Best. 357 lever gun?

[NorthBorder]

I'm kinda heavily invested in 45LC leverguns (I have 5). I had a few in 357 magnum, a Rossi and a Henry. I gave the Henry to my son and sold the 357. Of the ones I have, the Rossi just brings the biggest smile on my face.

Leverguns can be difficult to find in today's market. The Rossi is the least expensive of them all, but as OP can tell by the threads there is no lack of love for them.

 

[Speedo66]

From what I've seen and read, the Rossi's are the lightest and handiest.

I've got a blued 20" .357 Rossi, and it ran great right out of the box. An overactive ejection spring which threw empties too far was its only foible, easily solved by a lighter spring.

 

[beag_nut]

I also have a Big Boy, with the tubular mag. Its weak spot is that it will feed only some kinds of cartridges. I put a tang peep sight on it and get very good accuracy

 

[Rodfac]

Here's another vote for a Marlin (JM stamped) 1894. Mine's cursed with a 'Safety' cross bolt, but I removed that and replaced it with a saddle-ring from Bear Mountain...the gun's a joy to shoot, accurate to an inch at 50 yds with good loads and now equipped with both Skinner rear and blade front sights.

I've had excellent results with Hornady's 158 & 180 gr XTP's at ~1600 fps. Scoped, the Marlin will keep them in < 2" at 100 yds...both are good deer bullets, especially the 158 gr XTP, the flat point offering.

It also handles cast bullets just fine and in my experience, up to a chrono'd 1550 fps with a gas checked Lyman LSWC (358156 gc). I size to 0.359" and anneal my Hornady GC's. It's a winning combination on deer to ~75 yds with the peep rear.

Best Regards, Rod Pic of four of my Marlins...the .357 is at the bottom equipped with Williams Receiver or WGRS rear & Skinner front sights.

​

 

[Armored farmer]

mine is a Marlin, but I wouldbe happy with Henry

 

[chicharrones]

Here's another vote for a Marlin (JM stamped) 1894. Mine's cursed with a 'Safety' cross bolt, but I removed that and replaced it with a saddle-ring from Bear Mountain...the gun's a joy to shoot, accurate to an inch at 50 yds with good loads and equipped with both Skinner rear and blade front sights.

I've had excellent results with Hornady's 158 & 180 gr XTP's at ~1600 fps. Scoped, the Marlin will keep them in < 2" at 100 yds...both are good deer bullets, especially the 158 gr XTP, the flat point offering.

It also handles cast bullets just fine and in my experience, up to a chrono'd 1550 fps with a gas checked Lyman LSWC (358156 gc). I size to 0.359" and anneal my Hornady GC's. It's a winning combination on deer to ~75 yds with the peep rear.

Best Regards, Rod Pic of four of my Marlins...the .357 is at the bottom equipped with the Skinner sights.

View attachment 1058667​

Looks like a Williams rear sight on that bottom gun.

 

[Jonny2guns]

View attachment 1058669mine is a Marlin, but I wouldbe happy with Henry

Love that Jeep, and the lever gun!

 

[Tinman357]

I vote for the Marlin. I've had several over the years. I sold a JM marked 1894C to a member here in the last year or so. I still have the Remlin 1894CB that I liked better.

The one I sold was a hair more accurate and smoother at the time. The one I kept had the 20" octagon heavy barrel that I always lusted after. I did a light cleanup of the action, mounted a steel cresent stock, skinner sights.

Now she's as smooth as a greased ball bearing on glass. Feeds .38 & .357 equally well. Slugged and lapped the bore and its as accurate in my hands as I could have hoped for.

Pairs well with my favorite pistols in .357. Get the one you want. The 45 colt is slightly better for hunting the bigger beasts that roam the wilds, but I find that the .357 lets me get out and shoot more than the .45.

I have a Marlin in that chambering as well. Its just as nice as the .357, accurate, smooth. I just like the 357 more. Haven't shot the .45 in many years. I guess it's because of the trajectory of the round. The .357 shoots flatter over range than the 45.

Take a look at trajectory tables before you decide.

 

[bannockburn]

dh1633pm

bannockburn, I like the wood on yours. Is that factory or replacement?

It's factory. Gave some thought after I first got it to maybe refinish the wood. But I decided to leave it be and just enjoy having it and shooting it.

 

[Rodfac]

Chich...you're right...that's a William rear on my 1894...I've since changed it out for the Skinner...Like the Skinner a bit more for its more robust brass/steel construction. The Williams is marginally easier to zero...but both are set 'em for your load and leave 'em alone....No pic of the Skinner mounted....Rod

 

[Old Dog]

Am I the only one here who hates the big loop lever? (I didn't even like it when The Duke had one)

If Ruger-Marlin insists on putting the big loop lever on each new Marlin they introduce, I will not be a fan. Only way you can run those guns fast is if you're wearing ski gloves...

