Which 357?

[KevH]

I'm looking to buy my first levergun. I shoot/carry 357 Magnum more than any other revolver cartridge so I figure that would be the best cartridge to get for me (I'll pickup a 30-30 later).

I'm leaning toward trying to find an pre-cross bolt safety Winchester 94 if they're out there. I took a look at the Puma guns on Steve's Gunz's website and those look pretty good too, but I'd prefer an American-made gun.

What do you guys recommend? What should I look for?

[nemhed]

My vote is an 1894 Marlin!

[gundownunder]

I've heard that some of the Winchester 94s chambered for pistol cartridges don't handle the best as the action was designed for rifle length cartridges.
The older Marlins are good but later stuff produced in the last few years has been touch and go, quality wise. Mine hates cast bullets and after 2 years I'm still trying to find a good one. Marlins are the only choice if you need to fit a scope.
The 92 Rossi seems to have been made for magnum pistol cartridges. Every one seems to rave about how good they are and they are also the strongest action available for the job if you want to make up some nasty hand loads. If you get the Rossi through Steves gunz he can also de-lawyer the gun and slick it up for you before you get it and I've heard nothing but good things on here about his work.

[J Miller]

To my knowlege the .357 was introduced in the Win 94AE after the CB safety. I could be wrong, but I've never seen one without a safety.

Marlin did produce the 1894 C without the safety in .357. That is what I'd go for.

The Winchesters in .357 have extra internal parts to make it function with the smaller diameter case. ANd many forum members here and elsewhere have had troubles with them.
The Marlin 1894 was designed for cartridge like the .357 Mag.
No extra parts to go out of kilter either.

Joe

[J Miller]

gundownunder,

The Win 94AEs in the larger pistol calibers, .44 Mag and .45 Colt work well. The .357 versions are problematic from what I've seen on the forums.
I think it's because the 44 and 45 case rim and body size is closer to the original ammo size than the much smaller .357.
When they went to the pistol caliber they altered the action a bit to a shorter stroke so the shorter rounds would work. At that they did well.

Joe

[rjohns94]

Good luck with your choice. I am so very pleased with my Rossi '92 slicked up by our own NKJ of Steve's gunz. Mine is in two tone SS and shoots very well and cycles very well.

[gundownunder]

Thanks for clearing that up Joe
I'd heard they had problems and I was always under the impression that it was length related.
I'd always thought I'd like a Winnie 94 in 45 colt.

[AJMD429]

This is a copy of my response to a similar question on another thread; it got a 'thanks' or two, so must have helped somehow...

All the ones mentioned are good, and you'll "warm up" to any one you get, most likely.

If you want to scope the gun, go with a Marlin or Henry due to the flat top and pre-tapped holes.
If you want stainless steel, Rossis are easier to find that way except Marlin 44 Mags are fairly common.
If you like the octagonal barrel, all those three are available that way.
If you like the brass receiver, Henry is the one to get.
If you want a detachable box magazine but don't mind a non-traditional look, Rugers and Savages both fill the bill.
(Savages are available in 'bottleneck' rounds like .308; the Ruger is only available in .22 LR and .44 Mag).
If you like peep sights, the Marlins fit the Williams FP sight with no gunsmithing at all.
If you like tang sights, count on spending $120, but I think any of them accept a tang sight.
If you like the Marble's "Bullseye" sight, it just replaces the rear barrel sight but needs a shim on the Rossi.
(it is a really fast sight for action shooting or 'hogs' and so on)

I have Marlins and Rossis and Rugers only, except a Henry .22 (my son's), so can't speak with experience about real Winchesters, centerfire Henry's, or Savage's.

For me, it mostly boils down to "Scope = Marlin" and "Williams FP = Rossi", and I hunt with the Ruger mostly, because it is easier to load and unload when I cross roads or get in and out of a vehicle.

Eventually, you KNOW you'll want both anyway...

[Old Savage]

There are fans of all of the above here. El Chivo out here really likes his Win 94 IIRC.

[1886]

B-92. 1886.

[Tycer]

I have 3 357 Wins and a Rossi.

I'd choose a slicked Rossi from Steve if I was buying new. I'd slick a Rossi myself if buying used.

Neither Marlin or Rossi hand finishes the parts anymore. Steve does that.

From what I've heard here, the Marlin is more sensitive than the others to bullet nose profile and overall length.

