Which 357/38 lever guns can shoot 38 wadcutters?

[Monticello1957]

I am in the market for a 357/38 levergun preferably a Winchester or possibly a Marlin with a 16 inch barrel. I would like to be able to shoot 38 wadcutters for plinking. Do any of you have any idea which leverguns can handle this variety of cartridge lengths. Thanks All

[cshold]

First hand answer to your question.

As a single shot “yes”

“WARNING” do not put 5 rounds of 148 gr. wad cutters
in the tub, they will not cycle “at all” as I just found out.
Took a few tender delicate minutes to recover those 5 rnds.

Lesson learned once again the hard way,

Mike

[cshold]

After my nerves settle down from the wad Cutter experiment.
I will try it with 158 gr. semi wad cutters.
I must be a glutton for punishment

[Tycer]

The Winchester 94 eats em right up and spits em downrange just fine. It'll cycle empty brass.

[2ndovc]

The Winchester 94 eats em right up and spits em downrange just fine. It'll cycle empty brass.

My Rossi 92 that I was worked over by Steve Young (Steve's Gunz) will do that too. When I picked it up it wouldn't even load or feed more than three 357s. Now it will feed empty cases like your 94.

I shoot mostly HPLSWs through the Rossi. Don't think I've fired more than a handfull of jacketed rounds.

jb

[Tycer]

I just went down and tried it on a newer-untouched 94. The 94 I use regularly has the chamber edge slightly relieved, it was real sharp. As is the new one. The new one has a little trouble with empty brass. I seat my wadcutters just above flush and they cycled fine. I think I'll relieve the chamber edge on this one too. I had forgotten that I had done that. It's maybe a 1/16th of an inch relief.

[Monticello1957]

Tycer,

You say your 94 will shoot wadcutters. Which model? I have a guy I am thinking of trading an M1 carbine for, he has a 94 AE 16" barrel that just has ---357 cal--- on the barrel and he says his will not cycle 38's. could it be that it just needs some tinkering or is this model not designed for the 38 hence the 357 only designation on the barrel.

Thanks

[cshold]

The 158 gr .38 spl. semi wad cutters worked flawlessly.
Also in the pictures is a 180 gr. hard cast in .357 mag. flawless as well.
Forgot to mention earlier this is in a Browning B-92.

[rjohns94]

my NKJ 92 by rossi feeds empty casings too. LOVE THAT RIFLE!!!

[txpete]

the lee 158 gr RF.if you want smooth in a marlin.

[cshold]

my NKJ 92 by rossi feeds empty casings too. LOVE THAT RIFLE!!!

Mike,
It sure is too bad we can’t use these neat little 92’s
with wad cutters on tree rats and rabbit’s legally in Pa.
That would be a blast. (PA. Game Commission Gun Control )

[rjohns94]

If I could use my 92, I'm afraid I would get rid of all the other rifles. As much fun as the '97 is, and as much as I love the 45-70, I would have no real use for them. PA GAME COMMISION needs to get their head out of the dark oriface they have stuck them in, on several issues.

[Tycer]

Tycer,

You say your 94 will shoot wadcutters. Which model? I have a guy I am thinking of trading an M1 carbine for, he has a 94 AE 16" barrel that just has ---357 cal--- on the barrel and he says his will not cycle 38's. could it be that it just needs some tinkering or is this model not designed for the 38 hence the 357 only designation on the barrel.

Thanks

That's the one. Tell him it must be broken and therefore he's gonna owe you some cash for that M1

[Str8man]

Tycer,

You say your 94 will shoot wadcutters. Which model? I have a guy I am thinking of trading an M1 carbine for, he has a 94 AE 16" barrel that just has ---357 cal--- on the barrel and he says his will not cycle 38's. could it be that it just needs some tinkering or is this model not designed for the 38 hence the 357 only designation on the barrel.

Thanks

That's the one. Tell him it must be broken and therefore he's gonna owe you some cash for that M1

I was thinking along those same lines myself.
Original M1 Carbines have for whatever reason gone through the roof price wise.
You could probably buy two 92's or 94's for the price of one decent M1 Carbine these days.
I have no idea what caused that jump in price but I wouldn't pay what thy are getting for m1's these days. I own one but I bought it way back in the mid 80's.
I'f I didn't own one already I doubt i would buy one today as expensive as they have gotten.

