Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry

Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post Reply
User avatar
Bugs
Cowhand
Posts: 359
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 9:07 am
Location: SW FL
United States of America

Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by Bugs » Sun Jun 10, 2018 11:01 am

I would like to get a lever rifle with side gate loading but after looking around the interweb...Jeesh...which one. The newer Winchesters look nice but so do the Uberti's. And apparently a Rossi can be improved. Marlin seems like they may be coming out with some newer guns once they get past the bankruptcy reorganization. Looking to buy a new gun so not interested in searching for an older one in good condition...plus the pricing can be ridiculous. Also want to be able to shoot .357 magnum; current load is 14.5 gn Alliant 2400 pushing an 158 gn projectile. Opinions...Recommendations?
0 x

User avatar
Mistered
Drover
Posts: 3372
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:32 pm
Location: Wickiup Junction, OR
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by Mistered » Sun Jun 10, 2018 12:05 pm

If you were wanting a 30-30 the answer would be easy but because you want a .357 that complicates it. Stay away from the later model Winchesters AEs. I had one and it suffered from the known, cartridge lift issue. I worked on it for several years (and many complete tear downs) to try to resolve it and got close but never to the point of it cycling consistently. When it dropped a round under the lift it was a real PITA and it was this that made me sell it and buy a Henry. The Rossis are hit and miss. Never owned one but the ones I have seen and held bordered on crude - but many say they were able to get them cycling and shooting well but I would not own one. The Miroku Winchesters are really nice - very nice in fact I handle and look at one nearly every time I am in my local Sportsman's Warehouse and have to work hard to resist the temptation ! (well not really!) The Italian repops are very nice also and have improved dramatically over the years - the early ones were pretty bad with soft internals that wore quickly.
If it were me I would look for a nice JM Marlin but since you are wanting new I would try to find a NEW Marlin and spend an ordinate amount of time looking it over VERY WELL before buying it - and WELL means running a patch down the barrel, bore light inspection, fit, finish and cycle with some snap caps. Good luck!
Last edited by Mistered on Sun Jun 10, 2018 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
0 x

User avatar
RanchRoper
Forum Ambassador
Posts: 12681
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Canada

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by RanchRoper » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:53 pm

My local hardware store has a Uberti 1873 Winchester copy with case colored receiver, lever and buttplate. I took a close look at it and handled it in the store. .357 Mag. 20" octagon barrel.

All I can say is WOW.
1 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50

Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully

User avatar
North Country Gal
Firearms Advisor
Posts: 6054
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
Location: northern Wisconsin
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by North Country Gal » Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:58 pm

In terms of least risk as for as getting a lemon with a new production gun, I would opt for a Winchester/Miroku or the Uberti. Have owned many a Miroku built gun and have never had a single lemon, not one. Won't be cheap, but they're great guns. Same for the UIberti levers. As mentioned, if you want a Marlin, an earlier JM would be a lot safer than the current Remington made Marlins. QC on those is all over the place.
1 x

User avatar
Mistered
Drover
Posts: 3372
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:32 pm
Location: Wickiup Junction, OR
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by Mistered » Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:08 pm

As mentioned, if you want a Marlin, an earlier JM would be a lot safer than the current Remington made Marlins.
I agree and while ridicules pricing was mentioned I have recently seen a couple very nice JM Marlins for less than the cost of a Miroku or Uberti. One with a very nice case, ammo, sling & scope. Nice JM Marlins are out there - you just need to always be looking and PREPARED to buy! (kind of like I am doing currently for a Mod 28/27 Smith!)
0 x

User avatar
BigAl52
Forum Ambassador
Posts: 13639
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2016 12:43 pm
Location: Evans,Colorado
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by BigAl52 » Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:35 pm

I got burned on a 357 Remlin and 350.00 later after a trip to Mic McPhersons shop in Cortez Colorado it now shoots like it should of when it left the factory. Ive seen some new JM Marlins in 357 go for as high as 2K on GB. Remington has forgotten how to make a quality gun and there customer service is so poor that I know of one person on another forum who sent in a 45-70 5 times and finally asked for a refund because it was not ever fixed. Never owned a Rossi but the company who makes them also has poor customer service. I have a Uberti in 1873 and love it. As others have said I wouldnt be afraid to buy the Miroku Winchester. I have looked at one several times in 38-55.
1 x
Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......


H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55

User avatar
Mistered
Drover
Posts: 3372
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:32 pm
Location: Wickiup Junction, OR
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by Mistered » Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:53 pm

Here is a nice deal @ $925 in Western Oregon. If it stays up for sale much longer I might tempted!
20180320_155116.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Mistered on Sun Jun 10, 2018 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
0 x

User avatar
RanchRoper
Forum Ambassador
Posts: 12681
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Canada

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by RanchRoper » Sun Jun 10, 2018 4:28 pm

North Country Gal wrote:In terms of least risk as for as getting a lemon with a new production gun, I would opt for a Winchester/Miroku or the Uberti. Have owned many a Miroku built gun and have never had a single lemon, not one. Won't be cheap, but they're great guns. Same for the UIberti levers. As mentioned, if you want a Marlin, an earlier JM would be a lot safer than the current Remington made Marlins. QC on those is all over the place.
True enough; my local store also had a Winchester 30-30 I was drooling over for a while until he sold it, but it was beauty. 1892 model maybe?

Their recent 1866 Yellowboy re-issue is a magnificent rifle too; if not for the price I'd have one.
0 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50

Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully

User avatar
Mistered
Drover
Posts: 3372
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:32 pm
Location: Wickiup Junction, OR
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by Mistered » Sun Jun 10, 2018 4:36 pm

1892 model maybe?
Most likely a Mod 94 being it was 30-30. Was it an older one?
0 x

tractortad
Cattle Driver
Posts: 725
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2016 6:53 pm
Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA
United States of America

Re: Side Gate Loading Lever Rifle which one?

Post by tractortad » Sun Jun 10, 2018 4:46 pm

My advice if you want a nice 357Mag Lever gun with a loading gate would be to look for an older JM marlin. Be prepared to pay significantly more than a new 357Mag Marlin (they are now starting to show up - i.e. Bud's), but with Marlins, I think it is better to pay more for an older one - you will not regret it. You can roll the dice with a new one, but even a well made new Marlin is not as nice as an older model...
0 x
US Submarine Service 1976-2006
Henry H001TLP,H001TLB,H003T,H004,H006R,H006M,H012R,H012AW,H012MRCC,H010CC,H015-357,H015-44,H015-4570
Winchester 9422,1873,1885,1886,1892
Marlin 39A,AS,CL,D,M,Mountie,TDS,1897CB,Texan,1894CB,1895CBA,1895SBL
Ruger #1 44Mag

Post Reply