Brand for .357 lever?

Getting one for Christmas. Not sure what brand I should get. Want it for hunting from a tree stand with open sights I think. And being able to shoot .38 special ammo to plink with. I know Rossi revolvers are garbage but I hear good stuff about their carbines. Probably trying to spend less than $600.

I have the Rossi 92 .357, I believe it's an 20" barrel. Its been good for me so far, pretty accurate for what it is. Only thing I had to do was polish the feed ramp on bottom a little to get it to smoothly feed Remington 158SPs, which is about all I shoot out of it, mostly for pigs. I have shot maybe 150 rounds through it total so it's not torture tested by any means. Seems like I paid about $500 for it.

Ever shoot .38 special out of it? Curious about feeding.

I know I shot some FMJ, probably Remington UMC type stuff through it when I first got it 3-4 years ago. I don't recall any feed issues other the with fat, soft tipped Remington .357 158gr ammo.

Awesome. Thanks

Maybe a Henry?

I went ahead and pulled it out of the safe. I loaded up and fed 5 Remington UMC 130gr MC cartridges through it, no problems. Of course I'm not cycling it cowboy action style or anything, so take this for what it's worth.

I bought the Rossi on the recommendation of a family member for a cheap truck gun. I would imagine domestic manufacturers lever gun very well might be a better piece if budget allows.

Thanks for that

Marlin

I have a JM stamped Marlin and love the gun. It feeds 38 ammo with no issue, but this brand and model probably exceed your budget.

New .44 mag 94 Marlin for $500... apparently the .357's are made from unobtanium.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/41009/marlin_1894_44_mag_20_wal

Anybody know what the recoil is like on a .44? I'm assuming it's still pretty timid, but this could also be a potential close range deer rifle for my kiddos.

I load 250 gr keiths in front of 18.5 gr 2400. Recoil is mild in my Marlin lever. Factory 240gr sp kicks about the same.

I haven't paid attention to 357 prices, but you can usually pickup a JM stamped Marlin 44 for $450 give or take. If buying new I'd probably spend the extra coin and get the Henry. Made in USA, drilled and tapped for scope if you end up wanting to go that route.

Not bad, especially if shooting cowboy loads. A 300 grain cast bullet is a good option too.

I would certainly go with an 1894 Marlin. They can be had,recently picked up this pre safety Marlin for 200 bones. it's a little rough around the edges but is a dandy little carbine.

I have a couple of 1894's in 44 mag, the recoil is manageable about the same as a 30-30. You could run 44 special loads if you want less recoil.

I'll give you $250

I have both Marlin and Rossi's in 357 & 44 Mag. Should say "had" as I did sell my Marlin 1894C after a bit of experience with the Rossi. My JB Marlin 357 Mag loaded a cartridge like digging a hole in gravel now matter how much attention I gave it.

I own all the Rossi 92s except the 44-40 Win, from 357 Mag through 480 Ruger. All of the Braztech manufacture, the latest, and I've had no problems with them. My experience would tell you to remove the buttstock from the rifle when you get it and flush it with non-chlorinated brake cleaner until it runs clear. Then spray it down with a good gun oil and work the action 100 times (happens quick). Flush it again and reoil the clockworks. Do this a total of five times, 500 times, and your action will be very slick. Do this before you do any of the Youtube mods or buy any Rossi slicking kits. These rifles are packed tight with grease for their trip north and every bit of it needs to be cleaned out, or you will have problems. I did end up using the Gunslinger spring kit on all my rifles as I like the extremely light trigger. All mine are hunting rifles, not race guns, but I prefer the light trigger. These rifles are also configured as scout rifles.

My 44 Mag Marlin is a 1894P, a 16" ported barrel "Outfitter" modeled after the 444 Marlin of the same name. It is an outstanding rifle and wears the XS Sight System's scout base and Ghost Ring.



Back to the Rossi 357 Mag, I use it with a 190-grain 35 Rem cast bullet of my design, using 38 Spl brass to accommodate the cartridge overall length, long bullet nose, and crimp groove. I do load it to 357 Mag pressures. It drops deer and hogs like a heavy sack of taters.



I found the Marlin 357 Mag very critical of bullet nose and OAL. The Rossi is pretty easy going.

