Help me find the perfect rifle [cowboy lever-action]

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Magno

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Hey guys. I'm a new registeree, but a while-long lurker.

I've decided that my next purchase is going to be a lever-action repeater. I've started looking for candidate models, but there are so many different options, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I could use some help from the experts here.

Here is what I am looking for; an antique style "cowboy" rifle with wood furniture and a blued or brass finish. I would like something relatively short, in a carbine/riding length, probably with a barrel 20" or under. I like a saddle ring on the receiver but it is not immediately required. I am looking to load .357 mag, although other calibers (such as 30/30) can be considered.

I am interested in using this firearm in action shooting, but this is not necessarily my first priority for the gun, so it's merely a convenience if it complies, not a requirement...

Please let me know what my best options are for make and model. I would appreciate a list of pros and cons, if possible, so that I can compare back and forth.

Thanks in advance! There's just too many choices!
 
Welcome to THE HIGH ROAD!

Uberti makes a fine reproduction of the Winchester 1873 carbine that can be had through various distributors like Cimarron and Navy Arms and others. They have saddle ring carbines.
Normally this would be chambered in .44-40 but IIRC Uberti does now make a .357 magnum. I find that a bit unusual since the 1873 is a "toggle-link" design and that is not the strongest lever action design and .357 Mag is a potent round. However, Uberti is a very competent company and I am very confident they would never offer a rifle for sale to the public if they believed it would suffer any damage from commercially available cartridges their customers would run through it.
You won't find this model in .30-30 because that is a rifle length cartridge and the 1873 receiver only works with pistol sized rounds. If you choose .30-30 you will need an old Winchester 1894 with a saddle ring, or perhaps a Marlin if they make -- or made -- one of their venerable lever rifles with a saddle ring.
Uberti does also make a copy of the Henry Rifle and the 1866 which have brass receivers but I don't know what caliber they're offered in outside of .44-40 and .45LC.
 
personally all my lever guns are marlins, cause they have the strongest action that I know of. I reload and my heavy Ruger loads can also be shot in a Marlin.
I would really like to get the marling cowboy in 45lc
 
I agree the Uberti '73 best fits your requirements; though rhe Rossi-Puma-Legacy '92 copies are also very good guns at a lower cost. You might want to pick up a copy of "Shooting Lever Action Rifles of the Old West" by Mike Venturino. I've found it a very good resource.

gary
 
Well, I have them all, a Marlin 94 in .357, a Uberti Win. 73 in .357, a Rossi Win. 92 in .45, and a Uberti 66 in .45.

If you intend to be a serious competitor in cowboy action shooting, your best bet is probably the Uberti Winchester 73. However, it is expensive and to run with the top dogs, you'll need to put another couple hundred into a short stroke kit and action job.

The same goes for the brass framed Win. 66.

These two rifles also tend to be a bit heavier than they need to be. That's not an issue if you are using them in competition, but they are not as pleasant to lug around in the woods as a Marlin or Win 92.

The Marlin comes in two versions, the standard 94 and the Marlin 94 Cowboy. The cowboy offers more options and is a bit heftier than the standard. It is also more expensive. If you are competing, you'll want an action job for around a hundred bucks.
The Marlin is a good compromise between cost and speed. It is also a snap to tear down for cleaning. I shoot a lot of black powder so I especially appreciate this feature. I have an early 94 Marlin without the safety and it is very light, under six pounds. The Cowboy weighs closer to seven. The Marlin action is the strongest of the small lever actions.

The Rossi Win. 92 is also a strong action. And the carbine is also a lightweight. It can be had with a saddle ring, but I would pass on that in any but an original. If you go this route, buy it from Steve Young (Google him) with an action job. The Rossi is your least expensive option in a new rifle.

All of the carbines mentioned can be had in barrels ranging from 16 to 20 inches. Rifles can be had in barrels up to 30 inches though 24 inches is the norm.

All of these rifles are accurate, rugged, and dependable. You can't go wrong with any of them. You don't HAVE to get an action job on any of them, but they all profit greatly from an action job both in smoothness and reliability.

The Henry Rifle Company also offers a lever action but I have no experience with it.
 
Have a few important questions.
1. What's your price range? (most important question right here)
2. Do you want new or are you willing to look around for used ones?
3. If you are willing to go used can it be a little beat up or do you want mint condition?
4. You said action shooting is not your top priority. What are you planning on using this for most of the time? What MIGHT you use it for? Range only? Hunting small game? Deer?
4.5 What kind of ranges do you need from this gun?
5. Is this the kind of thing you'll be leaving in the safe if the weather gets bad or do you want something you can tromp through the mud with during a pouring rain and still have it work?
6. Can it have a more modern appearance or are you really set on a "cowboy" style gun?

Without answers to these questions this thread will be one long "my favorite lever gun is XXXX". With answers to these questions we can really help narrow down the field to the few that might fit your preferences best.
 
I have seen a lot of nice ones out there. The one I have is a mod '92 by Rossi. It fit my budget well and performed well for me over the last 3 years of action shooting. I went with the 24" octagon barrel. Gonna try and get me a carbine by Rossi this spring.
 
I've got a Rossi in .454/.45 and I'm thinking of getting one in just .45. The .45lc factory loads feel like .22s, but they step down range at 1000fps.
With my eyes and iron sights it is pretty much a 100yd gun.
The .454 is a real thumper.
 
