Budget 38 / 357mag lever gun.

[hammo]

We have a stainless Rossi in our club. Used by many and over the last 10 years has had over 40,000 rounds through it and with no breakages!
I know this because I hold the club FAC.

We also had a blued version. Scrapped it as just wasn’t reliable and timing all out of kilter. Seems if you get a good Rossi, you get a really good gun.

We also have two Henry rifles in .357. Blued, with gate loading and 20” barrels. They are lovely! But broke two firing pins already. And were 1300 quid each.

The new Ruger made Marlins and the Smith & Wesson’s, we have a smattering amongst members. But, at nearly £2K a pop, no.

I was a fairly heavy Marlin collector for a number of years. At my height, I had 27. Pre 2011 or Ruger are the only way to go. They’re still not perfect but will fill the niche very, very well.

And if you reload, the perfect calibre of the UK is .30-30, to my mind. Lead bullets and Unique give gallery loads around 1000fps, and with a change of recipe, you have a cracking fox gun with 110gn bullets, then with 150’s nicely passed 1700ft/lbs.

I think I have landed on my feet with this one, I paid £400, the Lyman peepsight sealed the deal for me. No idea how many rounds its had through it of course, but it doesn't look beaten to death.
First levergun for me, but had a go on a couple at the club. We have a club levergun - can't remember which model - but it is single load only, it refuses to feed from the tube.

 

[Smellydog]

I think I have landed on my feet with this one, I paid £400, the Lyman peepsight sealed the deal for me. No idea how many rounds its had through it of course, but it doesn't look beaten to death.
First levergun for me, but had a go on a couple at the club. We have a club levergun - can't remember which model - but it is single load only, it refuses to feed from the tube.

Find out please.

 

[hammo]

Find out please.

Its a Marlin 1894 apparently.

 

[25 Sharps]

Jacketed also.
View attachment 462127
130gn bullets do the lot.
View attachment 462128

One in the mag and one up the spout or single loaded?

My new yew tree copper load will cycle so rifle effectively becomes a 2 shot

 

[simgre]

It’s a Marlin 1894 apparently.

That’s an easy fix.

 

[Jim Hutton]

Tried my first homeloads today.
18gr of Lil gun with 158gr JHP.
Gave 1955fps accuracy seemed OK but need to shoot groups again as it started chucking it down and my cardboard target collapsed in a sodden mess.
Will try some with less powder too, 18gr is max I believe. No pressure signs at 18gr.

Never a good idea to have a starting load at the maximum. Start low and work up is the best maxim.

 

[hammo]

That will do nicely, 30 paces off sticks. Will stick with 18gr as I don't think i will better that.

 

[Smellydog]

Its a Marlin 1894 apparently.

I don't know much about that action. Should be easy enough to fix i would of thought.

 

[Smellydog]

Never a good idea to have a starting load at the maximum. Start low and work up is the best maxim.

Waste of powder and bullets. Never seen a rifle fall apart from starting near max and in some case beyond.

 

[Smellydog]

One in the mag and one up the spout or single loaded?

My new yew tree copper load will cycle so rifle effectively becomes a 2 shot

Single only as the length is to long for the action.
Boat tailed bullets I load backwards so I can load the magazine then.
All just for fun and small game. Fox and larger gets propped bullets.

 

[25 Sharps]

Never a good idea to have a starting load at the maximum. Start low and work up is the best maxim.

Would ordinarily agree but that action is, or was, chambered in .454 Casull so .357 maximum loads aren’t going to touch the sides

 

[25 Sharps]

Single only as the length is to long for the action.
Boat tailed bullets I load backwards so I can load the magazine then.
All just for fun and small game. Fox and larger gets propped bullets.

Having a play with some yew tree 119 gr e-tip, with the Ali tip filed down to the copper, produces a flat topped bullet that should be ok for the tube mag.

Just need more time for testing! Too many deer and foxes to shoot, not that I should complain

 

[hammo]

HELP!
I have a Lyman no.66 peepsight on the Rossi, fiddling about earlier in the field, there is a spring loaded pin on the left side which bears against the vertical adjustment screw. I pressed it in which allowed me to slide up and off the upper peepsight assembly. Walking across the field the spring and pin have popped out never to be seen again.
Metal detector failed to find it so I'm searching for Lyman no.66 peepsight spares, can anyone help? ?

 

[hammo]

Never a good idea to have a starting load at the maximum. Start low and work up is the best maxim.

Wise council indeed, don't copy me I'm a simple country bumpkin.
Not my first rodeo though.....

 

[Smellydog]

HELP!
I have a Lyman no.66 peepsight on the Rossi, fiddling about earlier in the field, there is a spring loaded pin on the left side which bears against the vertical adjustment screw. I pressed it in which allowed me to slide up and off the upper peepsight assembly. Walking across the field the spring and pin have popped out never to be seen again.
Metal detector failed to find it so I'm searching for Lyman no.66 peepsight spares, can anyone help? ?

Send Lyman a message. They may just pop it in the post.

 

[hammo]

Send Lyman a message. They may just pop it in the post.

Just done so, fingers crossed!
Can still use the sight so not a complete disaster.

 

[Jamsie]

Avoid Marlin made made by Remington so anything between 2007 and 2020. Look for JM stamp on the left hand side of the barrel near the action. I dought very much you will buy JM stamped Marlin for £400.

Bearing in mind the scarcity and likely high price of JM stamped Marlins, I'd be inclined to steer clear of that particular marque. The models produced since Remington took over (and up to present) are dubious in terms of quality control and probably best avoided. Rossi underlevers are workhorses and won't break the bank. Chiappa seem to work okay. Our club Winchester 94 has suffered from the lifter issue and tends to be ignored as a result. There are a couple of Uberti 1873's in the club and they are excellent ... but probably out of your quoted price range.

Jamsie

 

[hammo]

Send Lyman a message. They may just pop it in the post.

Lyman were helpful, initially though said the part would be cheap but shipping $70. It turns out they are very supportive of veterans, so when that came into the conversation, all costs were paid by them, part in the post. God bless America.

 

[Smellydog]

Lyman were helpful, initially though said the part would be cheap but shipping $70. It turns out they are very supportive of veterans, so when that came into the conversation, all costs were paid by them, part in the post. God bless America.

That's awesome