.357 Lever Guns?

[Panzerschwein]

Looking at choices for a NEW .357 magnum lever action.

Frankly there doesn't seem to be many choices out there.

I won't own a Henry. I get it, they're great guns and the tube magazine is awesome. Except I hate it and want a loading gate. Period. If it works for you, awesome. It's just not for me.

Marlin doesn't seem to be interested in making their 1894 in .357 magnum anymore. They've got tons of .44 magnum and .45 Colt ones on the market seemingly everywhere, I guess .357 magnum ones aren't profitable? Who knows...

So that leaves me with either Rossi or one of the expensive Italian clones. I am looking more for a workhorse type gun, something rugged and reliable. The Rossis seem to be hard to get but I managed to find a couple for less than $600 NIB. The Italian 1892 clones go for $1000 or better, so I really don't want to spend that one.

Are the Rossi 92s in .357 worth buying? Are they rugged and reliable? If not, are there ANY other choices in a reasonably priced but dependable .357 lever action in the year 2017??

Thanks guys!

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive got a rossi carbine .357, and ive found it to be well made but rough. From what i understand, and from my experience they can have issues feeding rounds shorter than mag length, and MAY be temperamental about bullets.

BUT, hour and a half with 600grit sand paper, and a 20 dollar spring kit from brownells/stevesguns, and you have a smooth handling, accurate, and rugged levergun.
I have one of steves bolt mounted peeps, and modified front sight. Hitting a coffee can free hand from 0-100yds is cake, even shooting quickly.

Even without tinkering my gun was pretty good, and id be willing to recommend it for a basic workhorse type rifle. But the little bit of time and money I spent made it a whole lot better.

Only thing id prefer was that mine was a .44, just cause my new revolvers a .44.

 

[AZAndy]

I haven't had any trouble with my Rossi 16". The loading gate is stiff, which I'll probably fix at some point, if I get around to it. Loads and extracts just fine, both .38 and .357. Shoots straight. The stock is some sort of Mystery Wood, but it doesn't look bad. I'm planning to get rid of my other rifles (2 MN and an SKS), but the Rossi stays.

 

[Speedo66]

Any possible issue on Rossi's are pretty well known, and there are many, many videos and written pieces to fix them. I got lucky, my .357 purchased 2 years ago operated flawlessly with any .357 or .38 I had on hand.

So even if it has an issue or two, it's a simple fix. Lots of step by step U-Tubes to help you DIY. Also, they tend to smooth out through use. The only mod I made was to change to a lower powered ejection spring in order to find ejected brass easier,. The spring, a Century C-530, is available online or in hardware stores.

They're light and short, very handy, a nice bonus is they're also very accurate, You won't regret buying one.

 

[fpgt72]

I am going to be watching this thread.....you stated just what I want, and I will not own a henry as well....same reason, just how hard it it for you to make a proper loading gate you cheap suckers.

I almost grabbed an older marlin, but the prices are just too hard for me to swallow.

I think that Rossi is about the only game in town....and I just don't understand why.

 

[RPRNY]

Had a Rossi 92 in 357. Even after the StevesGunz slick-up, it was very finicky about feeding rounds. I never could get it to feed 38 spl rounds reliably. Moved it on. I have one in 45 Colt now and, as long as I am decisive about pushing the lever forward to push the ramp up all the way, it feeds almost anything and I am very happy with it. The design of the 92 is not ideal for the smaller diameter 35 cal round. The Win '73 is better suited to the 357/38...but they are indeed quite expensive and the Marlin '94 is scarce and pricey.

For all the dislike of the Henry tube loading, one would think they'd cotton on and add a model with a loading gate.

