Lightest most compact .357 lever action?

[Monkeybear]

I am in the market for a .357 lever action. I want a nice light, handy rife. Whats the smallest/lightest one on the market?

 

[AStone]

Marlin 1894C gets my vote.

 

[Shweboner]

+1 on the Marlin

nothing else is colse.

 

[Kilgor]

Well the 1894C isn't the lightest and most compact even of Marlins, the 1894CP is though it isn't being made right now. They are easy to find on the used market though.

You might look for an 1892 clone with 16" barrel. They tend to be a little slimmer than 1894's and lighter by a couple of ounces. The Rossi puma springs to mind.

The 1894CP is ridiculously handy and well made, but if you want the absolute lightest you should look for a 92'.

 

[rangerruck]

any old winnie you can find, if not , go with a taurus or Puma.

 

[kmrcstintn]

I own a Marlin 1894C that I've shot 250 + .357 magnum rounds and 50 .38 spl +p rounds thru...very handy, very easy to shoot, very light recoil, very fun

I believe that LSI is importing an 1892 clone type called the 'Puma' that might be a bit shorter and lighter

 

[SDC]

This thing is legally a handgun, but it's only 24" OAL, and he has holsters for them

http://www.jbcustom.com/new-mares.htm

 

[M110]

+1 for the Puma. The 16" version is very light and quick to the shoulder. Accurate too. Luv mine.

 

[Colt46]

I'd recommened the '92 Puma

I've got the mid length, 20", barrel and it is is just shy of 6 lbs. Fun gun and pretty accurate.

 

[cslinger]

+1 on the Marlin 1894C. Very light, very short, very handy and a pop gun as far as recoil goes.

Chris

 

[ArmedBear]

Marlin is 6 lb. with an 18.5" barrel. The Puma with a 16" barrel is closer to 5 lb.

But the Marlin is the nicer gun, IMO, and anything 6 lb. or under feels pretty similar to me. Too light, and it's hard to hold steady.

Those Pumas seem well put together, but for the price I'd want better wood. Marlins have much nicer wood, and a rubber buttpad, for about the same price. And they're easier to clean.

Maybe I'm "old school", but I expect a Brazilian gun with lousy wood to cost less -- a good deal less -- than a top-notch American-made gun with nice checkered walnut. Maybe I'm just not overly comfortable with Rossi, yet. I do hear they've been making some pretty nice stuff, but still...

On the other hand, the other day I was messing around with an old 1892 in .25-20. Very old, but still rock-solid. Made me want to look at 92 replicas again. A replica might not do it for me, though, after that...

 

[AStone]

Those Pumas seem well put together, but for the price I'd want better wood. Marlins have much nicer wood, and a rubber buttpad, for about the same price. And they're easier to clean.

Maybe I'm "old school", but I expect a Brazilian gun with lousy wood to cost less -- a good deal less -- than a top-notch American-made gun with nice checkered walnut.

Yep.

 

[Gordon]

The old (stopped making the ,357 about 12 years ago) Japanese made Browning B-92 is a class act. Very nicely finished copy of the old Winnie and they are light and about $400 in great shape used.

 

[roo_ster]

A new or used Win model 92 clone.

 

[Essex County]

I have no experience with the Puma, but I hear great reviews on them. I bought the Winchester Trapper. I now have the Marlin and I am satisfied. Essex

 

[Eyesac]

Lightest most compact .357 lever action?

I don't know why people keep saying Marlin!!!???

A Winchester 92 is smaller and lighter hands down. All personal preference aside, the 92 is the answer to your question.

And also my personal favorite

 

[ArmedBear]

If you can find a Winchester 92, it's a neat rifle. Really neat.

Of course, they were never made in .357, and they weren't made after WW II.

So you must mean a replica of some sort...