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New to lever actions, need advice (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/17/2025 10:51:41 AM EDT
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Looking at buying my first lever action, and have no idea what to look for. I'm trying to decide between .357 for affordability or a .45-70 for the cool factor. Here's where I need help. What should I be looking for in the $1000-1100 range?? Are Henry rifles any good?? They're the most affordable, but is that for a reason?? Thanks for the help, much appreciated!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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I only have experience with old Winchesters and Marlins, 22 through 45-70. You can get a nice old used Winchester or (JM) Marlin in that price range. I wouldn’t go 45-70 unless you need 45-70: ammo is a lot harder to find and a lot more expensive. |
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It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
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Attached File Love my .357. Yeah 45-70 would be cool, but A. It’s way more expensive to shoot (don’t forget that you can shoot .38spl through the .357), and B. It’s way overkill hunting wise for me. I’ve got a .308 that will handle anything in the lower 48, the .357 is gonna be great for my boys to knock down a whitetail with. |
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All right, looks like it's gonna be a.357, then. I've got grandsons that'll want to shoot it, too. They're little guys, so a big bore is probably out of the question!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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| Henrys are great. I have six of them, two in .357. Reliable, accurate, fun. As said above, .357 is awesome because you can shoot from hot all the way down to powderpuffs and even shoot .38 special. Easiest cartridge to reload, too, making ammo even cheaper. |
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: All right, looks like it's gonna be a.357, then. I've got grandsons that'll want to shoot it, too. They're little guys, so a big bore is probably out of the question!! To add to what I said above, if you can, get the X model, they’re beautifully balanced so easier for kids and the weight makes it a soft shooter. Though if you really want fun for kids pick up a Henry .22lr carbine. So much fun to shoot, and super inexpensive too. |
In Clown World, the only freude is schadenfreude
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Originally Posted By Mooseless: Henrys are great. I have six of them, two in .357. Reliable, accurate, fun. As said above, .357 is awesome because you can shoot from hot all the way down to powderpuffs and even shoot .38 special. Easiest cartridge to reload, too, making ammo even cheaper. Originally Posted By Mooseless: Henrys are great. I have six of them, two in .357. Reliable, accurate, fun. As said above, .357 is awesome because you can shoot from hot all the way down to powderpuffs and even shoot .38 special. Easiest cartridge to reload, too, making ammo even cheaper. Originally Posted By Mooseless: Henrys are great. I have six of them, two in .357. Reliable, accurate, fun. As said above, .357 is awesome because you can shoot from hot all the way down to powderpuffs and even shoot .38 special. Easiest cartridge to reload, too, making ammo even cheaper. Thanks for advice on Henry's. I'll probably go over to Scheels and check some out this weekend. I'll probably grab a .22 at the same time!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: All right, looks like it's gonna be a.357, then. I've got grandsons that'll want to shoot it, too. They're little guys, so a big bore is probably out of the question!! For a fun shooter the .357 is the way to go. In a carbine the .357 isn’t bad at all. The .38s are quite mellow. Not all will feed short .38s well. If you reload then the .44 can also be a fun choice. If not they’re more expensive to shoot. I have a Marin made by Ruger and it is a well made gun. The Marlins are easy to scope should you want to. The Winchester 73 and 92 models are not so easy to scope. No idea on the Henry’s or the recent S&W lever gun. Probably both good buys. Rodri 92s are not as inexpensive as the used to be but make a good plinker. They’re notorious for loose chambers to make feeding easy but that kills the brass for reloading purposes if that matters to you. i got a model 92 Winchester in .44-40 for giggles. It’s a mild shooter too, like .44 special power versus .44 mag power. I would say that is best for a reloader though. I wanted the 92 in .357 but by the time they were actually available I had bought the Marlin. Both good guns. If you reload I highly recommend for plinking a 125 grain Round Flat Nose load in a .38 special case. Very kid friendly and plenty accurate. If you are crazy enough to cast Lee has a great mold for it. Their 158 RFN mold is as good or better from what I read. Avoid SWC styles, they get damaged and or cause a hitch in the chambering as the SWC ledge catches the chamber on the way in. Some guys have no problem there in their gun but many do, needing a “double clutch” on the lever. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
