chris in va
New member
There's a couple Rossi 357's right now at Knob Creek in KY. Sure are expensive though, something like $750.
If you were buying a used Lever Action?
- Thread starter rrruger
- Start date
Crunchy Frog
New member
The Rossi 1892 is the most affordable pistol caliber lever rifle out there; I saw an octagon barreled rifle in a local store this week for $499 and the round barrel carbines should be less than that.
The Rossi rifles are pretty stiff when new and some of the .357s are kind of picky. I have one friend whose rifle does not feed .38 Specials very well so he loads everything in .357 cases. Another fellow bought one that would not feed the magnums well (at least, that particular ammo) but it ran my .38 Special cowboy ammo just fine.
The rifles can be improved. Google "Nate Kiowa Jones" and order his DVD. Better yet, buy the rifle from him with an action job performed.
The Rossi rifles are pretty stiff when new and some of the .357s are kind of picky. I have one friend whose rifle does not feed .38 Specials very well so he loads everything in .357 cases. Another fellow bought one that would not feed the magnums well (at least, that particular ammo) but it ran my .38 Special cowboy ammo just fine.
The rifles can be improved. Google "Nate Kiowa Jones" and order his DVD. Better yet, buy the rifle from him with an action job performed.
Singlesix1954
New member
Henry Big Boy
Just go get a 357 Henry Big Boy and report back to the thread. You'll love it and your brother in law will hate you for it. For what it's worth the pre "Remlin" 1894s are as good as money can buy if you find one.
Just go get a 357 Henry Big Boy and report back to the thread. You'll love it and your brother in law will hate you for it. For what it's worth the pre "Remlin" 1894s are as good as money can buy if you find one.
I enjoy shooting a Win 92 or a Ruger #1 more than a Sav 99, Win 94, or Marlin 336 or bolt actions or semis or rolling blocks.
But I enjoy shooting a Win 1885 more than a Win 92 or a Ruger #1.
And I can shoot a single shot falling block like a machine gun when I have some adrenaline pumping.
Try shooting an 1885.
But I enjoy shooting a Win 1885 more than a Win 92 or a Ruger #1.
And I can shoot a single shot falling block like a machine gun when I have some adrenaline pumping.
Try shooting an 1885.
Rossi 92....have variously been available under a variety of sub-brands/importers. Among them, the most notable:
70s - mid 90s - Interarms with "Puma" marketing moniker. Unlike some later importers, these are more commonly referred to as just Rossis or Pumas, with the Interarms part just being a little advertised detail.☆
90s - 2008 - LSI (Legacy Sports Int'l) essentially took over from defunct'd Interarms as the largest Rossi distributor. Kept and propogated "Puma" name and intro'd the now well-known safety switch.
90s-2008, 2012-present - EMF Company. Had nicer sights and often wood/finish in the 90s-00s than competitors, except Navy Arms (below). Kept the "safety" away til mid 2006. Hiatus of a few years as LSI left the Rossi business and Rossi took over as sole US distributor of its own 92s. EMF 92s were marketed as the "1892 Hartford" model.
90s-2006 - Navy Arms, like EMF also no safety switch. Only Rossi 92 to claim genuine walnut stocks. Getting pretty rare, especially in carbine form.
2008 - present - Rossi, by now owned by Taurus/Braztech
☆ Note, over the years the "Puma" name became near synonymous with any Rossi 92, though the name belonged only to Interarms and then LSI. Legacy confused things further when they parted company with Rossi (or vice versa) and took on the pricier Italian-made Chiappa-Armi Soort line of 92s...and took the Puma name with them. Further, LSI also associated the Puma name also with the 1886 they are marketing. SO, it's no longer sufficient to simply say "I'm looking for a Puma" without elaborating more.
70s - mid 90s - Interarms with "Puma" marketing moniker. Unlike some later importers, these are more commonly referred to as just Rossis or Pumas, with the Interarms part just being a little advertised detail.☆
90s - 2008 - LSI (Legacy Sports Int'l) essentially took over from defunct'd Interarms as the largest Rossi distributor. Kept and propogated "Puma" name and intro'd the now well-known safety switch.
90s-2008, 2012-present - EMF Company. Had nicer sights and often wood/finish in the 90s-00s than competitors, except Navy Arms (below). Kept the "safety" away til mid 2006. Hiatus of a few years as LSI left the Rossi business and Rossi took over as sole US distributor of its own 92s. EMF 92s were marketed as the "1892 Hartford" model.
