Budget 38 / 357mag lever gun.
- Thread starter hammo
- Start date
MidlandsPaperPuncher
Well-Known Member
I don't know, but mine has the stock loop and lifter, and was approximately 500rds old when I first took it apart to check, no appreciable wear. Most articles discussing the repair say once a loop has been used for 100+ rounds it's terminal.
It was second hand so the loop lever edge that causes the jam could have already been rounded but it still was very sharp to my eye.
Also to be fair mine is stainless, so the wear may proceed differently in a carbon steel gun.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
They are easily repaired, it's not a deal breaker, in fact it could be a deal maker!
Will have my renewal back in a month. What's the barrel length, overall condition and price?
Most normal/moderate l rifle calibres will happily do 10k+ before accuracy become an issue. I’ve had a pistol with over 30k, mostly +P jacketed and no sign of barrel wear and seen some over 100k and its not the barrel wearing, so I think you’re right, barrel wear is not an issue.
Like everything else, neglect can be a problem leaving barrels rusting.
Marlins have some minor issues, like losing screws, none usually too serious and parts are available in abundance. You would be lucky to find one below £500.
Winchester, usually okay as well but can be very ammunition fussy, usually more than £400.
Rossi (Brazilian made) is a copy of a a Winchester 92, same ammo fussy issue as Winchesters. They often have one minor issue to address and once addressed they are excellent value and very reliable. Sometimes they go for as little as £250 due to lack of popularity.
I didnt want to spen marlin prices but wanted a underlever go, bought a rossi 357/38 against a lot of nay slayers who hadnt even shot one, it was a great thing cycled everything tried open sights and a scope on it ( had to put a rail on) couldnt fault it it was a saddle ring carbine that used to annoy the hell out of me rattling so the ring and fixing was removed, it shot well even at 100yds and grouped well, sold it to buy a browning s/a pistol profesional alterd from a browning buckmark for a 22 play.
Not for me then!
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I might have to eat my words....again.
The rimfire versions were based on the Erma design.
The big boy, stoopid name I think is steel.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
The 94ae in 357 due to it's operation design and the fact it was designed for longer cartridges has to use a flimsy little piece added to the lever to control the rounds in the magazine.
It's there purely to allow you to top up the magazine.
If it breaks you won't be able to top up the magazine until empty. It's down to how narrow the case head is compared to say a 3030 case head.
I don't know about how available the little clips are anymore. I may have one somewhere. Other than that I loved my 357 94ae. The trigger is easy enough to improve.
I use to plonk with mine over 600yds. Just a Williams peep site.
GunnyJB
Member
Just thinking about people hunting foxes/rabbits with a lever action. I have mine for a bit of plinking fun on the range and hadn't considered it for across the fields.
Does anyone have a suitable hunting round recommendation for foxes in .357mag out of a lever action? I've only tried the Magtech cowboy action loads in .357 magnum for my plinking fun but a quick online search suggests these are unsuitable to hunt with.
Does anyone have a suitable hunting round recommendation for foxes in .357mag out of a lever action? I've only tried the Magtech cowboy action loads in .357 magnum for my plinking fun but a quick online search suggests these are unsuitable to hunt with.
