suppressed 38 special lever action (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/27/2026 8:51:04 PM EDT
Obviously not very practical but a lot of fun! Just got the S&W 1854 in 357, and Silencerco Hybrid 46. I took them out for a spin today. Crazy quiet and quick to shoot with a red dot. 
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Originally Posted By StylesBitchley: Looking at doing this at some point. Do .38s of all types cycle OK in .357 lever guns? Including those flat wadcutters, which I would think would be really quiet. Also, genuine question.....why the S&W? I like the long rail, and the stainless frame and barrel with the black nitride finish, kind of the best of both worlds. And no goofy skeletonized stock. |
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
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Originally Posted By StylesBitchley: Looking at doing this at some point. Do .38s of all types cycle OK in .357 lever guns? Including those flat wadcutters, which I would think would be really quiet. Also, genuine question.....why the S&W? If you are talking about flush wadcutters I can't imagine you'd get those to cycle. Seems like most are using RNFP or just RN bullets. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: If you are talking about flush wadcutters I can't imagine you'd get those to cycle. Seems like most are using RNFP or just RN bullets. Snap caps with the same shape as flush wadcutters will cycle in my gun. But I admit I've only done it 6 or 8 times or so. Today I was using 158 grain round nose FMJ and they cycled with zero issues. |
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I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
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Originally Posted By LUZCANNON: I enjoy loading 38s for my wife's revolver trio. but my suppressed rifle is a tc contender with a delightful trigger. I have to make some subsonic for it and will use 158 jfp at 1050. .357mag I'm kind of wishing I hadn't sold my Contender when I got my BFR. All I had was a .45-70 barrel, and I liked that one that much more. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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Originally Posted By Colt1860: Snap caps with the same shape as flush wadcutters will cycle in my gun. But I admit I've only done it 6 or 8 times or so. Today I was using 158 grain round nose FMJ and they cycled with zero issues. Originally Posted By Colt1860: Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: If you are talking about flush wadcutters I can't imagine you'd get those to cycle. Seems like most are using RNFP or just RN bullets. Snap caps with the same shape as flush wadcutters will cycle in my gun. But I admit I've only done it 6 or 8 times or so. Today I was using 158 grain round nose FMJ and they cycled with zero issues. I've never tried it. Nothing to lose by trying I just wouldn't stockpile a bunch beforehand. Would be pretty handy with the short oal. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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The Lee 1000 has a reputation for being finicky and needing some tuning. I'd recommend a Lee Classic 4 hole Turret press. It's very straight-forward. Not the ideal high volume press, but I used one for several years to feed pistols for IDPA and USPSA. Originally Posted By Austin4130: Just got one, and have been eyeing a deal I found locally on a Lee 1000 progressive reloading setup. Should this be the jump to get into reloading? |
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Yes. So much awesomeness. Ditch the rails though. Attached File |
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Subsonic 44 magnum is where its at. Attached File |
1Andy2: it's just a question of if we decide to stop throwing coal in the furnace and lean on the brakes or if we're going to blow the boiler up getting to Full Retard'sville.
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180gr Cast Core or another type of WFNGC boolit with a minimal load of Red Dot or such (and possibly a cardboard filler) and see the pills fly down range at exactly 1000fps and with almost no report. Been there, done that - delicious and scary quiet. Heavy pills tend to be pretty accurate in my Rossi with the threaded barrel. FYI: I managed to bring my levergun to the range the same day the LGS had supressors to show off. |
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Screw it... just pass me another cup of coffee and to hell with Joe
Screw it... just pass me another cup of coffee and to hell with Joe
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Attached File Just got my RUGGED OBSIDIAN 45 can't wait to shoot it |
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Originally Posted By StylesBitchley: Looking at doing this at some point. Do .38s of all types cycle OK in .357 lever guns? Including those flat wadcutters, which I would think would be really quiet. Also, genuine question.....why the S&W? I've never tried wadcutters, but SWC .38s cycle in my Rossi. The Winchester not so much; it'll cycle them, but kinda janky. The Winchester is built on the 94 action and is kind of clunky with short pistol cartridges (better with the magnum cartridges than the specials in .357 and .44 in my experience) while the smaller 92, 73, etc and the small receiver Marlins handle them fine. Haven't tried a Smith yet, the Henrys I've shot were OK, but I didn't care for them. |
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Originally Posted By FerrousDueler: The Lee 1000 has a reputation for being finicky and needing some tuning. I'd recommend a Lee Classic 4 hole Turret press. It's very straight-forward. Not the ideal high volume press, but I used one for several years to feed pistols for IDPA and USPSA. Originally Posted By FerrousDueler: The Lee 1000 has a reputation for being finicky and needing some tuning. I'd recommend a Lee Classic 4 hole Turret press. It's very straight-forward. Not the ideal high volume press, but I used one for several years to feed pistols for IDPA and USPSA. Originally Posted By Austin4130: Just got one, and have been eyeing a deal I found locally on a Lee 1000 progressive reloading setup. Should this be the jump to get into reloading? Good to know, thank you. |
