Colduglandon
New member
I am considering the purchase of a lever action rifle in 357/38. Any input would be appreciated on pros and cons of makes and models.
357 Magnum
- Thread starter Colduglandon
- Start date
lonegunman
New member
If I was going to get one I would look for an older Marlin.
.357 in Long Gun
I got a Rossi "copy" in a trade a few years ago and it was pretty cool to carry around the ranch, but I got cocky and made the mistake of shooting a buck at an opportune moment at about 150 yards with it - big mistake. Me and my dad trailed blood for four hours before giving up and I felt terrible for loosing the game. I sold the rifle. A .357 is a handgun cartridge and should be used at close range. Please don't repeat my mistake!!
I got a Rossi "copy" in a trade a few years ago and it was pretty cool to carry around the ranch, but I got cocky and made the mistake of shooting a buck at an opportune moment at about 150 yards with it - big mistake. Me and my dad trailed blood for four hours before giving up and I felt terrible for loosing the game. I sold the rifle. A .357 is a handgun cartridge and should be used at close range. Please don't repeat my mistake!!
I've had an older style Marlin for around 15 years now, and it's my favorite rifle for most everyday things.
Sure it'll take a scope, but consider a ghost ring or peep sight. This will keep the rifle lightweight and compact, one of the reasons for considering such a rifle in the first place.
dwil453 brings up a valid point though. The 357, even in a carbine sized rifle, is not a 150 yard rifle for deer sized game. I've used it for deer, but ONLY at 50-75 yards. Keep the ranges short and you shouldn't have a problem.
Sure it'll take a scope, but consider a ghost ring or peep sight. This will keep the rifle lightweight and compact, one of the reasons for considering such a rifle in the first place.
dwil453 brings up a valid point though. The 357, even in a carbine sized rifle, is not a 150 yard rifle for deer sized game. I've used it for deer, but ONLY at 50-75 yards. Keep the ranges short and you shouldn't have a problem.
HookedAgain
New member
Got a Marlin 1894CP awhile back. There's a guy here who goes by KilgorII who gave me some great advice - hopefully he'll see your thread and respond. Sent me some ballistic data too that was real helpful - it's just amazing the difference in energy from a revolver to a 16"+ barrel for the .357 magnum.
Couldn't be happier with it - except maybe if it came in stainless
I put a Lyman 66LA peep sight on it and can use the stock front sight if I fold the rear open sight down all the way. It's a great little gun - has fed both cheap Magtech ammo and more expensive Winchester silvertips with no problem. Had it out last weekend for some target shooting and it put three shots of the Winchester silvertip .357mag 145gr within about an inch and a half at 50yds using the hunting sight on the Lyman peep and the truck hood for a rest. Put some silvertip 38special 110gr through it too and was pleasantly surprised that the group was only slightly lower at 50yds. I would recommend hearing protection though for the .357s
Anyway, from what I read, the Marlins are supposed to be more forgiving on what ammo you feed them than the Winchesters. Also, I'm a big Ruger fan because their guns tend to be rugged and the Marlin reminds me of a Ruger in that respect. As for a specific version, I liked the 33.25" length of the 1894CP partly because I wanted to be able to carry it on horseback but they have longer versions too. Regardless which one you get, the .357 mag makes a great companion to a .357 revolver - like the GP100
Have fun!
Couldn't be happier with it - except maybe if it came in stainless
I put a Lyman 66LA peep sight on it and can use the stock front sight if I fold the rear open sight down all the way. It's a great little gun - has fed both cheap Magtech ammo and more expensive Winchester silvertips with no problem. Had it out last weekend for some target shooting and it put three shots of the Winchester silvertip .357mag 145gr within about an inch and a half at 50yds using the hunting sight on the Lyman peep and the truck hood for a rest. Put some silvertip 38special 110gr through it too and was pleasantly surprised that the group was only slightly lower at 50yds. I would recommend hearing protection though for the .357s
Anyway, from what I read, the Marlins are supposed to be more forgiving on what ammo you feed them than the Winchesters. Also, I'm a big Ruger fan because their guns tend to be rugged and the Marlin reminds me of a Ruger in that respect. As for a specific version, I liked the 33.25" length of the 1894CP partly because I wanted to be able to carry it on horseback but they have longer versions too. Regardless which one you get, the .357 mag makes a great companion to a .357 revolver - like the GP100
Have fun!Byron Adams
New member
357 magnum
I have owned two Marlins in 357. One chambered well and the other did not. I have two Winchester 94's, one a Trapper and another a Legacy in 24" barrel. Functioning is flawless and accuracy very good at 100 yards. I would be comfortable hunting deer at 100 yards with the Winchesters.
