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Centerfire Rifles - Semiautomatic or Gas Operated Centerfire rifles, carbines and other gas operated rifles.

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  #1  
Old 07-07-2013, 4:53 PM
Armed-Citizen Armed-Citizen is offline
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Default Rossi 38/357magnum question

do 38 special/357 magnum lever action rifles shoot reliably factory ammo 38 special reliably?
want to get one but i don't want a rifle that wont function right if needed...
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Old 07-07-2013, 5:50 PM
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Should be no problem based on the distance you want to shoot at.
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Old 07-07-2013, 6:01 PM
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Probably relates more to revolvers but I always shoot 357 out of my 357. I reload so I'll use 38 special loads in 357 brass and the velocities and recoil are the same as a 38. Shooting 38's out of a 357, especially lead, tends to build up a nasty ring in front of the forcing cone. It sucks to clean and makes feeding 357's really hard. I imagine a rifle might be different but I'd gather that a similar problem would happen.

I'd just shoot 357's out of it. You can ways buy light reloads if none are commercially available.
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Old 07-07-2013, 7:11 PM
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My Marlin 1894c shoots 38 special like it's going out of style. Very accurately. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to take that sweet rifle to the range and shoot a few rounds through it.
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Old 07-07-2013, 7:34 PM
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thanks for the replies..so a 38/357 lever action can shoot it reliably?
i ask because ive seen some videos showing people struggling trying to load a 38 round after each shot...
was thinking in this rifle or a lever action in 45lc...
my main uses for the rifle would be:
home defense, hutning (small game up to deer size animals)
and in a lost hiker situation, use it for defense against any animal i might come across (mountain lions, and cougars, deer, and few bears...)

as for the home defense, would the 357 or 45 long colt be better in terms of: stopping power(shot placement of course)..and less chance of over penetration...
have a 30-30win and a 270 wsm but wouldnt use that for fear of over penetration..(i live in the suburbs)
what would be suitable from these two lever actions?
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  #6  
Old 07-07-2013, 7:51 PM
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My Rossi R92 16" in 38sp/357 sits in a leather scabbard attached to our bed headboard every night. As it is my first grab home defense gun, I have put some number of rounds through it to ensure total reliability. Mostly I use standard American Eagle 130 gr FMJ to run the gun at the range, getting the action smoother, getting used to it and just straight practicing with it. However I keep it loaded at home with Hornady Critical Defense 357 for home defense, so I've shot about 200 rounds of that as well to ensure reliability.

Probably 1,500 rounds total through the gun, and never a mishap in feeding. However with this gun and all other lever guns I shoot, I always strive for very deliberate action when working the lever - quality over quantity, ensure clean feeding over all-out speed. And the 357 coming out of a rifle-length barrel is very effective for HD use.
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Old 07-07-2013, 7:52 PM
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IMHO a 357 or 45LC would make a better home defense rifle than a 30-30 or 270.

Both of those pistol rounds are very capable of a one shot stop and the lighter rifle with lower recoil will allow faster follow up shots if required in the home.

Of the two I prefer the 357. Faster round that's better long range. I used to watch my 45LC fly downrange. Not a fast bullet.

And there is a mind boggling selection of rounds that'll fit your needs from plinking to deer hunting.
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Old 07-07-2013, 8:03 PM
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For home defense, I prefer 12 gauge. That said, I can understand that if you have a problem with recoil (like my dad) then a 38/357 lever action may fit the bill perfectly. I have never had a problem loading 38's in my Marlin 1894c. I would expect that the Rossi would perform similarly as Rossi also has a good reputation for fit and finish (possibly better than post-Remington Marlin).
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Old 07-07-2013, 8:07 PM
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My Rossi .38/.357 lever gun shoots .38spl rounds (FMJ) without a hiccup. I prefer popping those off at the range rather than the .357 (cheaper and easier to shoot).
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Old 07-07-2013, 8:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rabagley View Post
My Marlin 1894c shoots 38 special like it's going out of style. Very accurately. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to take that sweet rifle to the range and shoot a few rounds through it.
That is my experience as well.

T
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Old 07-07-2013, 9:41 PM
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I bought a Rossi R92 with a 16" barrel chambered in .38 special/.357 magnum earlier this year. I fired several hundred rounds of .38 special through it, not one failure to load, fire, or eject. The bullets were various weights and shapes (I did NOT have semi-wad cutters though). I also put about 50 rounds of .357 magnum through it, same reliability. It's been very accurate (and fun!) for me.
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Old 07-08-2013, 9:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundowner View Post
My Rossi .38/.357 lever gun shoots .38spl rounds (FMJ) without a hiccup. I prefer popping those off at the range rather than the .357 (cheaper and easier to shoot).
Same thing with my My Rossi 92.
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Old 07-08-2013, 9:53 AM
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It has shot every 38 and 357 without issue ... great little lever gun!
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Old 07-08-2013, 1:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Armed-Citizen View Post
do 38 special/357 magnum lever action rifles shoot reliably factory ammo 38 special reliably?
want to get one but i don't want a rifle that wont function right if needed...
If you have searched some of the other forums then you know these guns are pretty picky when it comes to pistol cartridges. The M92 was designed to run bottle neck carts, not straight wall. My Braztech\Rossi .357 wouldn't run .357 rounds but it would run .38sp, a little adjustment from Braztech and it runs both just fine. I have another Braztech\Rossi in 44 mag, that guns runs pretty good but I couldn't hit a basket ball at 50 yards with it.
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Old 07-08-2013, 6:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by golfish View Post
If you have searched some of the other forums then you know these guns are pretty picky when it comes to pistol cartridges. The M92 was designed to run bottle neck carts, not straight wall. My Braztech\Rossi .357 wouldn't run .357 rounds but it would run .38sp, a little adjustment from Braztech and it runs both just fine. I have another Braztech\Rossi in 44 mag, that guns runs pretty good but I couldn't hit a basket ball at 50 yards with it.