I recently got a Marlin 1894 SBL I too had the .357 or something larger debate and am very glad I went .357. It's the most fun I've had shooting in a long time. Recoil with .38s is almost non existent and .357 isn't harsh as all. just a soft push. It's a ton of fun and .357 is plenty for our small'ish whitetail, hogs, coyotes etc. It's become my "goes everywhere with me" gun. It's even taken over the roll as my Night Vision Rifle  |
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Originally Posted By Glck1911: I recently got a Marling 1894 SBL I too had the .357 or something larger debate and am very glad I went .357. It's the most fun I've had shooting in a long time. Recoil with .38s is almost no existent and .357 isn't harsh as all. just a soft push. It's a ton of fun and .357 is plenty for our small'ish whitetail, hogs, coyotes etc. It's become my "goes everywhere with me" gun. That's what I like to hear. I'm gonna go look at some rifles this weekend, my wife is going to kill me when I come home with one!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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I have never understood the draw of owning a 45-70. I really wonder how many owners actually shoot things with it. I can kill anything in this state with a 30-30 a lot cheaper. I currently have .22LR, .22 Magnum, 44-40 30-30 and .357 lever actions. I sold off the 35 Remington, 32 Winchester Special, 32-20 and .44 magnums. Mainly to streamline my reloading needs. I strongly prefer Marlins. For me at least, it seems to be a much smoother action and the rifle overall just fits me better than a Winchester. I personally do not own a Henry, but the one's I've handled seem well put together. I've owned a Rossi .357 in the past. It worked well and was accurate and light, but it went in a gun trade for the above 22 Magnum. I doubt I will ever buy another lever unless the price is an insane deal. Most of mine cost in the $300 range or were inherited at the time. |
| I bought a Cimarron Arms/Uberti 1873 in .357 and it's my absolute favorite rifle these days. It can be finicky with .38's but .357's feed nicely and are accurate with little recoil. I was shooting 158gr FMJ's out to 200 yards and easily hitting the target. I found that if I load the .38's to .357 length, they feed fine too. .38's in it are like shooting a .22 so your grandkids will love it. I will say, the rifle is heavy but it's a lot of fun to shoot. Smoothest lever action I've ever had the pleasure of shooting too. |
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I love my Henry Model X .357. Shooting it puts a smile on my face. Virtually no recoil and fast handling. I can't wait for my new can to try out some .38's. I will say I don't care for the fiber optic sights and am looking for a tritium front and plain rear. |
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: All right, looks like it's gonna be a.357, then. I've got grandsons that'll want to shoot it, too. They're little guys, so a big bore is probably out of the question!! Good call. My only experience is with this 45-70 I use on elk. Even the modest factory stuff has a fair bit of recoil . I think factory ammo has gotten stupid expensive too. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By mkgunz: I love my Henry Model X .357. Shooting it puts a smile on my face. Virtually no recoil and fast handling. I can't wait for my new can to try out some .38's. I will say I don't care for the fiber optic sights and am looking for a tritium front and plain rear. Good chance the can blocks the irons, mine did, but had planned to go with a dot from the beginning so no issue. Suppressed .38 from a lever gun is as close to Hollywood quiet as you'll ever get  |
