Bentley4700
Member
I am looking at buying a .357 lever action rifle. I know very little about what is out there. Im looking for good value. It doesnt have to be the cheapest. No interest at all in higher end stuff. Just a fun plinker.
.357 Lever action advice.
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Buck Kramer
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I'd really like to see this thread go further, though I have nothing to offer. I have the same question as the OP. I'm looking for a .357 or possibly a 30-30 as a truck/farm gun. So if you have anything to add, it would be really appreciated.
ECVMatt
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I have Marlin and Winchester 94's in .357 and like them a lot. Currently I prefer the Winchesters. The mass of bolt seems to feed the rounds better into the chamber. I really like my Marlins though. If you end up liking the Marlins, I would try and find an older one. The new Remington/Marlin's seem to have some growing pains. I have no experience with the Henry's, but do not like the tube loading feature. I prefer the traditional loading gate method that lets me top off as I go.
About 6 months ago i got the same idea. The first 2 spent alot of time looking around in various gunsmiths, sporting goods stores etc for a good deal. The older winnys/marlins i found were pretty banged up; IF you could find a winny or marlin. The new winchester
( minouku), from Japn, is nicely made; and i've read is probably made better than the original winchester in its day. But at appx $1100, you can get a more accurate bolt action for less.Todays Marlins are made by Remington and if you search on this forum many will say they got in way over their heads. Remington had suspended production until they get the problems worked out. I got fed up waiting to find a good used, "settled on a Rossi in .357. Yes, maybe a little cruder than an original win/mar, but mine out of the box functions and feeds well enough and i'm told with use will function ever better. Like in your definition, its become a fun "plinker" that i've also had good success in reloading for also. At roughly $450, its a steal compared to whats out there. Cimaron appears to be making a quality product, but again expect to pay $1,000+. If you have the patience, you can stick it out and wait to see if Rem turns things around(?) with their '94 or keep going to gun shows/stores hoping to find and take a chance on a used one.
( minouku), from Japn, is nicely made; and i've read is probably made better than the original winchester in its day. But at appx $1100, you can get a more accurate bolt action for less.Todays Marlins are made by Remington and if you search on this forum many will say they got in way over their heads. Remington had suspended production until they get the problems worked out. I got fed up waiting to find a good used, "settled on a Rossi in .357. Yes, maybe a little cruder than an original win/mar, but mine out of the box functions and feeds well enough and i'm told with use will function ever better. Like in your definition, its become a fun "plinker" that i've also had good success in reloading for also. At roughly $450, its a steal compared to whats out there. Cimaron appears to be making a quality product, but again expect to pay $1,000+. If you have the patience, you can stick it out and wait to see if Rem turns things around(?) with their '94 or keep going to gun shows/stores hoping to find and take a chance on a used one.
content
Member
Hello friends and neighbors // It pretty much comes down to what you are able to find, used in good condition in your area.
They do not come up often.
I chose an older Rossi (Interarms) model 92 to scratch the itch and liked it so much I quit looking hard for a Marlin or Winchester.
Hope you find what works for you.
They do not come up often.
I chose an older Rossi (Interarms) model 92 to scratch the itch and liked it so much I quit looking hard for a Marlin or Winchester.
Hope you find what works for you.
You can buy a fairly gently-worn pre-safety Marlin 336 in 30-30 for about $250 all day long, but a similar-quality .357 lever is going to cost you double that. I think you'd certainly take out a coyote at greater distance with the 30-30 too. Put on a peep-sight and a butt cuff, and a 336 in 30-30 just may be the ideal pasture-truck / tractor-cab rifle.
I consider handgun-caliber rifles to be pretty much just for "fun", and yes, they are fun.
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MrDig
Member
I like Marlins for one reason, I think they are simpler to field strip and work on. Having taken apart both a Winchester and a Marlin I sold the Winchester after one detail strip and never looked back.
I currently own two 1894's one .357 and one .44 magnum I also own a 336and really like them all and I would have a hard time choosing between the three.
I agree a 336 is generally 1/2 the price of an 1894 on the used market. I also think the ability to reach a little farther with the 30-30 round is a bonus.
Great Truck Guns any one of them but of them I would think the 30-30 is the best choice for that application.
I currently own two 1894's one .357 and one .44 magnum I also own a 336and really like them all and I would have a hard time choosing between the three.
I agree a 336 is generally 1/2 the price of an 1894 on the used market. I also think the ability to reach a little farther with the 30-30 round is a bonus.
Great Truck Guns any one of them but of them I would think the 30-30 is the best choice for that application.
