which lever

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yotesmoker

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Is a 900 dollar marlin or winchester really that much better than a rossi 45 colt in the same caliber?Looking for a range plinker and a lever to take coyotes when available.I reload for the 45 and 357 but have heard that a lever in 357 is sometimes a problem.I prefer a 92 lever and am having a hard time deciding on which maker. Price is not a problem,just want the best one for my needs.I can get 2 rossi's for the price for one marlin or winchester.
 
For your purposes, no. The Rossi will do everything a Winchester or Marlin will, and not be so nice looking you get upset over the beatings it will take in the field.
 
I have a Rossi 92 357 mag, and I still love it after around 500 rounds. The wood to metal fit isn't as nice as my older Marlins, but it functions just as well.
 
I've built up four Rossis for myself and friends to use for lower budget cowboy action shooting over the last 5 years. Right out of the box they can be a little rough and stiff but they'll smooth themselves out over a few hundred cycles of the lever. Or you can pay to have a basic slicking up job done by a gunsmith that does a lot of cowboy action work and have a slick handling rifle right out of the gate.

The ONLY issue with the .357 version that is a general concern is how they handle the slightly shorter .38Spl loads that a lot of folks prefer to use to keep things cheap. If you try to cycle the rounds very quickly as seen in faster cowboy action shooting then the short cases tend to jam in the "point to the sky" manner. But if you cycle the lever so there's about a 1/4 to 1/2 second pause with the lever fully down and forward the .38's will settle into place and load into the chamber just fine. Even SWC bullets will cycle fine with a 1/2 second pause to settle down from the elevator kicking them up with a SNAP!

With .357Mag casings and RNFP bullets you don't need that pause. You can basically cycle the lever pretty much as fast as you're able provided you don't short stroke it.
 
Would be to me. Of course there are about 14 million used Winchester or Marlins out there selling for a lot less than a new Rossi.
 
A Rossi Model 92 is a good buy for the money. If money is no object then go with a Winchester or older Marlin but expect to pay a lot more for one.
 
Was at my dealers today to order the rossi 45 colt BUT he had a Henry big boy 45 colt in stock andbeing the type of person who wants a lever without waiting i got it.Not quite satisfide with its accuracy.Shoots very low with my load of 255 gr rnfp with 8.5 grains of unique.That is my standard load in all my 45"S.Do they make a better sight set up for the henry?Other than the accuracy problem it is a smooth working action.
 
I have a .357 Rossi 92. I wanted a Henry .357 but none were available. For the money the Rossi is fine. I did a Steve Gunz job on mine (changed some springs, doctored the loading gate, shortened the magazine spring and replaced the plastic magazine follower). I also put polyurethane varnish on the stock. The only problem I have now is some ammo OAL is too long to feed properly. I reload and keep my OAL less than 1.54" and I have no feeding problems with mine. I have no complaints on the rifles accuracy.
I recently purchased a Henry .44 mag. It is heavier but the action is so smooth and it feeds all ammo with no problem. Many do not like Henry tubular feed but I do. I have no experience with Winchester or Marlin lever actions.
"Yotesmoker" is having accuracy problems with Unique in the 45 colt. I also had problems in the .44 magnum. The Unique did not near fill the case and I was really having trouble getting shots to group. I switched to IMR4227 for the .44 magnum. The powder filled the case and accuracy is amazing (just a suggestion).
 
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I paid $475 for my Marlin 1894C in .357. Keep looking, you'll find one at the right price.
 
Was that in the past few years? I have found 1894 44 mags for close to $500, but the 357s seem a lot harder to find and more expensive.
 
Deog said:
For $900, i will gladly sell you my JM Marlin 1894s 44 mag.
Click to expand...
44mags don't sell for as much as a 357. I sold my 357 for 900. hated to see it go, but I replaced it with a one with beat up stocks for 500 and spent $200 on fancy(ish) wood for it.

To the OP, get the rossi, pay for action work, if you can't do it yourself and you will be happy. In 357, they're actually a better handling gun than the marlin. That said I like the marlins better; easier to work on.
 
Well, the new Marlin 1894C will run you $792 from Gallery Of Guns which is known for their high prices. Bud's Gun Shop online is selling the 18.5" Carbine 38/357 for $554 including S&H. (but not in stock right now)

I like the looks of the classic Winchester but I like shooting Marlins better. The Rossi isn't all that bad but will it hold up over time like the Marlin? $554 including shipping is not expensive especially compared to the 20" Winchester 1892 which is going for $938 on Buds. (also not in stock)
 
I think its probably whatever you get used too. I've always owned Marlins, and at one time that as much as I use the 45 and 357 I would wear them out. Replacing them is obviously a problem, so I got standby 92's from Rossi. I did do the slicking up, which helped, but they feel like a ratchet compared to my Marlins (my opinion). They work, but have limited loads they will shoot accurately and reliably. They are worth what you pay for them. I'm a little picky, so they need quite a bit of work to get them to the point where I actually enjoyed taking them out. They would be the first guns to go if I needed to sell some (Rossi).
 
Dr. A said:
I think its probably whatever you get used too. I've always owned Marlins, and at one time that as much as I use the 45 and 357 I would wear them out. Replacing them is obviously a problem, so I got standby 92's from Rossi. I did do the slicking up, which helped, but they feel like a ratchet compared to my Marlins (my opinion). They work, but have limited loads they will shoot accurately and reliably. They are worth what you pay for them. I'm a little picky, so they need quite a bit of work to get them to the point where I actually enjoyed taking them out. They would be the first guns to go if I needed to sell some (Rossi).
Click to expand...
FWIW, a rossi 92, properly slicked up, is actually smoother than a marlin. It's just harder to get right.

Only real bad thing I can say about a rossi is that I can't get mine to cycle 38's and 357's both reliably at speed. I can tweak the cartridge guides for one or the other, but can't get both. Maybe that's just me. I do have more luck with a wider variety of bullet shapes than with a marlin, specifically a semi wadcutter.
 
I bought an 1894C some years ago

I am a fan of Marlin levers form the get go. I'm not a big fan of the Winchester Action or how complicated it is compared to the Marlin action.
That being said I am a bit of a spendthrift and would probably decide on the Rossi if I were in the market today.
If I paid 900 dollars for a Marlin it better be pristine and have a JM stamp on the barrel or I would not consider it at all.
 
I don't think you can really go wrong with any choice.
I have a Win 94 and JM Marlin 336 and love them both. The Marlin may be a little better design but I love the look of the 94. Also the model 94 was designed by Mr Browning if that means anything.
From what I have seen Rossi and Mossberg also make high quality lever guns.
I have never held a Henry but they seem to be pretty high quality.
Buy what feels right to you and I am sure you will be happy.
 
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