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You can't go wrong with a 357 in a lever. I have a couple. One is the Rossi and just recently I picked up a slightly used S&W 1854. The Rossi is a decent lever gun but the S&W is more robust/heavier and has a few more things the Rossi does not-larger loop for charging = more comfortable action, comes with a rail for an optic, better sights, and a threaded barrel, to name a few. Henry makes a great gun for the money. I have a little .22 lr Henry and it is an absolute blast to shoot. It is very accurate and has never jammed once on me. I had plans on getting a Henry in .357 but the deal I got on the S&W was too good to pass up. Some people complain about the loading tube on the Henry not being very authentic to the lever design, as you can load the gun from the top of the tube, but I actually prefer it and a few other brands have copied that idea. The 45-70 is a neat round but if you do not hunt, it gets pricey real quick for nothing, in my opinion, than for giggles. Not that there is anything wrong with that but you will get more enjoyment with the .357 lever gun as you can shoot .38 special as other people also stated. |
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All good advice, and very much appreciated!! I'm going tomorrow to look at a Henry Big Boy X, in .357 and I'll try really hard not to even handle a 45-70!! If I don't get delayed, I'll post up pics when I bring it home. I already told my buddy to get his coyote caller fired up!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
|
If marlin is an answer it is the answer. 45–70 is $$$ and uncomfortable to shoot a lot, avoid it unless you need the power or want the wow factor. 44 mag is the best lever action caliber unless you want the quietest range toy and cheapest ammo possible, then 357 wins. |
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Some people will be snobs about it... but check out the Rossi R92. Got one from Murdochs as a beater truck gun in .44 mag this summer and it has turned out to be one of my all time favorite firearms. Accurate, reliable, and super fun to shoot - 1k rounds in with zero issues at all. Ran me about $750. I went with .44 due to it being a nice compromise of power and cost per round. I buy it in bulk so it's really not too expensive. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By skindroid: Some people will be snobs about it... but check out the Rossi R92. Got one from Murdochs as a beater truck gun in .44 mag this summer and it has turned out to be one of my all time favorite firearms. Accurate, reliable, and super fun to shoot - 1k rounds in with zero issues at all. Ran me about $750. I went with .44 due to it being a nice compromise of power and cost per round. I buy it in bulk so it's really not too expensive. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/430189/IMG_4991_jpg-3678574.JPG I have never seen one of those for sale around here. I'll look at Scheels and see if they have any. |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
|
Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: For a fun shooter the .357 is the way to go. In a carbine the .357 isn’t bad at all. The .38s are quite mellow. Not all will feed short .38s well. If you reload then the .44 can also be a fun choice. If not they’re more expensive to shoot. I have a Marin made by Ruger and it is a well made gun. The Marlins are easy to scope should you want to. The Winchester 73 and 92 models are not so easy to scope. No idea on the Henry’s or the recent S&W lever gun. Probably both good buys. Rossi 92s are not as inexpensive as the used to be but make a good plinker. They’re notorious for loose chambers to make feeding easy but that kills the brass for reloading purposes if that matters to you. i got a model 92 Winchester in .44-40 for giggles. It’s a mild shooter too, like .44 special power versus .44 mag power. I would say that is best for a reloader though. I wanted the 92 in .357 but by the time they were actually available I had bought the Marlin. Both good guns. If you reload I highly recommend for plinking a 125 grain Round Flat Nose load in a .38 special case. Very kid friendly and plenty accurate. If you are crazy enough to cast Lee has a great mold for it. Their 158 RFN mold is as good or better from what I read. Avoid SWC styles, they get damaged and or cause a hitch in the chambering as the SWC ledge catches the chamber on the way in. Some guys have no problem there in their gun but many do, needing a “double clutch” on the lever. Heritage 92, a rebadged Rossi in .357. 
Replaced the rear buckhorn with a flat Marbles, added a leather butt cover and lever wrap from Mernickle, 
I cast that exact 125gr bullet, and it works great. 
This rifle is cheaper than your budget, but it makes up a big part of my Cowboy arsenal. 