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I have the Marlin 1894 SBL 357/38 with a YHM R9 can and a Vortex Viper red dot. It's BB gun quiet with 38spl 158 gr. and .357 158gr is hearing safe. With the sun just right to your back you can see the bullet going to the target. It's the most fun gun I own. Marlin 1894 SBL 357/38 |
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Originally Posted By StylesBitchley: Looking at doing this at some point. Do .38s of all types cycle OK in .357 lever guns? Including those flat wadcutters, which I would think would be really quiet. Also, genuine question.....why the S&W? Not in my m92 Eta, but 158gr swc work fine |
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To get the quietest lever action ammo you need to use the fastest possible powder (bullseye works great), smallest case volume (use spl brass, not magnum brass), and the lightest/slickest bullet (cheap plated bullets or powder coated lead to avoid leading up your silencer). The slower the muzzle velocity the quieter, don't be afraid to load down to 900fps. The difference between this and factory ammo or reloads with heavier bullets and slower powders is amazing. |
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Originally Posted By Bellows1: Nice. I really want to try a suppressed 38 revolver. Attached File Are there any sealed .38 revolvers? |
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Originally Posted By Bellows1: Nice. I really want to try a suppressed 38 revolver. One of our members put a suppressor on a threaded Heritage .22. He said the extra backpressure at the cylinder gap made it louder with the can than without. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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Originally Posted By fournines: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/138630/20260924_160000_jpg-3833832.JPG Just got my RUGGED OBSIDIAN 45 can't wait to shoot it Please let us know how it goes. I have an Obsidian 9 I want to put on a .357/.38 lever action. Considering changing the endcap to a .45. |
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I'm toying with the idea of selling a fal that doesn't get shot almost ever to pick up a marlin in .357 just for silenced plinking purposes. My friend has one and it's a hoot to shoot. |
"Freedom is a messy business." - LaRue_Tactical
I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
I am a sack of blood, held together by un-tanned leather. . .
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In general, 38's cycle fine in most lever guns. You may need to scrub the bore after shooting or 357's might stick a little afterwards. Subsonic 38's are super fun to shoot out of a suppressed lever gun. Recoil feels like a 22lr. Honestly, one of the highest grin factor guns I own. I smile every time I pull the trigger. Have used them on hogs, DRT - but shot placement is almost beyond critical (close range head shots). That said, looking forward to playing with subs out of my 44. If the twist is correct, you can even do subsonic 44 magnums. Not cost efficient, but almost Goverment 45/70 power levels (400gr 44mag bullets at 1,000 fps). Have only shot 44 special subs out of it so far. Almost as quiet as the 38's. |
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Originally Posted By mousehunter: That said, looking forward to playing with subs out of my 44. If the twist is correct, you can even do subsonic 44 magnums. |
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I’ve got a marlin 357 and it will feed wad cutters Attached File |
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Originally Posted By mousehunter: In general, 38's cycle fine in most lever guns. You may need to scrub the bore after shooting or 357's might stick a little afterwards. Subsonic 38's are super fun to shoot out of a suppressed lever gun. Recoil feels like a 22lr. Honestly, one of the highest grin factor guns I own. I smile every time I pull the trigger. Have used them on hogs, DRT - but shot placement is almost beyond critical (close range head shots). That said, looking forward to playing with subs out of my 44. If the twist is correct, you can even do subsonic 44 magnums. Not cost efficient, but almost Goverment 45/70 power levels (400gr 44mag bullets at 1,000 fps). Have only shot 44 special subs out of it so far. Almost as quiet as the 38's. What is a better suppressed lever gun host? 38/357 OR 44? |
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Originally Posted By bcr308: I’ve got a marlin 357 and it will feed wad cutters https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/2974/IMG_5799_jpeg-3833970.JPG Like straight up Wadcutters or semi wadcutters? Attached File |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By shack357: I'm kind of wishing I hadn't sold my Contender when I got my BFR. All I had was a .45-70 barrel, and I liked that one that much more. the trigger is why I like it. I have a short threaded .22lr and. 357. also a 45lc/410. im considering a 223 that will also be threaded and suppressed |
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Originally Posted By Vaquero45: Been trying to decide between a .357 lever action or the Henry 300 blackout lever action. .357 would be cheaper to shoot and .38 spl is really easy to reload. A .357 mag would have no problem killing a deer around 100 yds, maybe a little further. I would probably go with the .357 since I already have the ammo and several revolvers in .357 mag and .38 spl. |
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Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
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Originally Posted By bluedog82: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/499242/IMG_1710_jpeg-3833899.JPG Are there any sealed .38 revolvers? Nagant 1895 in 7.62x38 |
Let's go Brandon!
Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
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Originally Posted By Vaquero45: Been trying to decide between a .357 lever action or the Henry 300 blackout lever action. It's seriously hard to appreciate how handy a .357 levergun is (especially in the 1894 or 92 action) until you carry one around the woods for a while. They are just so handy, fun, and practical. One of the great things about them is how easy they are to carry in your hand. Having a magazine right where your hand wraps the receiver kind of kills that. Those .300 blk Henrys are cool though. That being said, I've been seriously tempted to get a Henry Long Ranger with it's flush magazine and chop the barrel down to 12" or so. |