 

[gotboostvr]

Am I the only one here who hates the big loop lever? (I didn't even like it when The Duke had one)

If Ruger-Marlin insists on putting the big loop lever on each new Marlin they introduce, I will not be a fan. Only way you can run those guns fast is if you're wearing ski gloves...

I'm not a fan of them either, and I've got big hands.

 

[Pat Riot]

Am I the only one here who hates the big loop lever?

Nope!
I shot a friend’s lever gun with a big loop years ago. I am glad I did. I was about to waste $100 buying one to try it out.

This is a one model of a Henry big loop that might be okay if one needed to wear gloves, but I would have to see it in person.

I found the photo here:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...-ae86-d65dabe48c8d_1024x1024.jpg?v=1562771925

 

[RainDodger]

As was already said... Browning '92. I have one in .44 Mag. I'd LOVE one in .357.

 

[Steve51]

I have only had two .357 lever guns, one Rossi, and one Henry. To me, the Henry was much superior to the Rossi, so I sold the Rossi. My Henry .357 is the steel version with the round barrel.
I have never owned or fired a Marlin, Winchester, or Browning lever gun.

 

[stanley_white]

Any reputable model with the 1873 style action.

-Stan

 

[Vlad3572]

Like many have said, I have levers in Marlin and Winchester, not .357 mag though. My .357 is a Rossi with a 16 inch barrel. I've never had any problems, feeding or otherwise, and it's my grand kids favorite rifle. It's plenty accurate, light, and only cost me $500 3 or 4 years ago. I recommend the Rossi for a handy, "cheap-ish", fun rifle.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Longtime Marlin .44 mag owner; had the barrel bobbed to 16"; great deer gun inside 100 yards; with 1600'sec reloads, it is an absolute hammer on deer. It wears a 4x scope; as PPs have noted, if you want a scope, go with a Marlin.
Had a Winchester 94 Trapper with a Lyman tang sight; took a deer with it, but the action really is too long for handgun cartridges.
Tried to get a Nipponese Winchester '92, but they were (are) not to be had. Settled for a '73, which is a great, smooth running rifle, but with a 20" bbl and the long '73 action, it's bigger than I'd prefer. It's wearing a Marbles tang sight, which is the deal for lever guns.
Couldn't shake the '92 itch, and finally had to order a Rossi trapper; it may have been the only new '92 anything in the country.
I've stuck with .45 Colt because I like it, have some .45 revolvers, and load my own with Trailboss. But for a non-reloader, a .38/.357 makes more sense.
A minute on tang sights; like the Marbles best; they adjust for windage and elevation. Some guns are predrilled, others reuse the stock screw hole, and require drilling/tapping the second hole. Some need both holes d/t. The Marbles site gives great information (especially on mounting screws/drills/taps), but you'll need to order from a jobber. They add sight radius, especially for short barreled carbines, compared to the buckhorns.
For the OP, good luck shopping.
Moon

 

[Bearded Phil]

My .357, 45-70 and 22LR levers are all Henry's. Not to say that I wouldn't like Rossi or an old Marlin if I could ever try them but I never had the opportunity. Henry was always what was available when I was in the market and I've thoroughly enjoyed them. They have a lot of nice features IMO, and the new Big Boy Steels all come with a side loading gate as well as the brass mag tube so there's loading and unloading options.

Not to hijack OP's thread but on the subject of my Henry .357 I had some issues with POA and POI when the front and rear sights were centered at 50 yards, namely it would shoot 12" to the right. Long story short is finally got around to inquiring about factory warranty service and sent it back to Henry last month. It just came back Friday with notes saying they put a new barrel on it, replaced the mag tube and "checked the rifle over" which from looking means they touched up the blueing on anything that was dinged or scratched. They even polished up my loading gate which was all brassed up so it's looking new. Not that it mattered to me but it was a nice service touch. Also, I know for a fact that it's the same loading gate because when I first got the rifle I stripped the receiver to degrease/re-oil and polish the "mouth" of the gate as it was a bit sharp and I can tell by the smoothness that this is the same one. My point being I suppose is that there's warranty service available with Henry and it didn't cost a thing except a month without my rifle and some old packaging I had around the house.

Henrys I find are really easy to strip for deep cleaning and for barrel cleaning it's super easy to get the bolt out.

Mine is all dressed up again waiting for an outing next weekend to test the replaced barrel and some loads I've worked up in IMR 4227. I'm sure you'll like whatever you decide on but I know where my vote goes.

Henry H012GM

• Bearded Phil
• Feb 13, 2022