Hi all, I was shooting IMHSA yesterday and while doing horribly with my S&W 586, I did really well with the rifle considering it was my first time using a lever action. So now I am thinking about buying lever rifle. What I need is some well informed opinions on what is the best bang for your buck in the lever dept. I was shooting a Marlin yesterday, which I know is a very fine rifle, but what others are there? Are Puma/Rossi good? Henry? Any input would be appreciated, thanks.
Best .357 mag. Lever action
- Thread starter Tikkaboy
- Start date
I had a Marlin and it was great! I think it was an 1895 Model. Bought it because I had a few cases of 38 special. Sold it when I ran out of ammo, still wishing I had kept it.
It was the only 357 lever I have ever tried also, so I can't compare it to anything.
It was the only 357 lever I have ever tried also, so I can't compare it to anything.
I've got a Rossi in .357 for my cowboy action events. With .38Spl it's actually pretty tame in terms of recoil. It livens up considerably when you shoot .357Magnum from it though.
I've also got a Marlin/Glenfield and a Winchester 94 in .30-30. It's a really fun plinking round with a classic gun to deliver it but you'll definetly want to reload your own to keep cost down.
A nice middle ground is a lever gun in .44Magnum. Again you would want to reload your own but cost of bullets and powder would be less than for the .30-30. Or since you're already shooting the 586 stick with a .357 lever and get into reloading your own .357 Mag. When reloading the cost for .357Mag is only a penny or two more than reloading .38Spl thanks to the extra powder. And possibly due to the extra pressures the .357Mag brass may not last as long.
My Rossi/Puma is pretty nice right out of the box but there's instructions on the 'net for slicking it up. This winter I'll do that but it's something I'll do because I enjoy tinkering and not because it actually needs it.
Lots of the Rossi owners are very happy with their guns. Some of the issues that occur are more related to short cartridges such as running the .38Spl instead of the longer .357. Other than that my own research before I bought indicated that the Rossi/Puma rifles suffer the same or only very slightly more frequent failures as the Marlins. It mostly depends on which stories you read and believe the most.
There's other lever clones out there but of the lot the 1894 design is the more compact of the lot and likely the one you'll want to stick with due to this. Others are the original Henry, the Win 1873 and the Win 1892.
Which you get will depend more on how you'll shoot it. If you even THINK you'll want to scope it at some point then go with the Marlin. The solid top and side eject allows for a much easier scope install. But if it'll be iron sights all the way and you don't mind wearing a cowboy hat to catch the rain of brass from the top eject Win 94 design there's no doubt that the 94 is a more recognizable classic to many folks.
I've also got a Marlin/Glenfield and a Winchester 94 in .30-30. It's a really fun plinking round with a classic gun to deliver it but you'll definetly want to reload your own to keep cost down.
A nice middle ground is a lever gun in .44Magnum. Again you would want to reload your own but cost of bullets and powder would be less than for the .30-30. Or since you're already shooting the 586 stick with a .357 lever and get into reloading your own .357 Mag. When reloading the cost for .357Mag is only a penny or two more than reloading .38Spl thanks to the extra powder. And possibly due to the extra pressures the .357Mag brass may not last as long.
My Rossi/Puma is pretty nice right out of the box but there's instructions on the 'net for slicking it up. This winter I'll do that but it's something I'll do because I enjoy tinkering and not because it actually needs it.
Lots of the Rossi owners are very happy with their guns. Some of the issues that occur are more related to short cartridges such as running the .38Spl instead of the longer .357. Other than that my own research before I bought indicated that the Rossi/Puma rifles suffer the same or only very slightly more frequent failures as the Marlins. It mostly depends on which stories you read and believe the most.
There's other lever clones out there but of the lot the 1894 design is the more compact of the lot and likely the one you'll want to stick with due to this. Others are the original Henry, the Win 1873 and the Win 1892.
