lever action pistol caliber rifles

[OldArcher]

OldArcher,

I am fascinated, perhaps dumbfounded, and for sure jealous...
6 Governors?

One for every car? One for every room in the house? One for every house?

How many moonclips do you have? 300?

Glad to know the official recommended ratio of Governors to Henry Big Boys is 3:1.

Thanks for the post OA.

Hi Guskody!

Now up to nine (9) Governors. Friends just seem to want to shoot them. Most fun thing to shoot that I've ever owned... Likewise, training newbies to shoot, well I've never seen easier... Start 'em off with light loads, from .45 Schofield, and move on up to 225gr .45 Colt Hornady FTX and Federal 000 Buck 2 1/2" .410 bore, and you've got confident, accurate, and happy shooters...

Add to those points, the extremely high potential for a soon to occur SHTF event or false flag, and it behooves one to have as many qualified gunners as possible in your community... Different ammo for different people, but same level of training...

OA, out...

P.S. Close to 500 full moon clips, as well as 100 partial (2rd) clips. Also added another .45 Colt Henry Big Boy, and a .22LR Golden Boy. Remember what Clint Smith said? "A handgun is what you use, to get to the rifle or shotgun you shouldn't have put down in the first place!"

Training, like anything else in life, must go on... Marksmanship- use it, or lose it...

OA, again, out...

 

[Sixgun100]

I have a Winchester Trapper in .44 mag also (Cowboy Assault Rifle). It is a great carbine, but I wish it was in .357 as I have many revolvers in that caliber. I just believe it is more suited for my needs. As others posted, have tried to find one to trade the .44, but they are hard to find and prices are high.

 

[ltxi]

Older Winchester or Marlin. New, I'd buy Henry..."Made in America or not at all."

With intended disrespect to Uberti, Rossi, et al.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

For overall usefulness and versatility, the Model 1892 in .357 with a 16" or 20" barrel is sublime. I have an older Interarms Rossi 16" that will stay in the family forever.

 

[federali]

Marlin and .357

The .357 Magnum out of a Marlin is not much behind a .35 Remington ballistically. It would be more than adequate as a self defense round except that in an emergency, the gun would have to be already loaded, something I do not recommend in most instances. Lever actions are too slow to load as your front door is coming off the hinges.

I have a handi rifle in .357 which I enjoy shooting. As it's a single hot, this one rests in the gun safe while the heavy lifting is left to a .45 Auto.

 

[Engieman]

Browning Model 53 in .32/20. You'll need to reload...can't afford to buy factory ammo....but this the most fun, enjoyable, ACCURATE gun I own. Love, love, love to shoot it. Browning only made them for a few years, limited edition of 5000, but you can find them for sale if you look.

 

[44 old duffer]

My vote is also for a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. Now I have it in a stainless version and wood is nicely figured. You can also shoot .44 specials in this gun for practice. And if you handload the .44 really shines with 180 grain to 300+ boolits. Try to find one with JM stamp on breach end of barrel. Good luck in your search.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

IWinchester Trapper in .44 mag also (Cowboy Assault Rifle)

Yup! I have an 1894 in 357 Magnum, the third I have owned over 40 years. And my favorite rifle! I have carried one where others were carrying AR-15s, they thought I was crazy. Nice practical rifle, easy to shoot.

The older pre-Remington 1894s are better built, better quality control. A used older model would be well-worth the price. Just be sure to inspect the underside of the carrier to see if the lever has started carving a groove in the carrier. This problem can lock an 1894 up tight. The problem, known since the early 20th century, has been cured by a re-design of the carrier and the lever.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

You got a lot of replies; I'll just post a short one since you started this two years ago.

As a Cowboy action shooter I can tell you that there are a lot of fun lever guns out there in pistol calibers. 1873s are very popular. I've used Rossi replicas of the Winchester Model 92 in both .45 Colt and .44-40. Both have given me years of excellent service, accuracy, and just plain fun. The .38/.357s are wildly popular in cowboy shooting.

I also have a Winchester Model 94 in .44 Magnum, loaded with .44 Specials, for home defense. If you're not used to a 94 in pistol calibers I'd shy away - they have such a long action that it's easy to short stroke a pistol round.

All make good home defense rifles if you know what you're doing.

***GRJ***

 

[Pisgah]

I'm very happy with my Rossi 92 in .357. It's a dream to shoot.

Mine is a "Hartford"-branded Rossi .45 Colt, 24" octagon barrel, as smooth as you could want a levergun to be out-of-the-box, and startlingly accurate with both "Colt-and-clones"-level cast bullet loads and "Ruger-only" fire-breathers. Either level of load easily gains at least 200+ FPS over a handgun when fired from the rifle.

 

[Owen49]

I've a Model 92 Winchester in .38-40 and a Model 94 Winchester in .44 Mag./.44 Spl. but this is my favorite & gets the most use, A Marlin 1894C in .357 Mag./.38 Spl. and a pair of Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolvers.

 

[at_liberty]

My carbine/SA revolver caliber pairs are:

1) Henry Big Boy .45 Colt with a Ruger Vaquero SS 5.5
2) Uberti Lightning short-action pump 38/357 with a Sauer 6" NMBH clone.
3) I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 but am still open for a .44 Special SA revolver, which I really have no plan for at this point. My .44s are DA.

p.s. wouldn't you know, the seed was planted, and now I own a 44 Mag SAA. Got lucky with an auction, assuming the gun proves to be nice.

 

[Dutchs]

Rossi/ Puma in .454 Casull....This gun is soooooo much fun. I shoot 45LC from it too....

 

[Lobster Picnic]

That Rossi looks great in stainless. I like the 1892 design for its strength and compact size. My 16" Trapper only weighs about 5 lbs fully loaded. Carries like a dream and delivers a lethal round with minimal recoil.

After seeing how well my wife handles and shoots the 92, I have readjusted my home defense strategy. I want her backing me up with that rifle in her hands.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Had a 20 inch Rossi years ago(80s) ......great gun...... but traded up to a Winchester Trapper in .357mag.

Another nice gun in a Pistol caliber......is my Ruger 77/357;
5 round detachable mag. (get a couple)
stainless w/16 inch barrel (IIRC).
Mine has a 1-3x20 Weaver scope mounted...
backed up w/ Skinner barrel ghost ring rear and fiber optic front "iron" sights.....

It's become my "utility long gun" at the cabin as my Revolvers are mostly .22 or .357s.

 

[5Wire]

Good luck trying to find a Connecticut Marlin 1894C (.357, .38)

 

[buck460XVR]

I have lever carbines in .357 and .44. I also have bolt carbines in .357 and .44. If hunting deer or larger game was a priority, I would go with .44 mag even over .45 colt as hunting ammo and components are more reasonable and more readily available for carbine velocities. If fun at the range was the priority, I say stick with the .357. More bang for your buck, much less recoil and noise and targets last longer.