Which model is the one to get if it going to be chambered in 357 magnum?    Is it 1892, 1894, how about the Burgess or some other?

As I understand it, the 1873 is not the model to get, is that correct?







What I am interested in is a straight stock, a 20" round barrel.  Aperture sights are important, too.  I think color case hardened parts are nice but non-essential.  The Rossi looks the part.  Nice rifles are nice but is the Winchester or Uberti worth the extra dough for a plinker?

I never had any problems with my Rossi 92.
I regret trading it towards a Marlin 336 in .44mag.
Not that I don't love the 336.

Eta: Come to think of it, I did have some problems with chambering .38spl, but I rarely used those anyway.

The Rossi 92 will give you your most bang for the buck. It may need a little tuning out of the box if you want to shoot .38s in it (i.e., have the cartridge guides adjusted), and it's a good idea to swap out the plastic magazine follower for a steel one from Steve's Gunz. You may or may not want to remove the bolt mounted firing pin safety. If you do, you can replace it either with a plug (I did) or a bolt mounted peep sight. The action may be a little rough out of the box. If that's the case you'll want to strip, clean, and lube it. Mine is getting smoother the more I shoot it. The wood finish on mine was lack luster. I gave it a couple coats of Watco Danish Oil. But overall, I'm very happy with mine.

The only one I don't recommend is the '94, only because the receiver is rifle caliber length and things like the '92 clones are handgun caliber frames. Participating in cowboy action, I have seen more jams with the '94 than any other rifle. The '73 has the toggle action. So does the Luger and nobody accused it of being weak, but it isn't as strong, IMO, even with modern steel, as the '92 clones. My lever guns are Marlins. I have a couple in .357, a 16" stainless and 18 1/2 '94C. Both are very nice and I have mounted Williams Foolproof aperture sights on them with flat top post front sights. I'm not convinced as to the durability of the aluminum Williams. I am thinking of getting Skinner sights that mount on the top of the receiver using the scope base holes.

+1 on the Skinner sight, I put one on my 94 trapper and love it



 

Okay, got it, it's the 1892.

I put a Skinner sight on my 9422 and it is great. I also have it on a couple of 10/22's. I am thinking of replacing the Williams Foolproof on a couple of the Marlins.