Action lever guns

O

ORANGEMAN

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I have a load of questions about Lever guns.
So far I have read that a 73 is the best choice as it can be stroked.
Which is the best choice in makes of this design.
For example I read that the Chaparral are not quite the same quality as the other makes, although are less expensive.
Also I plan on using the name Kootenay Kowboy.
Does anyone have a problem with that.
Thanks
 
I recently bought a Rossi Puma M92 in .357mag and in my humble opinion it's a great gun for the money. I've put 120 rounds down range in 2 sessions and it is smooth and cycles beautifully both the .38spl. and the .357mag. I am also noticing that the action is getting even smother as I go.
Having said that, I wouldn't be at all surprised that at some point I would also love to own a 73. probably a Uberti.
As far as your alias, if you join SASS they will research and register your alias that way you don't have to wotty about using an alias that is already taken.
CAS shooters are without a doubt the finest people you could hope to run into!
Good luck, have fun and be safe!!!
 
Ponderin

Cagunman said:
I recently bought a Rossi Puma M92 in .357mag and in my humble opinion it's a great gun for the money. I've put 120 rounds down range in 2 sessions and it is smooth and cycles beautifully both the .38spl. and the .357mag. I am also noticing that the action is getting even smother as I go.
Having said that, I wouldn't be at all surprised that at some point I would also love to own a 73. probably a Uberti.
As far as your alias, if you join SASS they will research and register your alias that way you don't have to wotty about using an alias that is already taken.
CAS shooters are without a doubt the finest people you could hope to run into!
Good luck, have fun and be safe!!!
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Thanks Gunnman
Is Sass membership required to participate in CAS.
I already have a 92 BLR in 44 It works fine.
Iam trying to decide if I should go with the marlin or the 73 clone.
The problem is which clone in 73 to buy.
I did a search but can't fin a direct comparison between the brands, other than Chaparall has had some problems.
Iam pretty sure I'll run Rugers and use .38 special.
A Marlin 95 for long range to start.
Much research still to do:)
 
ORANGEMAN said:
Thanks Gunnman
Is Sass membership required to participate in CAS.
I already have a 92 BLR in 44 It works fine.
Iam trying to decide if I should go with the marlin or the 73 clone.
The problem is which clone in 73 to buy.
I did a search but can't fin a direct comparison between the brands, other than Chaparall has had some problems.
Iam pretty sure I'll run Rugers and use .38 special.
A Marlin 95 for long range to start.
Much research still to do:)
Click to expand...

If you're talking Marlin 1894 cowboy I've been told many times about the "Marlin Jam" and that it happens often enough that they actually have a name for it I even found a site that explain how to fix it. I almost bought a NIB Marlin 94 cowboy but was discouraged when the seller advised me that although he didn't know, the odds where good that I would need the fix at an additionnal cost. That made me go to the Puma. I think I did well. Uberti has a great rep re: their 73. I've never shot one, so I can only go on hearsay.
Best of luck!:D
 
I had a Marlin 1894 in .45 LC years ago and did very well in CAS. Never a failure of any kind and very accurate. I wanted to be more traditional and traded it and got a Uberti 73 in .45 LC. It is beautiful, not as accurate and hates high primers which it will not eject. Lot of my cowpoke buddies had Marlins and I never saw or heard of a jam. I wish I had stayed with Marlin. :(
 
Orangeman
If you can afford it, I would go with the Uberti 73. You can get all sorts of race parts from various US gunsmiths as you can afford them. The Ubertis are useable as they come but as you get better you will want to upgrade. Most of the Top Guns use the Uberti and Rugers in 38.
JMHO
 
Uberti 1873

I agree that the Uberti is the way to go for a 73, You can get a short stroke kit for it which makes it a slick set up. Especially in the 20" special sporting rifle.
All lever guns are ammo sensitive as you are probably aware of.
Stick to longer bullets of the "round nose flat point" type in the heavier grains and you should be fine. Avoid the "semi wad cutter" crayon tip bullets at all costs. This leads to most of the infamous jams in guns like the 1894 Marlin.
Another option is the Henry Big Boy. They also have very smooth actions like a 73, but there is no short stroke kit for it yet as far as I know.
 
Cagunman said:
I recently bought a Rossi Puma M92 in .357mag and in my humble opinion it's a great gun for the money. I've put 120 rounds down range in 2 sessions and it is smooth and cycles beautifully both the .38spl. and the .357mag. I am also noticing that the action is getting even smother as I go.
Having said that, I wouldn't be at all surprised that at some point I would also love to own a 73. probably a Uberti.
As far as your alias, if you join SASS they will research and register your alias that way you don't have to wotty about using an alias that is already taken.
CAS shooters are without a doubt the finest people you could hope to run into!
Good luck, have fun and be safe!!!
Click to expand...

Strange, my sister's Puma 92 doesn't seem to like the Blazer .38 spl but it'll digest any of the other brands OK.
 
