Question: Lever action/.357/side feed

[ns3v3n]

Hey Op, what ever you decide, you won't regret it, my 357 lever is one of my favorite rifle to shoot!

[Vin63]

I agree with the JM Marlin and the recent Winchester Miroku-built 92. I added the Winchester 92 a couple of years ago to go with my Win 94 AE - chambered in 357/38sp.

[Twofish]

I love my Rossi 92. It's smooth, light, reliable, accurate, cycles 38s and 357s with no trouble at all. It was a little crunchy at first but that went away very quickly. I cleaned up some of the rough edges when I first got it and it made a big difference. The fit and finish is not the greatest but I cleaned that up too. It's one of my favorite rifles now.
I bought it at a gun shop and was able to play with it a little bit before I bought it. I don't think I would want to buy one without handling it first.
For half the price of a Winchester, it's almost a no-brainer.

[oddjob]

OP,

I've always (well almost always) believed in buying guns that appreciate in value in the long run. Having said that I bought a Browning 1892 lever gun in .357. Still have it and no regrets at all. I one was shooting metal pigs at 200 meters with it using .38 Special loads. I knocked over a pig with my first shot. I was all happy till my son told me I bounced the round off the ground about 30 yards in front of the target. Did better on the subsequent shots.

Getting a .357 lever gun is a good move. I had a .44 mag lever gun (Browning 1892), but I didn't like shooting the handgun half. Too much for me. The .357/.38 rifle/handgun is a great combo. Easy to shoot and on the wallet.

[golfish]

OP,

I've always (well almost always) believed in buying guns that appreciate in value in the long run.

This is the small problem I have with the Rossi\Braztec. I think they might maintain value but I don't feel they will increase in value, maybe a little.

The problem is, who still makes lever guns in America worth buying, Henry?

I'd love to see Henry make a light lever gun like the 92

[200Apples]

/.
My two 1892's are my favorite of five lever guns. I've a 16" blued Rossi in .357 and a 20" Browning (Miroku) 92 in .44 mag... part of what makes them so much fun to shoot (next to their great handling and light weight) is their accuracy thru 100, 125yds.

The 1892 is an amazing design (a smaller, lighter variation of the 1873?) and is as treasured by me as are my 1911s.

[Chunky_lover]

big 5 had some side loaders a while ago
my dad got a 357 type but cant remember the brand name

[nickel plate]

I was also bitten by the lever bug. The cure was a never fired pre-safety JM .357 Marlin 1894 Carbine (not a "C") from http://gunbroker.com. It was built in 1981 as the first two serial numbers are 19. For just a couple of years around 1981 they were made with a gold colored trigger and front sight bead.
The first time I shot it, I got behind a big oak tree, held it out arms length and pointed down range and pulled the trigger! That turned out well so from that time on it's been cheek to stock.
You won't regret owning a lever gun. Read up on the many reviews and choose your brand and model wisely.

[Oceanbob]

I have several levers because I LOVE lever guns. !

Lately, one of my favorite is a new Remington/Marlin (Remlin...haha)
That I bought last year from Buds for $$304 shipped to Baboosh.

I wanted an inexpensive Trunk Gun that had some fire power capability that I could just throw in the trunk and let it ride. It's in 30-30 and yeah, the finish certainty isn't Traditional Marlin with perfect fit and deep, rich bluing. The finish is a Matt Black that isn't meant for beauty. No worries, this lever will be a Tool.

I purposely bought the "Youth" model because I wanted something short and light weight. I threw some plastic "Champion" black plastic stocks (from MidwayUSA) and bought some Skinner Sights, threw an extra leather sling on her and a cheap nylon butt cuff that had a zippered bag on it. Carry 5 rounds inside that bag and a fire starter and folding knife. 5 rounds on the outside.

This Remlin was stiff on the lever as expected. So since I spend my Saturday Mornings watching The Rifleman, I sat with my coffee and cycled the action (after light oiling) and probably levered the weapon 1000 times. Took it apart deep cleaned the now polished action, re oiled her and now she is SLICK as can be...

She's real handy and I like how she came out.

My absolute favorite is an original Marlin .44 magnum 1894 Cowboy Limited that is still unfired. Wow, what a piece of artwork. Just bought some leather for her....

[golfish]

My absolute favorite is an original Marlin .44 magnum 1894 Cowboy Limited that is still unfired. Wow, what a piece of artwork. Just bought some leather for her....

Bob, what the hec do you mean by "unfired" Your kidding right

That's a sweet gun, its good to hear the new marlin is a good shooter. I've read they were getting better. I used to look at those Marlin all the time in the old catalogs.

[nickel plate]

You guys got me wondering if my Marlin 1984C had the coveted JM stamp. Had to pull it out of the safe and check. I'll sleep better tonight now knowing that it has this distinguishing mark of quality. I already knew it shoots good. Bought at Big5 in 2006 for $299.

The "JM" stamp on the left side of the barrel near the receiver has over the years taken on various shapes. Not sure it's a true rollmark or a hand stamp or a machine stamp but yours is the first one I've seen without the oval ring surrounding the JM.
Here's an example of a double JM stamp on a 1979 model 1894 .357 cal:

[Wordupmybrotha]

Appreciate the info guys!
Going to take a long look at that Rossi.

Rossi 20" .357 lever gun is on sale at the Gallery of Guns. I was contemplating the Henry Big Boy Steel, but I went with the Rossi, because it weighs considerably less. Was looking for the stainless in 20", but was out of stock at the Gallery of Guns and the blued version was $240 cheaper. Oh well, I went with cost over looks.

[stonefly-2]

I just finished slicking up my new rossi 20" blue carbine in .357.
my advice is to consider them unfinished.
I was aware of this and wanted a project for winter but it wasn't really that much work.
i installed the spring kit from brownells, replaced the plastic shell follower with a modified .44 cal. case., replaced the lawyer safety with a .32 cal. case, cut back the length of the mag. tube spring, installed an original winchester ladder sight and proper height lyman front sight, thinned the loading gate spring, cleaned it , lubed it and cycles a few hundred times.

it's all online in youtubes & forums, this gun is so popular in cowboy shooting there is a depth of info on how to tune them including at least one dvd for sale.

very happy with my purchase but i wouldn't have been if i wasn't aware.

[Muleskinner]

I have 20" barrel Rossi 92. I bought the dvd from Stevesgunz and reworked it a bit. It is a blast to shoot. There is something about a lever action.
Good luck.
Ps, it is very accurate

[golfish]

I jailed the 20" octagon Rossi 92 in .357 last night. Its my third Rossi 92 and first in 3 years. The first two were rough to say the least. This one has quality wood, fit and finish are WAY BETTER. It looks like Taurus is stepping up their game.

Now I just need to shoot it.