Which .357 Lever Carbine?

Which .357 Lever Carbine?

  • Marlin 1894C

    Votes: 55 64.7%

  • Marlin 1894 Cowboy

    Votes: 18 21.2%

  • 92 Puma

    Votes: 11 12.9%

  • Beretta Gold Rush

    Votes: 1 1.2%
  • Total voters
    85
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I can't speak for the others so I didn't vote. The Rossi/Puma rifle is a crude piece of junk in my oppinion. The one I had (bought new in late 2006) started eating itself after maybe 100 rounds. It was wildly inaccurate at 100 yards and didn't feed well at all. My advice is to avoid the Rossi.
 
I voted for the Marlin cowboy because of the extra finishing touches that go into it though the standard Marlin is probably every bit as good.

I actually own a Rossi Puma but mine was produced around 1972 and to be honest seems to be a different beast from a lot of what is produced today. Mine also got quite a bit of TLC from me to prep it for use in cowboy action shooting so I have a hard time remembering what it was actually like when I first bought it.
 
Archangel, I am loading up my new Puma 16" .357 with large loop lever right now to take it down to the range for the first time. I am loaded up with a couple hundred .38 158 gr lead rnfp's to try. I will be glad to give you a complete report. :)
 
my marlin 1894c is actually the first rifle I grab for pests or plinking. when guests or kids come to shoot we do .22's, but I get a kick from the bigger KaBooom of the .357 // I never had another brand but the fit and finish of the marlin is beautiful. real american walnut not "walnut finish" (what the heck is walnut finish?) the blue is real deep too
 
I was lucky enough to have a friend that let me borrow his 1894 in 357 mag , it was very accurate and smooth operating lever gun. Amazing how much the 357s report is diminished in a rifle. And there is a significant increase in velocity. The only part I did not like was having to return the rifle!:D This was one of the older rifles , I am not sure how the current production rifles stack up.

I used to own a late 1980's 1894 in 44 mag and it was al ot of fun without all the blast and shock waves of the 44 revolvers.
 
I have a .357 Rossi and I have no complaints, shoots well and looks good.
Placed next to my 94 they look like they are from the same factory.
 
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What are you going to be using it for?

I have an 1894C that is an all around, throw in the back of the truck, companion to my .357 revolvers.

I have a Rossi 1892 (in .45 Colt) that has had a complete workover by Steve Young that I use for CAS.

Both do their respective jobs well.
 
Got my Puma around x-mas, gun shop had several to choose from, and they all looked good. Its the big hooped 16" carbine version. Shot 500 + .38, and .357 with no troubles. I can easily hit a row of cans at 50 yards.

I don't know if they are still doing it, or it was specific to the gun shop I bought it at, but it came with a very nice soft case, and a BIG honking bowie knife too.


My 2 cents :D
 
So I took the Puma out to the range today. 200+ rounds of .38 Special, no magnums. It seems to function well with the shorter rounds, chambered them smooth and easy, holds 9 plus 1 in the chamber in the 16" model. I first sighted it in at 25 yards from the bench and them moved out to 50 yards to see what it could do. With my handloads, both 158 SWC and 158 RNFP (850 fps from a 4" revolver), it shot perfectly centered into 3-4" groups. I thought this was more than acceptable for cowboy loads. For my last group of the day I went to my pocket and loaded five of the Speer "Short Barrel" 135
+Ps and put them into a 1 1/2" group, I was very happy. I would have brought a box out to the range if I would have known it's preference for jacketed bullets. The gun smoothed out considerably during the shooting session. My only complaint is that the trigger is a little heavier than I like but id does not have any creep to speak of. My overall opinion is that it is a nice little gun for $400 that has alot of potential. Loaded with .38's it makes for a very nice plinking gun, I am eager to put some .357's through it. It is a keeper, Bill!
 
Lever Action .357

About two years ago I found a Marlin 1894 CBC (CBC = Competiton Cowboy) on a used rack for $400. It listed at $960 new and they stopped making the CBC version. It appeared to be in NIB condition. It was .38 Special only but I had my gunsmith ream the chamber a bit longer to accomodate .357 mag which is a blast to shoot and pretty accurate within the ranges appropriate for pistol ammo. The CBC came with a case harrdened receiver. It makes an nice companion for my Cimarron Model P in the same caliber. Anyway, I think that any of the Marlin 1894's would be a great top quality Choice.

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Mine is not on the list. I have the Winchester with the 16" bbl. I think it is a "Cenntenial" edition, the receiver is stamped 1894 - 1994. GREAT little gun for coyotes around the house and also a good one for the grandkids to shoot.
 
Steve, your model was at the top of my list, very nice. Could not swing the 700 price tag. My second choice was a Winny Trapper, too costly as well. You have a very valuable piece right now with Winchester now out of the lever action business. Bill
 
You have a very valuable piece right now with Winchester now out of the lever action business.
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Thanks for the info...............that gun is my kick around, throw it in the truck or on the ATV general purpose have fun gun. If somoe some strange reason I don't have my CCW with me (around home) that's the gun that is usally the closest to me. It's great on coyotes at ~50 yards.
 
I had to vote for the 1894C. It's the only one that I have personal experience with, but just today, took it out and had a ball with it. It's accurate as all get out, light, quick handling and worth every penny!

Hold hard

Jim
 
I thank you all for your input, it's always appreciated.

wcwhitey,
Thank you for the range report. Sounds good...

Steve H,
I didn't add the Winchester to the list because it's too expensive to buy IF you can find someone willing to sell you one. I know the Win is a great lever gun but didn't add it to the list because I probably will be choosing from the 4 listed.

Anyone know anything about the Beretta??
 
I think the Marlin 1894 is the best choice. I've owned quite a few and they've all been very reliable shooters. Rossi's, in my limited experience, can be a gamble. You might get a good one and you might get a lemon. I currently have my eye on the Cimarron Arms 92 carbine in .357. Awfully pretty, but kinda pricey.
 
I own the 1894 Marlin Cowboy, and it took some sprucing up by ZeSpectre to really get it up and running, including slicing the magazine spring so it can fit 10 .357 Magnum rounds vice 9, stoning and greasing the internals so that it FLYS. I like it b/c mine doesn't have the silly tang safety that's out there on them now.
 
I have the Marlin 1894CB. I must admit that I have a fondness for longer barrels and octogen is even better. Mine is a 44mag, with a Marbles tang sight and is quite a shooter.
 
I've got a puma, a marlin and a henry all in 357 and the henry is by far the top of the class. The puma is not a very good choice for shooting very much at all. The marlin is a good shooter but hangs up once in a while when I try to go too fast. The henry is smooth all the way and has not burped once since I've had it. I shoot 130 grain lead flat points in it and my cimmaron open tops and have never been happier with the set. They are very accurate and don't have much of a recoil for the cowboy loads.
 
I totally forgot about Henry or I would have included it in the Poll. The price is a little higher for the Henry but it might be worth it. (although the Marlin is half the price of a Henry)
 
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