357 mag lever action rifle

[scooter123]

Have any of you Rossi 92 owners in 357 Magnum noticed that they are MUCH more accurate with loads featuring lighter bullets? I have a 1904 20 inch Octogon barreled Winchester 92 re-barreled by Winchester in 357 Magnum that I've managed to shoot 5/8 inch to 3/4 inch groups with at 50 yards using a rear tang peep sight. I also 20 inch round barreled Rossi that I have equipped with a 4 power Weaver Scout scope and it just wont shoot 158 grain loads worth a hoot, at 50 yards group sizes run about 1 3/4 to 2 inches. Last time I had the Rossi out I grabbed a box loaded with 140 grain Hornady XTP's and that Rossi suddenly started shooting a lot more accurately, almost matching what I've seen with the Winchester. Now I'm thinking about ordering a few boxes of 125 grain XTP's and seeing how they shoot in the Rossi. Just curious if anyone else has noticed the Rossi's seem more accurate with light bullet loads.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I wanted a lever action Marlin in .357 Magnum for many years to scratch my "Rifleman" itch. I was lucky and found one, new in the box, unfired, with the original box, and documents for sale locally. I bought it just before the prices went crazy for the princely sum of $500.00. It shoots great - unfortunately, it has the safety, but I'm not complaining about my good luck. I own more revolvers chambered in .38 Special / .357Magnum than any other firearms, and I really appreciate the logic of the old-timers who liked to carry one caliber to feed both handgun and long gun.

Regards,

Dave

 

[cmoody72]

Henry .357 mag. It is my favorite lever gun in my collection.

I love these rifles. So here is the latest edition. .22 golden boy.

 

[Old Corp]

Have had a Rossi 16" .357 for a couple of years now. Fun to hunt with, feels like a toy.
IMO, it's like a 'kit gun', ie., it has potential, but needs a little work to smooth up and gain a little refinement.
Pic is a little buck taken with the Rossi. Barnes 140 gr. all-copper HP. 75 yds., DRT.

Also have a Win. M94 Trapper in .45 Colt. Another great close-in hunting tool, but really, the cartridge deserves to be housed in a M92 action. The M94 is just not a pistol caliber platform. Outsized and odd, IMO.

 

[Jessie]

I've had a couple of Marlin 1894s, but in .44. Great guns and I would imagine their .357s are too.
A couple of friends have Rossi 92s. They love them and I have never heard anything other than praise about them.
I think the Rossi's are less expensive, so far. But if they are true to their reviews, that may not last long.

 

[BearBio]

Had a Rossi in 44-40. Good shooter but dented brass terribly. Wife has a Marlin Cowboy in 357. I have a Uberti 1873 in 45 Colt. I also have a 92 Winchester in 38-40. Also had a 94 Marlin in 44 mag. Except for the Rossi denting brass, all were stout and reliable. All are/were pretty accurate.

Of course, none compare with my 1936 Model 71 Deluxe or my Re-issue 71 Deluxe!

 

[Erich]

This comes up here a fair amount - here are some other threads (there are many more than this) may have posts that are of interest:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/344985-357-lever-action.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/252542-357-lever-action-suggestions.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/98953-357-magnum-carbines.html

Myself, I like the 92 action a lot, so I've got one of the Rossis that were imported by Navy Arms - upgraded wood and no safety - great guns. I have one friend who had lifter issues with a recently purchased new Rossi, but that's the only issue I've ever heard of with one. Mine 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.

Regardless of what you go with, you'll enjoy the .357 levergun. It hits hard on target while being very light on the shoulder. And I'm in no way exaggerating when I tell you that, from my gun, the .38+P 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.

 

[stan v]

Well, I'm back from shooting my revolvers so I'm back to searching rifles. A bunch of fine feedback and great rifles!

It appears that as long as I stay away from new Marlins I can't go wrong.

 

[boykinlp]

I took a lot of deer with that gun and then another gun looked better for big game, so the sweet little Marlin sat. 15 years ago, having a little better cash flow, I sent it off to Doug Turnbull to get cleaned up a bit. It still shot good but it looked like it was some civil war surplus thing. It came back looking better than a Los Vegas showgirls legs.

old 1911 fan

I would love to see what Turnbull did with your gun.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The Henry 357 runs a few dollars more, but has better fit and finish than most and fewer customer complaints.

 

[ameridaddy]

I load 38+P lead for my revolvers. 586-4, 66-2 and a 66-4. Will a COL of 1.61 feed any of the mentioned rifles?