Buck Kramer
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How easy is the 336 to modify into a scout configuration?
MrDig
Member
Real Easy A Ghost Ring for the rear scope mount and a LER scope base in the actual rear sight along with the front scope mount. I can be done very easily.
Bentley4700
Member
Thanks for the replies. I will keep an eye out for a deal.
shiftyer1
Member
My .357 is marlin and I love it. Great all round gun, .38 for plinking and smaller critters and 357 for the medium sized critters. I know a few people who have gotten good shots on deer out to 100 yards or so. I have gotten a couple out around 50 yards. It's what comes out to play when I want to plink with something bigger than the .22. Just fun!
Both my 30-30's are winchesters although I would like to change out my truck gun for a marlin because I feel they shoot a little softer. I originally bought the .357 for a truck gun, I liked it to much to abuse like a truck gun. leverevolution doubles the 30-30's range and effectivness.
Also if you do a search there are a ton of threads regarding both platforms, lots of good info and worth the read.
Both my 30-30's are winchesters although I would like to change out my truck gun for a marlin because I feel they shoot a little softer. I originally bought the .357 for a truck gun, I liked it to much to abuse like a truck gun. leverevolution doubles the 30-30's range and effectivness.
Also if you do a search there are a ton of threads regarding both platforms, lots of good info and worth the read.
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hemiram
Member
A friend has a Puma .357 16" in SS, and it's been a great gun. It looks identical to this one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=281435293
They must have quit making them as there doesn't seem to be many at all on GB and there were a ton of them a year or so ago. We are thinking about working out a trade, but if not I might start looking for one online someplace. The price has gone way up too.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=281435293
They must have quit making them as there doesn't seem to be many at all on GB and there were a ton of them a year or so ago. We are thinking about working out a trade, but if not I might start looking for one online someplace. The price has gone way up too.
greyling22
Member
use the search. This question comes up almost weekly. If you don't care about caliber much, wsr840 makes a good point, thought I think he is underestimating the current costs of 357's.
Badlander
Member
Scouting A Marlin is easy. Just A natural. This ones A 30-30.
You won't find many $250. 336s around these parts. and no .357s.
You won't find many $250. 336s around these parts. and no .357s.
BCCL
Member
Had the Marlin 1894C in .357 years ago, can't praise it enough and still horribly regret selling it.
76shuvlinoff
Member
I can't compare apples straight to apples but I do have a Ted Willaims 30-30 and a Marlin .357 lever from the 70s. As far as fit, finish, handling, and me being a devout southpaw ... I have to go with the Marlin.
If you plan on shoooting 38's
skip the Winchester altogether. For some reason they like to get hung up so bad occasionally that you need to disassemble the rifle to fix the problem. No such problem with the Marlin or the Rossi guns. The Marlin is the choice of lots of Cowboy action shooters along with the reproduction 73's by uberti. You hardly ever see a 94 Winchester though you do see a few of the 92's by the likes of Browning and Rossi/Puma. I have had very good luck with my Marlins Uberti's and Rossi's.
skip the Winchester altogether. For some reason they like to get hung up so bad occasionally that you need to disassemble the rifle to fix the problem. No such problem with the Marlin or the Rossi guns. The Marlin is the choice of lots of Cowboy action shooters along with the reproduction 73's by uberti. You hardly ever see a 94 Winchester though you do see a few of the 92's by the likes of Browning and Rossi/Puma. I have had very good luck with my Marlins Uberti's and Rossi's.
ORHunter79
Member
Marlin all the way. 30-30 is a great round. I've hunted deer with it for years. The longest runner I've had was about 50-60 yards. It was a gut shot and she took time to expire. Heart/lung shots take a few steps and then fall. I'll be honest I've never had a DRT. Most shots I've taken we're between 200-225 yards using Winchester 170 gr corelokts.
I've thought about a .357 in lever but don't see the point. I know I could just carry .357s for both the revolver and the rifle, but IMO the 30-30 outshines any 357 load in a rifle.
If I were to get a .357 lever, it would be a marlin hands down. They just work.
I've thought about a .357 in lever but don't see the point. I know I could just carry .357s for both the revolver and the rifle, but IMO the 30-30 outshines any 357 load in a rifle.
If I were to get a .357 lever, it would be a marlin hands down. They just work.
Mike Wazowski
Member
Hey Badlander -
Nice looking scout rig. Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have a question. I've been thinking about doing the same to my 336. Currently I have XS ghost ring set up which I like a lot, but these old eyes are limited to less than half the range the 30-30 is capable of handling. With a scout rig I think that I would have a versatile package.
