JackBull
Hunter
Looking for a lever action, probable in 357. Which company and why?
Ruger Marlin vs Henry
- Thread starter JackBull
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Busterswoodshop
Hunter
I have never been a Henry fan , so I would say Ruger.
Rossi......because they look great, shoot great, and cost far less than a overpriced Ruger/Marlin or Henry.
I too was gonna say Rossi …… for your reasons plus most importantly they are actually in stock around here. The others scarce as all get out.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
Neither.
All my Marlins are original (pre-sell-out) and I would never own a Henry.
Funny thing is I have a Rossi .357 ... also an original (pre-safety) model.
All my Marlins are original (pre-sell-out) and I would never own a Henry.
Funny thing is I have a Rossi .357 ... also an original (pre-safety) model.
I have this Henry and Marlin in 44mag and they have both been most excellent.
I like older Marlins. Try auctions.
Still way overpriced for what they are. I agree the older JM's are nice, as are the new Ruger made. But they are far too costly. Rossi's are pretty comparable and cost far less. Also as hittman stated they are easily found.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
The Marlin .357's are an 1894 design which is inferior to the 1892 in almost all ways. The Rossi is basically a metric 1892. Lighter and stronger than an 1894 and it won't jam like an old Marlin 1894 .357. I like old Marlins too ... 336's and 39A's to be exact. No need for an 1894 or 1895 here.
I had a Henry .357- it was a beautiful gun. 20 inch octagon barrel, polished aluminum receiver, and some beautiful furniture. Thing was as smooth as butter, but it weighed a ton. I wanted to replace it with something lighter and a local gun shop offered to trade me for a new Ruger/Marlin. The fit & finish on the new Marlins is fantastic. The action has some of that “zipper” feel you get from machining, but it’s started to wear in and feels much better.
I have a Henry carbine in .45 and it’s great, as are my Henry .22 and .22mag. I’ve never had a Rossi. I was looking at them but the prices around here were so inflated they I got the Marlin.
I have a Henry carbine in .45 and it’s great, as are my Henry .22 and .22mag. I’ve never had a Rossi. I was looking at them but the prices around here were so inflated they I got the Marlin.
Don't forget about those Italian imports. They take a lot of abuse and many rounds fired by the SASS shooters and keep on a going.
Yea I have a few Marlins in the pile also.
The bottom rifle is what a Henry should look like
Yea I have a few Marlins in the pile also.
The bottom rifle is what a Henry should look like
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A "blued and wood" pre-safety Rossi '92 Carbine would be my pick....If I could find one that hasn't been modified, "slicked up", or otherwise tinkered with.
DGW
DGW
Ahhhhhhhh Yes the Rossi is nice, but the toggle link side plate rifles are so easy to clean and replace parts on. They say they are not strong. They are strong enough for modern cartridges with the modern steel. Until you have cycled a tuned short stroked 73 you don't know what smooth is
I though my Marlin was smooth, and it is, until I got my 73.Bottom line all are good
Have a pre loading gate Henry in 357. Super smooth action. Put a Skinner sight on it and I'm plenty accurate with it.
Always wanted a Marlin Stainless in 357 so I finally picked up an SBL. Fit and finish seem top notch. Cycling snap caps through action is fine. Have not gotten to the range yet. We'll see which I'm most accurate with and see which one I keep. Likely to keep both though......
Always wanted a Marlin Stainless in 357 so I finally picked up an SBL. Fit and finish seem top notch. Cycling snap caps through action is fine. Have not gotten to the range yet. We'll see which I'm most accurate with and see which one I keep. Likely to keep both though......
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I have a Rossi .357, no complaints. Ruger would be my next choice. Hard NO to a Henry.
Another option, has anyone tried a S&W lever gun?
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/s-w-model-1854-lever-action-rifle-357-magnum
Another option, has anyone tried a S&W lever gun?
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/s-w-model-1854-lever-action-rifle-357-magnum
I've been looking at them. They certainly look good, but haven't decided to "pull that trigger" yet. Mostly because of other priorities.
southernbuck101
Single-Sixer
Yall keep buying all the Rossis
And Henrys.
Leaves more Marlins for the rest of us.
I'd rather have the 1st Remlin that came off the line, than a Rossi.
If I have to explain it, you ain't gonna understand.
And Henrys.
Leaves more Marlins for the rest of us.
I'd rather have the 1st Remlin that came off the line, than a Rossi.
If I have to explain it, you ain't gonna understand.
I understand it but I will say that Rossi is a whole lot better than they used to be. I have seen many good and bad ones, just as I have seen many good and bad Remlins. For the money at this point they are not a bad option.
However overall I like the Marlin over the other two.
When's the last time you looked at one? I've got three and they aren't the guns of 20yrs ago.
The JM guns weren't all that great either.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
JM guns are crap after 2000. All Remlins are crap. The Ruger made ones are way too expensive and bougie. My Rossi is 40 years old and was made with all steel parts and no safety. There are no issues with those or the ones made after about 2022. Any of the other years or parent companies, well beware. My Marlins are all classics except one M60 made in 1988...that might be considered a classic now anyway. Marlin didn't make an 1892 which is superior to an 1894 in every way.
southernbuck101
Single-Sixer
To each his own.
I will say that most of my Marlins are 1960s -1980.
Although I do own some stainless JM"s and a Ruger, currently.
But I've owned 2 Remlins and had no problems.
Yall keep buying Rossi's and Henrys..
The Happy Kaboomer
Single-Sixer
Marlin all the way.......................!
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Since this thread started I bought a Ruger/Marlin .357 and after shooting both sold my Rossi.
The Rossi never really clicked with me. The Ruger/Marlin is really nice. No regerts
Finding a pre safety .357 of any make is next to impossible. So I think the Ruger/Marlin is the way to go
The Rossi never really clicked with me. The Ruger/Marlin is really nice. No regerts
Finding a pre safety .357 of any make is next to impossible. So I think the Ruger/Marlin is the way to go
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I've got a matched pair of 20+ year old Win 94 Trappers (357 & 44) that are for sale.
LDB
Blackhawk
A quick spin at GoG shows Marlin $1025, Henry $925 and Rossi $695. An extra $230 buys quite a bit of ammo to have fun with a new rifle. The only downside I can see to the Rossi is the large gap between lever and stock when the lever is closed.
I love my Ruger bolt actions, but Henry would be my lever go-to.
