Ideas wellcome on a 357 mag. test gun........

[hightime]

I'm not sure quite what I want. Of course I like levers. I could get a '92 in what, three brands? Armi, Rossi, and Winchester. Or maybe a single shot. I like the idea or a small roller, but as of right now, I can't seem to find one. I might carry it though the woods once and a while too, so I'd like to keep it under eight pounds if possible. Right now I'm loading 357 Mag. for my pistol and want a companion to it in a rifle. I already have a 1873 in a 45 Colt, if nothing else I might just have to get a '73 Uberti. I'll be keeping an eye out for a 1894 Cowboy Marlin too.

Thanks for any input, Owen

[Old Ironsights]

There's no "bad" choice in a modern .357 carbine/short rifle.

I chose a 20" stainless Rossi 92. But all have a solid place.

[AJMD429]

I like Marlin's few-large-part design best.

For something different consider Ruger's little bolt action. Same size as their 77/22.

[wm]

If you could find one a IMI Timberwolf might be appealing to you. It is a pump action based on a scaled down Remington 870 style action.

[Thunder50]

The Ruger 77/357 is pretty light. There is also a Ruger #1A in 357mag.

[m.wun]

I think Henry makes a pump version also! But the Ruger 77-357 looks sweet.

[Griff]

I have a Miroku 1885 in 45Colt, 24" ½-round/octagon that really just as a my 20" 1892. If it came in a .357 it would be a "keeper" also.

My next levergun is very likely to be a Cimarron "Texas Brush Popper". 20" ½-round/octagon w/pistol grip stock.

[barbarossa]

If it were me and I had the money I d find a Ruger no 3 and have it rebarreled to 357maxim or 357mag.I have a no 3 in 44mag and love it, it is a dream to carry in the woods plus the no 3 has a very strong action if you go the handload route.I believe if ruger had of brought the no 3 in 357mag,along with some other cals like 22lr etc it would still in production

[AJMD429]

If it were me and I had the money I d find a Ruger no 3 and have it rebarreled to 357maxim or 357mag.I have a no 3 in 44mag and love it, it is a dream to carry in the woods plus the no 3 has a very strong action if you go the handload route.I believe if ruger had of brought the no 3 in 357mag,along with some other cals like 22lr etc it would still in production

Good points.

Wouldn't a No.3 in 17 Hornet, or 25-35, or 32-20, or 357 Max, or 35 Remington, or 480 Ruger (or 475 Linebaugh) be cool...! There are just some cartridges that are perfect for a single-shot.

I presume the No.3's were "too costly to produce" profitably vs. the other guns they sell, and in a high-volume facility, but perhaps they could just produce the receivers and un-chambered barrels so custom gunsmiths could finish them up.

E.A. Brown's "97-D" rifles are functionally similar (small-frame falling-block) and are apparently very accurate (never shot one but talked to some owners of them at a suppressor shoot), but are very pricey and don't have the "famous name" factor. http://www.eabco.com/Brown97DRifle.htm. Here's a guy picking off aspirin tablets with one at 50 yards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 7z2gXKr_iM

Anyway, back to the thread topic.... ....I still like the Ruger 77/357 idea, but if it is to be a lever (and I like levers best), if I could only have one levergun it would be a Marlin, due to the few and heavy parts-count, and the ease of scope/receiver sight mounting. On the other hand, the Rossi's are SLICK and the little 16" Rossi 357 I have makes my Marlin 357 seem like a heavy battle rifle in comparison, even though the Marlin 357 is petite compared to the regular 1894 Marlin or a Winchester 94.

[86er]

I like the Henry but it is kind of heavy.

[hightime]

Some ideas I hadn't thought about. I better go looking.

Owen

[alnitak]

I like the early to mid-80's (IIRC) Marlin 1894 with the gold trigger and 18.5" barrel (no safety). Sorry I sold mine some years ago. They are tough to find.

[Grizz]

don't forget the winchester 94 ranger, a trapper size carbine. mine is dead-deer accurate to 100 yards with everything I've tried in it.

Grizz