Lever #4: .356 Winchester

[EG73]

Saw this in the shop in December 2022. It was still there so today I made it mine. No safety except half cock as far as I can tell, either. So yay! Should be about 1982, going by the stock. Serial number if it helps is AE17###

Can’t wait to get it home! It’ll be joining the Erma Werke EG73 .22WMR, Winchester 1892 .25-20, Marlin 1895CB .45-70.

What next? Need a .30-30 still.

[JBowen]

Congrats! I have its twin set up exactly the way that one is and I bet you will not be disappointed.
I have shot two deer with mine. One shot each and they only took a few steps on the way down.

JBowen

[Drawdown]

Outstanding rifle, and cartridge!

[Drawdown]

I still have the box of my first 30-30 ammo I bought when I got my first Marlin. Haven't dug it out, but best I remember, the box is identical to those. It was 1981 for sure tho.

[Twodot]

most excellent!!
..

[wvfarrier]

The brass is worth its weight in gold.

[Sixgun]

That’s a rare one indeed and is excellent investment material…….please do that fabulous rifle an honor and discard the $59 scope and give it a straight 4x of quality manufacture….—-006

[EG73]

That’s a rare one indeed and is excellent investment material…….please do that fabulous rifle an honor and discard the $59 scope and give it a straight 4x of quality manufacture….—-006

Ha,

What would be correct to change it to?

[4t5]

This would work just fine.
https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-1-5-4x20-moa-ring

[EG73]

This would work just fine.
https://www.leupold.com/vx-freedom-1-5-4x20-moa-ring

True but I feel it also wouldn’t look period.

[BenT]

Nice score. That is my favorite deer rifle. Anchors deer nicely and the stock works well with the scope. I have an older Burris 2x7 x 32 on mine.

[44shooter]

Nice rifle in very well balanced cartridge. The scope is um not for me.

[Drawdown]

"Well Balanced" is IMO, the perfect description of the 356 Win! When I finally got really serious about deer hunting, well I had my 30-30, then +2 more, and still love em, they're great Appalachian Mts hunting rifle!
The old saying, bring enough gun? Well I think that applies mostly to War, Police, and Dangerous Game.
For hunting, I've always believed in bringing "that just right gun & cartridge!"
For around here, where and what I hunt? That BB 94 & 356Win, it's just like Baby Bears Soup, JUST RIGHT!
By time I finally figured that out, they're literally gone! But if I ever happened upon one in my hands for sale, I'll buy it even if I have borrow the money, and I'll find brass somehow!
But yes, I think everyone needs a 30-30!
The BB 94 & 356Win to me just seems like what the Mod 71 & 348 was to the west and northwest? It perfect for east of the Mississippi?
And all the good 358 bullets and powders it would be very versatile! Win made it just right and available. But most rather have a disposable rifle instead of a real rifle, so they had to drop it!

[mnmarlin]

Nice find! Great caliber. Not so much on the butt pad, you are going to feel those 200 grainers go off both in your wallet and on your shoulder! Never understood why the .356/.307 didn't take off, seemed like pretty good cartridges - wonder if they'd do better now with the (semi) resurgence in interest in lever actions.

[vancelw]

Nice find! Great caliber. Not so much on the butt pad, you are going to feel those 200 grainers go off both in your wallet and on your shoulder! Never understood why the .356/.307 didn't take off, seemed like pretty good cartridges - wonder if they'd do better now with the (semi) resurgence in interest in lever actions.

I always wanted a .307, but when they came out they were very expensive compared to the plethora of used .30-30s available.

Still kinda want one

[Walt]

I have a Big Bore in .375 Winchester with a Williams aperture sight on it. Nice gun!

[EG73]

Nice find! Great caliber. Not so much on the butt pad, you are going to feel those 200 grainers go off both in your wallet and on your shoulder! Never understood why the .356/.307 didn't take off, seemed like pretty good cartridges - wonder if they'd do better now with the (semi) resurgence in interest in lever actions.

I always wanted a .307, but when they came out they were very expensive compared to the plethora of used .30-30s available.

