Why .44 Magnum, .45 Colt & .357 Magnum ?

The 44 mag will bounce a can up the range real good. And a good choice if you ever take it hunting.

what about the 41 mag

I have two lever actions in .357. A Marlin, and an old Interams Rossi. The other day my friend bought a Marlin in .44 Magnum. Shooting it, recoil was not much different than the .357s. If it were me, just for plinking, I would go .357 for cost of reloading components alone.

I like the 44 the best of the 3, but I prefer 44 mag revolvers. 45 is a good round, but just not for me. To be honest it sounds like 357 is probably the best option for you.

+1

If the only intent is shooting cans, and you don't reload?
Go with the less expensive .38/.357 factory ammo costs.

The .41 Mag plinking loads is off the charts scarce & expensive.

And .45 Colt isn't much cheaper, though much easier to find then .41 mag.

rc

I have a stainless ROSSI 44 mag 16 inch barrel . Great little gun.

IMO, there is nothing more fun than a 357 carbine. Hope you reload, or have stockpiled a truckload of ammo...they do like to eat.

I have a 16" Rossi in .357, due to the pistols. I really enjoy shooting it. I would imagine any of the 3 mentioned would be a fine choice though, especially if you reload.

What have you read against the. 38 / .357? I have a. 45 Colt Rossi to go with my. 45 Colt Rugers. My buddy has. .357 Rugers so he's looking for a. 357 lever action. I say go with the .357 unless you plan on changing pistols.

Milkmaster:

It used ta was that the .45 was the weak sister to the .44 magnum because of the brass. The older, now very much older, brass was made in a "balloon head" configuration. Which was a way of saying that the case heads didn't have the meat to safely contain higher pressures. Modern brass allows the .45 Colt to tread right on the heels of the .44 magnum. No practical difference between the two of 'em these days.

Therefore, if just plinking and all-around giggles are what you desire, I'm in the .357 camp too. Factory ammo costs less, recoil will be less, and there's just as much fun-factor to my mind anyhow. OTOH, in a rifle, the .357 can be used very effectively on any thin-skinned north American game. Loaded up in other words.

900F

It sounds like you'd be real happy with a 357, I have all three and for plinking fun they are equal. Raw horsepower goes to the big bores but the 357 from a carbine is plenty for deer size game at reasonable ranges

I bought a 44 Mag rifle because I can shoot reloads and have a revolver in that caliber. Now I've gotten into shooting 44 Specials and it's a lot of fun!

If you already load .357 I'd get that probably but definitely try .38 special in it also.

I know my Marlin carbine in .357 is a gas to shoot and my grandkids can also shoot it without flinching. I do load my rifle rounds with slower powder than my pistol rounds though so it did eliminate some of the interchangeability, but it also gives the carbine a little better range in my opinion. I haven't checked the velocity differences though.

I've always wanted a .357 Mag carbine, but too many other guns got in the way. My .44 and .45Colt are fine too.

If your just plinkimg keep the same caliber , keep it simple.

I'd suggest the 357 for your stated uses.

Since I gave up robbing trains, I don't find any advantage to having matching revolver/rifle combos. I traded off the 357 and kept the 30/30. 1200 fps 30/30's are a lot easier to come up with than 2000 fps 357's.

I have a slick little Uberti 1873 Carbine in .45 Colt.
It is just plain fun and accurate too.

.
^ ^ ^ I envy you your 1873... one day I will own one or two.

Meanwhile! I'm sure having a lot of fun with a rapidly-growing collection of '92 and '94 levers and the (action-type unknown-) little Henry H001M in .22 magnum... but it's the .357 that seems to be the most fun to shoot.

I have a Browning 92 in .44 Magnum (made by Miroku - and probably the nicest production '92 produced) on layaway. I hope to bring it home in late January. This may be the rifle I begin reloading for.

I feel very fortunate to have found this early Winchester saddle ring carbine, the Marlin 94 and (a deposit on-) the Browning 92 as they are no longer being made and are sought-after rifles.


From top to bottom:

1922 Winchester 1894 .30WCF 20"
2012 Henry Repeating Arms H001M .22 Magnum 18"
1989 Marlin 1894CS357 (.357 Magnum) 18"
2014 Rossi 92 .357 Magnum 16"




The Marlin .357 needs some smithin' to set it right, and I've only just acquired the Rossi, which my son and I used last weekend on some steels at an outdoor range. This lil' Rossi is an accurate pistol-caliber carbine. We ran only .357 though it. Next time I'll also feed it some .38 Special. I'm very happy with the purchase of the Rossi, especially for the price (I look at the Marlin as an investment! hahaha... kidding, kinda.)





Targets are 35 yards, 50, 75, 100 and 110. The Rossi hit them all, offhand! Now THAT is a fun day at the range.





Springfield Loaded, Browning 1911-.22 and the Rossi 92 .357



So! Based on the replies you've gotten so far, it appears as if you'll have to own, eventually, one of each! in .44, .45 and .357. Hee!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I'd shoot a 44mag rifle before buying it and make sure recoil isn't an issue. A 5.5lb rifle with 240gn loads kicks pretty good and a lever rifle looks silly with a recoil pad. In a lever rifle, I'd go with 357 for cost and low recoil.

rcmodel summed it up as far as ammo costs and availability.

What would you hunt if you do? Deer? The 357 Mag will work for that.

The 357 Mag is lighter and more fun to shoot than a 44 Mag (yes even in a rifle it can kick) 45 Colt is a big heavy bullet and will certainly be good for hunting at close range. The cost to shoot for fun is no fun if you do not reload!!

Try and find an older Marlin. Not the new stuff that Marlington sells. As mentioned the stainless Rossi is a nice rifle (except the safety feel like it will break)

Or a Henry perhaps. Marlin is not the Marlin of old.

I have just ordered a 77/357 and looking forward to trying it. Like others have said it seems a good fit to be loading and shooting 38's and 357 already. I too have other rifles for perhaps a more serious caliber for deer, hogs etc. Not knocking it for deer or other game, just wanting to shoot more paper and getting grand kids range time with a center fire that hopefully will be enjoyable to them. Good luck with your decision !!! John

44 mag lever guns like the 94ae have LESS recoil then my 30-30 with 150 grain corelokt. heck, its almost LESS then a 1860 shooting 30 grains pyrodex p with a roundball.

With heavy bullets the .45 Colt shines. Can be loaded mild or hot. If you do not reload it would be A poor choice. if you do it is A winner