Looking for a 357mag/38special Lever gun.

[Rusty Luck]

I am wanting a 357/38 lever gun, not a really nice(purty) one but one for brush work and ranch duties and fun. What brands are out there? What would y'all recommend? And how much would I expect to pay for it? I'd like to keep the price under $500ish. Thanks in advance.

 

[Reloadron]

As to a 357 lever gun Henry Big Boy, Marlin 1894C, and Uberti 1873 all come to mind. A new Marlin I believe runs in the $600 plus range and a used can be had for less. Given the choices I would likely go Marlin but to each their own.

Ron

 

[aHFo3]

I have a Marlin 1894c and really love it. The Marlins seem to have a good following and for various reasons have become more costly - more than your stated price limit in my area. I've never owned one or spent much time looking at them, but Rossi makes an 1892 clone, I believe. Their prices will be closer to your budget.

 

[forward observer]

To fit your $500ish price range, your best bet may be a Rossi M92. These little Brazilian made carbines and rifles are going to beat just about any other current made lever gun in price.

However, there have been occasional quality issues. They do warranty their rifles, but every once in a while you will hear about a turkey.

I have an older Rossi (pre-bolt safety) that I bought used and it is almost as smooth as my original Winchester 92, which is what it's copied after. The Rossi's have a decent choice of calibers and styles plus they come in stainless steel. Most can be had in the $500 to $600 range for new---even less if you can find a used one locally.

I've heard that the latest crop are of better quality, but the Rossi's are plentiful and popular enough that a cottage industry has sprung up to improve and smooth up their actions.

A Uberti anything in a lever action is going to cost $1000 to $1200 new. Winchesters even more. Both are of high quality, but the price is prohibitive.

Henry's and Marlin's are still produced in the US, but a quick look on Gunbroker.com showed prices for their lever guns in .357 starting in the $750 range, so you will probably have to go used to find anything for less.

I've never owned either a Henry or a Marlin, so others will have to comment on the quality aspects of the their current production.

Cheers

 

[Deog]

Marlin 1894 c .357, s 44 mag. Not exactly easy to find these days.

 

[Dunkelheit]

+1 for the Rossi. I Had a Rossi92 for several years and it did never disappoint me.

 

[bluekouki86]

Another vote for the Rossi 92. I have an older model that has never once let me down. It is such a handy rifle in carbine length.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

In 08 I picked up a nearly flawless Marlin 79 1894c for a bit over $400. I don't think you'd get a Marlin for that now. I went looking for one thinking it would be the perfect "truck gun". It's too nice for that.

 

[bannockburn]

Yet another vote for a Rossi Model 92. Picked a used one up a couple of years ago and have been very pleased by its overall fit, finish, and function.

 

[aHFo3]

76shuvlinoff, that's about when I picked up my '82 1894c for $425. I'm really glad I found it when I did! It looked brand new. I've since given it a little bit of character, just a little.

 

[chicharrones]

A new Marlin I believe runs in the $600 plus range and a used can be had for less.
Ron

I wish, or I'd have bought one in the last 12 months. When I see the 1894 Marlins they are in the $1000 range for nice ones. I don't see any beater 1894s, so people must be taking care of them.

Please Marlin, make the 1894 again. Otherwise Chiappa will, just like their version of the 39 that was recently announced.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

The $500 price point will limit your choice of a new rifle to the Rossi/Braztech 1892. Those guns seem to run better in the larger calibers than in .357. If you get one remember that they can be improved at least somewhat by a little gunsmithing but you'd very quickly top your $500 budget.

At one time you could find a used Marlin for under $500 but the quality and availability problems post-Remington-merger have driven up the price of used Marlin '94s. If I wanted a .357 rifle for hunting I would take a Marlin over a Rossi '92 even if I had to pay over budget. Brown bag your lunch for a month or two to make up the difference.

I would not even consider the Henry for your purposes. Too heavy and beyond your budget anyway.

 

[Water-Man]

Rossi M92. I've had a .38/.357 for five years and have been completely satisfied with it.

 

[cluttonfred]

Oddly enough, you can find the .30-30 Marlin 336Y Spikehorn carbine for under $450 even though the 1894s are like hen's teeth.

 

[MEHavey]

I picked one of these up:

http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/817

Probably the best finished of all the `92 clones it has functioned superbly with both 38 Special (all types); and 357 (all but a limited few of the longer LSWCs -- any/all flat nose designs functioned perfectly.)

 

[Nite Ryder]

You would be hard pressed to find a better rifle in 357 mag that you would find with an 1894 Marlin. I have several lever action rifles, and the best by far for just average shooting is the Marlin. It is not expensive, very easy to clean and maintain. If you are looking for speed, your best bet is a '66 or '73 Winchester Clone with a short stroke kit installed. If you are looking for something a bit more expensive and shiny then check out a Henry Bigboy. Any of the Winchester 92 or 94's or clones of those models would also work, but aren't as easy to disassemble for cleaning or tuning as a Marlin, and they can never be made to function as smoothly as a Marlin. Experience is a great teacher, I own all models of these guns except a Henry, Marlin is hard to beat.