[Glenn]

The Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag. will choke if you try and stuff if full of flush seated or button nose wadcutters. You have to take it apart to get it unjammed. It's worse than the "Marlin Jam." Ed Harris said they will work as a sort-of two-shooter. Load a wadcutter in the gate, cycle it into the chamber, then load another one in the gate. Shoot the first and cycle the second into the chamber before you load another one into the gate. Only one in the magazine (or actually on the lifter) at a time!

Better yet if you load your own wadcutters is to just lube the bottom groove or two and seat the bullet out and crimp in a lube groove. TEST THIS FIRST, but they should work fine with a tube full. Or shoot SWCs and not worry about it.

Glenn

[cshold]

The Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag. will choke if you try and stuff if full of flush seated or button nose wadcutters. You have to take it apart to get it unjammed. It's worse than the "Marlin Jam." Ed Harris said they will work as a sort-of two-shooter. Load a wadcutter in the gate, cycle it into the chamber, then load another one in the gate. Shoot the first and cycle the second into the chamber before you load another one into the gate. Only one in the magazine (or actually on the lifter) at a time!

Better yet if you load your own wadcutters is to just lube the bottom groove or two and seat the bullet out and crimp in a lube groove. TEST THIS FIRST, but they should work fine with a tube full. Or shoot SWCs and not worry about it.

Glenn

I can't imagine any of us in this forum ever needing more than
one shot anyway.

[Monticello1957]

Glenn,

Yes, my question was on the "Flush Seated" or "Button nose wadcutters" as you call them. I assumed it was because of the diffenece in overall lengths between them, a wadcutter (1.125 and 1.590) and a full length 357, that was the issue.

Since I have an abundance of the little wadcutters that I shoot in a S&W Model 19, I would like to get a rifle that could also handle this load.

Or is this another of my pipe dreams?

Thanks again all...

Timothy

[awp101]

I would suspect any of the leversmiths listed on the main page (such as Nate Kiowa Jones aka Steve's Gunz) could make it happen if it didn't want to feed them right out of the box.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I would suspect any of the leversmiths listed on the main page (such as Nate Kiowa Jones aka Steve's Gunz) could make it happen if it didn't want to feed them right out of the box.

Not necessarily. Many can be made to work with straight wadcutter is the chamber mouths are chamfered/ramped but some just won't do it without extensive parts changes until you get the right combination. This is because of parts "stakup" When guns are made, the maker has a nominal size for each and ever parts that goes into the gun. But they will accept a part that is plus or minus a few thousands. Once all these various parts are assemble every gun will be slightly different. This is called stackup.
I have had consecutive serial numbered guns here. One would run empty brass, the other would not run on anything without some tweeking.

[Tycer]

Glenn,

Yes, my question was on the "Flush Seated" or "Button nose wadcutters" as you call them. I assumed it was because of the diffenece in overall lengths between them, a wadcutter (1.125 and 1.590) and a full length 357, that was the issue.

Since I have an abundance of the little wadcutters that I shoot in a S&W Model 19, I would like to get a rifle that could also handle this load.

Or is this another of my pipe dreams?

Thanks again all...

Timothy

Like Nate said, it might take a little tweaking, but IMO, the Win 94 will be your best bet. You might have to chamfer the chamber mouthe or place a thin shim behind one of the guides to narrow the opening if the carrier is flipping the 38s out of the gun. If you are concerned about any of the parts breaking, order a set from Winchester. They still stock everything. I spent $60 and got enough parts to keep my great grandkids in repair for their whole lives and I have three Win 94 AE 357 Trappers. The only thing I've had trouble with was the cartridge stop on the lever link breaking off on one which is not unique to the 357. Winchester replaced it for free. I have an extra also, but if I ever have another one break, I'll weld up the stop and grind it to the proper size. One of the great joys for me on these guns is that they are not complex machines, nor do they have tight tolerances. Even I can work on them.

[tman]

PROBLEM WITH THE PA. COMMINSIONERS ARE THAT THEY DON'T HUNT AND SHOOT. THEY ARE POLITICIANS, BEAURACRATS, ACCOUNTANTS AND CLASSROOM IDEALISTS WHO DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT HUNTERS AND SHOOTERS. JUST LOOK AT THE MESS THEY'VE MADE OF THE FLINTLOCK SEASON OVER THE YEARS.

[retmech]

My 94AE will feed wadcutters BUT they must be loaded long and crimped in the top lube groove so that they are about 1/4" out of the case. If you don't they flip right out of the gun when you work the lever. Loaded long they feed and shoot fine.