Best .357 lever gun for the money?

[rromeo]

I hate be be this way, but the answer is never Rossi. Anything but.

I have that model with 16" barrel. I have been a Marlin man for 35 years, but I I also don't like to overpay.
I had a Rossi several years ago. It's compact and light, but it didn't feel right.

[smittty]

I have that model with 16" barrel. I have been a Marlin man for 35 years, but I I also don't like to overpay.
I had a Rossi several years ago. It's compact and light, but it didn't feel right.

For me the rossi 92 stock is to short but the newer cbc made action is excellent.

The newest one I got was good enough to warrant upgrading to walnut stocks with longer lop. With that it's as good imo as a $1700 miroku, but it shoots 357 mag AND 38 sp equally well, and to same windage.

[Big Chudungus]

For me the rossi 92 stock is to short but the newer cbc made action is excellent.

What year or serial #s is "newer cbc" and how do I tell otherwise?

[200Apples]

If you're looking in brick-and-mortar retailers, chances are you're not going to find any Braztech guns. That run disappeared a few years ago. Of course, there's bound to be a unicorn hanging out somewheres.

The retailer can tell you if the gun is from any recent shipment... and the two blued, 16" Braztech .357 '92s I bought seven years ago were good guns. Too, their triggers were and remain amazing. I bought the second for my son after he handled and shot my .357 he liked it so much. Surprised him a month later for his 25th birthday. That was when Retting had at least five in stock!

[pennstater]

Well, it's gonna be another rainy day today, sooo, think I'll get all my lever guns out and give 'em a wipe down for the heck of it. First world problems, I know.

MLC

[golfish]

I've had 2 CBC Rossi 92s and 3 Braztech guns. Plus I have a Winchester (Miroku) 92 short rifle. The machining and quality on my Rossi's isn't even close to the Winchester. I wish I could say my CBC guns were better then the Braztech guns.

I need to add some to my post. Rossi has little if no quality control, they let their customer's do that. For the most parts, the small issues like broken screws and feed issues can be fixed. The bluing on their guns is as good as any high $$ gun that I have compared them too. My last Rossi/CBC is a 20" round barrel, blued carbine with a slightly canted barrel. It had a stripped mag plug screw from the factory, but still a very good shooter. I think that was all the bad. The wood is nice for a Rossi and the bluing is second to none.




The Rossi can be a good gun. They're just some things that should be checked on them that might be difficult, pre dros. From my experience with the Braztech guns and the CBC guns, there really is no difference. The CBC guns might have a little better wood fit.

[RNE228]

Just my experience, but I've found all the '92/'94 carbines to be short for me. Even other carbines like Ruger 10/22, Mini-14, AR's. On the 10/22 and Mini-14 I added stock extenders. Even my Rem-700 was shortish. Added a recoil pad not for recoil, but for extra LOP.

For me the rossi 92 stock is to short but the newer cbc made action is excellent.

[splithoof]

I’ll be waiting for Ruger to announce pistol caliber offerings in lever actions. I don’t think that will be very long, and when they do, I’ll be looking to sell off all the others that aren’t either Winchester or Browning models.

[mikeyr]

Did I miss the very best or did no one mention it yet ? A JM stamped Marlin, 2nd best would be a Japanese made Winchester 92 and you can stop looking

[eaglemike]

Just checked Davidson's - not a single .357 lever gun in stock.

[Trevor]

I own a few Japanese Brownings (excellent), a newer Winchester made in Japan (great other than the safety), Marlins old and new. Take a look at Chiappa/Taylors. I have a pair of takedown '92s and they are on par with my Japanese built lever guns.

[slivel]

I have had for a few years, one of the New York made Marlin's in 357 Magnum. It is known to be made with lesser quality standards than current production now by Ruger. The action was always a bit balky, and I really hated loading it as the loading gate was very stiff and the inner edges of the receiver around the gate were razor sharp. I put very few rounds through it because it usually resulted in a blood sacrifice.

After reading good comments about the Ranger Point Precision lightweight loading gate, I decided that I'd give it a try. Since you have to disassemble most of the action to install the loading gate, I decided that I would clean up the action. So, with an assortment of jeweler's files and some emery cloth, I got to work. It was surprising how many parts had burrs on them. I took my time and deburred every piece that I could, cleaned and lubricated and especially reworked and rounded the inner edge of the loading gate opening so that I could run my finger across it without getting cut. Installed the lightweight loading gate, reassembled the rifle and found that my efforts resulting in a huge improvement in the action and an equally huge improvement in the loading experience.

For those of you with the sub-standard Marlin's made in New York, I highly recommend doing what I did. I think you will be very happy with the result.

[kydave]

" I would just like a fun companion rifle for range fun, and maybe camping. I dig the traditional look... "

I'd say look no further than the Rossi 92.

I have an older JM Marlin 1894C .357 that I would not trade for a Rossi (but it would cost two or three times the Rossi to replace).

I have a Rossi 92 in .45 and to be honest, the Winchester 1892 design is (IMO) the most beautiful looking and natural handling lever action ever made. Everything on the '92 simply flows well.

The bluing on the Rossi is great and the wood can be.

IF you can find a Marlin at your price, by all means jump on it. But from your original post, I think the best candidate for you is the Rossi.

Yeah, I like that pistol/rifle same caliber combo, & to be honest, If I were down to my only guns being this combination pictured (Marlin 1894C & S&W Model 19), I think I could survive the Zombie Appocolypse just fine.



On the other hand, the look and feel of the '92 will always beckon me & I don't see getting rid of this .45 combo anytime soon.



I kick myself for getting rid of this combination many years ago, of a Rossi & Ruger .44Mag combo.

[OCEquestrian]

Browning B-92. Mic drop!

[deloziers]

Uberti if you want to pay over 1000 Rossi if you want to keep it under 600 I have both like them both