Let's talk about rifles chambered in .357 and .44 Mag - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Let's talk about rifles chambered in .357 and .44 Mag (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 6/27/2024 12:39:08 PM EST

While common now the .357 and .44 Mag in rifles seem to have a neat story behind them.

In the case of the .44, the first factory chambered rifle was the Ruger 44 Carbine starting in 1959. This later got Marlin making the 336 in .44 Mag. That action was a bit too large for the cartridge so in 1969 Marlin brought back the long dead 1894 but now chambered in .44. The popularity of the .44 Mag in a rifle caused Remington to offer the 788 in .44 Mag for a short period.

With the .357 it seems that it wasn't until 1978 when Marlin offered the 1894C in the cartridge that a factory rifle was available. Prior to this starting in the 1940s or 1950s quite a few Winchester 1892s chambered in .32-20 were converted to .357 by gunsmiths with varying degrees of success.

As much as the pistol caliber lever gun is loved by shooters for the past 40 years if you look prior to roughly 1960-1970 that wasn't the case at all. From roughly the 1930s until then the only popular lever guns were .30-30, .32Spl, .35 Rem, and .300 Sav.

Posted: 6/27/2024 12:44:22 PM EST

[#1]

I wish there were more options out there. Particularly in .41 magnum. These straight walled cartridges are about as versatile as could be and easy to reload. Cast bullets and low powder capacity (compared to rifle cartridges) makes for a great little gun. I have a. 357 and a .44 Timberwolf pump and they are awesome little carbines

Posted: 6/27/2024 12:47:25 PM EST

[#2]

I wonder how much it's popularity was driven by states that allowed rifle hunting only with straight walled cartridges.

Regular people buying stuff for shits and giggles is a modern thing.

Posted: 6/27/2024 12:47:55 PM EST

[#3]

I had a chance to pick up an 1894 in 357 about thirty years ago and didn't jump on it. I also passed up on buying a Timberwolf when they were still available. Kind of difficult to justify spending money on a plinking gun

Posted: 6/27/2024 12:57:14 PM EST

[#4]

I bought a used Marlin in .44 Mag just because it was fairly cheap. I grew up watching cowboy movies/TV shows, so I always wanted a lever gun. Now I have the Marlin, Rossis in .45 Colt and .38SP/.357Mag and a Winchester 30-30. As far as the last one goes, I don't hunt but thought I needed a real American "deer rifle." Bought that one used/cheap too.

Posted: 6/27/2024 1:07:27 PM EST

[#5]

Picked up a Ruger 77/44 a few weeks back. Its still in the box, I need to get it shipped out and refitted with a integral suppressor. Suppressed 44 Special is probably more fun than rimfire!

Posted: 6/27/2024 1:20:06 PM EST

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I wish there were more options out there. Particularly in .41 magnum. These straight walled cartridges are about as versatile as could be and easy to reload. Cast bullets and low powder capacity (compared to rifle cartridges) makes for a great little gun. I have a. 357 and a .44 Timberwolf pump and they are awesome little carbines

View Quote

I'm a .41 black sheep. Maybe I read too much Keith/Skelton? It's pretty much a reloaders cartridge these days.

Lucked on an unfired first run 1894 several years ago.

All I need now is a .41 short barreled Blackhawk.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:14:53 PM EST

[#7]

I traded for a Cimarron 1873 rifle in .357 and it's now one of my favorite rifles. I was hitting steel at 200 yards with it last weekend. It's a blast to shoot.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:18:29 PM EST

[#8]

My grandpa's Ruger .44 Mag carbine and my dad's Dan Wesson .44 Mag revolver have become my favorite combination for the woods.

We don't have many long shots here in the thick forests of Arkansas, but we do have black bears and meth heads.

Our white tail are the size of big dogs and could honestly be hunted pretty ethically with a 9mm PCC.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:22:22 PM EST

[#9]

Love all of my levers chambered in .45 colt, .44 mag and .357 mag.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:40:53 PM EST

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Picked up a Ruger 77/44 a few weeks back. Its still in the box, I need to get it shipped out and refitted with a integral suppressor. Suppressed 44 Special is probably more fun than rimfire!

View Quote

I love my 77/357 suppressed. With .38 special it’s absolutely hilarious to shoot. I just need to save up to put it in a nice stock and SBR it.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:49:54 PM EST

[#11]

I have a Marlin 1894S in 44 Mag. Love that rifle. Others have tried to buy it after shooting it. No dice. It's not going anywhere.
I put an RMR on it about a year ago and love it even more.

I had a Rem 788 in 44 Mag years ago. Used it in the deer woods for quite a while. Sold it for a ridiculous amount back around 2008/2009. Would hate to see what they're worth now.
Sold the spare mag for it here on the EE about 10-12 years ago. Got $100 just for the mag

Forgot about the Ruger Deerfield carbine I had. It lived in my old '78 Chevy truck just about its entire life. Whacked a bunch of deer with it in my teen years.

Posted: 6/27/2024 2:53:55 PM EST

[#12]

Arkansas announced a straight wall extended season this year.

So good luck finding anything in 357/44.

