Which revolver-caliber lever rifles to buy?

[NoirFan]

Hello all. A long time ago I used to dismiss lever rifles as 'hokey' and 'cowboy like' but after experiencing their quick handling and slim profile in real life I have finally seen the light. I want to buy a lever rifle in 357 magnum to complement my S&W. My biggest requirements are these:

1) Must be able to easily mount a quality peep sight
2) Must have nice blueing with attractive wood stocks
3) Must reliably chamber .38 wadcutters
4) I would prefer a pistol grip stock to a straight one
5) I keep reading gripes about modern safties? I don't really care about this.

I've read the online specs of Winchester, Marlin, etc. but can I get some personal recommendations based on these criteria?

 

[Mauser lover]

Why .357 mag? didn't you hear that .45-70 is a revolver cartridge now? On the safety problem, some modern safety devices on lever guns can damage the hammer.

 

[BCRider]

It may be possible to chamber the wadcutters but I doubt it. The issue is that the wadcutter load is so short or there's not enough of a break in the shape that when one comes out of the magazine tube the second follows it and jams the works up. I know because I tried some in my Rossi cowboy gun which is a Winchester 92 clone. This may be different with the other action styles.

With the way the whole top on the 92 style action works there's no where to mount a nice neat top surface mounted receiver peep sight. So you're stuck with either a side mount lump of a thing or one of the tang mounted tower sights if you want a peep sight.

Unfortunetly in all this the '92 seems to be the least pricey option. And along with the Marlin 1895 model it's the most compact for length and weight.

Chiappa seems to be making a nice one with color case hardening on the receiver and bands. The example I saw had some nice wood as well. The store said that the two which had sold already were equally nice. So if you can live with a tang mounted peep sight then this may be an option.

I'll leave it to others to comment on the 1866 and 1873 style actions as I have not had much to do with them other than try a couple out which had been nicely slicked up for cowboy action shooting.

 

[Got_Lead?]

Noirfan:

I have a Marlin 1894 in .357, and would be glad to offer my 2 cent opinion.

The rifle is nicely blued, and the stock is walnut. The receivers come drilled and tapped for a scope base, I have seen people use these for mounting their peep sights.

I feed mine both .357's and .38's. However, as BC mentioned, short cartridges don't feed well. Mine really prefers .357 length, with a long bullet for best feeding. I have more .38 cases than .357 right now, so I load my .38's with the Lee 158 gn RNFP, seated out to the crimping groove, which gives a longer cartridge length than my SWC bullets. Feeding with the RNFP's is pretty good, cant complain about this bullet.

Unfortunately, as far as wadcutters go, mine will not feed them at all, in either .38 or .357 mag. I have a smith 52, so as you can imagine, I cast a lot of WC's. However, I don't mind using the 158 RNFP for the marlin, because the long tube of the rifle prefers a very different load than my handguns for best accuracy. Having the different bullet sytle easily differentiates this ammo from the rest of my .38's.

Hope this is helpful, good luck with your lever gun, I really enjoy mine.

 

[greyling22]

other than the 38 wadcutter requirement you're describing a marlin 1894. an older one. The new ones since remington bought them are garbage.

you can mount a peep to a rossi 92, http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_20_27&products_id=5 but the nice wood and blueing are going to be an issue. you could get a stock set made I suppose....

I've had most 357 lever guns at one point or other, and I"d rank them:
1)old marlin
2)rossi
3)new marlin

I suppose you could look at the henry big boy as well, but I could never get past the look of the brass receiver.

 

[Got_Lead?]

What year did Marlin go downhill?

 

[greyling22]

sometime in '07. Remington bought marlin around that time, and quality started downhill, I'm guessing because the bean counters wanted more guns out the door and less attention to detail. Then remington closed the north haven factory, fired the employees and moved to (illon maybe?) and those are the really bad ones. I have heard a couple of reports of quality getting a little better, but it's still mostly miss. If it's stamped JM on the left side of the barrel, it's probably fine, if it's got REP in an oval on the right side, I'm passing on it. (stamps are back by the receiver)

 

[303tom]

You want a Henry & one of these !

 

[NoirFan]

Hi, I should clarify I want a receiver peep sight, not a tang.

It looks like the older Marlin 1894s are a popular choice. Is it hard to find pistol grip stocks which will fit this model? I've only seen them with straight stocks at the stores and online.

