Levergun dilemma

[Zundfolge]

Ok, so I've got it in my head that I "need" a lever action carbine in .357mag. It needs to be short (no more than 18" barrel) and a well made and pretty gun.

I've narrowed it down to a couple of choices:
1. A Uberti 1873 carbine (18" half octagon barrel, case color frame)
and
2. A Henry Big Boy (16" octagon barrel, brass frame)

The pros and cons of each are as follows

Uberti:
Cons: expensive, not sure about the half octagon barrel (although that does keep the weight back over the receiver).
Pros: King's Gate, case color finish, authentic cowboy gun. Lots of aftermarket support.

Henry:
Cons: goofy loading system
Pros: inexpensive (well slightly, compared to the Uberti). Made in 'Merica. Installing a skinner rear sight is easier than field stripping a Glock. Shiny.

Both are pretty (although if Henry made a carbine in case color I'd be looking at it, not the brass).


So ifn it was y'all spending, which way would you go? Any real big reason to go (or not go) one over the other?

Is there some option I'm not considering? (first one of you knuckleheads says Rossi is gettin' kicked in the nuts ... I'm not buying a Taurus Lever Gun.)

Note that I will not be competing in cowboy action shooting (if I was I'd spend a little more and get a modified Uberti).

[Monky]

If price is the thing stopping ya from getting what you want.. quit being cheap


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[Zundfolge]

If price is the thing stopping ya from getting what you want.. quit being cheap


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Added some more pros and cons ... money isn't the only issue (because I can easily afford either one) but if they were the exact same price I'd probably get the Uberti, but I've wanted a Henry for longer :p.

[feal]

Winchester trapper?

[Great-Kazoo]

If money isn't an object Buy Both.

.

[Zundfolge]

Winchester trapper?

Finding an actual Winchester '73 (especially a trapper and especially especially in CCH finish) isn't easy. The modern ones are more expensive than the Uberti and made in very limited runs.

If money isn't an object Buy Both.

Didn't say money wasn't an object (if it wasn't an object I'd just buy a Big Horn Armory model 89 in 500 S&W Mag ... the case colored with fancy walnut is only $4300). I only said money isn't the major factor.

[rondog]

Keep in mind the Winchester '73 action is inherently weak, and can't hold up to heavy use of magnum loads. Been a lot of those guns ruined by guys with heavy loads. The Winchester '92 is a much stronger action and can take fat loads with ease. But the '73 looks cooler......

[Zundfolge]

I know you said no about cowboy action...

BUT... My boys and I shoot cowboy action. I have a couple 73s now and modern ones are tough.

Yeah, I don't plan on shooting cowboy action competition, but the idea that the Uberti 73s seem to be the rifles that dominate most SASS says to me that they'll hold up well to the much lesser amount of abuse I'll give it.

[Zundfolge]

Well I made my decision.

I bought a Kel-Tec RDB [facepalm]


(when I do decide to buy a lever gun I think I'll get the 73)

[cstone]

If you can find one, the Browning B-92 is a very pretty rifle.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well I made my decision.

I bought a Kel-Tec RDB [facepalm]


(when I do decide to buy a lever gun I think I'll get the 73)


Rocky Mtn Shooter Supply in ft collins has 1/2 doz 357 levers in stock.


If you can find one, the Browning B-92 is a very pretty rifle.

Yes they are, but too nice AND collector value to thread for a suppressor

[XJ]

Why not a lightly-used Marlin?

[Zundfolge]

Why not a lightly-used Marlin?

Because there is so much conjecture over what is a "good" Marlin and what is a "bad" one. Which is kind of the same problem with Winchesters themselves (is there such a thing as a pre 1964 1873 Trapper in .357mag? Even if there is, certainly it won't be CCH finished.)

Also 99.99% of the time, when I find a Marlin (good or bad) its either in .30-30 or .45-70.