 

[tallpaul]

I have a marlin but would not be afraid of a rossi- just grabbed a rossi in 44 but have not shot it yet but she seems to feed rounds fine,,, then again its .44 mag

I WISH marlin would make a 92 in .357 MAX ... I think a lever in the 357 max would be great

 

[RPRNY]

I WISH marlin would make a 92 in .357 MAX ... I think a lever in the 357 max would be great

Marlin's '92 is a rimfire, currently called the Model 39A.... But, ballistically, there are loads of Marlin 336 that offer what you are looking for - they chamber it in 35 Remington ;-) No help for Ohio hunters, but the 35 Rem is a great woods cartridge and only about 150 fps or so faster than the Max with 180s.

 

[TN Outlaw]

My Rossi R92 in 357mag/38spl has fed flawlessly so far with either round and i have cycled the lever fast and slow with no issues. It just happens to be very accurate with no more than the factory sights/ammo. I have some 180gr Hard Cast that i plan to thump a whitetail with next season.

That was the carrot....now heres the stick:
There is some fit and finish issues as i said in another thread, one side of the forearm is thicker than the other. The gate is stiff and sharp. Rough on your fingers. I hate the ugly safety on top of the recvr, its an eye sore to me. Ive since fixed most of these problems and am very happy with the rifle.

I also would have no problem with the Henry mag tube and really want one in either 44mag or 45LC. Henry has the smoothest actions ive felt on a production lever gun.

 

[bassjam]

I was in the same boat as the OP last summer, and had made the decision that a Rossi 92 is easily the best option right now. The price is good, it seems strong and well built, and there's tons of information out there on how to address any issues it may have. Not that I think they are problematic, there's just as much information on addressing Marlin lever action issues.

My issue with the Henry isn't the tube, it's the weight.

Although before I bought a Rossi, I ended up finding a nice early 80's Marlin. I probably paid a couple hundred more than a Rossi would have cost, but it's a slick gun and for some reason I don't care for the top ejection system, I much prefer a side ejection.

 

[John_R]

The Rossi works fine, and it's fun to shoot. Just get one!

 

[Panzerschwein]

The Rossi works fine, and it's fun to shoot. Just get one!

Really? Are they G2G?

I was under the impression that they were subpar but sounds like the current ones are decent? A shame Marlin won't make their '94 in .357 magnum anymore, God only knows why.

 

[GRIZ22]

The only modification I've made to my Rossi 357 is clipping a few inches from the magazine spring. It was really hard to load those last couple of rounds. No feeding problems with 38s or 357s. It's a handy light rifle and fun to shoot.

 

[LoonWulf]

Really? Are they G2G?

I was under the impression that they were subpar but sounds like the current ones are decent? A shame Marlin won't make their '94 in .357 magnum anymore, God only knows why.

Roughly finished inside, but not really subpar.
After having taken apart my Blackhawk, and polishing that, i actually dont think the rossis that bad. Ruger does a better job of taking off sharp edges, but fitment and machining marks almost the same.
And again this isnt to say the Rugers bad, its just to point out that both guns function and shoot very well with the same...or similar... level of internal finishing
My rossi is prety new, so that may be part of it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Roughly finished inside, but not really subpar.
After having taken apart my Blackhawk, and polishing that, i actually dont think the rossis that bad. Ruger does a better job of taking off sharp edges, but fitment and machining marks almost the same.
And again this isnt to say the Rugers bad, its just to point out that both guns function and shoot very well with the same...or similar... level of internal finishing
My rossi is prety new, so that may be part of it.

Very cool. I wouldn't care if I had to do a fluff n' buff. I wonder if the parts are durable though? Wonder if the Rossis go through parts?

 

[LoonWulf]

Very cool. I wouldn't care if I had to do a fluff n' buff. I wonder if the parts are durable though? Wonder if the Rossis go through parts?

I wouldnt think durability will be an issue, i bought some spare cartridge guides for my gun as, i wanted to tinker with it, they are probably the smallest parts in the gun and surprisingly beefy.
I ended up ruining a one set playing with changing angles, but cutting them with a file actually took some work.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I wouldnt think durability will be an issue, i bought some spare cartridge guides for my gun as, i wanted to tinker with it, they are probably the smallest parts in the gun and surprisingly beefy.
I ended up ruining a one set playing with changing angles, but cutting them with a file actually took some work.