Thanks

 

[acmax95]

I have a Winchester 94AE in .357 and I really enjoy this gun. I put a Williams receiver sight on it and it is a fairly accurate rifle. It is blued with nice looking wood on it. I only shoot .357 in mine so I can't comment on feeding .38s.

 

[FullEffect1911]

I have an 1894c that I bought after the Remington take over. I had no idea about said take over when I bought it new.

It has been flawless for me shooting .357 magnum 158 grain xtp and .38 125 grain lead RNFP reloads. I really am pretty happy with how it feeds those bullets. I did however put a skinner rear peep sight and an XS front sight on mine. The factory sights leave a lot to be desired and a good peep sight is right at home on this handy carbine.

Not a whole lot louder then a .22 with supersonic ammo when using .38 special. This is a really fun and versatile carbine.

 

[BCRider]

Noirfan, your problem is that the grip shape of the rear stock has to match the shape of the lever. For an example check out the look of a Marlin 336 stock and lever and compare it to the generally avaiable pistol caliber lever guns. Fitting a stock without finding/making/modifying the lever to suit is just not possible. And finding a lever rifle with a pistol grip stock is made more difficult by the simple fact that most pistol caliber lever guns are sold with the focus being on using them in CAS events. So I would suggest that you get comfortable with the shift in arm and hand needed to work with the straight style stocks. Otherwise come up with a list of pistol grip .357 rifles and then sit back and patiently hunt one down.

 

[kemper]

Marlin 1894

Marlin 1894. Nothing more needs to be said.

 

[Furncliff]

My 1894c meets all of your requirements except for using wad cutters. Skinner has a pretty good peep, mine works O.K.. Be prepared to wait for a good used one to appear, folks like this rifle and hang on to them. And when it appears it will not be cheap.

 

[Mr.Barty]

Noirfan, while although I don't have any guns (yet) I have heard on a few posts that marlins quality in general has REALLY taken a nose dive (I believe it started after Remington bought them but feel
Free to correct me if I'm wrong), so buy used and before 2008 (just to be on the safe side).
But in my personal opinion find a Marlin in .44 magnum. While although the ammo does cost more, that's what reloading and .22s are for, the extra power and the 10+1 tube make it tempting. That and I always have a soft spot for guns with a walnut stock.

 

[shiftyer1]

I have an older marlin 1894c and haven't had a problem feeding whatever I put in it. Although I can't for the life of me remember if i've fired wadcutters in it. It's seen more 38's than .357 from me. It's a very fun non punishing gun to shoot, that is useful for lots!

I've seen alot of these threads pop up lately, I guess people are catching on

 

[chieftain]

I have a Marlin 1894 Cp with a 16" barrel and a factory drilled in compensater. Sort of a 357mag Guide gun. I got it in 2001 IIRC.

I have two very fun pistol caliber rifles. The Marlin and my Beretta Cx4 (92) 9mm. The Beretta is just for play, I shoot some matches with it. It is fun.

But the Marlin is fun and useful. It can be used for most anything anyone will need a rifle for. Use Buffalo Bore Ammo or load your own and you are reaching 30-30 velocities and energy. Good for most things you would run into. I wouldn't use it on Black bear or larger, but I know some folks have.

Great for Boar/pigs. All based on the ammo you choose, light 38spl to very hot 180gr solids 357mags.

Highly recommended. I frankly don't know anything I would use a 44 on that I would use the 357mag with the right ammo combo. Owned a Winchester 94 in 44mag back in 1970. It wasn't much fun. I much prefer the Marlin.

Get the Marlin.

Fred

 

[Red Cent]

The GOTO page for cowboys with Marlins. Maruader nows Marlins and a few VERY reputable 'smiths have contributed.

http://marauder.homestead.com/

 

[greyling22]

noirfan, you're going to struggle to find an 1894 with a pistol grip stock. they're pretty much straight stock only. marlin/remington has one with a big loop coming out with laminated stocks, a rail and stainless, but I'd check one out in person before I bought a current production gun.

 

[Choice]

Go and order one from Walmart, if you have a good store you will get a good rifle for a decent price. The 357 lever action are hard to find used, where I live anyway. I myself like lever action and one of my best shooters is a savage 99 in 308. It will give my Rem 700 a good run for the money.