357 & 44 MagLever vs Ruger K77 Bolt Action

[Mountie855]

Considering replacing Marlin SS 1894's in 357 & 44 Mag with the new Ruger SS K77 bolt actions in the same calibers.

Seeking opinions on the merits of each. Never fired either of the Marlins, though I did shoot my earlier blued version of the 357 with good results.

I love the esthetics of the leverguns, but the simplicity of the bolt action, (typically) better inherent accuracy, and ease of loading/unloading make the Rugers attractive. They are pricey, though!

 

[SPW1]

As I see it the the benefit of the levers basically amounts to a classic design and a thinner profile. In my opinion the greatest virtue of the ruger bolt is if you intended to suppress it. Sweet little rifle to suppress, particularly in 357. Accuracy potential between the marlin levers and the ruger bolt is pretty much a wash. If it was me I would hang on to the levers, but if you don't shoot them perhaps moving them down the road isn't a bad idea. If If you do replace the marlin levers you can probably make a pretty penny on them since the marlin levers are sky high right now and have been for some time. Particularly the stainless 357.

 

[stonecoldy]

No comparison. Both Marlins have greater magazine capacity, tried and true design with both caliber choices. The bolt guns will not appreciably approve your shooting distance with pistol bullets for hunting that are available, the levers are classics and much more fun to shoot. Plus pre-Remington Marlins are desirable. Keep what you have. If you don't care for them, sell and make some money, the Rugers won't do what the Marlins can.

 

[wriggly]

Get one of each....I did, and I love em both equally. The Ruger is a very light little gun, its virtually a 10-22 in size and weight, and it carries well. Mine are .357

 

[Revoliver]

Buy them all. I have a 77/357 and love the hell out outta it. I don't sell my guns, they're mine.

 

[StrawHat]

I enjoy shooting my lever action rifle (Winchester 1895, 405 WCF), I also enjoy my bolt action rifles. One big difference is it is much easier to shoot a bolt rifle from the prone position. And also from the bench. If your style of shooting includes a lot of wither position, consider the bolt action.

 

[Bushpilot]

You never mentioned what you intend on using the rifles for....??? I think the handling qualities and stock fit of the bolt action are much better when scoped than the lever guns are with a scope. The lock time for the bolt is probably faster as well. If you are planning on using open or peep sights I'd stick with the lever guns.. Lever guns in the handgun calibers are very versatile. They make very good short range hunting rifles, plinkers and home defense rifles. Being "classical" in their design, they are also aesthetically pleasing and have good resale potential. I personally would rather have the lever guns... I would also shoot them before I made any decisions regarding replacing them with something else.

 

[jmr40]

The lever guns you have will do anything needed with those rounds. If I'm buying a bolt gun it will not be in a pistol caliber. The only posssible exception would be if I lived in a place where pistol caliber rifles were the only option to hunt with. Even then I'd prefer one of the lever actions.

 

[mdauben]

Considering replacing Marlin SS 1894's in 357 & 44 Mag with the new Ruger SS K77 bolt actions in the same calibers.

For some reason I feel pistol-caliber lever guns are lots of fun and can be very effective game getters within the limitations of the cartridges. If I wanted a bolt action, though, I would not want to handicap myself with pistol-caliber chamberings and would go with a regular rifle-caliber gun.

 

[Mountie855]

First, thanks to all fellow THR members for your valuable input!

Having read and considered all of the replies, I will keep the Marlins. Leverguns and SA handguns appeal most to me.

Likely will add a Ruger K77 to see if I want both; all will (when time permits!) be used mostly for fun shooting, maybe some coyote calling, small game hunting, maybe deer with the 44, and I'd like to try some CA with the leverguns.

I do have BA rifles in the typical calibers, which don't get used either! When I retire again my wife and I WILL get back to shooting regularly!

And as Bush Pilot noted, leverguns and iron/receiver sights are a natural combo. Scoped leverguns don't carry as well for me.

 

[280shooter]

did you ever try to google it,,

 

[Texan Scott]

Personally, I'd keep the 357 lever, sell the 44 lever (but only if I had no better way yo come up with the money), and buy the 77/44.

That way, I'd have fun 38/ serious 357 lever carbine for range, small game, home, and truck; I'd also have a 4x scoped 44mag bolt gun for hunting.

Best of both worlds IMO.

 

[BCRider]

I'm far more a fan of levers than bolts. But there's a lot to be said for Texan Scott's suggestion. Although as suggested for the short distances where the big fat handgun style bullets are useful the lever Marlins are going to deliver all the accuracy and other performance you require. The style of the action isn't the limiting factor. The crumby bullet ballistics have THAT aspect locked up solid.

 

[MCgunner]

I really never desired a pistol caliber bolt gun. I'll keep my .257 Roberts, my .308, and my 7mm Rem Mag and use my Rossi 92 .357 for bumming in the woods where it's light and handy and fast on target for a running rabbit or a sitting squirrel or a hog or a deer. Just adjust ammunition and sight elevation and it'll do it all. I guess you could say the same about bolt guns, use 'em the same way, but the old slab sided 92 just carries RIGHT in the hand and it's so light and quick. It's got an aperture sight on it. I don't care for scopes on lever guns, even Marlins.

All just opinion. I like my bolt guns with scopes on 'em for hunting open country and I like a scope for the woods, hunt earlier and later, so no, I'm not against scopes, just not on MY lever gun. The really great thing about it, its handiness, is ruined by a scope. But, a bolt gun wouldn't be right without a scope. Mine don't even have irons on 'em. Just two totally different rifles for different purposes for ME. YMMV of course, and usually does.

 

[Mountie855]

Well, having revisited the safe and handled the Marlin levers, having second thoughts on selling them!

Lot of good points have been made in this thread...enough to cause me to proceed slowly!

The boltguns have the advantage of simplicity in loading/unloading and cleaning, especially if dropped in the mud!

But the sleek, easy carrying leverguns are more esthetically appealing to me, and parting with them won't be easy.

Decisions, decisions....part of the fun of owning firearms!

 

[Mountie855]

Finally put this decision to rest, at least for the 357 version- read in another thread on THR about rimlock occurring when 38 Spl is used.

OP feels the length of the magazine allows the 38 Spls to move a bit too far forward.

The 44 Mag version likely would have similar problems, though I would be less likely to use the 44 Spl in that rifle.

We'll wait a bit and learn more!

 

[BCRider]

I found it odd that the Marlin won't accept .38Spl so I did a little searching. Seems that this is indeed the situation unless special care is taken with the .38Spl loads to use bullets that stick out quite far to come close to mimicing the legth of a .357Mag round.

It would appear that in this respect the old Winchester 92 design as produce by Winchester originally then taken up by the various clone makers might just be the better design for ammo flexibility.

In your situation I still would not be quick to ditch the Marlins. They are just far too nice a rifle and if you get sellers remorse replacing them will be tough and expensive. Instead I'd simply set up for reloading in .357 and .44Mag. Which, given the price of these rounds in factory, is likely a very wise idea anyway. I know that I would not have bought my .44Mag revolvers if I didn't reload. The ammo is just far too silly a price to pay for factory loads. And .357Mag is only a hair behind it in silliness for cost. Hell the only difference between a Special load and a Magnum load is literally 0.1 inch of brass and a few extra grains of powder. That certainly does not justify what they charge for adding that "Magnum" behind the bullet size.

So if you already reload then simply load up whatever power of rounds you wish in the Magnum brass. If you don't reload I strongly recomend that you consider it. Especially if you're going to shoot anything that starts with a ".4" for the size or has "Magnum" in the name.