Looking for a good cowboy action lever gun

[1858remington]

I am thinking of buying a lever gun for cowboy action.

I've determined that I want to stay with 45colt caliber, so that my pistols and rifle share same ammo.

My budget is limited, and the variety of options many....... help

what style winchester? 1866, 1873, 1878

what brand? american or import

I've heard that some jam, while others don't, but have no experience to make a judgement.

Whats a good value for price, that will comply with CASS?

any help is greatly appriciated.

 

[Tom C.]

I like the Marlin. I have an 1894 in .45 Colt that I use and one in .357 for my wife. You may be able to find a used one from someone who has switched to .38/.357.

 

[iamkris]

I have a Rossi Win92-clone that I shoot in cowboy action shooting (under the alias Thaddeus Muckenfuss). It is a stainless model, 24" octagonal barrel, crescent buttplate, .45 Colt. In a phrase...I love it.

Rossi's are a good value in my opinion. I paid $275 barely used. I originally bought it used because it was cheap and I was already spending a lot to get into the sport. I figured that I'd trade it later for a Marlin or Winchester. I started shooting it and found it well made and VERY accurate. It has NEVER misfed. In fact, I have no intention of getting rid of it.

I did make some changes however. An afternoon of elbow grease, steel wool and stripper got rid of the awful black finish they use on their wood (I think it is a Brazilian hardwood of some kind). I put some walnut stain and an oil finish and got a lovely dark golden hue with a lot of figure. I also swapped out the sights to Marbles full buckhorn rear and Game Getter front blade. Rossi's are a little on the cheap side. I also had Steve Young (Rossi gunsmith) remove the stupid bolt safety and fill it with a plug. Slapped a Bunkhouse spring kit in the rifle and she is GOOD TO GO! Even with all that, I have only about $360 in the rifle.

Fast, smooth, super accurate. 3 seasons of cowboy shooting on her (about 900 rounds) and never a hiccup...no failures to feed, fire or eject. No broken parts. BTW, Rossi makes the Win92 clones for Navy Arms and (I believe) EMF also. You can pay a little bit more for those and get some of the modifications I did built in.

Here she is with a few of her friends

 

[Bill B.]

I got burned on a Rossi 92 and it soured me on owning another 92. Mine was a jam o matic plus it threw it share of live rounds out the top. I had a pard who also had a Navy Arms 92 in .357 and it was about the same as mine function wise. I know some shooters who use them and love them and more power to them if they work but I don't want another!

My pick would be a Winchester 73 Deluxe Border Rifle in 45 LC. It has the 20 in. barrel, buckhorn sights, and curved checkered pistol grip and forearm. The 66 works as well as the 73 but if I wanted something cheaper I would go with the Marlin Cowboy over the 66. The Marlin shoots as well or better and though you may lose some style points you don't lose a thing otherwise. I currently have the 73 & the 66. I have owned 5 Marlin Cowboys in all calibers except the 44 Mag. Good luck in whatever you choose!

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I used to own a Rossi/Puma 92 in .357. It made me into a hardcore Marlin fan.

That was a while ago, and I hear they're a lot better now. I sure hope so.

 

[Brian Williams]

I gotta say that a Marlin 1894c has to be the best for SASS and Hunting and general plinking.