Need Feedback on First Lever Gun Buy

[marksmandowntown]

I'm in the market for a lever gun. I'd like it to be fairly cheap to shoot, have nice wood and an octagonal barrel. I'm a C&R guy, and want a cowboy gun with nice wood to round out my collection. I'm not ready to spend the big bucks on an ancient Winchester 1873 that still shoots, so I'll settle for a nice reproduction gun.

I'm looking at the Henry Big Boy in .357/.38.

If you were only going to buy one lever gun, how would you feel about that gun being a .357 Big Boy? I won't be able to hunt much of anything with .357, but it will be cheap and fun to shoot and I've got plenty of C&R bolt guns to hunt with.

[scotty99]

The caliber is right for cheap to shoot, and the Henry is a fine gun, very smooth and accurate. The only potential negative is it's not really a reproduction gun, it is really their own, somewhat modern design. You can get a really nice reproduction '66 or '73 from Navy Arms. I have a '66 in .45LC and it is a great rifle.


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[Sputnik]

Uberti and Winchester both offer very nice modern repros of the '73 and the '92 plus Uberti makes the '66 and even an 1860 Henry (the original Henry rifle) http://www.uberti.com/1860-henry-rifle. All very historic arms.

[Seaweed02]

I have a Henry

I have a Henry only in .22LR and it is just a fine weapon. Very well made, and the fit and finish is perfect. I love the fact that it is made in America also. You really can't go wrong with a Henry rifle.

[John Joseph]

.357 is the ultimate coyote gun with 125gr jhps---way better than a .223
Just sayin'

[Rosereader]

If you don't mind doing some action work the Rossi R92 is a fair, and economical choice. Felt a bit rough when I got mine but a little TLC, and some minor woodwork to make the stock more pleasing, and it has become one of my favorites.

It's a .45 Colt with the octagonal barrel. My #1 go-to "throw around" gun for everything. But, they do use the 1892 action.

[Wrangler John]

My recommendation is to look at the Winchester line up of reproductions. These are made by Miroku in Japan of modern steel and are fine rifles. I have a series of the Browning reproductions of Winchester's 1886, 1895, Models 65 and 71, they were also made by Miroku and are superior to the other reproductions. Being marked as Winchester adds to the value. Save up a few extra dollars, the best quality and name is worth the expense. The '92 and '73 can be ordered in .357 Magnum.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=022C&mid=534190

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=022C&mid=534162

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=027C&mid=534200

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=027C&mid=534202

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=027C&mid=534217

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=024C&mid=534175

Let us not forget the most popular of all:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/category.asp?family=003C

Marlin still catalogs the 1894 which is available in .357 Magnum:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894CSS.asp

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894C.asp

And some in .44 Magnum/.44 Special:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894Centerfire/1894.asp

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894SS.asp

I had an original Marlin 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine in .44-40 (.44WCF) and it was surprisingly accurate. I would recommend that you avoid the .44 Magnum as it produces quite a bit of recoil and the 1:38" barrel twist may be a bit slow for maximum accuracy, but that's my opinion.

[MongooseV8]

JM Marlin Cowboy Limited. Do it right the first time. You get everything you are wanting, plus its actually a quality crafted firearm instead of settling for a Henry or Rossi. Id suggest getting a 45 Colt, since you can shoot cheap or load boar stompers if you do want to hunt with it. Very versatile cartridge.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=444263318

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=445066361

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I had a Marlin Cowboy and a Rossi. The Cowboy is a solid, accurate rifle, but the Rossi is lighter, handier and smoother once I applied small fixes from Steve's Gunz. If I'd been able to keep them both, I would have, but frankly, I favor the Rossi. The only thing that the OP wants that it doesn't have is an octagonal barrel.

[MongooseV8]

A Rossi isnt near the rifle a Marlin Cowboy is. Even with the steve mods they arent as smooth. I would say your experience is the exception, not the norm.

When comparing rifle to rifle in the same configuration, the weight difference is negligible.

[roll2li]

Henry's have always been a no-go for me since they lack the loading gate most lever action repros have. I don't like loading and sweeping my hand in front of the muzzle even when the weapon is rendered inoperable.

I owned a Rossi 92 Puma which was a POS. My primary objections were the slop and safety tab that broke off in the first month. I hear the SteveGunz kits help eliminate that issue.


I favor Marlins with the side eject feature. I have an old '53 39A with microgroove and a post Remington acquisition 1894. I think if you get a later Remlin you shouldn't have as many issues as the guys in late 2010 and 2011 were seeing.

[Bastard]

if it were me I would spend a little bit more and get either a Uberti '73 or on of the new production Winchester '73s.

I have handled both but never shot either - of the two I would personally rather have the Uberti (the competition model to be specific) over the Winchester, yes the Winchester has the name but the Uberti just felt nicer... granted the both hurt like hell when you run that damn pointy stock into you shoulder.


just curious why not a '94? assuming you reload the 30-30 can be rather inexpensive to shoot using a lead pill over a pistol powder (Unique is what I use)



also if you wanted to go rimfire - there really is no comparison to an older Marlin 39a. (something tells me that there is going to be some disagreement)

[javithewrench]

I'd go pre rem marlin, can't stand the way you load a Henry.

[skohl]

Lever Guns

I'm not a collector, I just want to go out and shoot and have a good time. I've had a 444 Marlin for 30 years but you can only shoot 5 or 6 rounds thru it at a time because of the kick. I got back into shooting when I retired 3 years ago and bought a Marlin 336 (30-30) and really like it. I was looking for a 357 9 months ago and there weren't any Marlins around so I bought a Henry. Love the octagonal barrel, shoots great, action is smooth. Glad I bought it. Since then I bought a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. Good gun too, but I miss the octagonal barrel. If I buy another lever gun it will probably be a Henry in 17 HMR with an octagonal barrel. I'm trying to resist the urge. Buy what you want! Everybody has an opinion based on what they want.

[marksmandowntown]

Thanks for the input and heap of alternatives to consider. It's going to be fun researching this.