357. lever action

[WPWarhawk]

Not true in re. scope mounting. Winchesters made in the last 30 or so years mount a scope in the exact same way that a Marlin does.

1. Attach scope base to top of receiver with 4 screws
2. Attach scope rings
3. Add scope

The Winchester is indeed a bit harder to disassemble/reassemble. Having the correct screwdrivers from Brownells helps.

I didn't comment on models I don't own, or haven't owned. Didn't mention the win 94' Henry, or any of the Italian repros either.

 

[billwill]

I think there is a Marlin 1894 carbine in .38/.357 that has my finger prints on it. Nice rifles but always wanted on in .41 mag.

 

[feralmerril]

I have a batch of lever actions in 30-30, 357, 44 mag, 308, and 30/40. The 357 is the sweetest shooting. To me a scope dont belong on a lever to start with. A good peep is nice. I do have a scope on my win model 88 lever in 308 but that is similar to shooting a bolt anyway. I shot a buck at about 220 yards in a wet snow storm with my win 94 30-30. It has a peep and I bought the gun new when I was about 16 about 56 years ago. Its still spot on and I havent had to adjust the sight. I think a lever in 357 should be a great gun and makes a lot of sense. I would prefer it on a 92 action to a 94 or marlin though.

 

[webley green]

I was fortunate to pick up an old Marlin .357 Carbine at a local gun show a number of years ago. The Williams peep sight was already on it. Nice little carbine, light and accurate. I've shot .38 special loadings mostly but will shoot the .357 occasionally. Semi-jacketed bullets work best but hard lead shoots without leading. The older Marlins can lead with softer lead bullets. Usually upping the powder charge to take advantage of the carbine's inherent performance requires jacketed or semijacketed bullets. YMMV

 

[the ringo kid]

Are the new Winchesters even made in the US?

I bought a Rossi M92 in .44 magnum and am still in love with it. I ignore lock in the hammer and keep thinking of buying the button replacement for the safety but it's never given me a problem yet. It feeds the sharpest edged SWC ammo and everything else I've fed it. I don't know if all the Rossi rifles are drilled and tapped but mine is under the rear sight. You would need to mount a scout (long eye relief) scope for it though. My only regret is I wish I had bought the .357 instead...!

When I last talked with someone there, they told me all their lever action rifles are made in Japan. Get a rope!!" However, I was told those made in Japan are nicer. Somehow-- I just CANT get a Japanese Winchester.

 

[redlevel]

Skinner Sights work well on the Marlin.

 

[oldbill]

Where is the JM stamp

I forgot to add that I was told if you want a true Marlin made rifle, you should look for a "JM" stamp on the barrel

My Marlin is at least 20 years old. I did not see the JM stamp.
Could it be under the scope mount? Is there a way to tell the year of mfg. from the serial number, or address on the barrel?

 

[Harrison]

I have a Marlin made 94 Cowboy that I shoot 180 gr cast gas checks through. I have used it for deer and hog hunting out to about 100 yards. A great rifle. The Rossi's are not quite as slick, but they are a durable and sturdy rifle. If I could not find a Marlin in 357 I would not turn my nose up at a Rossi. I have a Rossi in 44 mag and it is a decent carbine that will get the job done and a lot more inexpensive than a pre-Remington Marlin.

 

[mc5aw]

A quality lever gun has been on my list for some time. First choice is a JM Marlin, then a Henry. The Remlins were disasters when the Ilion move happened, but have steadily improved. Looking carefully at a new Remlin is vital, as QC is still iffy. I really like Henry products, and I've heard the company is great to deal with.

If you have $3K and a year's time, you could always look up Wild West Guns custom.

 

[sps282]

I have an older .357/.38 Rossi (pre safety) that I really like, it shoots fine and has been a problem free gun for me. No it isn't Winchester quality but it does everything I need in lever gun.

