357 Lever Guns

[ditrina]

July 2019 built 1894, eats .357/.38 with ease Fit and finish is great, looks like Marlin got it's act together

Love it!!!

 

[Goldstar225]

After lusting for several years I found a JM marked Marlin last year. Thoroughly enjoy handling and shooting it. For general plinking I'm shooting a 158 LSWC at 900 FPS and for deer I'm loading a Remington 158 JSP over a near max charge of Alliant 300MP for 1890 FPS. Both loads shoot well. To preserve the handling qualities I mounted Ranger Point Precision aperture sight.

There was a period (2014 +/-) when Remington produced some problematic 1894's but the actual purchasers of those released since mid 2018 have reported high satisfaction. I was about to buy a new 1894 when I found my JM at a great price.

 

[max]

I also have a Rossi and it works fine.

 

[scatter shot]

I like my Marlin 1894c. It's become one if my favorite firearms.

 

[Inusuit]

Read up on the double feed issues that seem to come with pistol (and other) cartridges in lever actions.

Also look for Cowboy Action Shooters on You Tube. Thousands of SASS competitors shoot thousands of rounds a year through pistol caliber lever action rifles and they seem to work just fine.

I have two 1894 Marlins, a .45 Colt I used in competition and a .44 Magnum that's a truck and range gun. I did have occasional issues with the .45 Colt, maybe two or three in every 1000 rounds when running it hard at matches.

While I have no personal experience, I have heard that there may be problems with pistol calibers in an action designed for rifle rounds. Pistol caliber Winchester 1894s for one example.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have one of the earlier Rossi guns that is not marred by the "safety thingy" that sits on top of the breechblock on the more recent lawyer-friendly versions. Works slick and reliably, shoots accurately, and mimics John Browning's original pattern in all respects. I'm very happy with it; even like the quality and grain of the wood.

John

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P.S. As an additional vote for the old '92s, John Wayne favored them too!

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[4barrel]

My JM will do an honest 2" at 100 with 10 shots with 158 jacketed. I have only tried once so it may so better.

 

[BB57]

Also look for Cowboy Action Shooters on You Tube. Thousands of SASS competitors shoot thousands of rounds a year through pistol caliber lever action rifles and they seem to work just fine.

I have two 1894 Marlins, a .45 Colt I used in competition and a .44 Magnum that's a truck and range gun. I did have occasional issues with the .45 Colt, maybe two or three in every 1000 rounds when running it hard at matches.

While I have no personal experience, I have heard that there may be problems with pistol calibers in an action designed for rifle rounds. Pistol caliber Winchester 1894s for one example.

I had a Winchester Model 94 Trapper carbine in .45 Colt for several years. It never shot as well, fed as well, or operated as smoothly as my Model 92s.

The 94 action is longer by about an inch and a quarter to accommodate the longer .38-55, .32 WCF and .30 WCF cartridges, and it uses a lever link to increase the bolt throw without increasing the lever arc. It works fine but it is sloppier and clunkier feeling than a Model 92.

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The Model 92 is not a silky smooth as a Model 1973. But the 1873 uses a toggle link locking system that isn't very strong. The 1873 action works well at CASS/SASS "cowboy load" levels for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. However, even with modern steels used in it's construction, full power .357 Magnum loads will eventually start stretching the toggle link pins, and you'll start getting head space issues.

If you want a CASS/SASS rifle for cowboy loads, then its hard to beat an 1873, but if you want a .357 Magnum for heavy hunting loads, then you will be far better served with a Model 1892 or a Rossi 92.

 

[Texas40]

Ruger 77/357 ....... a stainless bolt gun,18" barrel, 5.5lbs, 5rd rotary magazine,synthetic stock....... I topped mine with a 1-3x20 Weaver shotgun scope (also has a skinner barrel peep sight installed as backup).

The Ruger has become my general utility rifle at the cabin in the Pa. Laurel Highlands.

I have my eye out for a Ruger 77
No luck so far but still looking.



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[tndrfttom]

Around 1980 I bought a Model 1894C. At that time they came with Microgroove rifling. When I first got it I shot about a box of .357s through it to try it out and it shot fine. I used it heavily for about 15 years doing SASS/Cowboy Action shooting. I only had one broken part – the firing pin extension (which was easily replaced). About 99% of my shooting has been with cast lead bullets sized .357 dia. which proved accurate enough for my purposes. Admittedly, the longest distance I remember shooting in a match was about 80 yards and this was with low velocity "cowboy" loads in .38 Special brass. I can't recall a jam that wasn't directly traced to a bad cartridge.

I've never had any experience with the Henry rifles line except the "New Original Henry" and that isn't what the OP is looking for.