I’ve been waiting on Marlins sbl in .357. supposed to come out in spring, now their site says summer. Compared to the plastic Henry big boy X, it looks 100x better

Attached File

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:01:07 PM EST

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Picked up a Ruger 77/44 a few weeks back. Its still in the box, I need to get it shipped out and refitted with a integral suppressor. Suppressed 44 Special is probably more fun than rimfire!

View Quote

A friend of mine used to have one.

Suppressed .44 Rifle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eh4gAtRD20

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:23:47 PM EST

[#14]

I have seen several Savage 24s over the years chambered in .357 over a 20/12 gauge but never had the cash when I did. I would think that 357/12 would be a handy little truck gun.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:26:26 PM EST

[#15]

I like my Marlin (Remlin) 1894 in .44 Mag. Hopefully this fall I'll get around to shooting a deer with it.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:28:36 PM EST

[#16]

I just picked up one of the new Smith and Wesson 1854 lever action rifles in 44 mag. Have not shot it yet, but it looks very nice.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:34:54 PM EST

[#17]

I like my Rossi .44.

Attached File

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:35:30 PM EST

[#18]

A 357 lever gun is a fantastic choice if you live in a place where AR15’s or detachable magazine rifles are illegal or frowned up and may make you more likely to get charged.

The bullet is really humming out of a rifle length barrel.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:44:35 PM EST

[#19]

I built a 44 automag ar-15

Pretty fun to shoot

Need to get a lever action for when all the semi autos get banned

I didn’t even know S&W was making one pretty cool
Wonder how it compares to Ruger

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:51:15 PM EST

[#20]

I have a 24" Winchester 1892 in 357 mag. With my handloads I can hit 2400fps with a 140 grain xtp which expands to over .70"

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:53:07 PM EST

[#21]

Ruger/Marlin should make a lever gun in .357 Maximum.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:54:38 PM EST

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I wonder how much it's popularity was driven by states that allowed rifle hunting only with straight walled cartridges.

Regular people buying stuff for shits and giggles is a modern thing.

View Quote

This is 1000 percent behind the increase in popularity. Now the what were novelty guns had an actual purpose. A straight wall rifle was so much easier to get to shoot well than a slug gun. For hand loaders/hunters this was a dream come true. Once they became more popular and prevalent it allowed for a casual non hunter to find one just for fun. Now the guy who just wanted a rifle in the same caliber as his revolver had several options.
Throw in a few successful western movies and a tv series or two and now you have a resurgence of lever guns in practical calibers. I enjoy loading up some powder puff loads with cast bullets and letting kids achieve their dreams of being a cowboy.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:54:51 PM EST

[#23]

Been wanting a single shot Rossi in .357, when they become available. The Rossi LWC.

Posted: 6/27/2024 3:56:04 PM EST

[#24]

I want a lever gun in one of those calibers, mainly for just walking my property and pretending I’m a cowboy looking for bandits

Posted: 6/27/2024 4:27:51 PM EST

[#25]

My current favorite 44mag that I own.

Attached File

And its partner

Attached File

Posted: 6/27/2024 4:57:01 PM EST

[#26]

OP missed the Universal Vulcan 44 Magnum pump action rifle, made in 1963.

Tony

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:00:09 PM EST

[#27]

Wife got me one of these for my birthday a few years ago, I need to shoot it some more. First thing I did was get rid of the stupid safety.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:01:54 PM EST

[#28]

My grandpa had one of those old 336 Texan models in .44. I remember taking it deer hunting when I was a kid.

Like a lot of other things, it slipped away when he died.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:04:20 PM EST

[#29]

Attached File

I can shoot 357 Mag and 44 Mag though this bad boy!

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:06:24 PM EST

[#30]

I got a henry 357 lever gun for my non-gun wife as an HD gun. She links plinking with a red ryder but not much else. 357 out of an 8 pound gun is soft but spicy, hits like 30-30, 7.62x39 or 300BO. They are all about the same. So there.

We had an active shooter in my front yard. I geared up, threw her the Henry, and the only instructions were "Red Ryder, Much Louder!". She totally understood the instructions and was ready to rock and roll. I'd take 11 rounds of decent back up over 31 in a platform she doesn't understand.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:07:58 PM EST

[#31]

Im surprised someone hasn’t tried making these again.

IMI timberwolf

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/imi-rifles/imi-timber-wolf-action-arms-357-magnum-pump-slide-rifle.cfm?gun_id=101196169

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:16:46 PM EST

[#32]

Picked up a new Marlin 1894 a few weeks ago, haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet but the fit and finish on it are superb.

Ruger did a great job, I wonder if they are using the old tooling from Marlin/Remington or did they just create new?

Which brings me to a question if anyone knows; there isn’t much information from Ruger on the optics plate, or even one for sale on their site.

Can I buy a plate made for older versions and use that, or is the drill pattern different?

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:24:50 PM EST

[#33]

Attached File

They are pretty handy little carbines. Here’s my .357’ .44’s farther back in the safe as I haven’t shot it in several years. The both have no issues with spl loads as well

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:26:02 PM EST

[#34]

Did you say .44 Mag?

