View Full Version : Thoughts on lever actions in 38/357?
So this itch to get a lever gun is not going away.
What are your experiances with lever guns in 38/357? I would like one with a side gate. The new Marlins look great ,but not a fan of the stainess look on a lever gun.
Something about a cowboy assault rifle that is just very appealing...
buffalobo
10-24-2019, 11:33
Easy shooting, light recoil, reliable.
Henry in .357.
I love mine. As stated already, low recoil even with the heaviest magnum loads and a plain joy to shoot. You won?t be disappointed.
In before Kazoo jumps in with his suppressed .357 lever gun.
I have a Rossi 92 in .357, one of my favorite woods guns.
Bailey Guns
10-24-2019, 12:39
Generally, I'm not a fan of rifles in handgun calibers. All the disadvantages of a rifle combined with all the disadvantages of a handgun.
But in lever guns... Yeah, I love 'em. Like TFOGGER I have the Rossi in .357, short barrel, big loop, saddle ring, etc... Nice, smooth action and works great. My two real passions are the Henry rifles I have in .22WMR and the big bore Marlins in .45-70 and .450. Also have a couple of Winchesters in .30-30 and .44Mag just to celebrate the whole diversity thing. I gotta say I do love the .44Mag in a lever gun.
Lever guns are pretty hard not to like.
Scratch that itch.
Just more food for thought.
Many years ago I did some chronograph stuff with pistol calibers in longer barrels and some of it was surprising how much more velocity you get out of a handgun round in a sixteen inch barrel compared to a five inch barrel.
The magnums definitely take a step up fired from a rifle length barrel.
Why not? Pistol caliber carbines are all the rage. If you have a pistol caliber you like, having a carbine that will fire that same round makes the combination that much more fun.
I like my .357/.38 lever better than my .30-30 and they both shoot nicely.
I have two 9mm carbines and my 357 lever action is probably 30% more fun to shoot.
Little Dutch
10-24-2019, 14:17
I have a Rossi 92 in .357, one of my favorite woods guns.
Same here. My '92 is sweet.
Great-Kazoo
10-24-2019, 20:59
In before Kazoo jumps in with his suppressed .357 lever gun.
which one? i have 3 of them.
If i was interested in another caliber in a lever, to the collection. I'd do a 44 suppressed lever.
ETA: if you reload. You can make some pfft quiet as 22 subsonic, 38's.
buffalobo
10-24-2019, 21:11
Pair it with old cowboy single action revolver and go CASS.
Of course that means will have to add a coach gun too.
Winchester or Browning 92.
The new Winchesters from Moroku are very nice and with a bit of online research and a few original parts, you can eliminate the tang safety and convert to half-cock if you are inclined.
Original Browning 92s pop up online from time to time.
I have the Win 73, 92, and 94 AE in .357.
73 is just sweet, but a bit finicky
92 is perfect, but not for a scope
94 AE is nice with a scope, but heavy for the calibur.
Scratch it!
To the OP, if it helps you decide if you want one you?re welcome to take mine for a test drive.
SouthPaw
10-25-2019, 12:03
I'm waiting on this in 357
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/218499
Ok, I NEED a Marlin Dark in 357. Hurry up Marlin!
Ray, that sounds like fun. Will ping once I get ahead of all my chores.
That Marlin Dark looks sexy. All it's missing is some M-lok.
I sure enjoy my B92 in .357. I don't shoot it much, but I can't see getting rid of it, either!
Jeff
BPTactical
10-26-2019, 10:42
Rossi 92 Mares Leg
The exposed grain on this North Country model looks fantastic.
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/77968
wctriumph
10-26-2019, 11:20
I picked up a 94 AE Trapper from a member more than a few years ago in .357 and it is just plain to shoot. After that I found a 9422 and I have been looking for a lever in .44, either Winchester or Marlin.
Scratch the itch and you won't regret it.
All these lovely guns. Nice.
Bailey Guns
10-26-2019, 13:56
My modest collection of lever guns. Nothing fancy but I love every one of 'em:
L to R:
Henry .22, Henry Small Game Carbine .22WMR, Henry .22WMR Octagon barrel, Rossi 92 .357/.38 Big Loop SRC, Win 94 .44Mag SRC (100 Anniv), Win 94 .30-30 (1965-ish), Marlin 1895M .450, Marlin 1895G .45-70 (both Marlins are early ported versions)
https://i.imgur.com/0Xo3zt3.jpg
eddiememphis
10-26-2019, 14:52
Marlin 1894CP. 16 1/4 inch ported barrel. Bought it for beavers but carry it with me anytime I go to the woods.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Miscellaneous/i-TXHXBBz/0/995fd09b/M/Adjustments-M.jpg
With the right loads, it should keep me safe from anything that tries to eat me. I usually keep 158 grain, semi-jacketed soft points in it. I am eager to try Hornady's LeverEvolution rounds. They claim 200 fps and 100 ft.lbs. more than the Federals I use.
Regardless, a fun little rifle to blow through a pile of .38 reloads or the more serious .357 stuff. It's fun to hand it off to someone with a couple .38s and a .357 loaded. Bang. Bang. BOOM!
Bailey Guns
10-26-2019, 15:42
Oooohhh... that's nice!
My three Rossi 92's in .357. They can have issues - roughness, .38 Special feeding issues, stiff springs - they can need some tuning. But after that, they're sweet!
OK, as usual, photo won't load. Wish this would get fixed
ChickNorris
10-27-2019, 00:26
For Rondog:
Thank you! You're my hero! Or heroine.... Anyway, thanks!
DenverGP
10-27-2019, 10:42
Saw a nice Winchester 94 octagon barrel on consignment for $800 yesterday. Thought about picking it up.
https://i.imgur.com/urbmqq8.jpg
eddiememphis
10-27-2019, 22:15
My three Rossi 92's in .357. They can have issues - roughness, .38 Special feeding issues, stiff springs - they can need some tuning. But after that, they're sweet!
