Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Lever gun for the wife

I use my 336 in 356 Win to go out with the dogs. This is about as much recoil as my wife can handle. I load 280gr cast bullets and hope that it is enough for a griz. It is good wolf medicine! I load 180gr bullets and a lighter powder charge for plinking.
The problem she has is the overall weight of the gun during our practice sessions. I would like to pick up a lighter lever gun with similar controls for extended range sessions. I have never handled a Marlin 39A or a Marlin in 357 mag, but these are on the top of my list. Are these rifles lighter than the 336?? Any others that I should be looking at?? Does the Henry have a similar feel and controls as the Marlin?? What about a knock-off like a Rossi?

The Marlin 1894cs .357 is noticeably lighter than the 336 and the Rossi .357 is quite a bit lighter still. The Henry big boy is a heavy SOB.

I'm assuming I can shoot 38's in the 357 lever guns. Is that correct? Or is there a feeding issue?

The Marlin 39A and Winchester '94 are noticeably lighter.

I have both the Marlin and Rossi .357's. They both function perfectly with .38's.

That's good for you, Blackheart - but nobody's mentioned boolit type/shape, and YMMV.

Many leverguns chambered for .357 don't do well feeding .38 Specials that are loaded with sharp-shouldered boolits, like Keith-style semi-wadcutters, etc.



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That's true. They're known for not feeding wadcutters or semi-wadcutters. I know that and don't have any need for those type bullets anyway so have stuck with rn, rnfp, jhp and jsp bullets. So far I haven't had a bit of trouble with any of those whether .38's or .357's.

Around these parts anything that has the Winchester logo on it, either has a 1 in front of the actual value or a 0 at the end. These cowboys think they are "gold", and charge accordingly.
How much different is the Rossi, in terms of feel and controls, than the Marlin? I want to KISS for my wife.

Look for a shooter grade Win 94 in 3030. Light gun and light recoil.

Ain't really much difference in the feel or controls between the Marlin 1894 and the Rossi. The safeties are different in location and operation but I never use the safety on either one anyway.

I've got a Navy Arms 92 Trapper carbine in .45 Colt that my Wife likes and shoots well with Winchester factory ammo.

I load it with 300 grain HP's with a max load of W-W 296 for myself. (lots more kick)

Had a Browning 92 .357 mag. for the Wife, but lost it to a THIEF!

We like the smooth action of the 92

Virgil B.

[/quote] The safeties are different in location and operation but I never use the safety on either one anyway.[/quote]

The 336 that we are shooting now doesn't have a safety - that's why God gave us a brain!! (and a half cock position).

There aren't a lot of used Rossi's out there and I don't want to pay $500 for a new one. I can probably find a used Marlin priced right.

How about a savage 99F or DL in 250 or 243?

A 44 mag, but use light loads or specials. Or a BLR in 22-250, 243..... Or a savage 99.

Have never been able to warm up to the looks of a BLR, though I hear they work well. But if she wants a lighter gun, a 1950's 99F in 250 or 243 might be tough to find but it's a dream to shoot. Since you reload, finding one in 300 Savage is easy and probably about the price of a 336, AND you can load it down to 30-30 range or up to about the same as a 308.

22" barrel, 6.5 pounds without scope.

I've a Marlin .357 and can't recommend it highly enough. Though they seem to be tough to find, they are awesome. Mine is a pre-Remlin gun, but nothing special. It will load and shoot anything in a .357 case, to include wadcutters, and loads and shoots anything in a .38 case, but will bobble with wadcutters sometimes in the shorter case.

Recoil is mild with 357s, no matter the load, and in .38s is almost nonexistant. And it is very quiet with 38s as well. I put XS sights on it, and an XS rail with a red dot set out in front of the point of balance, like a scout setup. To do over, I wouldn't do anything different.

I have a 99 and recently had it rebarrelled 358 Win. While a great gun, the design doesn't allow for it to be stored with a round in the chamber for 9 months at a time. The Marlin and BLR will allow you to de-cock it. My BLR is in 308 and I wouldn't call it light.
I'm looking for a lightweight gun not necessarily a light recoiling round. I am happy with the 356 round and 280gr cast bullets for protection against bears. I just want a lighter weight rifle with similar controls for my wife to practice with.

If you're talking a rifle for just practice at the range, or possibly a beater truck gun, that is reliable..... go to Big 5 Sporting Goods if you have one around and grab their 1894 in .357.

They have much cheaper wood, but are durable as any other. Good dependable shooters. And much cheaper. Haven't checked prices lately, but you can usually get them for under $350 new.

Marlin will allow you to decock it? Well.. true. Though I think there's plenty of holes in floorboards and rooftops that should be figured into that neat trick. I know my uncle shot out his engine with my dad's 336 back in the day.

I agree, one should never leave a 99 with one in the chamber for long. Leaving 5 in the mag and an empty chamber wouldn't be a problem though. Can rack that lever pretty quick.

Sounds like you really want a Marlin tho. Keep an eye on gunbroker.

No Big 5's around here that I know of. I'll keep looking though, might find a 357 online or at a pawn shop.