Deuce044 said:
Strange, my sister's Puma 92 doesn't seem to like the Blazer .38 spl but it'll digest any of the other brands OK.
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I shot 50 Federals 168gr and 50 Wolf Hoffman remanufactured .38spl. Cowboy 158gr and 20 rounds of .357 mag Federal as well. The Wolf remanuctured did really well at better than half the price of the Federals. The gun cycled very well with all.:D:D:D
 
I have both the Marlin 94CB and the 94C in .357 plus a Rossi (Puma) 92 in the same calibre. When I first received my Marlins I took the sharp edge off the part of the lever that pushes the elevator up and have not experienced the "Marlin Jam" and after 1000's of rounds not even a hint of of a groove on the bottom of the elevator. The Marlins are OAL sensitive and once you find the right length (usually over 1.5") they work like a charm. Before I switched to semi wad cutters, I used to get the odd double clutch to get the bullet into the chamber but, not anymore. A friend of mine (also CAS) said that his Marlin 94CB works perfectly with .357 cases and 158 gr semi wad cutters with an OAL of 1.57".

I use 158 gr semi wad cutters with no problems at all. My Rossi won't take .38s as it will stovepipe them however, with .357 cases with OAL being +1.5" with 158 gr semi wad cutters it is flawless.

Most CAS long guns need a little tuning. If you ever have a problem with any of your CAS guns go the SASS forums and ask away.... in 15 minutes you will have at least five responses trying to solve your problem.

Cowboy Action Shooting is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
 
I have a Puma in 359/38 sp. It was a matter of staying on the budget. It was almost 1/2 the cost of the Marlin 94 cowboy (which is the version with the modified action).

Only problem I've ever had with the PUma was a jam. It seems to be sensitive to OAL rather than any particular brand of ammo. I found that if the cartride OAL is over 1.4250 it is ok, under that, it runs a risk of jamming.

As far as mods are concerned, there are tons on the internet for the PUma as well.
 
I like the slicked up 92's, but the Henry's are nice and have the bonus of being easy to unload. I understand that the Beretta 73 is now available with a factory short stroke kit but I have never seen one. I think the Marlins are the most popular. Try and get out and try a few before you buy one. Can't go wrong with an Uberti though. Just my 02 Jed
 
I have all the latest goodies, from Cowboys and Indian, in my 357 Uberti 73 and I have put about 30,000 rounds through it with absolutely no malfunction except for a split case, that cost me 6 misses at the first SASS Canadian Regional in Kelowna. I shoot 125 grain truncated cone bullets in 38 cases at about 900fps.
 
I bought a chapparal 73 in a 45LC with 24in barrel.No regrets, the gun shoots great. I found it functioned fast and smooth and never had any kind of a problem.The price was alot better than uberti and looks good to. I found the wood finish didn't have that polished varathane look like the uberti, which to me gives it better or more older natural look.The color case hardening is as good as any.
I guess the only draw back right now is if your a gamer looking for that edge. I don't believe they have a short stroke kit for it yet ,but I don't think it will be to long before someone comes out with one.
My wife's marlin cb in 38 was was no stranger to the marlin jam, a trip to the smith for a tuneup ,all problems are history...........Hawken Tom
 
hawkentom said:
I bought a chapparal 73 in a 45LC with 24in barrel.No regrets, the gun shoots great. I found it functioned fast and smooth and never had any kind of a problem.The price was alot better than uberti and looks good to. I found the wood finish didn't have that polished varathane look like the uberti, which to me gives it better or more older natural look.The color case hardening is as good as any.
I guess the only draw back right now is if your a gamer looking for that edge. I don't believe they have a short stroke kit for it yet ,but I don't think it will be to long before someone comes out with one.
My wife's marlin cb in 38 was was no stranger to the marlin jam, a trip to the smith for a tuneup ,all problems are history...........Hawken Tom
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Is that the one you are using here Hawken Tom? At the SASS regionals in Courtenay?

BoomTown086.jpg
 
When I left Alberta 3 years ago to come to Willy's Puddle I sold my cowboy action firearms to my son in Edmonton, included was an Uberti 1866 Sporting rifle, 24.5"' in 44-40, brass action, charcoal blueing, great wood. After a thorough polishing and the addition of a short stroke kit it worked even better then new. He took the Nationals in Alberta in the black powder class the last 2 years, and boy can it crank, and with out any misfeeds, the other competitors call it the "Black Powder Machine Gun". No sissy loads here, everything is max, the way black powder has to be, he also uses a pair of Berettas, and an 1887 12 ga, along with an Uberti hi-wall in 38-55, and an original Rem rolling block with a Green Mountain barrel in 50-90 Sharps, all in black powder. The Uberti 1866 is a very well constructed and finished firearm, I am almost sorry I let it go, it was a great pleasure to shoot. A couple of the competitors complained that he must be using "Magnum" loads as it really rings the gongs, compared to their loaded down 38 specials I am sure it would. He is presently serving his third tour in the "Sand Box", his wife just got back from there, when spring rolls around they will both be involved in Cowboy Action she was only a spectator last year. My vote for top Cowboy lever goes to the Uberti 1866, but I would also take a close look at their 1873's, we have found that from our personal experience the longer barrel swings smoother and lessens recoil by virtue of better balance and a little more weight.
 
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