90s-2006 - Navy Arms, like EMF also no safety switch. Only Rossi 92 to claim genuine walnut stocks. Getting pretty rare, especially in carbine form.
2008 - present - Rossi, by now owned by Taurus/Braztech
☆ Note, over the years the "Puma" name became near synonymous with any Rossi 92, though the name belonged only to Interarms and then LSI. Legacy confused things further when they parted company with Rossi (or vice versa) and took on the pricier Italian-made Chiappa-Armi Soort line of 92s...and took the Puma name with them. Further, LSI also associated the Puma name also with the 1886 they are marketing. SO, it's no longer sufficient to simply say "I'm looking for a Puma" without elaborating more.
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KeeperOath
New member
Lever Action Rifles...
Henry Big Boy
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Just go get a 357 Henry Big Boy and report back to the thread. You'll love it and your brother in law will hate you for it. For what it's worth the pre "Remlin" 1894s are as good as money can buy if you find one.
__________________
Luke 22:36
Single six 1954
I agree that you should stay away from the Remington made Marlins. They have had serious quality control issures. Marlin made Marlins are great if you can fine one in the same caliber as your Revolver.
I too have a S&W 629 with a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag and a Colt King Cobra with a Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag. These are a just-in-case the crap does hit the fan. I'll have less ammo to carry.
Henry Big Boy
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Just go get a 357 Henry Big Boy and report back to the thread. You'll love it and your brother in law will hate you for it. For what it's worth the pre "Remlin" 1894s are as good as money can buy if you find one.
__________________
Luke 22:36
Single six 1954
I agree that you should stay away from the Remington made Marlins. They have had serious quality control issures. Marlin made Marlins are great if you can fine one in the same caliber as your Revolver.
I too have a S&W 629 with a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag and a Colt King Cobra with a Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag. These are a just-in-case the crap does hit the fan. I'll have less ammo to carry.
rrruger said:
Lever actions in .357 are popular, so finding one is in the used market is a bit challenging. Even when you find one, it may be because the prior owner had problems with the rifle.
The most common complaint about .357 lever actions seems to be feeding problems related to sensitivity to cartridge length. When I was shopping for lever actions, I carried a set of eight dummy rounds to test feeding. My dummy rounds were minimum-length and slightly over minimum .38s and maximum-length and slightly under maximum .357s, each loaded with RNFP and SWC bullets. If I could load and cycle the entire set of dummy rounds several times, I at least knew the rifle probably did not have feeding problems.
Around here if I wanted a 357 magnum lever gun you're pretty much limited to ordering a Uberti or buying a Rossi. I have a Rossi and couldn't be happier with it. It feeds all types of 38's and 357's and is quite accurate.
I hear a lot of advice for used Winchesters and Marlins, and while they may be good guns I just don't see them up for sale - like ever in my neck of the woods.
I hear a lot of advice for used Winchesters and Marlins, and while they may be good guns I just don't see them up for sale - like ever in my neck of the woods.
MarkDozier
New member
The below statement is totally wrong showing a lack of knowledge on the subject. My 357, Marlin 1894c, is my favorite rifle. I run everything in it from my bunny fart 38 loads to full hot loads magnum loads in 357. Use rifle and pistol with the same loads. BTW her nake is SUGAR...
RodTheWrench
New member
If it was about 10 years ago, I'd say get a Winchester 94 Trapper in 38/357, but they have tripled in price.
LOVE mine, NEVER gonna get rid of it!
LOVE mine, NEVER gonna get rid of it!
Realistically you have two options:
Used Marlin or Winchester.....$700-$900
The word I hear is no 1894 Marlins have been manufactured since closing the Marlin Plant. Remlin has finally got it's act together on 336s and 1895s. They may make 1894s in 2014, maybe.
New Rossi....$500-600 plus cost of tuning up and new springs. I have never seen a used Rossi for sale in stores or a dozen or so gun shows every year.
You might look at a single shot Handi Rifle from H&R. The go for under $300 and usually shoot very well out of the box. I have one reamed to .357 MAXIMUM and shoot several deer and pigs every year with factory level .357 MAG reloads. This past season I used cast 180 gr. bullets in MAX cases to kill two nice deer. A jacketed 180 grs. bullets going full tilt is stepping on the lower reaches of a .358 Winchester.
Used Marlin or Winchester.....$700-$900
The word I hear is no 1894 Marlins have been manufactured since closing the Marlin Plant. Remlin has finally got it's act together on 336s and 1895s. They may make 1894s in 2014, maybe.
