Marlin 1894css vs. Rossi 92ss

[junkwrencher]

By the time you buy Steve's video/parts kit and peep, the Rossi is not a good deal unless that's what I want. I recently purchased a pre-move Marlin .357 in blue and did no mods and it functioned reliably with .38's and .357's. I must either make up my mind or buy both. By the way is the carrier in the Marlin stainless or blued. If it is stainless it should theoretically be harder and hold up longer than the blued...Right?

[Griff]

By the time you buy Steve's video/parts kit and peep, the Rossi is not a good deal unless that's what I want. I recently purchased a pre-move Marlin .357 in blue and did no mods and it functioned reliably with .38's and .357's. I must either make up my mind or buy both. By the way is the carrier in the Marlin stainless or blued. If it is stainless it should theoretically be harder and hold up longer than the blued...Right?

Depends on where you buy it... you could also buy the Rossi directly from Steve.

Stainless... I've always understood that it's actually softer than hardened steel. Cold-rolled steel might not be... but then I'm not really very knowledgeable about metallurgy.

[COSteve]

By the time you buy Steve's video/parts kit and peep, the Rossi is not a good deal unless that's what I want. I recently purchased a pre-move Marlin .357 in blue and did no mods and it functioned reliably with .38's and .357's. I must either make up my mind or buy both. By the way is the carrier in the Marlin stainless or blued. If it is stainless it should theoretically be harder and hold up longer than the blued...Right?

You're comparing apples to oranges. You don't have to do anything to your Rossi but shoot it if that's what you want, just like the Marlin the Rossi will slick up itself over time. I shot my Rossi Rifle and Carbine versions stock with hundreds of rounds each before I did the action jobs and both ran 38spl and 357mag just fine right out of the box.

With the Rossi's stock performance addressed, I'll move to a price comparison. Price wise, the LSI and Braztech version Rossis are over $100 cheaper than the Marlin 1894C and they are available right now while the 1894C is back ordered most places.

If you go to the stainless steel models, the LSI and Braztech version Rossis are $150 cheaper than the Marlin 1894CSS and again are available now. Further, if you move to the 24" octagon barreled rifle class, the Rossis are well over $200 cheaper than the Marlin 1895 Cowboy and Marlin apparently doesn't even offer a stainless steel version of it.

Sights upgrades for both cost the same. Check out Bud's Guns if you think these price comparisons are wrong.

[adirondakjack]

"By the way is the carrier in the Marlin stainless or blued."

The carrier in either a stainless or blued Marlin is made using the "MIM" or powdered metal process. It is fairly durable IF you follow the instructions on the following website to radius the snail cam on the lever.
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Marlin94Fix.html

If the Marlin EVER experiences any feeding glitch whatesoever, no matter how minor, remember to INSTANTLY stop moving the lever. If gentle maniplulation cannot clear the gun, remove the lever screw and lever to clear the jam, then figure out what is wrong. Never try to "stutter" or reef on the lever to overcome resistance or you WILL mangle the carrier. Used for general shooting/hunting (not CAS), respecting the above will likely give you a lifetime of happy service. For CAS a good bit more is needed to make em run happy and fast with no issues.

[mikld]

Well, my Puma '92 functions very good with the proper ammo (flat nose rather than SWC). The only "work" I did was install a Williams sight (after first experimenting with a "Bullseye" sight) and to do that I had to disassemble the gun. Because I had two major surgerys in the following two months, my Puma was kind hard to reassemble (not the gun but lingering effects from anasthesia! ), but it is now back working as good as new. A lot of guys don't like the safety on top of the bolt and it is suggested to eventually replace the cartridge follower, but other than that no "mods" are necessary. I enjoy working on guns and Steve's CD is a welcome source of info. so I don't consider that an "extra cost".

[Hobie]

A "pre-move Marlin". It has already started. I wonder how Marlin/Remington/Cerebrus management feels about that.

[junkwrencher]

Thanks for the responses men. As for the Rossi, I was interested in the twenty-four inch stainless vs. the 1894css. I understand the Rossi can be used as-is but I want to at least put a peep on it($60+) for a Skinner or Steves'. As to the prices of both guns I shop the Gunbroker website very religeously.As to the Marlin Jam, I'm also very familiar with that as well. Read some of my old posts. I guess my biggest problem will be will I like the longer Rossi over the Marlin.The gun will be used in all weather on traplines in the boat and close quarter deer and varmint hunting. I don't mind the extra weight of the Rossi and the extra sight radius makes it very attractive. I've owned two of the 1894 marlins in blue and had to work on the .44 alot just to get it to function, but in doing so I'm very comfortable working on the design. The 1892 reproductions are much more complicated but I've always wanted one and love the lines and track record of the design. If I happen to get a lemon in either rifle I will work on it myself rather than ship it off and wait. I understand this voids all warranty and I might just buy both and be done with it using the Marlin while on foot or longlines and the Rossi in the boat, bike, and truck.

[AJMD429]

For the uses you cite (in a boat and/or close deer hunting), I think the longer barrel of either brand would just get in the way. Since you're planning a 'peep' sight, you don't really 'need' the Marlin for its 'scope-ability'. Both are available in stainless, although you'll have to pay a bit more and/or wait a bit more for the Marlin.

So, either one should work, either the easier-to-work-on Marlin, with the known-but--not-all-that-common 'carrier' problem (that most of us shoot tens of thousands of rounds without encountering, and is fixable by simply replacing a $40 part), or the more-parts-to-break-or-lose Rossi Winnie-clone, which might function just a tad better with its top-ejection, yet no fun if you do have to work on it yourself.

Since you mentioned you've had several Marlins, and kind of like the 92 action, I think it makes sense to get the Rossi. If you have the funds to invest, order a Marlin CSS 'in the background' so six months from now if you don't like the Rossi, you can sell it and pay the Marlin off, or if you love the Rossi by then, just keep the CSS as a 'spare', or sell it NIB - you won't likely take a loss on a gun like that.