How old is yours? I think this may be an issue with earlier production as I've been researching this (more recent online discussions) and this is the first I've heard of it.
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Old 07-08-2013, 7:13 PM
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Mine handles .38 and .357 just fine, lead, semi jacketed you name it. The only thing I steered away from was wad cutters as I heard it doesn't handle those well but I wouldn't know from personal experience.
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Old 07-08-2013, 7:55 PM
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38s load just fine in my Henry Big Boy but it's no where near as accurate as it is with .357
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Old 07-08-2013, 7:55 PM
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38s load just fine in my Henry Big Boy but it's no where near as accurate as it is with .357
That's a given. Lower velocity.
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Old 07-08-2013, 10:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Armed-Citizen View Post
do 38 special/357 magnum lever action rifles shoot reliably factory ammo 38 special reliably?
My Rossi 92 eats either Magnums or Specials with equal aplomb and did so right out of the box. I've read reviews that indicated differently, so it's a guess that any specific Rossi will or won't. There are some bullet profiles (semi-wadcutter Magnums in my rifle's case) that may not work well in one caliber or the other.

Accuracy with either caliber seems to be the same for my rifle.
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Old 07-09-2013, 6:31 AM
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BTW: This is a great article regarding ballistics of 357 mag vs 30-30 in rifles, linked by Calguns user Vin63 in another lever action thread:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...vs-357-magnum/

I definitely came away with a whole new respect for the 357!
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Old 07-09-2013, 11:37 AM
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I wanted a Rossi 38/357 or 45lc for target shooting. I got my hands on my grandfather's Winchester 30-30 and now I can do what the 357 will do and more.

Below is a photo of my plinking load. 159 grain RN plain base cast boolit with CRed lube over 6.0 grains of Red Dot pistol powder for a average of 1116 fps. It probably kicks less than a 223 and it is very quick and accurate when shooting steel plates at 50 yards and less. The plates really move compared to a 9mm or 38 spl pistol. I have tried it at 100 yards, but I am not satisfied with the stock sights and my rifle skills are on the lower end. A hundred rounds costs me around 5 bucks.

Trail boss powder would give slower velocities and it also works with jacketed bullets (I have run it in 30-06 and 460 mag).

If you reload, 30-30 is quite versatile, although I like 30-06 even better.

I still have a desire to own that stainless Rossi in a pistol caliber. It looks modern and classic at the same time.
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Old 07-09-2013, 12:37 PM
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Make sure you use the right projectile or bullet profile to avoid detonation in the magazine due to a dropped firearm or recoil.

I haven't had any problems with LSWC in either of my M92's...357 or 44...

I do load RNFP both in lead and plated.
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Old 07-09-2013, 1:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmunk View Post
How old is yours? I think this may be an issue with earlier production as I've been researching this (more recent online discussions) and this is the first I've heard of it.
My rifle was bought new, last Aug. I'm not knocking Braztech/Rossi, I bought a 44 carbine a few months later. There isn't much of a choice for a new, American made M92 these days.

This CG member had a problem too. Check a website called Rossi Rifleman and the Taurus site, lots and lots of problems with the Rossi 357.

Its "par for the course" with all of these straight wall cart M92's..not just BT\Rossi. Sometimes ya get a good one, sometimes you don't.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ght=357&page=3
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Old 07-09-2013, 5:20 PM
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Mine isn't a Rossi (I have a Winchester '94 in .357) but the only rounds I had problems with were full-wadcutter .38 Specials., they didnt want to line up with the barrel on the way up.
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Old 07-09-2013, 7:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by golfish View Post
My rifle was bought new, last Aug. I'm not knocking Braztech/Rossi, I bought a 44 carbine a few months later. There isn't much of a choice for a new, American made M92 these days.

This CG member had a problem too. Check a website called Rossi Rifleman and the Taurus site, lots and lots of problems with the Rossi 357.

Its "par for the course" with all of these straight wall cart M92's..not just BT\Rossi. Sometimes ya get a good one, sometimes you don't.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ght=357&page=3

Hm, thanks. Fingers cross... I have one on the way. 20" Octagonal.
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Old 07-10-2013, 7:13 AM
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Hm, thanks. Fingers cross... I have one on the way. 20" Octagonal.
Aww, the short barreled rifle. Those hard hard to find.
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