New Rossi....$500-600 plus cost of tuning up and new springs. I have never seen a used Rossi for sale in stores or a dozen or so gun shows every year.
You might look at a single shot Handi Rifle from H&R. The go for under $300 and usually shoot very well out of the box. I have one reamed to .357 MAXIMUM and shoot several deer and pigs every year with factory level .357 MAG reloads. This past season I used cast 180 gr. bullets in MAX cases to kill two nice deer. A jacketed 180 grs. bullets going full tilt is stepping on the lower reaches of a .358 Winchester.
Today I handled a Chiappa Alaskan in 44 magnum. It was a very nice gun. I understand they are making it in 357 magnum as well. From what I can tell it has the option of a 16 inch or a 20 inch barrel and it a take down. They are (what looks like) stainless and the stocks are rubber (over wood?) The action was not quite as good as my Marlin but thats about 20 years old and very broke in.
I wish it was made in the USA.
The Henrys are very nice guns as well but I wish they had a loading gate rather than a 22lr style load at the muzzle variation.
you did not read my signature did you?
I wish it was made in the USA.
The Henrys are very nice guns as well but I wish they had a loading gate rather than a 22lr style load at the muzzle variation.
you did not read my signature did you?
I have to disagree with your opinion about the statement being totally wrong, in fact, its pretty much spot on. The rifle will handle anything the pistol does, quite true (and so it should be), but the rifle will also handle loads that should NOT be used in a pistol.
you don't HAVE to use different loaded ammo in the rifle, but you CAN, and if you do, you can get even more performace than you will shooting pistol loads.
I have had two of the Marlin .357 carbines (gave the first one away to my Father-in-law as a Christmas present one year). Replaced it a few years ago, with one I found at a gun show. Pre safety gun, looks new, $300 out the door...
Marlins are intolerant of loads that are "too long". If you want to shoot 180gr+ bullets, check the gun to see if they will feed from the magazine before you buy a quantity of them. Had to take apart a friends 1894 to clear the jam he caused by loading the tube with 200gr cast LRN one time...if you do find something too long to feed through the action, you can single load them into the chamber...
The other thing I have found about the Marlin is that some of them will sometimes balk at feeding SWC bullets (or anything with a sharp shoulder). What sometimes happens is the cartridge "bounces" a little bit on the carrier, and a shoulder on the bullet can catch on the edge of the chamber. IF this happens, simply back off the pressure on the lever, the round will drop back into proper position, and the action can then be closed smoothly. Bullets with smooth rounded profiles (RN, JHP, JSP, etc.) work,...well, ..smoothly...
There are a couple of good uses for pistol caliber carbines that are not usually mentioned. Besides the usual reasons (fun, same ammo as pistol, etc), they are good guns for beginning (youth) shooters, especially in .357, as recoil is lower than more powerful guns, but they still have plenty within their range limits.
And the second reason is home security, if you travel with a "home". This was the use my father-in-law got. He wasn't much of a gun person, but was fine with a lever action, the .357 is a more than adequate defensive cartridge, AND by using a carbine, he avoided all the legal hassles of having a handgun in different states. The Marlin traveled most of the time in the wardrobe closet of his truck camper, and was legal and essentially unrestricted everywhere.
Plus I don't know if he could have hit the broad side of a barn with a handgun, but did ok with a rifle.
rdavidsonjr
New member
Ive killed plenty of deer with the older marlin gold trigger 336 and the win 94 in a 30-30. Out to around 100 yds. you can't beat it. The win 94 had to be scoped on the side, didn't care for that so much. I've got a Rossi stainless w/Leopold vx 2 I just picked on gun broker.com .Can't wait for it to get here. I have heard great things about the rossi and bad things about the new marlins. the new Winchesters are pricey. The 30-30- lever gun has its place in tight places when you need a handy rifle that may be stored on a saddle or an atv. When you need to take down a deer size animal it has all the stopping power you need. Its not a long range gun , but most deer and hogs are not shot at much more than 100 yards. also I picked up the used but unfired stainless rossi with th vx 2 3x9 with a browning gun sock and soft carry case for scoped rifle for 680.00 total out the door. It had been in a safe unused in a doctors collection. I thought it was a pretty good price. So watch gun broker you might find some good deals on levers.
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rdavidsonjr
New member
I'm also somewhat curious about what to look for and how dependable and accurate the savage 99 308 is.