[Hobie]

I have absolutely nothing against the Rossi 92s ESPECIALLY if you get it tuned up by Steve Young of Steve's Gunz but if you want USA made there is really only one option and that is a pre-safety Marlin 1894C. They are wonderful guns.

[gamekeeper]

Rossi would get my vote, I couldn't fault the one I had. Wish I still had it!

[shdwlkr]

Not sure what happened to my post but don't get a winchester 94 in 357 mag unless you get to try it out. Mine wouldn't cycle well and if you tried to cycle it very fast you ended up with a round on the carrier, one under it and one half way out of the tube mag.
I got rid of it and bought a model 1886 and waited and last found a miroku model 92 winchester in 357 mag and with a long barrel. It sat for almost a month at my local firearm store and I finally picked it up and looked at it while waiting to get a question answered. It went on layaway right then.
I know some of the winchester model 94 in 357 mag work but like J Miller stated the cartridge is just to short for the action and you would be better off finding a model 92 clone made by almost anyone and be better off

[tman]

rossi 92. win 94 and the marlins are less likely to feed .38 and .357s as reliably as the rossi. the 92 was originally designed to feed pistol cartridges. anyway, this has been my expeirence.

[Rusty]

And then with the Marlins there's always that Marlin Jam thing that has to be cleared up to make it right.

[KWK]

Those who have the Uberti '73 in .357 seem to like them. They'll be heavier than the '92s, of course.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

To my knowlege the .357 was introduced in the Win 94AE after the CB safety. I could be wrong, but I've never seen one without a safety.

Marlin did produce the 1894 C without the safety in .357. That is what I'd go for.

The Winchesters in .357 have extra internal parts to make it function with the smaller diameter case. ANd many forum members here and elsewhere have had troubles with them.
The Marlin 1894 was designed for cartridge like the .357 Mag.
No extra parts to go out of kilter either.

Joe

Hi Joe,
Marlin did make some 357's without the cross bolt safety. I don't know for sure when they were produced but that was my first CAS rifle 20 years ago and it was used then.

You are dead on about the 357 Win 94's, too. The 44/45's seem to do Ok. But the 357's have been problematic particularly for the go fast CAS shooters.

[El Chivo]

There are fans of all of the above here. El Chivo out here really likes his Win 94 IIRC.

Savage, you are referring to the '94 Legacy with the 24" barrel. That model has a heavy bull barrel because they use the same thick blank as their 44 and 45 models, but the bore of course is smaller. It shoots quite well, and is not fussy about ammo. I am starting to have some feeding problems, lately rounds are springing under the carrier when the carrier moves up to put one in the chamber. I need to check the wear on the part in question (could happen to any Winchester).

I also have the Martin 1894c and it is probably the choice for hunting. It's light, fast handling, and functions very well.

[rodeo kid]

I have a Rossi M92 in .357, it feeds well even .38's, I have done some light internal polishing after break in but it okay even when new. It is also the best balanced. I have a Winnie 94 in .44mag and is crude(its levering smoothness) in comparison. To throw everyone a curve, I just got a Henry Big boy in .357(just had to have that brass receiver) and while it is a bit heavy and clunky looking compared to the 92 it has the smoothest action I have ever felt.

[ceb]

If you can't find a pre-safety 1894 Marlin, the new ones ain't bad neither, my 1894 Cowboy is a bit heavier than a 1894C but I am pleased with it. I need to remove the safety, but thus far I just leave it in the off position and ignore it.

Better hope rjohns don't repost pics of the slicked up '92 of his, I had drool in the corner of my mouth for 3 days when I saw it.

[Meeteetse]

I bought a stainless Rossi .357 Trapper about six months ago and I am very pleased. The gun is fun to shoot, accurate enough for what I want and, so far, cycles both .38 and .357 without a problem. I love the little gun. I am not a fan of the safety on top of the bolt, but actually after a few days, I forgot all about it.

[COSteve]

I have two Rossi M92s in 357, a 24" case hardened, oct bbl rifle and 20" blued rd bbl carbine. I used Steve's DVD to do action and trigger jobs on both. The actions jobs were easy and enjoyable to perform and the actions are now really smooth, the triggers are light and crisp, and they'll feed everything I've tried in them. The carbine is light, fast, and well balanced while the longer octagon barreled rifle is solid for for targets. Both are very accurate, long range shooters. I couldn't be happier.