Can you tell us about your scope and quick release rings combo? Do they return fairly close to zero when removed and replaced? Also, do you hunt that rig any?
Thanks for your comments,
Mike
Nice looking scout rig. Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have a question. I've been thinking about doing the same to my 336. Currently I have XS ghost ring set up which I like a lot, but these old eyes are limited to less than half the range the 30-30 is capable of handling. With a scout rig I think that I would have a versatile package.
Can you tell us about your scope and quick release rings combo? Do they return fairly close to zero when removed and replaced? Also, do you hunt that rig any?
Thanks for your comments,
Mike
wriggly
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I owned a Marlin 1894c and It saw a lot of use. There are problems that are indigenous to the Marlin that dont happen with the 1892 style or Rossi's specifically.
The 1892 style is the strongest action, and I can do my own smithing on em. The way they come from the factory leaves a little to be desired, but with an aftermarket ejector spring, a metal magazine spring follower, a little thinning of the extractor, and some judicious stoning here and there, you wind up with a super slick rifle that is built like a tank.
One thing that I like in the Rossi's is the abilty to cycle the action with the rifle tilted 90 degrees left or right from vertical. The Marlins dont take to that too well. Also, with the Remington takeover, Marlin cannot be depended on at this juncture to support the old guns.
Rossi's can be set up with a Scout scope as well. They are drilled and tapped under the rear sight from the factory, and they sell a picatinny style mount for them. Just have to drift out the rear sight to get access to the holes.
The 1892 style is the strongest action, and I can do my own smithing on em. The way they come from the factory leaves a little to be desired, but with an aftermarket ejector spring, a metal magazine spring follower, a little thinning of the extractor, and some judicious stoning here and there, you wind up with a super slick rifle that is built like a tank.
One thing that I like in the Rossi's is the abilty to cycle the action with the rifle tilted 90 degrees left or right from vertical. The Marlins dont take to that too well. Also, with the Remington takeover, Marlin cannot be depended on at this juncture to support the old guns.
Rossi's can be set up with a Scout scope as well. They are drilled and tapped under the rear sight from the factory, and they sell a picatinny style mount for them. Just have to drift out the rear sight to get access to the holes.
dagger dog
Member
You're going to find that the 30-30 will be alot eaiser and cheaper to find new or used, most pistol caliber lever guns are hard to find at a reasonable price new.
You will find plenty of 336 Marlins and 94 Winchesters in 30-30 and some other calibers as 35 Remington and 32 Winchester special.
The older pistol calibers 32-20,38-40,44-40, will bring a premium because of collector value,modern pistol calibers .357 magnum-38 Special,45 Colt ,are sucked up as quick as they can be produced, and they are priced accordingly.
The Italian clones bring a premium price close to the modern Winchesters and Marlins.
The newest"Remlins" are of questionable quality driving the price up on the used Marlins even the crossbolt saftey guns, although recently Remington manufactured Marlin lever guns have undergone a strict quality control effort before leaving the factory.
The newest Braztec Rossi 92's have had good reveiws,but you need to be a tinkerer if you expect to get these guns up and running reliably,a plus is the under 500 buck price tag, if you can find one.
The older Interarm Rossi-Pumas are Brazillian manufactured,the newer Pumas are by Chiappa an Italian company,price on those have gone up too.
You will find plenty of 336 Marlins and 94 Winchesters in 30-30 and some other calibers as 35 Remington and 32 Winchester special.
The older pistol calibers 32-20,38-40,44-40, will bring a premium because of collector value,modern pistol calibers .357 magnum-38 Special,45 Colt ,are sucked up as quick as they can be produced, and they are priced accordingly.
The Italian clones bring a premium price close to the modern Winchesters and Marlins.
The newest"Remlins" are of questionable quality driving the price up on the used Marlins even the crossbolt saftey guns, although recently Remington manufactured Marlin lever guns have undergone a strict quality control effort before leaving the factory.
The newest Braztec Rossi 92's have had good reveiws,but you need to be a tinkerer if you expect to get these guns up and running reliably,a plus is the under 500 buck price tag, if you can find one.
The older Interarm Rossi-Pumas are Brazillian manufactured,the newer Pumas are by Chiappa an Italian company,price on those have gone up too.
mdauben
Member
Look for a pre-2000 Marlin. The 30-30's are easy to find, although the .357's are a bit more rare.
tubeshooter
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For what you'll end up paying when you finally find that .357 rifle, I doubt you'd want to just throw it in the truck.
A used .30-30 or a beater SKS would be more suited for that role IMHO.
A used .30-30 or a beater SKS would be more suited for that role IMHO.
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