Good 357 lever gun
- Thread starter dan57
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Steel Horse Rider
Member
A Marlin 1894C is my recommendation. The older the better although I have heard the newer Remlins are not as bad as the earlier ones.
Schwing
Member
You are going to get a lot of different answers here. I was holding out for a Marlin back in the early days of the panic buying. After a year of waiting, I settled on a Rossi and have not regretted it for a second. I don't like that it is top eject but that is my only complaint. It is accurate, reliable and, after about 500 rounds, was as smooth as any I have ever fired.
It also cost less than $450.
It also cost less than $450.
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Welcome to The High Road Dan! 
Think this will get more answers in the "Rifle" sub-forum.
Think this will get more answers in the "Rifle" sub-forum.
ConstitutionCowboy
member
I, too, have a Marlin 1894C. It's just fine. It's not as sweet as my 1895, however. I acquired the 1895 back before the Remington buyout, though.
I have a Rossi in 44-40. It's my favorite. I also have made several of my Hog Laigs and Peg Laigs out of the Rossi Ranch Hands, so I'm rather intimate with them. Though the fit and finish of the Rossis is not the best in the business, they do have good bones. I like the 1892 Browning design that Rossi uses. It's the best of all the lever gun designs for its workability, reliability, and strength in my opinion.
Don't be afraid of buying a Rossi. If you want, it can be "smithed up" to be really sharp.
Woody
I have a Rossi in 44-40. It's my favorite. I also have made several of my Hog Laigs and Peg Laigs out of the Rossi Ranch Hands, so I'm rather intimate with them. Though the fit and finish of the Rossis is not the best in the business, they do have good bones. I like the 1892 Browning design that Rossi uses. It's the best of all the lever gun designs for its workability, reliability, and strength in my opinion.
Don't be afraid of buying a Rossi. If you want, it can be "smithed up" to be really sharp.
Woody
greyling22
Member
I don't want to poo poo on your first post at all, but give the search function a whirl. questions identical to this pop up weekly.
but basically, older marlins: good.
henry: good if you like the looks.
rossi: rough, but mostly solid.
the italian '73 clones (uberti, cimarron etc) are pretty nice.
marlins from after the remington buyout, avoid like ebola.
jury is still out on the very newest marlins made this year.
all lever guns need an action job to be the smooth, easy cycling rifle you want. marlins are easier to work on, the 92 design can be slicker.
but basically, older marlins: good.
henry: good if you like the looks.
rossi: rough, but mostly solid.
the italian '73 clones (uberti, cimarron etc) are pretty nice.
marlins from after the remington buyout, avoid like ebola.
jury is still out on the very newest marlins made this year.
all lever guns need an action job to be the smooth, easy cycling rifle you want. marlins are easier to work on, the 92 design can be slicker.
Cump
Member
I chose a stainless rossi and am very happy with it. fit and finish good. feeds 38 and 357. accurate within its range. very fun.
If I'm not mistaken, the heavier action is due to the heavy ejector and hammer springs. "Slicking up" seems to me a bit of a misnomer. (Mine didn't need any stoning anyway.) Maybe "lightening up" is more accurate, but doesn't sound as good in a sass-legal outfit. I left mine stock because I didn't want to risk hurting reliability, and I don't think I have to worry about ever being particularly fast.
On the threads I've read, most of the rossi owners were happy with their 92s. I wouldn't let the lower price scare you off.
If I'm not mistaken, the heavier action is due to the heavy ejector and hammer springs. "Slicking up" seems to me a bit of a misnomer. (Mine didn't need any stoning anyway.) Maybe "lightening up" is more accurate, but doesn't sound as good in a sass-legal outfit. I left mine stock because I didn't want to risk hurting reliability, and I don't think I have to worry about ever being particularly fast.
On the threads I've read, most of the rossi owners were happy with their 92s. I wouldn't let the lower price scare you off.
JTHunter
Member
dan57 - after trying out different leverguns in .357, I settled on the Marlin 1894. I've been looking for almost 2 years and haven't found a used gun at a price I can afford in good enough shape. Many have been over $1,200 for a used gun.
The others I have looked at are the Uberti ($$$$ !!), the Winchester 92 ($$$ !), the Rossi clone of the Winchester ($), and the Henry ($). As I was looking for a gun that I could mount a scope on and hunt with, the Uberti, Winchester, and Rossi lost out as all three are top-eject, making it difficult to mount and calibrate a scope. Also, all of the first three have a rather sharply curved buttplate on the stock that does NOT fit my shoulder comfortably.
The Henry weighs 8.68 lbs. compared to the 6 lb. Marlin. It also has a 20" barrel while the Marlin has an 18". The bright brass receiver of the Henry also kind of defeats the "stealth" principle for hunting. The last problem with the Henry is how the magazine is loaded. It is like a tube-fed .22 rifle where you have to open the magazine and slide the spring-rod up (or out) to load it. This is both time-consuming and renders the rifle useless until you lock the magazine follower back into place.
The Marlin has a side-loading gate that allows you to easily and quickly "top off" the magazine and get right back to shooting. It also has a much flatter buttstock with a thin rubber pad on it. It is also drilled and tapped for scope mounts on the top of the receiver.
There is also a Ruger rifle out there that I haven't really checked out. The main reason for that is they use that proprietary rotary magazine and you are limited to 4-5 shots in the magazine while the Marlin holds 9 rounds.
Good luck with your choice!
The others I have looked at are the Uberti ($$$$ !!), the Winchester 92 ($$$ !), the Rossi clone of the Winchester ($), and the Henry ($). As I was looking for a gun that I could mount a scope on and hunt with, the Uberti, Winchester, and Rossi lost out as all three are top-eject, making it difficult to mount and calibrate a scope. Also, all of the first three have a rather sharply curved buttplate on the stock that does NOT fit my shoulder comfortably.
