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 Pistol caliber lever guns, what to buy? 
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Location: Snohomish Co
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I'm eyeing a .38 and .357 lever gun but i'm not sure what is on the market and what everyones favorite is. I'm not afraid to do some serious work to it, i consider myself pretty competent as a 'smith, and i may look at doing a short stroke conversion. My 30-30 and 32 win spec are getting too expensive to plink with, plus i already have a couple .38/.357's


Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:48 pm
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Location: Bellingham Canada
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Uberti makes seriously beautiful and functional lever rifles. My 1873 came sighted in perfectly from the factory.


Last edited by OhShoot! on Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.



Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:15 pm
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Henry

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Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:18 pm
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I should specify, i've heard some arent .38/.357 compatible, i want my cake and want to eat it too.(since i have a s/w in .38/.357)


Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:25 pm
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I had problems feeding .38 special in a JB stamped Marlin 1874 that I've since sold. The Uberti 1873 feeds both .38 special and 357 magnum really well. Henry does make a fine 1874 rifle also.

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Sun Jan 16, 2022 9:49 pm
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Go .44mag!
Still "easy" to find ammo & so much fun to shoot.
Love my Marlin

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Sun Jan 16, 2022 10:03 pm
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scorpion rider wrote:
Henry

Good American Company.


My wife bought me a Henry in .45 Colt for my birthday last year. Love it.

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Sun Jan 16, 2022 11:38 pm
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While I don't have any 1st hand experience with the 38 vs 357 feeding issues. To me one of the main considerations is are you ok with old school buck horn sights or are you gonna need an optic?

For old school it gonna be a Winchester or such clone. For optics go marlin, but maybe wait for the new ruger made units to hit the market.

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Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:49 am
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https://www.bighornarmory.com/product/m ... 18-500-sw/

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Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:55 am
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I would go Henry, but there's nothing bad about the Rossis either. They just aren't that easy to improve down the road.

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Mon Jan 17, 2022 10:19 am
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hkcavalier wrote:
I would go Henry, but there's nothing bad about the Rossis either. They just aren't that easy to improve down the road.


Yep, dont be afraid of a Rossi! Good piece.

Ive got Winchesters, Rossis, Marlins, Henrys, Uberti, and Browning.

My faves by far are Henry and Browning. But I loves them all!

357/38 and 44mag are the favored around here.

357/38 can have more to due with round nose/flat nose/hollow point for feed issues than the diff of 38 vs 357 lots of times.

Also cheapo aluminum cased 38/357 are dangerous because they dont crimp them well, if at all and the slugs tend to push into the case if ya stuff more then a couple into the tube.


Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:48 pm
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If you can find a pre Puma Rossi, 92 Saddle ring carbine. Sweet rifles. Have one in .38/.357.
Slicked up action, installed springs from Steve's Gunz. Never fails to put a smile on anyone's face who shoots it


Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:56 pm
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cbass wrote:
Go .44mag!
Still "easy" to find ammo & so much fun to shoot.
Love my Marlin


I'm invested in too many calibers(WAY to many), i have nothing in .44 and 2 wheel guns i shoot regularly in .38/.357 That's a deal breaker, unless i get a .44 mag revolver.

Schoolboy wrote:
While I don't have any 1st hand experience with the 38 vs 357 feeding issues. To me one of the main considerations is are you ok with old school buck horn sights or are you gonna need an optic?

For old school it gonna be a Winchester or such clone. For optics go marlin, but maybe wait for the new ruger made units to hit the market.

I'll go whatever, i'm blind, but if i get a new pair of glasses i'm above 20-20. I feel a lever gun should be iron sight though for the feel. Also i'm a machinist, i can do whatever i want for optic. If i really wanted to i could even throw my russian 1pn34 night vision on it.

My main take is until i get new glasses(when the covid panic is over) i'll move targets closer and shoot faster which a pistol caliber lever gun is perfect for practicing.


Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:17 pm
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Real Name: Matthew Caldwell
I have some experience with 38/357 levers. Here's my .02:

Miroku Winchester/Browning 1892 (I've owned a few): Lightweight, smooth action, accurate, easy to single load, feed 38 & 357 well
JM Marlin 1894 (currently own 2): See Above, plus easy to mount optics on (my eyes aren't the greatest anymore)

Henry Big Boy (have shot my friends): See Above, but a bit heavier (will probably buy an X Series as a home defense piece; like the new side loading gate, and will mount red dot & WML. I can't seem to do that on any of my more classic levers!)

Uberti 1873 Short Rifle (just got it): Absolutely gorgeous but heavy. Haven't gotten it to the range yet, but have run dummies through it. Have to work the lever hard with 38s, but cycles 357s like butter. I expect it to shoot fine.

Rossi 1892 (never owned one, but have friends that do): Typically not as nicely finished as the Miroku 92s, but I've seen good and bad on both. Functionally, my friends have no complaints.

Good luck with your search.


Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:38 pm
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Browning B-92. Based on the original Browning 1892. The .357 was made for less than 5 years by Miroku in Japan.
Mirror polished internals, slickest lever action lever gun ever made. I'd never sell mine.
If you can find one in good shape for under $1,000, buy it. Look at one, cycle the action and you will know what I mean.
The .44 and Centennials action do not compare. Sold a couple of those.

"A close copy of the Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action rifle, the B-92 was introduced in 1978 as a limited edition B-92 Centennial in .44 Mag. caliber only. The standard B-92 was introduced in 1979 in .44 Magnum. The 357 Mag. was introduced in 1982. The B-92 was discontinued in 1987."

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Tue Jan 18, 2022 1:44 am
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