Best .357 Lever Action

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best .357 Lever Action

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:02:13 AM EDT

I want to get a lever action in .357 mag. What is the best one out there?

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:09:12 AM EDT

[#1]

I have an inTerest in what some mAy be postinG here...

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:09:55 AM EDT

[#2]

I'd go with either a Marlin or Winchester. I bought an as-new Marlin 1894CP about three years ago, and love it. I wanted the short, ported barrel.

It took me a while to find a used one in mint condition, but they're out there. As with all firearms, try one before you buy it. It may be great quality, and reliable as a hammer, but if it doesn't feel right to you, you won't like it (and will probably sell it at a loss).

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:20:12 AM EDT

[#3]

Not claiming they are "the best", but the Rossie model 92 clones have stood-up very well to heavy use in Cowboy Action competition. They are one of the most commonly used carbines in CA shooting, digesting thousands of rounds and I've yet to see one break. My wife used a Rossi "Texas Special" in .357. It is a short rifle with a carbine-length octagonal barrel and case-hardened receiver. It never hicuped and was surprisingly accurate. They are much less expensive than Marlins, smoother and at least equal in quality, IMO.

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:23:19 AM EDT

[#4]

I lucked into a Marlin in .357 a couple years ago... Great gun, but it hates cast bullets at lower velocity. .38spl cast loads pattern more than group. .357 cast loads group if you push em hard. Jacketed bullets do better at higher velocity too... Lower velocity decreases the accuracy noticeably.
All in all I like it... Just can't use "plinking" loads ever.

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:25:08 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I'd go with either a Marlin or Winchester. I bought an as-new Marlin 1894CP about three years ago, and love it. I wanted the short, ported barrel.

It took me a while to find a used one in mint condition, but they're out there. As with all firearms, try one before you buy it. It may be great quality, and reliable as a hammer, but if it doesn't feel right to you, you won't like it (and will probably sell it at a loss).

http://www.jagen-waffen.de/Hege/Bilder-hege/Bilder-neu/Mod1894P-S26.gif

I concur on the Marlin 1849. But I went with the octagon barrel because it looks better when I'm wearing my twin single action .357's

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:38:30 AM EDT

[#6]

Marlin, Rossi, Puma are all good.

Depends on what you want it for. There are octagan barrels ,short barrels, wood stocks, polymer etc.

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:38:31 AM EDT

[#7]

Older Marlin. Any Marlin with a "REM" stamp on the barrel is suspect.

Posted: 2/26/2012 7:53:11 AM EDT

[#8]

If you get a marlin try and avoid the micro groove barrel if you think you might shoot lead

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:01:01 AM EDT

[#9]

Henry

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:06:08 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Older Marlin. Any Marlin with a "REM" stamp on the barrel is suspect.

Yep; a search for "marlin qc" is all it takes.

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:06:12 AM EDT

[#11]

I wish I could move one of these ....................

WANT > NEED!

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:14:38 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
I lucked into a Marlin in .357 a couple years ago... Great gun, but it hates cast bullets at lower velocity. .38spl cast loads pattern more than group. .357 cast loads group if you push em hard. Jacketed bullets do better at higher velocity too... Lower velocity decreases the accuracy noticeably.
All in all I like it... Just can't use "plinking" loads ever.

Have you tried shooting cast bullets that were sized a bit larger?

Micro-grooved barrels generally do far better with bullets cast a bit oversized - like .412 in a .41 magnum instead of .410.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:15:17 AM EDT

[#13]

I've got 2 .357 Rossis I've had good luck with. They aren't lookers but they're great shooters.

The carbine is a Puma from back when Rossi made them(now i think Pumas are Italian) and the rifle's a more recent one just marked as a Rossi.

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:15:34 AM EDT

[#14]

I'd buy this one, if I could find it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Marlin-1894CSBL-357-Lever-Action-Rifle-16-Laminated-Hardwood/19232207

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:20:15 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I'd buy this one, if I could find it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Marlin-1894CSBL-357-Lever-Action-Rifle-16-Laminated-Hardwood/19232207

http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/02/64/95/70/0002649570433_300X300.jpg

Cabelas has those in Pa. They are big on Marlin rifles.

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:27:00 AM EDT

[#16]

I personally like Marlins,and I'm looking for one in 44mag .If I happen to see a nice 357 at a good price at the gun shows coming up next weekend I might buy both.
I have been bitten by the lever action bug almost as bad as BRD,but you can find levers cheaper then an AR.

I bought a 45/70 2 years ago and that's all it took,now I want moar !

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:27:59 AM EDT

[#17]

Marlin 1894

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:34:07 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I'd buy this one, if I could find it.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Marlin-1894CSBL-357-Lever-Action-Rifle-16-Laminated-Hardwood/19232207

http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/02/64/95/70/0002649570433_300X300.jpg

Cabelas has those in Pa. They are big on Marlin rifles.

If you buy a new Marlin right now your taking a chance on getting a lemon since Remington took them over and fucked the chicken.
I would rather buy new Marlins but not with the track record they have right now that's why I'm looking for used.As for buying a new rifle in 357 or 44mag ,good luck finding one,because they stopped production on them till they get their shit together.

I BELIEVE THE RESUMED PRODUCTION ON 336'S AND SOME 1895'S BUT NOT THE 1894'S.

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:34:58 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I lucked into a Marlin in .357 a couple years ago... Great gun, but it hates cast bullets at lower velocity. .38spl cast loads pattern more than group. .357 cast loads group if you push em hard. Jacketed bullets do better at higher velocity too... Lower velocity decreases the accuracy noticeably.
All in all I like it... Just can't use "plinking" loads ever.

Have you tried shooting cast bullets that were sized a bit larger?

Micro-grooved barrels generally do far better with bullets cast a bit oversized - like .412 in a .41 magnum instead of .410.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm

I'll have to give some oversized lead a whirl... My rifle is a Pre-safety micro-groove. I would love to find a plinking load for light use rather than the full house loads it currently eats.

Posted: 2/26/2012 8:51:48 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I lucked into a Marlin in .357 a couple years ago... Great gun, but it hates cast bullets at lower velocity. .38spl cast loads pattern more than group. .357 cast loads group if you push em hard. Jacketed bullets do better at higher velocity too... Lower velocity decreases the accuracy noticeably.
All in all I like it... Just can't use "plinking" loads ever.

Have you tried shooting cast bullets that were sized a bit larger?

Micro-grooved barrels generally do far better with bullets cast a bit oversized - like .412 in a .41 magnum instead of .410.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm

I'm using .358 (158Gr) RNFP in mine and shoot 1inch groups at a hundred yards from a bench. I use it for SASS shooting which is really light loads in .38 cal and never had a misfeed.
I use bullets from Roger's Better Bullets at Kings SHooters Supply in Pa. ( betterbullets.com).
They are high quality and well made.