The Henry weighs 8.68 lbs. compared to the 6 lb. Marlin. It also has a 20" barrel while the Marlin has an 18". The bright brass receiver of the Henry also kind of defeats the "stealth" principle for hunting. The last problem with the Henry is how the magazine is loaded. It is like a tube-fed .22 rifle where you have to open the magazine and slide the spring-rod up (or out) to load it. This is both time-consuming and renders the rifle useless until you lock the magazine follower back into place.
The Marlin has a side-loading gate that allows you to easily and quickly "top off" the magazine and get right back to shooting. It also has a much flatter buttstock with a thin rubber pad on it. It is also drilled and tapped for scope mounts on the top of the receiver.
There is also a Ruger rifle out there that I haven't really checked out. The main reason for that is they use that proprietary rotary magazine and you are limited to 4-5 shots in the magazine while the Marlin holds 9 rounds.
Good luck with your choice!
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Welcome to the forum!
I own a Marlin 1894C in .38/357 and I like the rifle a lot. It's slightly heavier than the Winchester but the additional weight helps me keep the rifle steady when off-hand shooting.
I own a Marlin 1894C in .38/357 and I like the rifle a lot. It's slightly heavier than the Winchester but the additional weight helps me keep the rifle steady when off-hand shooting.
This past week a 16-inch Henry .357 put three Hornady LEVERevolutions rounds into less than an inch off the bench.
It's still heavier than the Marlin, but not as heavy as Henry's 20-inchers.
Weighs a shade over 7 pounds on my scale.
The brass is bright, but you don't say what you want it for. If not hunting, that's not an issue. Even if, it'll darken some with age.
If you can tolerate the weight & the tube loading, they're not bad guns.
My personal favorite .357 levergun's a 16-inch Marlin, nice & trim, but you'd need to spend money to cut it back like I did.
A new production Marlin from earlier this year shot decently well, 18-incher.
There are Ubertis that are relatively affordable, but not as strong in the caliber.
The Mirokus are well-done, but quite expensive.
Rossi is more affordable, but typically rough & over-sprung.
Figure out what you want from the gun & how much you're willing to spend on it.
Denis
It's still heavier than the Marlin, but not as heavy as Henry's 20-inchers.
Weighs a shade over 7 pounds on my scale.
The brass is bright, but you don't say what you want it for. If not hunting, that's not an issue. Even if, it'll darken some with age.
If you can tolerate the weight & the tube loading, they're not bad guns.
My personal favorite .357 levergun's a 16-inch Marlin, nice & trim, but you'd need to spend money to cut it back like I did.
A new production Marlin from earlier this year shot decently well, 18-incher.
There are Ubertis that are relatively affordable, but not as strong in the caliber.
The Mirokus are well-done, but quite expensive.
Rossi is more affordable, but typically rough & over-sprung.
Figure out what you want from the gun & how much you're willing to spend on it.
Denis
az_imuth
Member
I don't know much about the Marlin except to say that finding one for less than 800 at the present time may prove to be a real challenge. Well before the Marlin prices went nuts, I decided on a Rossi due to the design. I had no intention of scoping it, so top ejection wasn't an issue and I always liked the sleek lines of the model '92 receiver. I chose the 24" octagon barreled rifle for the extended sight radius and the 13 round capacity, and have been 100% satisfied from day one. The rifle shoots like a dream, and with .38's it feels like you're shooting a .22 rifle with a lot more punch on the receiving end.
bannockburn
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I would go with another Rossi Model 92 as I have been very impressed with the overall quality and performance of my large loop lever carbine in .45 Colt.
BCRider
Member
Another Rossi fan here. Yes, they can be less well finished both inside and out than the higher priced options. But if they really do bother you and you can't wait for them to break in on their own then a cheap spring kit and a slight bit of work on the action parts will turn the rifle into a slick handling gun. And for those of us working with a budget in mind it really does offer a significant price savings even over used versions of the other guns.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I have an older Marlin 94 in 44 Magnum. They are great little rifles and pretty accurate. You do run into the dreaded "Marlin jam" issue on occasion but that is solved with a new shell carrier. (Put one in this weekend.)
The older ones have gotten crazy high priced due to the QC problems of the new versions but you can always dicker..?
The older ones have gotten crazy high priced due to the QC problems of the new versions but you can always dicker..?
Plastikosmd
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I own a Winchester 94 ae and a 73 miroku, used, u may find a 94 at your price point
minnesotashooter
Member
I bought this 1894c last week, unfired still with the KMart price tag on it, from a local guy for $675.
I would go with the Marlin 1894C. I one of the new production 1894s in .44 Rem. Mag. and love it. The great thing about the Marlin is more optics option as well as the ability easily put ghost rings on it. This is because it is side ejecting where as others are top ejecting.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I have a Marlin 1894c from a while back and it has a Marbles tang sight and it shoots great when i can shoot it.
I have 2 Rossi M92s in .357 - and 2 more in .44 Mag and .45 Colt. Nice guns for the price. They do need a little work - mostly in the ejector department. Out of the box, they were like my Mini-14 - an Easter egg hunt every time. I spent about 3 hours with a Dremel and files and polished up all the contact areas that were causing it to be rough. Also lubed them up really well. All are very smooth now.
Schwing
Member
Both are great guns but you are looking at at least $1800 for a timberwolf and probably more like 4k for a lightening. Even a knock off is around $1500.
greyling22
Member
And I thought those things has pretty serious cycling issues.
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