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:26:28 PM EST

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Picked up a Ruger 77/44 a few weeks back. Its still in the box, I need to get it shipped out and refitted with a integral suppressor. Suppressed 44 Special is probably more fun than rimfire!

View Quote

I see that you are a man of refined taste! Although my flavor is a 44 mag. still fun as hell suppressed.

Mine is an H&R handi rifle. A lever action is something I haven't picked up yet.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:29:37 PM EST

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
I wish there were more options out there. Particularly in .41 magnum…

View Quote

Ditto. I have a S&W Model 57 I’d like to get a companion for. Henry seems to be the main option. I just hope they put one out with the side gate loading option. I have a Henry Allweather and Uberti 1873 in .357.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:32:17 PM EST

[#37]

I have a Henry in .357. I don’t have many .357 cases so I load .38 Spec cases long with hot but not +p loads.

I shoot it in steel matches.

Lots of fun and easy to load inexpensively.

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:34:36 PM EST

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:

Ditto. I have a S&W Model 57 I’d like to get a companion for. Henry seems to be the main option. I just hope they put one out with the side gate loading option. I have a Henry Allweather and Uberti 1873 in .357.

View Quote

I have a modest collection of 57and 657 Smiths. My Desert Eagle is also .41 mag and I’d be happy to have a Henry. They seem to always be OOS when I look though

Posted: 6/27/2024 5:38:07 PM EST

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
OP missed the Universal Vulcan 44 Magnum pump action rifle, made in 1963.

Tony

https://i.imgur.com/0Eo6abD.jpg

View Quote

That is wild looking, lots of M1 Carbine in that thing's DNA

Posted: 6/27/2024 6:12:41 PM EST

[#40]

I have all sorts of rifles chambered in 357 mag, 44 mag and 45 Colt. A number are threaded for a can and several are SBRs. My favorites are my threaded 45-70s though.

Posted: 6/27/2024 6:16:29 PM EST

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Wife got me one of these for my birthday a few years ago, I need to shoot it some more. First thing I did was get rid of the stupid safety.

https://www.sportsmans.com/medias/marlin-model-1894-bluedmaple-lever-action-rifle-44-magnum-1620121-1.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3w0NDgyM3xpbWFnZS9qcGVnfGltYWdlcy9oZDEvaDg2Lzk3NDYyNzIyODg3OTguanBnfDkwNDY3Mzg5YWZlOWUzY2ViZTVjNDI5MzJhMWM5MjE1N2Y3OTQzNjk5N2UwZDQzYWE5NzA1YWE3NDNiN2E3OWM

View Quote

@Coffin-Nail
Get a Ranger Point Precision lever for it. The stock lever is a knuckle buster. The RPP lever made my 1894S much more comfortable to fire.

Posted: 6/27/2024 6:23:12 PM EST

[#42]

Attached File

NEF single shot in 357 mag. 16.5” threaded for a can

Posted: 6/27/2024 6:27:56 PM EST

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:

@Coffin-Nail
Get a Ranger Point Precision lever for it. The stock lever is a knuckle buster. The RPP lever made my 1894S much more comfortable to fire.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Wife got me one of these for my birthday a few years ago, I need to shoot it some more. First thing I did was get rid of the stupid safety.

https://www.sportsmans.com/medias/marlin-model-1894-bluedmaple-lever-action-rifle-44-magnum-1620121-1.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfGltYWdlc3w0NDgyM3xpbWFnZS9qcGVnfGltYWdlcy9oZDEvaDg2Lzk3NDYyNzIyODg3OTguanBnfDkwNDY3Mzg5YWZlOWUzY2ViZTVjNDI5MzJhMWM5MjE1N2Y3OTQzNjk5N2UwZDQzYWE5NzA1YWE3NDNiN2E3OWM

@Coffin-Nail
Get a Ranger Point Precision lever for it. The stock lever is a knuckle buster. The RPP lever made my 1894S much more comfortable to fire.

Cool, I'll check it out.

Posted: 6/27/2024 7:02:46 PM EST

[#44]

I found this sight in 2005 after buying my first AR15, for the last 3 years my favorite fire arms are lever actions.

Just got this Rossie 38/357 with the 24 inch Octagonal barrel.
Out of the box exact point of aim at z25 yards and cycled just as smooth as my Henry 45-70. Cheap to reload.

Personally these little R92’s I like better than my Henry and almost as much as my currently mystery locked up JM 3030

Attached File

Posted: 6/27/2024 7:05:06 PM EST

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
Ruger/Marlin should make a lever gun in .357 Maximum.

View Quote

.350 Legend

Posted: 6/27/2024 7:10:34 PM EST

[#46]

I have a ruger m77 in .357. I bought it when straight wall cartridge hunting started being a thing. Now it’s not made anymore and I e actually never hunted with it. But it’s really neat!

Posted: 6/27/2024 7:17:33 PM EST

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/42361/IMG_9499_JPG-287582.jpg

I have a ruger m77 in .357. I bought it when straight wall cartridge hunting started being a thing. Now it’s not made anymore and I e actually never hunted with it. But it’s really neat!

View Quote

I regret not buying one of those