38/357 and 44 lever guns 16"

[ABNAK]

I like .357 lever guns. They will boost a hotter 158gr load (like Underwood) to ~ 1850-1900fps from a 16" barrel (a 125gr will hit maybe 2100fps). They will also shoot flatter than a .44 Mag one with less recoil. Currently I have a 16" Puma carbine with a rear peep sight. Sweet little gun!

[wanderson]

Now that Ruger owns the rights to Marlin there’s been speculation of Ruger making Marlin design lever guns.

For new production, the only two that come to mind in 16” are Rossi & Henry. I have a Henry (not pistol caliber) that’s well made, but last I looked there was a big price gap between Rossi & Henry.

I agree in .357/.44 a 16” barrel makes more sense. Especially in a Henry which tend to have heavy barrels.

I did read that someone’s Rossi lever fed .357 just fine but choked on .38spl. due to case length.

And not a lever gun, but the new Henry single shots are nice, and way cheaper. Available in .357 & .44

[SW CQB 45]

thanks for the info

I am too late to return back to the lever gun. Prices are ridiculously high.

I like the Marlin 1894 CSBL (357) and SBL (44) but when price go well over retail.... I am going to pump the brakes.

I hope Ruger keeps it alive.

I should have bought a Win Trapper 44 mag in the 90s when I wanted one. I am leaning toward a .357 over a .44 even though I have a decent supply of hot .44 mag

[markm]

Any of you guys ever mess with a larger charge of slower burning powder? Our riflesmith had some formula where you could run a different formula of a bumped up charge of some slower powder. I forget the details/powder type now, but it was an interesting idea.

[matemike]

I have a JM 1894SS in 44 with a 2-8x silver leupold scope and I have a JM 1894c in 357 with ghost ring sights.
I prefer to shoot the 357. Not because of recoil, but a multitude of things like the ring sights, accuracy, cheap ammo, and yeah there is no recoil. I am very glad to have, and always hope to have, those lever guns. I believe they will stand the test of time. I’ve dropped deer with the 357 at medium ranges. 60-90 yards. And with the 44 out to 150. The 44 hits steel plates harder than 5.56 at same distance FWIW. Really really fun guns to shoot and same as said above, the last gun I’d ever willingly part with is my 1894c.

[SW CQB 45]

Matemike

Very good info. Thanks

When you say JM, I am assuming pre Remington Marlin?

Where exactly is the JM stamps and is it in the same spot on every barrel?

Thanks

[Chubbs103]

You are correct on the JM. It will be stamped on the left side of the barrel where it meets the receiver.

I personally like .357 in a lever gun. I have a .357 Henry that my wife and FIL gave me as a retirement gift. It is considerably heavier than a Marlin 1894. Recoil with full power rounds in a .41 Mag or .44 Mag Marlin (I have a .41) is stout. Recoil through the .357 Henry is nearly at rimfire levels.

Older Marlins are hit or miss with cast bullet accuracy. Jacket bullets are usually not a problem. My .41 definitely prefers jacketed bullets, but will shoot cast well enough if the bearing surface is long enough.