Lever Action Question: Does receiver material matter?

[saldawyz]

Stainless, Blued, Case Hardened, Brass. Is it all for looks, or does one out - perform the other?
I'm looking particularly at lever action rifles. I want a .38spec/.357mag. I will be plinking, but I also want to get into some javelina hunting and possibly mule deer. I'd like to do some experimenting with Buffalo Bore's hot .357 loads and I'm slightly worried that I may damage an inferior receiver.

• Skeptical of the Marlins w/ the jamming issue in the hand gun chambers
• I like the Ubertis. Case hardened. They are also on the higer end of the price range.
• Henry Big Boy looks nice as is the price. Brass receiver. Will it fare well?
• Rossi is cool. Has 3/4 choices for fair prices. They actually make a brass, just not in .357. Rossi is an unknown quantity to me. Haven't read a lot about them, but I've not read anything negative either.

Or am I just being paranoid and the receivers are all the same stainless steel on the inside?

Yeah, I know. I'm obviously a noob who reads too much.

 

[MAKster]

A steel receiver will be stronger than brass. If you are planning to shoot 357 Buffalo Bore loads I would stick with a steel receiver since these loads are in 30-30 territory.

 

[SSN Vet]

I thought the "dreaded Marlin jamb" was rectified a long time ago...

 

[R.W.Dale]

Mine will but only when shooting short 38's

IMO the marlin is the way to go having owned marlins rossis and winchesters.

The rossi looks nice bit the action feels like operating a hiLift jack with a 6" handle

the Winchester (44 mag) did jam A LOT!

 

[ArmedBear]

For practical use, I'd get the Marlin stainless, while there still is a Marlin. The stainless 1894C is a new variant, and one I wish they'd have made when I bought mine. I still might get one.

Skip brass. Those flat sides shine like a mirror when polished, and look like crap when not polished. A couple flashes of reflected sunlight, and all the deer in the state will know where you are. Also, Buffalo Bore says, "steel frame" for their ammo. Now they are talking about revolvers; they don't mention rifles, but I wouldn't mess with brass. And no, there's no stainless steel inside any of the guns but the few that are specifically built in stainless.

The bare Henry weighs a pound more than my Model 70 in .30-06, including the scope. For hunting, that kills the whole point of a pistol caliber carbine IMO. The Uberti isn't that heavy, but it still has about a pound on the 1892 and 1894 rifles. If you want a gorgeous rifle, get a Uberti in CCH finish. It won't be free, but it's a beaut.

The 1892 Winchester pattern (Rossi is a replica) has wonderful handling, and I say that as a fan of Marlins. Rossis may take some work to get them slicked up, but they're solid.

UPDATE:

The rossi looks nice bit the action feels like operating a hiLift jack with a 6" handle

LOL That's probably a more realistic assessment, but it can be 'smithed. Just factor that into the price. The gun isn't finished when you buy it.

Check out CDNN for some deals, BTW.

 

[BCRider]

My Rossi in .357 that I'm using for cowboy shooting events is a touch rough but nothing bad. And there's some info out on the net to slicken the works up so that they chamber as smoothly as any of them. I recently started reloading and tried some of my .38 rounds in my Rossi. The overall length was a hair short and I had troubles. However the same bullets loaded to the same depth in .357 Mag cases works as slick as soapy water. And for the price and since they can be slicked up so easily I feel they represent a good value for the buck if you are capable of fully stripping the gun and doing the simple adjsutments and polishing described in the writeups.