Cool. This is good to hear. If a foreign South American company wants to drink Marlin's milkshake, so be it. Just so surprising Marlin refuses to make any 1894s in .357... every website has them available in .45 Colt and .44 Magnum, but not the tremendously popular and inexpensive .357 magnum?? They used to make them and were well thought of and there appears to be a demand for them... so odd.

 

[LoonWulf]

Cost may be the issue, the 44/45 rossis share parts, the .357s are specific. Im not sure if marlin guns are the same way, but if they are the bean counters might have nixed the .357 just on that basis alone.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought a new Rossi 16" stainless .357 a couple of years ago. Mine functioned great right out of the box. It feed any style bullet I out in it with no trouble. I ordered Steve Gunz video and spring. I did a kitchen table action job. It turned out very slick and has a great trigger. I didn't care for the factory sights. I also ordered a pair of sights from Steve Gunz. Steel plates that are big enough to be seen can be hit out to 200 yards pretty easily. I have put close to 4k rounds thru the gun and haven't bothered to even clean it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I bought a new Rossi 16" stainless .357 a couple of years ago. Mine functioned great right out of the box. It feed any style bullet I out in it with no trouble. I ordered Steve Gunz video and spring. I did a kitchen table action job. It turned out very slick and has a great trigger. I didn't care for the factory sights. I also ordered a pair of sights from Steve Gunz. Steel plates that are big enough to be seen can be hit out to 200 yards pretty easily. I have put close to 4k rounds thru the gun and haven't bothered to even clean it.

Excellent, sounds good to me. Glad someone still makes a decent lever .357 that don't cost a grand plus!!

 

[LoonWulf]

Oh if sights are an issue, take a look at steves bolt mounted peep. I found that on my gun filing the front sight flat made it nearly the perfect height, and much easier for me to deal with than the brass bead.
Bolt peep also gets rid of the stupid saftey.

 

[John_R]

I joined the Rossi forum when I first got mine, but haven't been on there much. I didn't see many threads about problems. I did have an issue early on, which I may have caused myself. I'll never know for sure. The action locked up and I sent it to Miami to be fixed on their dime. It came back with action running smoother than ever, and it's never had a problem since then. I wouldn't trade it for nuthin.' I think I paid $475 for it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I joined the Rossi forum when I first got mine, but haven't been on there much. I didn't see many threads about problems. I did have an issue early on, which I may have caused myself. I'll never know for sure. The action locked up and I sent it to Miami to be fixed on their dime. It came back with action running smoother than ever, and it's never had a problem since then. I wouldn't trade it for nuthin.' I think I paid $475 for it.

This is a most pleasing report! Glad to see they took care of you. I guess customer service is good then for Rossi?

 

[Girodin]

Mine is not nearly as nicely finished as my Winchester. The action was rougher, the wood and finish not nearly as nice, sights didn't shoot POA to POI. That said it doesn't have lots of rounds with lots of different loads but it has feed everything in 38 and 357 that I've fed it and for the price I don't think one can expect the same level of refinement. Also, as others have said the issues are known and the fixes are too.

If you like to work on you guns, I'd say buying a rosi and slicking it up is a good value. I like mine for what it is and think it's a fun gun.

 

[Glockula]

I have had the Rossi in .357 mag for about 5 years now. The gun is a keeper. It had some issues out of the box, not feeding or double feeding .38s, but they were pretty easily resolved. The mystery Brazilian wood stock was very rough and barely finished. Some sanding and spar varnish and she is good to go. The gun is very accurate with the original sights to 75 yards or so with both 125s and 158s. Mine is the 16" version. When I went through this I found Rossi to be the only reasonable option as well. Unbelievable that we are still in that position. Hope this helps.