Still kinda want one

I’ve got the 356 and I want a 375 still..so May as well try and get a 307 also

[Twodot]

"Well Balanced" is IMO, the perfect description of the 356 Win! When I finally got really serious about deer hunting, well I had my 30-30, then +2 more, and still love em, they're great Appalachian Mts hunting rifle!
The old saying, bring enough gun? Well I think that applies mostly to War, Police, and Dangerous Game.
For hunting, I've always believed in bringing "that just right gun & cartridge!"
For around here, where and what I hunt? That BB 94 & 356Win, it's just like Baby Bears Soup, JUST RIGHT!
By time I finally figured that out, they're literally gone! But if I ever happened upon one in my hands for sale, I'll buy it even if I have borrow the money, and I'll find brass somehow!
But yes, I think everyone needs a 30-30!
The BB 94 & 356Win to me just seems like what the Mod 71 & 348 was to the west and northwest? It perfect for east of the Mississippi?
And all the good 358 bullets and powders it would be very versatile! Win made it just right and available. But most rather have a disposable rifle instead of a real rifle, so they had to drop it!

The .356 Win is a good levergun cartridge west of the Mississippi too!
Mine is a Marlin that was re-bored and chambered by JES.

2012deer.jpg

fwiw, some rifles will chamber and extract rimless brass as well as the original rimmed brass.
..

[Drawdown]

"Well Balanced" is IMO, the perfect description of the 356 Win! When I finally got really serious about deer hunting, well I had my 30-30, then +2 more, and still love em, they're great Appalachian Mts hunting rifle!
The old saying, bring enough gun? Well I think that applies mostly to War, Police, and Dangerous Game.
For hunting, I've always believed in bringing "that just right gun & cartridge!"
For around here, where and what I hunt? That BB 94 & 356Win, it's just like Baby Bears Soup, JUST RIGHT!
By time I finally figured that out, they're literally gone! But if I ever happened upon one in my hands for sale, I'll buy it even if I have borrow the money, and I'll find brass somehow!
But yes, I think everyone needs a 30-30!
The BB 94 & 356Win to me just seems like what the Mod 71 & 348 was to the west and northwest? It perfect for east of the Mississippi?
And all the good 358 bullets and powders it would be very versatile! Win made it just right and available. But most rather have a disposable rifle instead of a real rifle, so they had to drop it!

The .356 Win is a good levergun cartridge west of the Mississippi too!
Mine is a Marlin that was re-bored and chambered by JES.
2012deer.jpg

fwiw, some rifles will chamber and extract rimless brass as well as the original rimmed brass.
..

I sure wish I'd got my hands on one long ago! Great pic and deer! I don't know Levers like most here, but best I can tell, vast majority of the BB 94's were in 375? But I remember when they came out, I just wasn't really a deer hunter then. When I really got interested, yeah I wanted one of about most all them , especially a Mod 71 in 348 and an 86 in few calibers. But when I saw the real attributes of the 356 Win, it was obviously like already said, "a perfectly balanced cartridge & rifle for my use"! But to late no doubt!

[RIHMFIRE]

my shoulder still remembers shooting that big bore...
Nice!!!!

[hfcable]

works real well for me;





not a big moose but one shot from the marlin 336ER in 356 did the trick

i have several of them [ ? 5 0r 6 ] all the rest are winchester BB

have a lifetime supply of ammo and brass

[EG73]

5 or 6 .356’s? Now we know why they’re hard to find

What load/bullet for the moose?

[hfcable]

5 or 6 .356’s? Now we know why they’re hard to find

What load/bullet for the moose?

yes at least 5 or 6. i have two big bores still new in the box with hanging tags and papers: a 356 and a 307. had them a long time.

the load used for the moose is a 220 gr handload , the details of which i dont recall [ i have it written down ] and i am down in montana right now and that rifle and its loads are in alaska

i have a 356 down here of course and use factory 200 gr loads for it.

[EG73]

Ok finally found the time to pick it up. Give it a clean and oil tonight. I’ve been sick for the last 3 weeks so no go on shooting any time soon..

[Bigoleboar]

Congrats on the 356. I have a 94 bb as well. I put a leupold 1x4 vx2 on mine and it shoots 2” groups at 200 yrds with my reloads. I’m pushing the 180 Speer fp to about 2650 fps.