Really wanting to get a 30-30 lever gun to add to my short range guns. Currently have a Rossi 45lc that I love and a ruger 300blk. The r95 is about $739 on sale, the Henry is $889 both 5 +1 and both 20” barrels. I’d love a 94 but it would run me $1300 out here and way back ordered. I believe in resale the Henry will easily be worth it however I have no intention of selling my guns. Should I go with my gut and pay the extra or is the Rossi fine? Thanks
Rossi r95 vs Henry 30-30
- Thread starter Csinn
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They are all spendy. For the $150-250 difference between the Henry and the Winchester, I would get the Winchester every time. The Winchester will be a Miroku and simply superior.
The Rossi will be competent, but a big step down in finish and the quality of the details. One advantage: you will be less likely to sweat the dings.
The Rossi will be competent, but a big step down in finish and the quality of the details. One advantage: you will be less likely to sweat the dings.
I read in an article that the Winchester 94 frame can’t handle hotter loads, is this true?
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Where did you read that? I need to know what site or periodical to steer clear of.
Personally, I would go with Henry. Great guns with great customer service and product support and made in USA.
tubeshooter
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I think it is just legacy "conventional wisdom" from back when the Win 94 was generally compared with the Marlin 336.
People generally seemed to think the Marlin was stronger. And as a consequence - chunkier. That's the impression I got, anyway.
I can't say from personal experience. But I do think it would take quite a bit of $$$$ in ammo to find out at today's retail prices, and that it would be a non-issue for most even if true.
People generally seemed to think the Marlin was stronger. And as a consequence - chunkier. That's the impression I got, anyway.
I can't say from personal experience. But I do think it would take quite a bit of $$$$ in ammo to find out at today's retail prices, and that it would be a non-issue for most even if true.
It was on a different forum, as long as the lever evolution rounds work that’s all I care about. My brother had a beautiful 94 but sold it when he got married, kicking himself now
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
You have that right. I don’t think anyone wants to lay out the money to destroy 2 guns testing that out today.I know with pistol caliber guns the Winchester 92 design is stronger than the Marlin 1895 design but how much stronger I don’t know.
I know this, I have a Win 94 and a Marlin 336 and I after shooting loads in both that were at the max pressures, for me, it wouldn’t make any sense to go hotter because accuracy diminished. At least in my guns it did.
I also “diminished”. At the time I wouldn’t think of putting a recoil pad on my 30-30s. “They were designed that way. I am not changing a thing!”
Yeah, the Winchester now wears a lace on padded butt pad and the Marlin is getting one too.
The Happy Kaboomer
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BOTH.........The Rossi and the Henry are Marlin 336 knockoffs..........Better to by a used Marlin 336 than either of the two.
While there was a 44M 336 most pistol caliber Marlins are the 1894 action, not the 336/1895 action.
I would get a Marlin 336, old, new, inbetween, as long as it is a Marlin.
My 336 rifles eat the LR ammo like candy and produce beautiful groups. I have replicated the factory load and it shoots even better, I slowed it down just a little bit and it did even better. The 160FTX bullet is plenty accurate and a deer and pig killer.
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Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Thanks.
I actually have a Marlin 336 30-30 and a Winchester 94 carbine 30-30. My Marlin is a very accurate rifle. My Marlin also likes the Leverevolution ammo.
Coincidentally I took both of them to the range today to sight them in after installing XS Sights on them. The Winchester was close to dialed in but after I installed the scope rail and the sights on the Marlin I didn’t get a chance to shoot it to sight it in. I have to try the smaller aperture on the rear sight. The large aperture won’t go down any further and the gun is hitting 6” high at 50 yards. I didn’t bother shooting 100 yards with it. I will switch apertures and see if I can get less elevation on the rear sight.
I have been looking at the Rossi rifles also. I have seen a few I would like, .44M or .454. If I knew the .45C would cycle the "Bear" type ammo that I haver used with my Blackhawk I might be convinced.
ThomasT
Member
I wouldn't worry about the strength of any of the guns. They will all handle full power factory ammo for thousands of rounds before they are worn out. And you will find if you try loading "Hot" rounds the brass won't last a but one or two reloadings. I have already done the extra power loads and will never do them again. If I need more power than Book Loads I will just use another gun and another round. Those extra power loads are not pleasant to shoot from those light weight guns. The factory loads will kill about anything you want to hunt as long as you take care and don't stretch the range.
Right now I have a 336 made in 1988 IIRC and a Marlin/Glenfield made before the cross bolt safety with half magazine tube and if something happened to those guns I would be on the hunt for another JM Marlin to replace them. I have owned around 15-20 30-30 rifles and regret not keeping more of them. Most bought back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and never paid more than $100 each. I would sell them for $175 and really thought I was doing something.
I won't comment on the Rossi or Henry because I have never handled them. Of the two I would pick the Henry based on how well I like my Henry 22 mag lever action.
Right now I have a 336 made in 1988 IIRC and a Marlin/Glenfield made before the cross bolt safety with half magazine tube and if something happened to those guns I would be on the hunt for another JM Marlin to replace them. I have owned around 15-20 30-30 rifles and regret not keeping more of them. Most bought back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and never paid more than $100 each. I would sell them for $175 and really thought I was doing something.