 

[Rastoff]

I have an 1894C with the octagonal barrel. It has the JM on the barrel, but I'm not sure what year it was made. Some time in the 90's I think.

It's been a great little gun. Shoots both .38SPL and .357Mag without issue.

 

[oldbill]

My Marlin is at least 20 years old. I did not see the JM stamp.
Could it be under the scope mount? Is there a way to tell the year of mfg. from the serial number, or address on the barrel?

Found out where it is.

 

[westcoast362]

I have a Browning B-92. It is a beautiful clone of a Winchester M-92 carbine. My only gripe is that the loading gate is very stiff. It would probably lighten up if I shot it more.

 

[feralmerril]

I busted the loading gate on my browning 92. The loading gate on the original winchesters were two piece. The browning 92 is one piece. I tried to order one and supposedly there was a factory memo where I couldn't buy it as a private party, it had to be installed by a "gunsmith".
What a crock! I had other old original 92`s and you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to take them apart and put them together.
I had a friend that owned a sporting goods shop and got him to order me one.

 

[kamloops67]

if you dont at least pick up a uberti 73 and hold it,youre selling yourself short. they are well made replicas of classic winchesters, but they are built to withstand the abuse of competition, and the aftermarket support is definitely there.
i have used winchesters marlins henrys rossis and ubertis .i shoot a uberti now.
ask cowboy action shooters they will tell you marlin or uberti .

 

[Mazz]

I have a Cimarron 1873 Sporting Rifle chambered in 357 mag, however, I mostly shoot 38 special rounds. It is very accurate and the quality of fit and finish is top notch. It's a blast to shoot.

 

[wildenout]

I know Henry, Winchester, and Rossi all make one. It'd just be a matter of finding them! I would recommend winchester over all the others though.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Another option is the H&R single shot. I have one and I put 3 .38 wad cutters in an interlocking clover leaf at 50 yds with it from a rest. I have some 180 gr JHP in .357 that I believe would be good for deer at short ranges.

 

[alwslate]

I have an older pre safety Marlin 94C with the micro groove rifling. I've
owned it for several years but haven't shot it very much. I really like it
and don't plan to ever sell it. I bought it used in like new condition
several years ago at an estate auction for $325, which I thought was
pretty high. But looking at the prices they go for now makes me think
it was a bargain. My only complaint so far involves the loading gate.
The spring on it is overly strong and the inside edges of the receiver
opening are knife sharp. I plan to take it apart some day to smooth
things up and avoid scratching those scarce 357 cases.

 

[REVL33]

wow thanks for all the feedback everyone that's why I love this forum so much the people here are just a wealth of knowledge. anyway I want this rifle to be strictly a defensive carbine rifle very utilitarian in nature not for pretty looks all my gun are strictly defensive guns I don't hunt . I only want a lever with a loading gate so henery is out I do know the jm model marlin's are the ones to have though maybe I will look at some other manufacture mentioned like uburti or cimmoron well see Rossi might be something I have to consider if I cant find a jm marlin however I have a 625 I might consider trading for the right lever tho I would say its in 99% condition since its just sits I'm my safe thx again everyone.

 

[Kuglespritz]

I learned over on the Marlin site that if you subtract the first two numbers of the serial number from 100, you get the year it was manufactured. For example, my Marlin has a serial number of 01024xxx. Subtracted 01 from 100 and my rifle was made in 1999.

 

[Alpo]

I learned over on the Marlin site that if you subtract the first two numbers of the serial number from 100, you get the year it was manufactured. For example, my Marlin has a serial number of 01024xxx. Subtracted 01 from 100 and my rifle was made in 1999.

Actually, there are several different dating systems used over the years.

