9mm lever gun

I wonder how they dealt with the pointy 9mm fmj bullets resting on the primer in that tube magazine.

I wouldn’t worry about a traditional fmj profile in a 9mm lever gun. That said, you could always go with a truncated cone profile (flat nosed) or hollow point bullets, there’s a lot of 9mm options with those profiles.
 
I could go for one in 45ACP made by Marlin, as I strive to have a Marlin to match each S&W N frame I have…

(In the meantime, still watching for a Camp 45…)

I own the only Camp 45 I ever saw for sale! It was in a LGS when they were first introduced. I've had several Camp 9 carbines. I didn't think much of them. However, dad used his for pest control to great effect! My brother got it after dad died, and got rid of it immediately, and he's a 9mm guy!

Ivan
 
I have Marlin 357, 44, 32-20, lever guns, a Marlin 45 Camp Carbin, and an AR-9. They match handguns in the same calibers. In the mid-70s, I was a Deputy US Marshal and read some of the reports from the 1880s. Many of those officers carried a 44-40 revolver and lever gun. Many of the deputies of my time carried a 357 revolver so I got a 357 lever gun and found a great combo. That started my interest in these combos.
 
I love lever action Marlin's and Winchester's. Other than the 22's the smallest caliber I have is 45 Colt. The others are in rifle calibers and rim fire. 22's for fun, small game and varmint or a day full of cheap fun. The rifle calibers for hunting, Cowboy Action (I used to compete in S.A.S.S.) and we had long range rifle matches sometimes.

In a Marlin 1894 the 45 Colt cartridge can be loaded up pretty stout - to be right up there with a 44 magnum. After all, they use the same exact rifle for the 44 Mag. I agree that the lowest center fire caliber I would ever buy in a lever gun would be 38/357. The reason I bought a 45 Colt was so I could use the same ammo as in my two SAA revolvers. I did not load max loads for Cowboy Action competitions. I could NEVER buy one in 9MM. That is downright sacrilegious! LOL
 
I love my lever action rifles, my favorite kind of rifle but I’ll stick with my Colt 9mm Carbines (6450 & 6951) if I wanna shoot 9mm out of a long gun.
 
Has anyone actually used .38 in a .357 lever gun with success? I know of 2 people that can’t get them to run right in their Henry lever guns.
 
Has anyone actually used .38 in a .357 lever gun with success? I know of 2 people that can’t get them to run right in their Henry lever guns.

I run .38 in a Henry big boy. Haven't had any issues, and it holds one extra round. It's is very mild, and so quiet it sounds suppressed
 
Has anyone actually used .38 in a .357 lever gun with success? I know of 2 people that can’t get them to run right in their Henry lever guns.

I’ve got a Marlin, a Winchester and a Rossi lever in .38/357. The Winchester is unfired, but the Marlin and Rossi shoot great. I had one instance f the Rossi jamming on feeding a .38spcl, but I got it cleared and it never happened again. I mostly shoot .38 in these guns, and that’s supposed to be where the troubles happen, not with .357…
 
Has anyone actually used .38 in a .357 lever gun with success? I know of 2 people that can’t get them to run right in their Henry lever guns.

Have had three Marlin 1894C carbines, 1982 bought new and the two others bought well used. After a lot of rounds the extended thumb of the lever rubs a groove in the bottom of the elevator and the 38's no longer feed. Watch you minimum OAL! Mine fed RN, SWC, and RNFP fine.

Have had a Stainless Rossi 92 since the late 90's (bought used) [pre bolt safety] feeds everything 38 except WCs. That became part of a 4-gun set for Cowboy Action. Runs like a dream.

357s are easy to feed in SWC or any type of RN. If those give you trouble, there is something seriously wrong.

Ivan
 
My Henry 357 lever runs nicely. I picked up a new 44 Ruger, and i'm chasing accuracy. Disappointing groups with AA9, have h110, imr4227, lil'gun to try with 240 gr xtp's
 
I'm glad gun manufacturers don't read forums. They'd never produce anything new at all for fear they'd be universally shatupon by all the gun experts out here.

:eek:

Nobody listens to a bunch of Old Farts ...
All we do is Blow a lot of Hot Air ...
... the dog doesn't even listen to me anymore ...

We Don't Get No Respect !
Gary
 
Last edited:
I like it. It would be a nice match for my 9mm Stoeger/Uberti single action.

Ever since: (1) 9mm became relatively cheap again, and (2) my epiphany that I have never enjoyed reloading during the 50 years I trudged away at it, I have come to appreciate non-traditional 9mm guns. A 9mm lever gun is no more sacriligeous than a .357 or .44 magnum lever rifle (or .45 Colt if you think about it).

As the OP says, I hope it paves the way for other, less expensive options.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5198.jpg
    IMG_5198.jpg
    71 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_5144.jpg
    IMG_5144.jpg
    68.9 KB · Views: 5
Last edited:
My Henry 357 lever runs nicely. I picked up a new 44 Ruger, and i'm chasing accuracy. Disappointing groups with AA9, have h110, imr4227, lil'gun to try with 240 gr xtp's

First thing I would check is the actual bore diameter along with the actual bullet diameter! Not just what boxes say.

Ivan
 
Back
Top