The metalwork on the Rossi's is very good with deep bluing. The wood on my 2010 through 2013 manufactured rifles used a waterbased, unsealed stain. The good news was that it was easy to remove and put an oil finish on them. The wood is "rubberwood." Seriously, and it typically has some interesting grain to it, but there is no effort on their part to match the grain to the stock set.

As a note, I carry a Rossi 351 38 Spl, and it is an outstanding pistol.

Rossi inventory levels really drop at this time of year as they are brought north in shipping containers. If you are not in a rush, wait. 2017, was a low inventory year as the plant that made them was being relocated.

That's all really great info. Thank you!

I should have added a couple of things based on my experience. If you want a 357 Mag, you won't ever be happy with a 44 Mag. You will end of with both.

Parts support of pre-Braztech Rossi's is non-existent. As of late, support of the Rossi's has been good through RossiUSA in Miami, but there are no online parts. Must suffer through a possible long wait to order what you want. Talking to the agents is about like talking to an Academy gun counter clerk, you wonder if they have ever pulled a trigger on a firearm and had it go "bang."

If you are going to scope it Marlin (early models) if not Rossi (Braziltech)
I have a Rossi 20" Stainless Steal in .45 Colt. It has shot everything I put thru it.
But it shoots my hand loads the best! 260grain lead over a medium charge of unique powder.
The same load I used in my Ruger Vaquero. (I have it in my load book, don't remember the charge}
Which reminds me, now that I have venison in the freezer I need to get it out for some pork!

All my Rossi's have scout (extended eye relief) scopes on them. Those manufacturered through this year are still drill & tapped except for the octagon barreled models. You must remove the rear sight to see the four plugged holes. I use the Weaver K4 Classic Scout. Longest kill was with 45 Colt, hog out in a food plot at 197-yards.

I thought I would add some information about the scope base. The Rossi mount (P892) has not been available for several years. They have a P801 base on their website but that mount is for their Single Shot series. The screw hole pattern is the same but the base does not fit the taper of the 92 barrel. With no Rossi P892 base available, it makes me wonder why they continue to drill & tap the barrel and possibly this won't be applicable in some future year model.

I mentioned the lack of a base to a good friend of mine, the owner of NOE Bullet Molds and he got busy and started manufacturing them. The Rossi base was a Weaver style base with only two slots cut across it which limited scope tube positioning. The NOE mount is a Picatinny spec mount. He offers them anodized black and clear, the latter for stainless rifles.

I've had my Rossi 357 trapper for a few years and have probably run a bit over 1000 rounds through it. Mostly 357, but occasionally I'll run some 38. If you are prone to switch between 357 and 38, make sure to keep the chamber clean. You can get a bit of a carbon ring from shooting the shorter cases.

Everything that Ranch Dog wrote is spot on. While I had my stock and fore end off, I did sand and tung oil them.

What's funny okstate is that I had my Rio Grande 45-70 out on a nilgia hunt and a thunderstorm came drifting along. I hunkered down, trying to cover the rifle, but when it passed the stain on the buttstock had leeched off. That's when I realized how easy the stock work would be.

The problem is, unless you wanna go with Henry, you can't really purchase a new 357 levergun for under $1000 right now. I've been looking for a while. All the Rossis are back ordered everywhere. Marlin is not making 357 leverguns anymore. You can maybe find a used Marlin 1894, but people are asking ridiculous prices for them right now. A side loading gate is important for me so that takes Henry off the table.

I've been looking for the large loop ones, no go. Got the Santa letter sent off but I don't think it's going to show up in the stocking. Sure wish Rossi would start up again on the 357 want one to go with my single six. Can find all the 45lc. Oh well. Maybe Easter bunny bring if Santa don't.

I didn't realize the Rossi 357 was so hard to find. I did a quick search and couldn't even find the Ranch Hand.

Shows you how popular a 357 Mag levergun. Sure enough, only two on GunBroker. This used rifle is the -002 saddle ring carbine with the scope base and reasonable shipping, might be worth watching: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/721076278

I tried to buy the Winchester 94ae in the classified, but couldn't get a deal done. Bummer.

So did I...

There is one in the classified now!

Link? I don't see one.