 

[BCRider]

With the $500 price limit you are stuck with the Rossi. The others are going to all be well above that. Even for used from what I've seen folks posting about their finds.

 

[Rusty Luck]

Wow, this thread blew up with some good responses! Sorry for my delay I had the uh, misfortune of having to sight in my new AR15s (300aac and 556) so there went most of my day (and my ammo).

But anyway, the $500 isn't really a "hard" limit. I just know that if I pay too much more than $500-600 I will be subconsciously more wary of using it. I don't mind buying used, in fact I'd prefer it as then I know I'd be less likely to let it sit in the safe and only be used for plinking.

Lots of good thoughts and suggestions. I've never had a problem with Rossi, I shot and liked one of their 30-30 combinations. And I have always liked Marlins. The Uberti is in my "I would never use it but to plink" price point. And any other experiences with the chiappa?

I think I'm leaning toward looking around the hundreds of pawnshops and gunshops for a Marlin with a Rossi in the back of my head. What's a good price for these guns used?

Thanks for all the responses,
Rusty

 

[hq]

But anyway, the $500 isn't really a "hard" limit. I just know that if I pay too much more than $500-600 I will be subconsciously more wary of using it. I don't mind buying used, in fact I'd prefer it as then I know I'd be less likely to let it sit in the safe and only be used for plinking.

In that case take your time and see if you can find a nice 1894C. They have their problems too ("the dreaded Marlin jam" comes to mind) but once sorted out, they're fantastic little carbines. Action is fairly smooth out of the box, improves with use and some easy DIY work makes it very slick. Rossis aren't bad at all either, but none that I've shot has been quite as nice as 1894, which definitely is a keeper.

 

[blue32]

I was subconsciously wary of scratching my $1200 Uberti '73 until I scratched it. It has scratches on the barrel and magazine, dings in the wood, and a tiny bit of barely noticeable rust on the left side plate from living in a damp apartment for a short time. I take it out in the woods to shoot steel, pop soup cans, and even deer hunt(unfortunately no deer for the record). I can work the action with my pinky finger and thats how it came out of the box. I can't imagine how awesome the short stroke kit must be. I've had it since May '13 and it is easily my go anywhere / do anything rifle. 1,477 reloads and 150 factory rounds to date with no feeding, ejecting, or other problems. There are no burs, no mismatched stocks, no canted sights, no "dreaded Marlin jam." It feeds and fires as long as I feed. And at six cents a reload I intend to feed it a lot more.

If you go with Uberti I'm going to suggest one of the original calibers or a bottleneck substitute, though I've never read of problems with 357's save for a few off comments. I've seen Uberti 357's as low as $650 on gunbroker with no reserve in the past half year. If you or someone you know can slick a Marlin then go that route. If all you have is a little cash and no contacts get the Rossi. If you can handle a Uberti or Winchester then do so before making a decision because you may just decide to save a little while longer.

So go ahead and scratch that itch.... and scratch that rifle.... cause its gonna last you a loooooong time.

 

[MEHavey]

I've a `94C Marlin in 45Colt (same gun as would house their 357). Well made and bomb proof.
I've also got that `92 Winchester Chiappa/clone mentioned above. Totally different handling feel from the Marlin.

Before buying either, pick up both to decide.

 

[Jaxondog]

Where would the price be for these Chiappa 1892 rifles?

 

[J_McLeod]

I had a 1894C Marlin and sold it years ago. I've regretted it ever since. I've been trying to replace it for a while, but haven't seen one in years. A handled a Rossi at the LGS a while back it just didn't impress me with the fit and feel the way the Marlin did.

 

[forward observer]

Where would the price be for these Chiappa 1892 rifles?

If you click on the link for distributors you will see several listed including Dixie, Cimarron, and Taylor's. Dixie evidently doesn't carry them anymore---not on-line or even listed in my 2014 catalog.

Cimarron and Taylor's both list an M92 clone, which I'm guessing is the Chiappa. The prices are $1,185 and $1,130 respectively.

More than double the O.P.'s initial target price range.

As far as the Marlin's go, check the current thread that is running about the quality of what has produced since Remington closed the Marlin plant in 2007 and moved all the production to Lyons, N.Y.

From what I've read here and elsewhere, it appears that the new "Remlims" are pretty sub-standard. Poor fit and finish, cheaper materials, and general lack of quality from cost cutting production methods.

Until Remington corrects the issues, this would tend to leave one looking expressly at the used market for older Marlins---at least those made prior to 2007 when they were still being produced at the original factory in Connecticut.


Cheers

 

[WVRJ]

I was lucky enough to buy a Marlin 1894CP some years ago,and it's a sweetheart.Smooth action,good trigger and surprisingly accurate.But it was before the merger,and is a real Marlin with the JM barrel mark.They are great lil guns,but prices have skyrocketed.One just sold around here for 1750.00.I've read that Marlin/Remington are getting some of the QC problems straightened out.Maybe save up some jingle and raise your debt ceiling,lol.I have learned about most guns of any type that are made across the pond.Henry may be an option,but the imported stuff just doesn't appeal to me.