Answers to epijunkie's questions:

1. I am looking to spend anywhere from $200-$600, ideally. More than that just isn't really wort it for me for a rifle of this nature.
2. Used is absolutely fine.
3. Similarly, beat up is fine too. Anything that adds to the character of a frontier gun...
4. On a regular level, I would take this gun out to the ranges for fun the most. I would occasionally bring it out to the bush just for the sake of survival or game, but it would see the most use on the range. It would be a multi-use firearm.
Range in itself does not concern me too much. I have several firearms specialized for certain ranges, so anything this gun can put out will be appreciated.
5. I always appreciate some ruggedness with my firearms, and likewise I do tend to give them a run for their money (with a good cleaning afterwards), so the piece should be able to reflect that.
6. I'm buying this gun primarily for the Cowboy aesthetic, so I would like it to look accurate, although a modern look will be considered if it can be modified. I.e., I was considering a Marlin 336 and changing out the checkered grips.

Hope that helps with that.

To all else, thanks for all your replies. I'm starting to put together a much better picture of this class of firearm...
 
I would go with a reproduction Winchester 92 in .357 mag. You can handload mild loads for plinking at the range, and some will even let you use .38 Specials if you load them to the right length. There is no question about the strength of the '92 action....357 mags will be no problem. The top cowboy action shooters prefer a '73 or '66 because the horizontal feed into the chamber is a tad more reliable, but if you don't have your heart set on winning End of Trail, that should not be a problem. You should be able to find a used '92 at some cowboy action match at the top end of your price range. You will see more '92s in the old cowboy movies than '73s, if that is important to you!
 
I own a Uberti reproduction of a Win '73. If you've seen "Tombstone", the lever action rifle carried by Stephen "Ike Clanton" Lang in the opening scenes is a dead ringer for it. I got it in .45 Colt which is the caliber I use to shoot CAS and love it.

Good luck,

FH
 
levergun

Welcome to the High Road.

SASS rules allow the 30-30 only on the long-range (150-300 yds) side matches. Main match guns should be chambered for a pistol cartridge.

As mentioned, lots of choices out there on actions and brands. I have been pleased with Puma M-92 (.45 Colt), Marlin (.357 and .38-55), Uberti .357 copy of 1873 Winchester (very pricey), and Rossi M-92 (.45 Colt). Do watch the COAL of your rounds and make sure that guns with tubular magazines are only loaded with flat-nosed bullets. SASS specifies lead-only bullets, which may limit your selection of ammo unless you are a reloader.

And we can fix that!

Border Doc, SASS Life
 
Given your listed criteria I agree a pistol caliber rifle would be perfect for you. Something in .357, .41 mag, or 45 long colt would be great with the 45 topping my suggestion list.

Given your budget you should easily be able to find a rifle in you price range. Besides shopping locally you might also want to consider online resources like gunbroker and other auction sites.

I personally have a Marlin with octagonal barrel in 41 mag that rocks. Hopefully you can find something similar.

If you get a .45 LC or .357 you'll have a nice selection of factory ammo to chose from. If you decide to go with a 41 mag (which is a great round) you'll probably need to reload for it to get reasonably priced ammo.

If you decide to go with something in 45 LC make sure the action is strong enough to take modern ammo. I have an Uberti reproduction rifle in 45 LC and I think they recommend not using the more powerful rounds in it. I don't think that's a problem in the Marlins and the Winchesters.
 
I use standard "Cowboy" loads in my Uberti replica and handload with Hornady 255gr Flatpoint bullets to 800 fps. They work just fine.

FH
 
If I were to use a lever strictly for SASS i would choose a repro '73 in 357 and have the action work done. those rifles work like wet butter after that. They cost more but if you're a competitive sort this is what you want. I would avoid heavy loads.

For a do all fun gun and occassional SASS use I would pick a Marlin 1894c in whatever caliber suits you. The rifle is stronger and can handle stiffer loads all day long. The '73 not so much. There are things you can do to slick up a Marlin to run just as fast as a '73.

I've tried the '92 and 94 Winchesters from Rossi, Browning and Winchester for SASS but they put you at a dissadvantage IMHO. For occassional use they are fine.
 
Last edited:
EMF is an importer & doesn't make anything themselves.
Current product line should be good.
Denis
 
These are the manufactures for EMF:
From past experience Pieta was OK but not what I would call top shelf in handguns.
Pedesoli's were good (rifles) for the money.
Uberti (rifles) was better still.

I could be wrong but I think Uberti makes most of the '73's available and contract them to importers like EMF and Taylor. It probably has more to do with fit and finish from company to company than anything else.

My '73 is a Taylor. The finish has been abused but that will happen. Fit is as good as you can expect.
 
I have been in this exact same situation, but, I already have some lever gun experience with my Winchester 94 30-30.
If you have Cowboy Action Shooting on the brain (I have suffered this malady lately) you should take a broad picture approach.
The handgun for the competition is (should be?) utilized in pairs. For me, that turned into a couple of Vaquero .357 s . Not a cheap endeaver. The .357/.38 caliber selection decision is a page or so in itself, but to get back to our topic.
This pistol caliber is hugely versatile (unless you intend on successful game hunting) and very popular in the CAS game.
Picking a rifle that uses the same ammo as your revolvers is a no brainer.
Remember, unless you are exceedingly well-heeled financially, you still have quite a list of expenditures ahead of you, and though just about all of us want to have the nicest/best (equals expensive $$) you need to consider the rest of your kit.
I bought a Rossi 92 .357 Trapper with stainless metalwork. Unless I let it get run over by a car or comparable disaster the rifle will always be pretty much worth what I have got in it (bought it used for less than $400.00).
If I want something better later on, it won't hurt me to keep it as back-up.
It might not be the fastest/bestest, but niether are you going to be until you get the practice and experience under your belt.
Myself, I am finding the shotgun to be the most difficult part of the kit to select.
Try to remember, you still have more guns to buy,holsters & such, clothing, and a lot of other aspects to consider.
Focus on your handgun caliber and work from there.
Borrow a book and study. Comb the net for CAS recommendations. Don't get fixated on a single aspect . Broad picture decisions will serve you best right now.
 
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