Which Lever Action

F

fmjcafe

New member
I`m looking to aquire a .357 mag.lever action carbine to go with my GP-100.What are the pros and cons between Marlin,Winchester and Rossi?

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~Gordon~
 
'Which lever action is best', is probably the most commonly asked question in Art of the Rifle.
Personally I prefer the Marlin. I like the shorter, smoother lever throw when chambered in a pistol caliber. But others will tell you the Winchester and a few will endorce the Rossi. Some of the early Rossi's had QC problems that required a good gunsmith to smooth up, which brought the over all cost up to the other two. The new Rossi's, imported by Navy Arms have addressed the problems making them comparable to the others. However, the price has also risen to compare with the others as well.
You may wish to do a search for the on going Marlin/Winchester/Rossi debate.

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Gunslinger

I was promised a Shortycicle and I want a Shortycicle!
 
Wow! What timing! Gun tests just did a test on Marlin and Winchester lever actions. they liked the Winchester much better.
 
Frontsite -- interesting. I've got, well, several generations of experience with these, and (reluctantly) I'd vote for the Marlin. Stronger, simpler, easier to clean from the breech. What factors did Gun Tests cite when they recommended the Winchester?
 
Gunslinger-I took your advice and did a search....WOW.There is a ton of info on this question and it looks like I`ve started it up again.

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~Gordon~
 
i've got the first year 30/30 take down w/ oct. blr. & a 59' 30/30 standard all winchester these are all very great shooters, and i still use them. i like the tirdy/tirdy's in wins.
 
I personally like the marlin. When I got into Cowboy action shooting I got a Winchester in 38/357. It was hard to cycle and did not feed that well. I got a Marlin and love it. Most of the people in my club use a Marlin. Jeff
 
Well here's my two cents worth...

For pistol calibers like the .357, the Marlin gets my vote. It's a short action that is actually designed to operate with the short cartridge.

Now, with that being said, I have a W94 in .44 mag! I had a Marlin in .44 and would rather have it back than the Winchester. I think the action was smoother than the W94 but I wanted the shorter barrel (this was before Marlin had a short barrel .44).

The Rossi is nice because it doesn't have that nasty cross bolt safety. It's definitely worth looking for an older model Marlin or Winchester that doesn't have the safety if you plan on using the rifle for defense.
 
I go with the Rossi!
PUT THOSE ROCKS DOWN, LEMME EXPLAIN! :eek:

I love Winchesters and got nothing against Marlin. But for a .38/.357 carbine, I prefer the Winchester 92 style action. The rifle is a bit lighter. The action is smoother and faster. Since Winchester wants a small fortune for their re-introduced Model 92, I'll go with the Rossi clone even if I do have to tinker with it a little.

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Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
 
I own and like both the Marlin and Winchester, but the Ruger lever 44 Mag is an itch I'm tempted to scratch. Did Gun Tests compare the Ruger also?

Tom
 
I'll second the Rossi. Have a Navy Arms 92 short rifle in .357 Magnum and love it. Plus, being a lefty, no crossbolt safety to deal with. :)

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Regards - AZFred
 
I have the Marlin (.357 mag). It is simple, accurate, and fun. I too was in debate. I finally asked my gunsmith, and he suggested the Marlin. The Winchester has the historical appeal though. He suggested Marlin due to the better construction, better machine work, better accuracy, and better price (I still secretly want a Winchester). He was correct. Marlin's are nice. I don't think you'll be disappointed by any of the three though. I am looking for a pre-64 Winchester, and will get it as soon as I find one in the price range I can afford.
The cross-bolt safety sucks. Last deer season, it cost me a great buck. I had him in my sights, within 25 yards. I pulled the trigger, and a loud metalic click scared him off. I'm a firearms safety fanatic, and in addition to using the half-cock safety, I opted to use the cross-bolt too. The moral of the story is that if you use a cross-bolt, don't forget to disengage it prior to taking your deer!
 
I'll put in a vote for the Rossi -- no steenking cross bolt safety! :) Mine is in 45Colt and it is a great little shooter. The only knock I have against it is a bit of creep in the trigger, but from what I have heard mine seems to be the exception and I will be getting that smithed out shortly.

Jack
 
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