Cheap to feed lever-action

Sounds like a good idea. Cheap .38 for plinking and .357 for business.
A lot cheaper than the usual alternatives: .44 .30/30 45LC .32WSPL etc

Et cum spirito tuo.

I'd recommend a Marlin 1894C in .357/.38. In fact, I do recommend them, to anyone who'll listen.

The Marlin is the way to go,Big 5 puts e'm on sale pretty often.
A .357 lever gun may or may not feed .38's reliably.Not a problem if he reloads with lead bullets in .357....pretty economical way to go.

I handled a 16 inch barreled Marlin in .357... boy it was a neat little rifle.

I'll have to go with everyone else and recommend a Marlin 1894C in .357 magnum. Mine feeds .38spl and .357 with no problems.

Other options are the Winchester 94 and Ross 92, both available in .357. I think OEF_VET recently acquired a Rossi 92 so he might be able to tell you more about it.

Since cost is a major concern, you may want to check out the Puma model 92's by Rossi. I saw one at the gunshow this weekend for $337. I passed on it, as I picked up a used Rossi for $275. It's a great gun. It's accurate (I was splitting cantaloupes at 100 yards Tuesday), lightweight, has very little recoil, and fed both .357's and .38's well.

The Marlin is, however, still the top dog in the lever-action, pistol-caliber, carbine class. Later on, I'll replace the Rossi with one myself. Then, the Rossi will become my fiance's rifle.

I have got to say that my favorite rifle and one of my top 3 guns is my Marlin 1894c.

Amen on the 38/357, tho 44mag/sp covers for deer hunting thus dual purpose- personally would go for the 44mag- accept no substitutes-go Marlin 1894

why are all lever action rifles made for rimmed ammunition? is it just an artifact of the design, that it won't work well with rimless cases?

Box mag-fed levers like the Browning BLR will take rimless cartridges, but tub-fed were originally built for rimmed. I believe I've seen references to smiths who will convert them to fire rimless, but I don't think it's common.

Do you cast bullets and reload? If so, then consider the .32-20 WCF for small game and pest control.

What barrel lengths does the Marlin 1894C come in?

Does anyone have any info. on what the .357/.38 cartrages do energy and velocity wise as rifle cartrages?

Nik

Buffalo Bore <www.buffalobore.com> lists a 125 gr at 2298 fps and a 158 at about 2153 fps. This ammo is expensive. Most of the factory 357 mag 158gr will do 1500 to 1700 out of a 18 inch bbl. I shoot Miwall or Load X reloads for practice.
Most experienced users suggest the Hornady XTP 158 gr and Lil Gun powder for reloading. 125 gr is often recommended for varmints of all types. You will find the Marlin to be best bet in rifles. I paid $345 at the July sale at Reed's in San Jose. Big 5 is also competitive.

The only barrel length for the 1894C is 18-1/2 inches. For comparison: Sierra lists their 125-gr bullet at 2100 fps and 1224 ft lbs (hunting load) and the 158-gr bullet at 1600 fps and 898 ft lbs. They used the 1894C as their test rifle to determine ballistics.

I know people hate to buy stuff at Walmart, but when they have a nice rifle for a decent price you really can't argue too much. When I was at my local walmart chatting witht he gun counter guy. I found out that it is possible to order any gun in the Walmart gun catalog. Many of you are probably going "gun catalog???" Yes walmart has a whole catalog full of guns they can order in. Don' expect to see any pistols, but they have a huge assortment of rifles. I have been doing some shopping around for a good lever gun, and besides used, the best price I could find was at Walmart.

450 Marlin.

Individuals rounds may not be that cheap....but you won't want to shoot a lot of them.

Smoke

Many of you are probably going "gun catalog???" Yes walmart has a whole catalog full of guns they can order in. Don' expect to see any pistols, but they have a huge assortment of rifles.

Click to expand...

Yeah the problem is that they don't catalogue all guns from a given manufacturer. Walmart is the only place near me that stocks Winchester 1300s, but they don't stock the Defender and cannot order it either.

At the shows around here, you can still get the Rossi/Taurus 92 clones for $80-100 less than the Marlins.

I have two older Rossi .357s: a 16 1/2" Trapper and a 20". Both feed .38 Spl. and .357 equally well and are 'way more accurate than you'd expect. The Trapper is especially handy, and makes a GREAT woods walker/truck gun. I put a Lyman 66A and a Marbles bead on mine. It rides behind the seat in my Ranger in a soft case with a box of reloads wherever I go.

I gave $250 for it, with taxes, about five years ago. Even buying the Marbles bead (I had the receiver sight) and paying the 'smith to install them I've got 'way less in it than I've seen even well-used Marlins going for.

The only example of the genre that I love more is my IMI Timberwolf. Wouldn't trade it for diamonds. Slick, handy and almost magically accurate.

No matter what you end up picking, you're gonna love the way they shoot and handle. Hard to have as much fun and still have yer clothes on, IMO )

If you looking for an economical, compact, carbine go for a Winchester Ranger Compact in 357. So far mine has shot both 357 & 38 without any problems. This model is actually shorter than my AK. It'snot the prettiest, or top of the line, but highly functional. This one is hard to beat if you looking for little, easily packable carbine.

'Nother vote for the Marlin.

Dominic, go frisk'em.

Changed my mind about the Winchester today. See my Winchester 94 Range Report. Think I'm going to pick up a Marlin soon.

My only suggestion is to make sure the type of wood on the rifle is what you want when comparing prices.

- Pat

Well, thanks to this thread, when I walked into Big 5 today to pick up a shotgun, I ended up buying the shotgun AND the Marlin 94C. They hadn't actually advertised the 94C's were on sale TOO or my willpower might have been stronger to only pick one of them up this time around.

Ah well, 10 day wait until range time!