Marlin Manufacture Dates

 

[WPWarhawk]

I have an older pre safety Marlin 94C with the micro groove rifling. I've
owned it for several years but haven't shot it very much. I really like it
and don't plan to ever sell it. I bought it used in like new condition
several years ago at an estate auction for $325, which I thought was
pretty high. But looking at the prices they go for now makes me think
it was a bargain. My only complaint so far involves the loading gate.
The spring on it is overly strong and the inside edges of the receiver
opening are knife sharp. I plan to take it apart some day to smooth
things up and avoid scratching those scarce 357 cases.

I have one of these, if you're a hand loader try 180 grain jacketed bullets. If you shoot factory ammo try the American Eagle 158 JSP load.

 

[imashooter2]

I love my 1894C. Flies to the shoulder, points like a finger, big enough to let you know you are shooting a center fire, small enough to shoot all day and ammo falls out of my SDB at 400 an hour.

 

[Faulkner]

I have two lever guns in .38/.357; TOP is a EMF (made by Rossi) model 92 carbine with color case hardened finish and 20 inch round barrel. BOTTOM is a last year of production Winchester 94 with 16 inch barrel.

My sons and I have take whitetail deer and hogs with both. I actually prefer the 92 action over the 94 because it was originally designed by John Browning to accept shorter cartridges. The lever action on the 92 is smooth as silk and handles .38/357 magnificantly. Rossi makes the model 92 for EMF to a finer fit and finish than their standard Rossi model, I am very pleased with mine.

The 94's action and receiver was designed for longer cartridges like the .30-30 and .32 Winchester Special. Mine handles the shorter .38/.357 rounds just fine as long as you provide a strong and consistent stroke of the lever down and up. Otherwise, you can end up with a misfeed.

 

[petepeterson]

That's what I have, too. I've only put a couple dozen rounds through it, so I can't speak to long term reliability, but no malfunctions so far. The first time I pulled the trigger, I was sure it hadn't fired. With .38 Specials loaded for the range, there was no recoil and very little noise (with hearing protection). It would be a great one with which to teach a newbie.

I bought the standard-lever Rossi 16" model a few weeks ago. Took it to the range with a friend who was not thrilled with shooting a rifle or shotgun. Emphasis on "was!" Once she figured out how much fun it was to roll gatorade bottles around, I couldn't get it out of her hands. If I'd brought more .38's, we'd have been there all day! It ate 150 .38's and 25 .357's without a hitch, and she wasn't very adept at working the lever, so for a NIB gun, it seems to work pretty well.

 

[M3Stuart]

+1 on "stay away from the Remlins, buy a Rossi M92...". That's what I did. I got the 16" SS Rossi M92 and really like it. No problems whatsoever.

There are some levergun forums. Check them out. Apparently, when Remington moved the Marlin levergun factory, they fired E V E R Y B O D Y, took the designs and started over from scratch. According to the product reviews and internet experts it'll be several years before the new crowd figures out how to properly build a levergun. That leaves Winchesters, Henry's, Old Marlins, Rossi's and just a few others to choose from. The Rossi's come pre-drilled for scopes and optics while the Henry's do not. Everything else is pricey, used, and/or hard to find.

 

[Erich]

I was fortunate to find an older Navy Arms-imported (froufy wood, no safety) Rossi 92 Short Rifle in .357, and it's just terrific for the uses that you intend. I'm sure many guns will do well for you - this one easily keeps 3" at 100 yards and gives tremendous performance with tailored handloads.

 

[POPPER]

Henry for me hands down. Just had to load a different style lswc that would chamber in the lever actions as the revolver Keith style bullets aren't too compatible. No big deal there. As for Marlin , Remington and a few others who have gone to bed with big brother! I'll never spend another dime with these people. But you do what ever floats your boat. Just how I feel OK?

 

[REVL33]

thx all for the replies everyone my question is ' is the rossi made by Taurus now and where are they manufactured I really wish ruger would make a scout type lever in stainless or good parkerized finish with a nice pistol grip stock in synthetic black mossberg did the 464 spx line wich I like the direction they went with having a collapsing stock why couldn't they have went with a few carbine calibers.