I have owned two Marlins in 357. One chambered well and the other did not. I have two Winchester 94's, one a Trapper and another a Legacy in 24" barrel. Functioning is flawless and accuracy very good at 100 yards. I would be comfortable hunting deer at 100 yards with the Winchesters.
K
KilgorII
Guest
Glad to see you got what you wanted HookedAgain!
Here's the thread he is refering to:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73157&highlight=.357+lever
This is what I have. Use all data at your own risk. Safe in my guns.
SPM = small pistol magnum
TMJ = Total Metal Jacket
LFP = lead flat point (Bulk box)
GDHP = Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point
XTP-HP = Hornady XTP Hollow Point
That's all handloads. I've got some factory chrono work as well that I'll try to post when i get home. Most impressive is www.georgia-arms.com 158 grain +P GoldDot at 1,855 fps for 1,200+ ft/lbs. A serious home defense load. It's my opinion however, that it would be too explosive at these speeds for deer and would not leave an exit wound. I want exit wounds.
The 158 grain lead bullet at 996.4 fps (I was shooting for 1,000 fps) is an excellent, very inexpensive plinker load. It is a powder miser at 3.5 grains of Titegroup.
I do not recommend the bulk lead bullet behind that load of Blue Dot as leading is severe with such high speeds. Use a hardcast lead bullet or jacketed for highend loads.
The 180 grain XTP should be an excellent deer load. Perhaps I will get a chance to try it out in the near future.
Kilgorii
Here's the thread he is refering to:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73157&highlight=.357+lever
Code:
[b]Caliber[/b] [i]Gun Description[/i] [b]Brass/Case[/b] [i]Primer[/i] [b]Bullet[/b] [i]Bullet Weight (grs)[/i] [b]Powder[/b] [i]Powder Weight (grs)[/i] [b]Vel(fps)[/b] [i]ME(ft/lbs)[/i]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.38 Spl Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Mixed CCI 500 Speer TMJ 125 Hodgdon Titegroup 4.9 1158.8 373
.38 Spl Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Speer +P Win WSP LFP 158 Tite Group 3.5 996.4 348
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Mixed CCI 500 GDHP 158 Blue Dot 10.2 1363.2 652
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Mixed CCI 500 LFP 158 Blue Dot 10.2 1618 918
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Win CCI 550 SPM Sierra JHC 170 H110 13 1409.6 750
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 13.2 1324 701
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 13.5 1413 798
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 13.8 1446 836
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 14.1 1472 866
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 14.4 1484.5 881
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 14.7 1509 910
.357 Mag Marlin 1894CP 16 1/4" Starline CCI 550 SPM XTP-HP 180 H110 15 1548 958This is what I have. Use all data at your own risk. Safe in my guns.
SPM = small pistol magnum
TMJ = Total Metal Jacket
LFP = lead flat point (Bulk box)
GDHP = Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point
XTP-HP = Hornady XTP Hollow Point
That's all handloads. I've got some factory chrono work as well that I'll try to post when i get home. Most impressive is www.georgia-arms.com 158 grain +P GoldDot at 1,855 fps for 1,200+ ft/lbs. A serious home defense load. It's my opinion however, that it would be too explosive at these speeds for deer and would not leave an exit wound. I want exit wounds.
The 158 grain lead bullet at 996.4 fps (I was shooting for 1,000 fps) is an excellent, very inexpensive plinker load. It is a powder miser at 3.5 grains of Titegroup.
I do not recommend the bulk lead bullet behind that load of Blue Dot as leading is severe with such high speeds. Use a hardcast lead bullet or jacketed for highend loads.
The 180 grain XTP should be an excellent deer load. Perhaps I will get a chance to try it out in the near future.
Kilgorii
Colduglandon
New member
Thanks for all the info. I was wondering about the Rossi, but I checked one out at a gun show in NH a while back and did not like the action. I use a Marlin 3030. When I first bought it stayed in the case for ten years. I used to wave it around like a baton. I thought it was too light. Now its my favorite rifle. I think I will look into the Marlin. A friend sold his Winchester after he used my Marlin 3030 for hunting. I will be reloading. I have two revolvers in 357.
HookedAgain
New member
Paul,
Don't think you'll regret it.
KilgorII,
Yep, I've been thrilled with it so far! Thanks again for all the help.
I've been meaning to let you know how I liked it, so this post worked out pretty well Take care.
Don't think you'll regret it.
KilgorII,
Yep, I've been thrilled with it so far! Thanks again for all the help.
I've been meaning to let you know how I liked it, so this post worked out pretty well
Take care.I'll cast my vote for the Marlin. I have an 1894 CS ( I think that's the designation). in .357/.38. Whenever I take a new shooter to the range, it's their favorite gun. I was originally going to get a Winchester. The Marlin seemed to be better quality, no rattles, great finish, etc..
I've been very happy with it.
Hoppy
I've been very happy with it.
Hoppy