relative newbie to shooting--Marlin 1894C vs. Puma 92

[Scrapper Blackwell]

I've got it in my stupid head that I would like a cowboy(ish) style lever action chambered in .357 magnum. My use for it would be strictly punching holes in paper and tin cans and such, not a hunting rifle.....The .357 appeals to me because if I get a revolver in the same caliber, there would be compatibility, as well as the ability to shoot .38 special.

For looks, I think I'd like the octagonal barrel, but I don't think it's a deal-breaker.
I think I'd like to install a peep sight of some type. ,maybe a tang sight?` (don't like the look of a scope on a lever action)...

This leads me to the Marlin 1894C vs. the Puma 92....Any red flags? Anything to look for? Thanks in advance!

Scrapper

 

[BCCL]

Never had a Puma (Rossi), but I have owned a Marlin 1894C, and have kicked myself for years for selling it.

Just an absolutely fantastic gun.

 

[Hanzerik]

I have two Rossi/Pumas in .44 Mag, both are great guns. These were bought from Buds Gunshop before they started to get the Italian ones in at almost double the price. From my understanding the Italian ones look very nice and are nicely finished, but may have issues with the internals. But...my Brazilian made rifles may not be the prettiest guns, and the mystery wood is not very nice looking but they are very slick and reliable guns. I'd say if you can find one get one of the Brazilian guns; they pop up on Buds sometimes but don't last very long, and GunBroker had a few last time I looked. For the price you pay for an Italian one, you can almost get two Brazilian guns. COSteve will probably chime in to this thread and also praise the Rossi/Puma guns, as he has two in .357 mag. Our rifles are setup pretty much the same except his is a 24" rifle and mine is a 20" Short Rifle, but both have had the factory sight swapped and tang sights installed.

Top is a 20" Short Rifle, Octagon barrel, color case hardened receiver. Bottom one is a 16" Blued carbine.

 

[Furncliff]

Love my Marlin, my daughter calls it her favorite rifle. I installed a skinner Sight on it.

http://www.skinnersights.com/

 

[BCCL]

Guess I will have some Puma/Rossi first hand experience in a few days. I traded for an early (no safety) Interarms/Rossi 16" barreled Trapper in .357 today!