I'm feeding my Uberti 1873 with .38 spec at 1.455"-1.460" COL, using Penn 158 gr TCBB (Truncated Cone Bevel Base) cast bullets. After 300 + rounds, no problems yet.
Book COL for .357 mag is 1.59", so if your slightly longer load doesn't hit rifling while trying to chamber, you should feed fine. The stuff I read cited all the problems feeding were for the shorter 38 specials, or wrong shaped bullets. With a tube magazine, you need a flat, or at least a round point bullet with an ogive that will slide. I haven't tried them, but a semi wadcutter might be a problem to feed with the step in the bullet.

 

[307-Niner]

I don't like this thread at all. I love 357 mag, and I love lever action rifles. You guys are a bad influence...

Just so you know.

 

[Pete from Perth]

Mine is a Winchester Trapper. 16" Barrel. .357. Forget the imported copies and get the real deal.

I also have a Win92 Trapper with 16in barrel which i feel is better than the 94's with short pistol rounds. I also have a 94 30/30 Trapper & a 9422 Trapper which are quite rare here in Australia! A friend gave me hundreds of 38spl blaser rounds some time ago so thats all i use in the 357 Trapper!

 

[stan v]

I'm feeding my Uberti 1873 with .38 spec at 1.455"-1.460" COL, using Penn 158 gr TCBB (Truncated Cone Bevel Base) cast bullets. After 300 + rounds, no problems yet.
Book COL for .357 mag is 1.59", so if your slightly longer load doesn't hit rifling while trying to chamber, you should feed fine. The stuff I read cited all the problems feeding were for the shorter 38 specials, or wrong shaped bullets. With a tube magazine, you need a flat, or at least a round point bullet with an ogive that will slide. I haven't tried them, but a semi wadcutter might be a problem to feed with the step in the bullet.

I only use 357 mag brass loaded to 38+P+. I've already searched Missouri Bullets and will get the coated RNFP bullets they offer and find a load that will work in all my 357's.

Is trimming brass a reality when fired in rifle? I don't trim any revolver brass.

 

[Ranger98]

It's the Henry Big Boy 357 for me

 

[bigwheelzip]

Almost forgot the prettiest girl at the ball, the Navy Arms Winchester. But ya gotta pay to dance.

Navy Arms - Winchester 1873

Handled her at Cabela's recently, broke my heart to let her go.

 

[Alpo]

Only problem I ever had with SWC was the one 3D factory reloads used in their 38s. Had a very long nose and did not feed in my Rossi.

Remington yellow-box 357 158 SWC, Lee cast and D&J (I think that was the company) Keith Type 158s, loaded in either caliber fed fine.

Like just about everything else, it will depend on the specific gun.

Mine had no problem with 38 or 357. I've heard of some guns that were length picky, and did not like 38s. Mine had no trouble withSWCs except for that one bullet design. There are some guns that won't feed them at all.

I don't think you can say "Marlin will but Henry won't ", but more, "My Rossi wiil, and your Rossi might ".

 

[kraynky]

I guess I'm partial to the 1894 Marlin. Mine is a first year production gun from 1979 and was bought used about 20 years ago for $175. It shoots hot .357's like a healthy burp, and mild 38 specials feel like a 22 LR. Mine wears a Williams peep sight and a Williams firesight front sight nowadays, because my eyes are getting worse and I just can see scoping such a handy little rifle. I did however have to scope the 1894 44 mag and my Marlin 336's and 444 rifles, but went with low powered scopes as small as I can get. Love 'em all!

 

[caleb4387]

Wanted a .357 Mag companion for two .357 Ruger Vaqueros

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So picked up this pre cross bolt Marlin "Micro Groove" a while back

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Fealt more like a 22 loaded with 38 special and .357 really made no sense when 30-30 is more powerful and the rifle cost about half as much....

Eventually sold it and bought this Ruger .44 Mag carbine instead...Ruger needs to build a SS version in .357 Magnum .
IIRC they make a SS bolt action 357 but it just isnt the same IMO

The Yale a lot of sense to us here in ohio where 30 30 ain't allowed

 

[cbore]

A lot of good comments and I agree. I got my son a Marlin1894 when he turned 2 yr.(go excuse for me to buy the rifle) Well he is 44 now and I still shoot the little gun.

I reload and have an old recipe by Speer for a JHP 148 gram 357 RIFLE round. It does the job. And yes I still shoot production 158 gram 38 special.

Fine little gun and a good choice cal.