Which you get will depend more on how you'll shoot it. If you even THINK you'll want to scope it at some point then go with the Marlin. The solid top and side eject allows for a much easier scope install. But if it'll be iron sights all the way and you don't mind wearing a cowboy hat to catch the rain of brass from the top eject Win 94 design there's no doubt that the 94 is a more recognizable classic to many folks.
Uberti U Make Good Lever Action .357 Rifles
About thirty five years ago I had a Uberti Winchester 1873 Carbine clone; it was one of the handiest rifles I have ever owned. I shot it lots with both 357 and 38 Special handloads for lots of practice on a running deer target range of 75 yards that I set up on my ten acre plot in downtown Nolalu Ontario near Thunder Bay. Repeat shots were effortless with no recoil at all; I used it lots in my in house MNR Hunter Safety Course circa 1974-1979 as an introduction for centrefire. Lots of teenagers and women especially found it very suitable as no recoil and great accuracy at appropriate ranges up to 100 yards or so. The .357 in an eighteen inch barrel is no slouch and perfect as a deer rifle in thick cover.
There is a main reason the the Winchester 73 and its later variations like the Win Model 92 won the West..handy and accurate and perfectly portable as a saddle ring carbine slung over the saddle horn on its ring and put under the saddle skirt or your leg or better yet in a short scabbard.
Thirty five years later having traded the Win 73 off to a student in the MNR Hunter Safety who begged me repeatedly to purchase it as it shot so well for her I still have a Browning Model 92 Commemorative that came cheap because it had been shot a few times. Its in 44 Mag but it would be fine in .357 or 38 Special as the ammo is so easy to come by.
About thirty five years ago I had a Uberti Winchester 1873 Carbine clone; it was one of the handiest rifles I have ever owned. I shot it lots with both 357 and 38 Special handloads for lots of practice on a running deer target range of 75 yards that I set up on my ten acre plot in downtown Nolalu Ontario near Thunder Bay. Repeat shots were effortless with no recoil at all; I used it lots in my in house MNR Hunter Safety Course circa 1974-1979 as an introduction for centrefire. Lots of teenagers and women especially found it very suitable as no recoil and great accuracy at appropriate ranges up to 100 yards or so. The .357 in an eighteen inch barrel is no slouch and perfect as a deer rifle in thick cover.
There is a main reason the the Winchester 73 and its later variations like the Win Model 92 won the West..handy and accurate and perfectly portable as a saddle ring carbine slung over the saddle horn on its ring and put under the saddle skirt or your leg or better yet in a short scabbard.
Thirty five years later having traded the Win 73 off to a student in the MNR Hunter Safety who begged me repeatedly to purchase it as it shot so well for her I still have a Browning Model 92 Commemorative that came cheap because it had been shot a few times. Its in 44 Mag but it would be fine in .357 or 38 Special as the ammo is so easy to come by.
Buffalo Creek Law Dog
Regular
I have both Marlin 94 and Rossi 92 in .357 that I use in CAS. They both work great. Sometimes they are OAL sensitive however, if you reload longer than 1.5 OAL you will be OK.
.357 Mag lever guns...
Once had a Browning B-92 .357 Mag lever.... It was very slick with .357 Mag cartridges. Didn't much like to feed/function with .38 Specials, though.
Currently have a Win 94 AE trapper SRC in .357 Mag. Very slick. Works well with .38 Specials, too. It's a keeper.
NAA.
Once had a Browning B-92 .357 Mag lever.... It was very slick with .357 Mag cartridges. Didn't much like to feed/function with .38 Specials, though.
Currently have a Win 94 AE trapper SRC in .357 Mag. Very slick. Works well with .38 Specials, too. It's a keeper.
NAA.
.357 magnum in a carbine, and with proper bullets, becomes a decent short range deer hunting round.
It also makes a respectable go-to/survival/defense gun, often with a capacity of ten or more rounds and provides one the ability to top up the magazine at any time, with a round in the chamber!
and, as mentioned before, you can shoot .38 special in it.
i dont have one, but its on my wish list for sure!
anything you can hunt with a [cross]bow, handgun (where allowed) and more (deaf deer and midget bears)