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This is the most fun gun I own. It was a couple hundred over your price range, but it comes with a rail and threaded barrel. With a YHM R9 suppressor the .357mag is ear safe. With .38spl it's quieter than a mouse fart. I put a pistol red dot on it and have a ball ringing steel. Everybody that shoots it loves it. Marlin 1895 SBL .357 |
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I’ve got a few lever guns. 2 30-30’s, 22 lr, 22 magnum, 45/70 and a 357. I really love lever guns. The 357 is a Henry and it’s an awesome gun. I shoot mostly 158 jsp out of it and it is really accurate. I changed the front sight out to a green fiber optic as my eyes had a hard time seeing the brass bead on the factory sight. I was leary of the magazine loading as opposed to a side gate, but it isn’t a big deal. I think Henry has a side loading 357 now. The 45/70 is a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun (JM stamped). I bought it used but if the previous owner fired it, I couldn’t tell. It’s a fun gun to shoot, but as others have said, not something I’d shoot all day. Some of the rounds you can really feel, like the Leverloutions. My FIL has one and that’s what got me wanting one. It’s a handy rifle, not real sure why I thought I needed a 45/70 being in Florida, but I guess if grizzlies ever move south I’ll be covered. I’m looking at a 44 magnum now, as I purchased a Ruger Alaskan a couple months ago. I’m looking at the Rossi R95, as it’s a bit cheaper than a Marlin Attached File |
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Just a thought, there are more to lever actions than Winchester/Marlin styles. I often come across Savage 99's in pawn shops and they seem to be normally priced below the cowboy guns these days, falling in the $600-700 range for the more popular calibers. A Winchester 88 is also easy to find though a bit pricier. |
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Originally Posted By John-in-austin: I have never understood the draw of owning a 45-70. I really wonder how many owners actually shoot things with it. I can kill anything in this state with a 30-30 a lot cheaper. |
Rob
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Have 4 so far. 3 Henry's and my dads Win 94. None of my Henry's are side gated. Tube loaders and its not a big deal. A .22 rifle, a .44mag Big Boy brass/octagon barrel rifle (hardly feel any recoil out of factory load 240gr JHP) and a brass/octagon 45-70 (recoil with Leverlutions isnt bad). You can put a scope on a Henry. You can but pic rails right from their website for most their rifles. My biggest issue with the brass receivers is you do need to keep up on the finish or they start tarnishing. Its not pure brass, but a brass alloy thats strong as steel. Basically if you buy a new Henry, Marling (Ruger), Winchester or Rossi you will be getting a good gun. Also Henry is moving all of its operations and production to WI. 
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Rob
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I tried to buy one today, but both stores I went to were packed, and I didn't feel like waiting all day at the counter. Scheels was insanely busy, and their inventory was pretty low. No .357 model X to hold, but I did get to check a 45-70 model X, and it was pretty nice. I liked how robust it felt. The smaller caliber rifles felt skinny and small in my hands. I might try to hit up Sportsman's warehouse this evening, and see how busy they are later in the day. |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
|
Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: I'm really leaning towards .357, but there's a Marlin 45-70 local for real cheap. The Henry's I was looking at are new, and all under $1000 for a .357 rifle. Original North Haven built Marlins (JM marked on barrel) are good to go and Ruger built Marlins seem pretty good but if the 45/70 this guy found "real cheap" is a Remington built gun I would steer clear . Most of them have grim workmanship , fit and finish . Original Marlins have good history going for them , Rugers have a good look and a factory warantee . No body wants to lay a hand on the remington rifles if they need repair. Lever guns take a different flavor and use depending on caliber but the 38/357 have lots of uses with the range of power you get starting with light 38 target loads and ending up with full steam 357 factory loads or equal power handloads Leever guns are too much fun to limit yourself to just one. I have gone kind of crazy with one .22 ,two 357 ,two 44mag , two 30-30 , one 32win sp ,one 375 win ,and one 45/70 (yikes!) |
I went with .22 and .44, both Henry's (.44 is an X), and am very happy both with the combo and the rifles themselves. My only issue is they have different safeties- the .22 is half cock and the .44 has a transfer bar. I would like to compare a Marlin .44 SBL to my Henry someday, it's about a pound lighter and imo looks a lot cooler.  Personally the Marlin would need two day one fixes- a safety delete and a medium sized lever. I don't need anything bigger than .44 in Indiana. I went with it over .45-70 because of that and it's a better HD rifle when I visit family in blue states. I still want a Big Horn Armory .500 one day just because.  Attached File |