OK, as usual, photo won't load. Wish this would get fixed
Ron,
I don't think storing your rifles on the fence in this weather is a good idea.
Saw a nice Winchester 94 octagon barrel on consignment for $800 yesterday. Thought about picking it up.
https://i.imgur.com/urbmqq8.jpg
Yes you should! That's a Short Rifle model, not a carbine. Try to find another one like it!
SouthPaw
10-28-2019, 13:41
Little more than the 45-70 version and not as cool looking:
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/206085
Great-Kazoo
10-28-2019, 14:27
My three Rossi 92's in .357. They can have issues - roughness, .38 Special feeding issues, stiff springs - they can need some tuning. But after that, they're sweet!
OK, as usual, photo won't load. Wish this would get fixed
Steve's Gunz lever action tune up video is all you need. A bit of time with each and you'll be real happy.
I'll look to see if i can find his dvd for you.
Steve's Gunz lever action tune up video is all you need. A bit of time with each and you'll be real happy.
I'll look to see if i can find his dvd for you.
I think I might still have that. I'll look around as well.
Never seen the Steve's video, I just check out each part and go "hmmm, a little this here, a little that there....."
It's just a mechanical device, make the parts work together better.
newracer
11-08-2019, 12:00
I have always wanted a lever gun. Just got two, Marlin 30-30 and a Marlin 357/38. Can't wait to shoot them.
theGinsue
11-09-2019, 18:15
I have always wanted a lever gun. Just got two, Marlin 30-30 and a Marlin 357/38. Can't wait to shoot them.
You'll love them. I took my first whitetail at ~60yrds with a Marlin 30-30 and iron sights. Smooth as silk.
marineimaging
12-11-2019, 06:59
Hi from Ward - I have the Rossi in 44mag and the Henry in .357/38 All Weather and wouldn't be without them. I know you said you like the side gate but unless you are running from zombies, the tube load is just fine. 10 rounds plus 1 is more than you think. Besides, you can manually feed from the ejection port and keep shooting until all the zombies are dead. What I actually like is that I can unload in mid-cycle while testing them by simply removing the rod and dropping them out. That said, let me add that hunting is an entirely different matter than paper targets. I see people sighting their rifles for 100 yards and that is fine for a .308 or so. But if you are going to hunt with a pistol caliber carbine just consider your ethics. Shoot what you know you can do accurately, AND never shoot beyond what your accuracy and your abilities can bring to the table.
79639
RogueWolf
12-12-2019, 15:38
I just picked up a Rossi R92 in 357 and really like it. I kept going back and forth on it having a side gate or the tube feed. In the end the side gate is what I really liked. Now I'm wanting a 41 mag lever and may go with a tube as it seems my options are limited. The Rossi though is a great shooter and so much fun, not sure why I waited so long to pick one up.
I?m hoping for a reasonably priced lever gun in 500 S&W.
marineimaging
12-19-2019, 18:13
I have two 9mm carbines and my 357 lever action is probably 30% more fun to shoot.
Which 9mm carbines?
A Ruger PCC and an AR platform home build.
Erni, I know you said you didn?t like stainless but I found you a good deal if you wanted to try out a lever action without spending big bucks.
WTS Rossi M92 357/38 Special
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=56497&share_tid=176768&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ear-15%2Eco%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D176768&share_type=t&link_source=app
Erni, I know you said you didn?t like stainless but I found you a good deal if you wanted to try out a lever action without spending big bucks.
WTS Rossi M92 357/38 Special
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=56497&share_tid=176768&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ear-15%2Eco%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D176768&share_type=t&link_source=app
Are you sure that's stainless? I see blued with some glare on my computer.
Hard to tell for sure. I zoomed in and looked at the metal band at the front of the forearm and thought it looked stainless based off of the contrast with the wood.
I do see you asked him for clarification.
Inquiring minds want to know...
...and it's stainless. New photos added since original posting make it pretty obvious.
Thanks Ray.
I am going to hold out and see if Marlin will shut up and take my money with a Dark series lever gun.
Great-Kazoo
01-01-2020, 13:11
Thanks Ray.
I am going to hold out and see if Marlin will shut up and take my money with a Dark series lever gun.
You'd be foolish to pass that deal for $400 up. IF marlin does come out with the gun you want. Guarantee you'd be able to flip this rossi over, fairly quickly
Honestly if I'd had a way to get it here w/out that s&h transfer stuff, not to mention a spare $400. I'd buy it.
Yeah, I wish I could afford to pick that Rossi up.
I have one just like it but for the price I?m tempted to pick it up as a spare.
Would make a nice companion to my S&W 686.
In my experience, the pistol caliber leverguns tend to be finicky about cartridge OAL and the shape of the bullet. Guns that will feed .357 may not feed .38, and pointier (relative to a levergun) tend to feed better than big, round bullets. In my Social Levergun (https://firstpersonsafety.com/social-shotgun-levergun/) class, we tend to see more problems with the pistol caliber guns compared to the rifle caliber models.
One other consideration is that the round that works best in one's carbine may not the round that works best in one's revolver If a carbine/revolver combo is the goal, it may mean a performance compromise to get to a round that works in each.
Got to play with a Marlin dark series at the store. Wow. Just wow. Will wait for a 357 version, hopefully it wont be another year before they make it.
NRA magazine says Marlin Dark in 357 is a go! Need to find one at a decent price. Yes!
NRA magazine says Marlin Dark in 357 is a go! Need to find one at a decent price. Yes!
I would expect them to say nothing less of an advertiser.
This review seems positive:
http://youtu.be/tSLkMJWXh2Y
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