I won't comment on the Rossi or Henry because I have never handled them. Of the two I would pick the Henry based on how well I like my Henry 22 mag lever action.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I will see if I can find the websites that I found in 2016 that talked about the strength of the 1892 Winchester and the Rossi 92 regarding the use of heavy loading using .45 Colt ammo.
I had a Rossi 92 with the 24” octagon barrel. I used it for CAS but also made up some pretty stout loads for deer hunting and hiking in Oregon in case of whatever.
I will search for the sites tomorrow.
But will they cycle the large meplat heavy bullets? Like 305 grain for .44M or 320 grain in .45C? The Rossi can handle the .454 pressures but will it and the the .45 version handle the large nearly square bullets?
earlthegoat2
Member
It’s kind of a catch 22 but the 454 Rossi will probably accept longer COAL 45 Colts for some extra 45 Colt power in the 454 rifle.
The Rossi Rio Grande 30-30 was a good rifle too and I am unsure of any mechanical differences between it and the new 95. Both are 336 clones. The carbine version of the 95 is interesting. Something Marlin used to do but only as distributor exclusives which I thought was short sighted. It is a regular production item with the 95. The larger lever loop doesn’t look too bad either.
I feel like some other companies could learn a thing or two from Rossi/Taurus/Braztech even though they are the ones doing the copying.
dobedo
Member
I own several Henrys and one in 30/30. The only non-Henry I own is a .500 BHA carbine. What has not been discussed Henry has a lifetime Warranty and has one of the best service groups around.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
@3Crows
I spent a couple hours trying to find the 3 websites that I found a few years back that showed that the Rossi 92 could handle “Ruger Only” hand loads.
I only found one.
I found a lot of discussions on various forums on the subject, just as I did in 2016, but most of the info I found was conjecture and opinion.
I went through my hand load index cards to see what my loads were that were spicy, not Ruger Only. As I was looking I recall that I destroyed them. I didn’t want some crazy relative of mine finding my reloading data some day and getting themselves hurt. I do recall that I based my loads on the specs of Buffalo Bore ammo at the time.
I think at some point I decided that if I wanted a hard hitting pistol cartridge rifle that I should quit tempting fate and just buy a .454 Casull rifle. Rossi makes those. In the end I decided not to bother and just get me a 45-70 so I bought a Henry Single Shot when they came out.
Below is the only link I could find that I saw a few years back regarding hot loads in the Rossi 92.
This guy has testing listed to show that a modern Rossi 92 can take Ruger Only loads…you just have to get past the blather on “Colt vs Long Colt”. To skip that drop down to the section with bold text.
NOTE: I couldn’t find his article on Gun Blast (referenced in link)
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
I spent a couple hours trying to find the 3 websites that I found a few years back that showed that the Rossi 92 could handle “Ruger Only” hand loads.
I only found one.
I found a lot of discussions on various forums on the subject, just as I did in 2016, but most of the info I found was conjecture and opinion.
I went through my hand load index cards to see what my loads were that were spicy, not Ruger Only. As I was looking I recall that I destroyed them. I didn’t want some crazy relative of mine finding my reloading data some day and getting themselves hurt. I do recall that I based my loads on the specs of Buffalo Bore ammo at the time.
I think at some point I decided that if I wanted a hard hitting pistol cartridge rifle that I should quit tempting fate and just buy a .454 Casull rifle. Rossi makes those. In the end I decided not to bother and just get me a 45-70 so I bought a Henry Single Shot when they came out.
Below is the only link I could find that I saw a few years back regarding hot loads in the Rossi 92.
This guy has testing listed to show that a modern Rossi 92 can take Ruger Only loads…you just have to get past the blather on “Colt vs Long Colt”. To skip that drop down to the section with bold text.
NOTE: I couldn’t find his article on Gun Blast (referenced in link)
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Hokkmike
Member
For my money - Marlin, Winchester, Uberti, Henry (in that order) The rest are of the Wanna-Be tribe..
GooseGestapo
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OP;
What’s wrong with just buying a clean used Winchester M94. It’s not like they didn’t make several million of them.
I’ve got three. (2-.30/30’s, a .45Colt) The only thing wrong with them is the false notion’s people have about them.
Accurate? Yes! Probably 2MOA or better.
Strong? Enough for the .45C to shoot Ruger “Only” loads easily.
The only thing wrong besides the levers possibly rattling is that two are XTR’s and are too pretty to take hunting…
What’s wrong with just buying a clean used Winchester M94. It’s not like they didn’t make several million of them.
I’ve got three. (2-.30/30’s, a .45Colt) The only thing wrong with them is the false notion’s people have about them.
Accurate? Yes! Probably 2MOA or better.
Strong? Enough for the .45C to shoot Ruger “Only” loads easily.
The only thing wrong besides the levers possibly rattling is that two are XTR’s and are too pretty to take hunting…
AJC1
Member
Have you seen the adjustable appatures? I have one on a 39a and I love it....
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Thank you. No, I haven’t. Who makes them?
There’s one that just came into cabelas near me I want to take a look at.
.45Coltguy
Member
Those bashing Henry's, Rossi's etc; perhaps just buy/shoot what you like and be satisfied. Heck, I certainly enjoy my Henry's, my Win Mod 94 and Marlin 39A.
Whatever floats your boat, buy it and enjoy it.
Whatever floats your boat, buy it and enjoy it.
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