack driver, but it's not a picky eater either. Most loads in magnum cases will do 2.5"to 3.5" at 50 yards and between 4 and 5 inches at 100. Some a little better, some a little worse.

One thing I try to keep in mind, about the 357 mag in particular, is bullet construction. These long guns produce more speed than a lot of 357 expanding bullets were designed to handle. Many expanding bullets designed for use in revolvers will come apart on impact at rifle speeds.

One factory load hollow point that seems to work well on hogs at least is the Remington 165 gr Core Lokt. Unfortunately, I don"t see that load listed in the current Remington catalog, so it may no longer be available.

Erich · Sep 2, 2009

I just use hardcasts, myself (158-grainers from Tennessee Valley Bullets at 2k fps using Lil' Gun), but that's a good thought.

Old Corp · Sep 2, 2009

Pistol-caliber carbines are about the most FUN guns I own.

I've got an old H&R HAndi-Rifle in .357 mag. I bought 20-some years ago. The chamber-walls are really thick and it's taken all sorts of handloads. .38's are like shooting a .22. I have used it with .38 WC loads for squirrel hunting, and head-shots are easy.

Another is a Winchester M94 Trapper .45 Colt , 16" bbl. Put XS Ghost Ring sights on it, and have taken a few deer. Great little carbine.

The old Ruger .44 Auto carbine is another go-to deer brush gun. Mine has taken lots of NC whitetails in the 20-125 yd. range.

Got a NEF Hand-Rifle (identical to the H&R of old...) in .500 S&W Mag., mainly just to play with the cartridge in an affordable platform. It's a blast, and has cleanly taken several deer with loads that were not even warm. Makes big holes.

And to me, my AR15 in 9mm is a much more fun plinker than the .223's.

Pistol-caliber carbines are just a bunch of fun. Enjoy!

Erich · Sep 2, 2009

Old Corp, your point about fun is right-on!

Pistol-caliber carbines really are just about the most fun guns to shoot. Thanks for pointing that out!

.357 Magnum Carbines

redlevel

Bullet Bob

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sigp220.45

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Andy Griffith

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canoeguy

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617fan

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Erich

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walkinghorse

snakeman32

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S/W - Lifer

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Faulkner

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imashooter2

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Texas1941

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Erich

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Old Corp

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Erich

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