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Got it!! Last one in stock, brand new, $875.00. They were all out of .357 but had a 150 round box of .38 special for $60.00. That'll get me through until I can get some .357 for it. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. It's what I love best about this place!! Attached File |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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Originally Posted By skindroid: Some people will be snobs about it... but check out the Rossi R92. Got one from Murdochs as a beater truck gun in .44 mag this summer and it has turned out to be one of my all time favorite firearms. Accurate, reliable, and super fun to shoot - 1k rounds in with zero issues at all. Ran me about $750. I went with .44 due to it being a nice compromise of power and cost per round. I buy it in bulk so it's really not too expensive. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/430189/IMG_4991_jpg-3678574.JPG I have one in 45 Colt. Super accurate. Very little recoil. |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: Got it!! Last one in stock, brand new, $875.00. They were all out of .357 but had a 150 round box of .38 special for $60.00. That'll get me through until I can get some .357 for it. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. It's what I love best about this place!! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/15323/1000002579_jpg-3679170.JPG 
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Originally Posted By skindroid: Some people will be snobs about it... but check out the Rossi R92. Got one from Murdochs as a beater truck gun in .44 mag this summer and it has turned out to be one of my all time favorite firearms. Accurate, reliable, and super fun to shoot - 1k rounds in with zero issues at all. Ran me about $750. I went with .44 due to it being a nice compromise of power and cost per round. I buy it in bulk so it's really not too expensive. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/430189/IMG_4991_jpg-3678574.JPG I got my Marlin 1894 SBL, threw an Aimpoint and Holosun IRIS on it. Lots of fun with NV. Everything I was hoping it would be. It also instantly gave me the wants for something more traditional to go along with it .Seriously debating picking one of these up in .357. |
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You’ll love it. I’ve got an “X” in 357 and a pair of 44 Henry’s. There’s a Marlin 39a in the collection as well. The 357 X is an extremely fun rifle. As others have stated, hilariously quiet with a good can and 38 Special. All my Henry’s will feed SWC’s and Specials without issues. Get a 22, and if you aren’t a reloader, you should seriously consider it. 38/357 has got to be the easiest caliber to reload and is very rewarding. 
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"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: Excellent! That price sounds decent. Thanks!! The price was the same everywhere, but few places had it in stock. I got lucky and got the last one in the box. It was a cancelled online order. Now, where do I find one of those cool leather wraps for the lever?? |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
|
Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: Thanks!! The price was the same everywhere, but few places had it in stock. I got lucky and got the last one in the box. It was a cancelled online order. Now, where do I find one of those cool leather wraps for the lever?? Got mine from Amazon. Not really “required”, but if you are going to run the lever swiftly it does protect my tender fingers…..
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"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Sorry OP, but that is like asking what is the best car? Ask 10 people and you will get 12 different answers. I have a Rossi 1892, 20" barrel, in .45 LC/.454 that I bought in 2007. It has performed flawlessly, been used for CAS (NCOWS) and taken a white tail every year since. It is still my "funnest" long gun. |
Soldier for Life
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Originally Posted By MikeJGA: Sorry OP, but that is like asking what is the best car? Ask 10 people and you will get 12 different answers. I have a Rossi 1892, 20" barrel, in .45 LC/.454 that I bought in 2007. It has performed flawlessly, been used for CAS and taken a white tail every year since. It is still my "funnest" long gun. Well, my question was answered, and I bought a rifle yesterday thanks to the advice got out of this thread. |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
|
The key to feeding a lever gun long term is you need to reload. I can reload a box of 45/70 with cast bullets for less than 10 bucks. Even 357 with retail at about $35/50, can be reloaded for under 1/3 of that price. 45 colt these days is near $50 a box, and for $50 I can reload 250 of them. To each is own, but my interest is in the old pre WWII era and preferably antique era guns |
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Originally Posted By Rob940: Some states require straight walled cartridges to hunt and cartridges like 30-30 arent allowed. What's the reasoning for that? I would think the 30 30 is pretty well established at taking game. What's the significance of straight wall? Thanks |
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Originally Posted By Cooper1: What's the reasoning for that? I would think the 30 30 is pretty well established at taking game. What's the significance of straight wall? Thanks You need to realize that 99% of the committees that make these laws are not gun people or even hunters. They are mostly politicians that were elected to that committee. There might be one or two people that have a role in a gun or hunting area but their opinion and voice gets largely overshadowed. Here in NH we have the southern part of the state that was essentially shotgun only in areas. Then they went to straight wall cartridge in 357 mag, 44 mag and 45 colt specifically listed. This past season was the first where it was changed to any straight wall cartridge with 357 mag being the smallest allowed. In theory, straight wall cartridges are big fat bullets and don’t travel as far as bottleneck rounds which is always the fear when hunting in more populated areas. |
New to lever actions, need advice (Page 1 of 2)
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