Converting a Levergun

[jebb45]

Just asking if anyone has converted a lever action rifle to 357 Maximum?? If so, please explain details of the converison. Thanks

[COSteve]

The model '92's action it too short for the 357 Maximum's round. I believe it's .3125" longer than the 357 Magnum's case. I you go to a '94 style levergun then the 35 Remington already available out performs the 357 Maximum.

[nemhed]

Welcome to the forum! Do a search on this subject, it's been discussed here before ad nauseum. Steve pretty much summed it up.

[TedH]

The Win. 94 in 357 Mag is your best bet (only?). Whether or not it's practical matters only to you. Tycer can answer your questions better, I think he has one converted to 360DW. I'd PM him if he doesn't chime in here.

[Hobie]

The last time this came up... http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=20459

The time before that... http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=15247

The time before that... http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=13467

The time before THAT... http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=13299

Comes up about every 6 months but nothing changes cause that's the way it is.

There were many discussions on the early versions of the board now lost to us. Nothing really different in any of that either. When it comes to leverguns, the easiest way to get more than a .357 Magnum is to get a .35 Remington.

[AJMD429]

If you don't mind a 'long action' like a 336, the .35 Remington is factory-made, and outperforms the .357 Max.

If you want a 'carbine action' like a Marlin 1894 or Winchester 1892, you'll have a near-impossible time getting it running and functioning, plus the pressure is quite a bit higher than the .357 Mag and .44 Mag rounds. Several options exist; lengthening just 'a bit' to the DanWesson or one of the other longer-than-.357-Magnum rounds, or using the .357/44 Bain & Davis, which would be made easily by re-barreling a .44 Mag 1894 (that round is a .44 Mag necked to .357, and is close in power to the .357 Max).

[adirondakjack]

Recognizing that no matter what cartridge ya WANT, somebody will always suggest another, I take a more literal track. I don't CARE why a feller wants a .357 max levergun. Maybe just so he can say he has one? (I'm building a #5 rolling block chambered for a cartridge no longer than the action is wide). So if ya really want one, a winchester model 94 could be converted. I suspect if ya started with a .357 mag '94, ya'd maybe need to swap out the carrier or modify it for the longer round, and of course ya;d need to recut the chamber. But it could be done because the 94 was made for .30-30, a round about the same length as the .357 max. Otherwise ya'd have to go to a BIG BORE Marlin, and that ain't gonna be much fun to convert.