Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
I've dreamt of a 357 Magnum stainless lever for a while... I held off from getting a Rossi for years and was glad I did when Marlin released a couple of new stainless 1894 models this year! I was between the CST (16" 357, threaded, black stocks, XS sights with no rail) and CSBL (16" 357, Gray laminate, XS with rail). I would love the CST with the gray stocks but decided we to go for the CSBL and was going to remove the rail to run XS sights only. I didn't because the shim I would need under the rear sight would be fiddly and complicated. From there I decided to red dot and ordered a Holosun 503GU. My only other red dot is an Aimpoint PRO and I am VERY impressed with the Holosun. Very compact, crisp, and awesome battery life and circle/dot reticle. I'm very pleased with it!
This is a hunting gun so I wanted a way to semi-quick detach the Holosun without in case I ran out of batteries or messed the RDS up on a hunt... I thought for a while then recalled a bag of LaRue rail covers with some extra pieces that are meant to route a light cable. PRESTO it fits the Torx key!
The CSBL is modeled after the 1895 Guide Gun and shares the Guide Gun's very soft, grippy butt pad. Nothing wrong with it but it was poorly fitted and much too much for a 357 rifle. I made a new Micarta (similar to G10) but pad that slims everything up nicely and allows me to much more quickly mount the rifle.
Overall the rifle itself was OK but needed to be disassembled and deburred/cleaned in the action. I had to fit the stocks a bit better to the action and the butt pad was about 1/16" too big all around (so I switched that). Having said all that the things that matter all look great. Great machining in the bore, nice finish on all the stainless, sights and tube are straight, and the forend is really tight and well fitted.
This is a hunting gun so I wanted a way to semi-quick detach the Holosun without in case I ran out of batteries or messed the RDS up on a hunt... I thought for a while then recalled a bag of LaRue rail covers with some extra pieces that are meant to route a light cable. PRESTO it fits the Torx key!
The CSBL is modeled after the 1895 Guide Gun and shares the Guide Gun's very soft, grippy butt pad. Nothing wrong with it but it was poorly fitted and much too much for a 357 rifle. I made a new Micarta (similar to G10) but pad that slims everything up nicely and allows me to much more quickly mount the rifle.
Overall the rifle itself was OK but needed to be disassembled and deburred/cleaned in the action. I had to fit the stocks a bit better to the action and the butt pad was about 1/16" too big all around (so I switched that). Having said all that the things that matter all look great. Great machining in the bore, nice finish on all the stainless, sights and tube are straight, and the forend is really tight and well fitted.