Thread: Recommendations wanted on 357Mag Lever Action

All of ours do but never really found it a problem . You can get aftermarket triggers with a lighter pull and extra spring to remove the flop but haven't really found the need . Did look at getting one at one point but they were out of stock at the time and never bothered since. Just don't really notice it . In fact I just had to check all 3 rifles to see if they did it cocked , so that's how little I notice it during use...

Originally Posted by outlander

Other than a 22 Marlin, I've avoided them. I bought a 336 in 30-30 a few years ago and it had a trigger that flopped around ( front to back) with no resistance in the first stage. The bloke I took it to in Napier said that they all do that. Felt terrible. Do they all do that..?

No not all. They did go through a rough patch when they changes hands but the recently produced ones are high quality

Originally Posted by outlander

Wonder if it has the steel butt plate. The 44 mag is bad medicine enough for an old shoulder.

Brutal....and most guys end up moving them on

I've got a rossi, 100m is a loooooong way away with it. Probably just doesn't get used enough.

Originally Posted by Skirch

I've got a rossi, 100m is a loooooong way away with it. Probably just doesn't get used enough.

Yeah, if you don't use them often, they become lazy and unfit. Best to exercise them a tad before long shots, it stresses the barrel and can develop hairline cracks near the muzzle. Poke the end of the barrel into a bowl of talc powder/ diesel. Brings out the cracks to be seen as clear as day.

I have no experience with Rossi (yet)
My marlin 336 Texan in 30 30 is accurate
and the trigger is crisp for a lever.
No where near as much slop as my Win 94.
My blr is off right now getting her trigger worked.

[QUOTE=GSP HUNTER;1116756]I have no experience with Rossi (yet)
My marlin 336 Texan in 30 30 is accurate
and the trigger is crisp for a lever.
No where near as much slop as my Win 94.
My blr is off right now getting her trigger worked.[/QUOTE]

A report on before and after would be very much appreciated.

[QUOTE=Got-ya;1116857]

Originally Posted by GSP HUNTER

I have no experience with Rossi (yet)
My marlin 336 Texan in 30 30 is accurate
and the trigger is crisp for a lever.
No where near as much slop as my Win 94.
My blr is off right now getting her trigger worked.[/QUOTE]

A report on before and after would be very much appreciated.

Will definitely do an update. I'm hopeful it's going to improve it..

My old early 90s rossi 357 carbine is a great little gun
Earlier the better for the rossi.

Got a 1985 Rossi in 44/40.
Reasonably accurate with handloads
Does have a tang rear sight.

I think the key to buying a good lever action is.............. don't buy one sight unseen. You need to work the action and test the trigger and feed a couple of rounds through the action to see how it performs.

My very first centre fire rifle was a Marlin 1894 in .44mag bought new back in the 80's. Shot my first deer and my first stoat with that gun. Got me started into reloading. Always remember the load because it was full of 18's - 18gr Blue Dot behind 180gr Sierra JHP doing 1,800fps. Could all but clover leaf three rounds at 100m with a 2.5 power scope, but for a young fella, it kicked like a mule. The factory but plate would rub the skin off your shoulder by the third round

Its one of the guns that I seriously regret selling, but it had a trigger on it that was about 12lb's and was tending to make me flinch so I sold it on and bought a M38 in 6.5x55.

Having always had a passion for lever guns, in recent years I have picked up a couple of rimfires, and a Rossi 357 stainless. The attraction to the Rossi was that it was already suppressed, something that I had looked into doing with a Marlin about 15 years ago in discussions with Gunworks, long before the current Marlin dark series hit the stores suppressor ready. The suppressor was also eccentric which enabled the factory iron sights to be used. Problem was, load testing some factory ammo, the grouping was heinous. After trying all sorts of different ammo I eventually discovered that there was baffle strike occurring in the suppressor. I ordered a new DPT unit and have only had one opportunity to test it. She will now group about an inch at 25m with open sights and me not 'shooting for groups'. I now have to start doing load development for it.
My Rossi is butter smooth to cycle, and the top eject makes it easy to eject and catch the case. Fit and finish is typical Rossi and nothing like a good Marlin. I have fitted a Gunworks rail and plan to put a Aimpoint ACRO C-1 on it as my eyesight is now such that open sights are a PITA.

A good Marlin is light years ahead of your average Rossi in form and function; a good Rossi will surpass an average Marlin in the same (and there are some average Marlin's around). My recommendation is in my opening sentence - never buy one sight unseen, and when you find a good one, buy it. Either will do the job you are looking to do based on your original post.

Just be prepared to spend some money on ammo, because hunting aside, for shits and giggles, the 375 will put a smile on your dial shooting reactive targets, and everyone with you will want a turn!

After this morning I reccomend.......................Marlin.

Took my .357 to range as thought I would check its zero
first 3 shots fired out of it in over a year and it still works, even shoots pretty good for a lever even if it is scoped with a 2-7

Reloads or factory rounds @mikee ?
That's an impressive group

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Reloads or factory rounds @mikee ?
That's an impressive group

Reloads with 140 hornady ftx? And adi 2205 powder

@Masperjay has a fancy suppressed Marlin in 357 for sale. I'd have had it but animals cost a lot to keep alive