 

[boatbum101]

Yes I agree a 73 action won't work for my intended purpose as I want full pressure hunting loads . My concerns with a 92 action are mounting a scope or most probably an Aimpoint & short of the Rossi they're on the pricey side . The Winchester 94AE are also pricey & hard to find . I do already have a Henry BB in 41 mag with a 20" barrel . It's a nice rifle & accurate but @ 8.5 lbs it's heavier by 2 lbs than a Marlin 1894 .

 

[BB57]

You can a few options with the Rossi 92.

You can get a weaver/picatinny style rail that attaches to the 4 screw holes under the rear sight on the Rossi carbines:

Rails are available from Rossi and from a large number of other sources. once it is installed, you can add a long eye relief scope, a reflex red dot sight or a prism sight.

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Another option is to get a Burris Fast Fire III mount from Burris for a Winchester Model 94 and then drill and tap the receiver on a Rossi Model 92 to accommodate it. You may have to remove a little metal from the underside of the mount to clear the locking lugs, and you'll need to remove the safety and plug it (which I prefer to do anyway as the damn thing has a bad habit of getting activated or deactivated in brush). The Rossi 92 still has the quarter cock notch safety, the way God and John M. Browning intended.

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A third option is to get the Fastfire barrel mount for a Winchester Model 92/94 from Turnbull. If uses the existing rear sight dovetail:

 

[350mag]

Have a Winchester 94 AE trapper that is very accurate and functions flawlessly and the Cowboy carbine version that is also accurate.


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[tumbleturn]

I'd prefer avoiding a micro groove barrel as that would most likely involve new moulds etc to get an oversize bullet .

I have heard that rumor also. Only problem I bought a Marlin 1894 Microgroove back in the 80s. From day one I have been shooting .358 diameter cast bullets through it with no problems in accuracy. Like any gun likes some loads better and some loads a little less. Recently I decided to quiet it down with my mystic X can. First try with 200gr lee cast bullets sized to .358 at 1050fps I had 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Only problem I cant find a gunsmith that can thread the barrel on a levergun.
Mike

 

[Dieseltech56]

I have 4 357 lever action rifles and about 6 other pistol caliber lever actions. 8 Rossi's and a new marlin 1894 CST with a hybrid 46 suppressor. If I had to mount optics I would chose a marlin. I have 2 marlin levers new in the last few years and the quality is fine. I am a big fan of the Rossi 92 but they're not terribly optic friendly. The newer ones are drilled and tapped under the rear sight but you'll have to get a scope mount from NOE and find a scout scope that suits your needs. I have a 4x leupold FX-4 pistol scope on one of mine and they eye relief is fine. The older leupold M8 EER doesn't work well. I don't really care for the look of the scope on a 92 but the rifle is a 44 mag and I don't like the 1-38 twist marlin uses.

 

[colt_saa]

Yes I agree a 73 action won't work for my intended purpose as I want full pressure hunting loads . My concerns with a 92 action are mounting a scope or most probably an Aimpoint & short of the Rossi they're on the pricey side . The Winchester 94AE are also pricey & hard to find . I do already have a Henry BB in 41 mag with a 20" barrel . It's a nice rifle & accurate but @ 8.5 lbs it's heavier by 2 lbs than a Marlin 1894 .

I also prefer the 92s to the 94s

As for magnified scope mounting on a 92, you do it just like a scout rifle and use a medium eye relief scope

For a red dot, or in the case of BB57 a Micro red dot, do it just like in post 32

Darn you BB57, now I got to go out and by some micro red dots

 

[diyj98]

Rails are available from Rossi and from a large number of other sources.

I believe Rossi no longer sells their scope mount. I need one myself and haven't been able to find the cheaper Rossi version. I'm surprised that Weaver doesn't make one.

 

[Avery11]

Marlin

I own just about every Marlin in the Grey Lam and Black stocks - I just love the looks and handling. For what you listed as requirements I'd say definitely look hard at the CSBL or the CST if you own a suppressor.

I prefer a Henry for the smoooooth action but I'm not a fan of the tube. I like the King's Gate.

For the record I also own some winchesters in .357 but I don't shoot them alot as they are case colored with higher grade wood that I don't want to mark up.

Marlins really smooth out after a little use and all of mine are accurate. Best luck.

A.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have been happy with my Henry Golden 357 solution for a long time now...

 

[Frank46]

I have a JM Marlin which I paid the magnificent sum of $160. Typical Louisiana working gun. Few dings here and there and freckles on the metal, 4/0 steel wool and some CLP took care of most of them. Put a Lyman All American 6x scope on it for load developement and was amazed by the accuracy. 158 grain JHP with some IMR 4227. Later took off the scope and added a Williams better grade rear sight. Which reminds me I better dust off my load data books and load up some more. And while we are talking lever actions,a few months later bought another JM Marlin. Little pricier than the 357 at $249 and in 44 magnum. With 240 grain soft points and some 2400 turns out I have another shooter. Though I wish someone comes up with a better system for sling mounting. Buttstock no problem, mag tube ring doesn't quite cut it. Frank