After years of making mistakes, I've finally realized that semi-automatic and bolt-action guns just aren't for me.
Years back, I owned a Marlin 336 in 30-30 which I loved, but sold it and bought an SLR-95 Bulgarian AK.
That was a nice rifle, but I never liked it as much as I did that lever-gun.
Same situation with pistols.
The pistol I loved most was a little Rossi revolver in .38, but I ended up selling that for a Springfield XD in .45ACP.

I've seen the error of my ways and am currently trying to correct those mistakes.
I've bought myself a lovely S&W model 19 .357 Magnum revolver, and now I want a .357 lever-gun to go with it.
About once a year I take about $1,000-1,300 and buy guns and gun related accessories, and am willing to spend around $600-700 on the rifle. Going to spend the rest on new grips for the S&W, and big piles of ammunition.

I've been looking at the Marlin 1894C, Winchester 94, and Rossi M92.
They all look like good rifles, and they're all in my price range.
I'm leaning more towards the Marlin and Rossi.. the Marlin due to the fact that I've had experience with Marlin lever-guns and know them to be excellent quality, and the Rossi due to the octagonal barrel model holding an impressive 12+1 rounds. The Rossi revolver I had was a very nice quality gun, but I have no experience with their rifles.

So I'd like some opinions on these guns, please.
Maybe someone who has used all three can help me determine which would be the best to buy?
Thanks in advance.

I own a LSI/Rossi chambered in 454 Casull. While it has been a great weapon,if I was to pick up a 357Mag to go with my revo, my choices would not include the Rossi.

Take down and reassembly is the main reason. Accuracy would be another concern. To me the Marlin would be my first choice. I own several, although not in 357, I do own one in 44mag/spec and it has been greater than great. It is the 16"bbl version and has been super accurate throughout the years.

A smallish 357mag carbine with the right bullets,at the right range,would be a great little deer/hog gun, and a super plinker/range gun. Hunting, would suggest that you stick with bullets of 180grs or above. A light loaded 125'ish bullet would be great for some range fun.

Marlin,then Win would be my choices. -----pruhdlr

Why not get Henry? It is every bit as good as the options you listed.

Take down and reassembly is the main reason. Accuracy would be another concern.
So the Rossi is a pain to disassemble, and less accurate than the Marlin..
I was already leaning more towards the Marlin due to the fact that it looks more like a gun should to me, so it certainly doesn't seem like I'll be going for that Rossi.

Why not get Henry? It is every bit as good as the options you listed.
I'm just not a big fan of the finish.

I have a question about ammunition for the rifle, now..
I'd like to be able to fully load the gun without worrying about jamming or having the rounds go off in the tube.
I've been looking at Hornady LEVERevolution rounds as they are made specifically for lever-guns, and the reviews I've seen so far are all positive.
Seems those bullets eliminate the threat of tube explosions, but as for jamming? No idea.
Anyone with a Marlin in .357 have any experience with these? I really only need to know if they feed well.

I really like my marlin 357. It works well with everything I feed it. It would be one of the last guns I'd sell if things got bad.

I have several different leverguns, among them Winchester, Rossi, and Marlin specimens.

While the Marlin is certainly much earier to take apart than a Rossi Model 92, with the Winchester 94 somewhere in between them - when it comes right down to it, they're just not taken apart all that much, in my experience.

The Winchesters & the Winchester clone Rossi feel better in the hand than the Marlin, IMO - but that's what makes a horse race.

My .357 carbine is a 16" Rossi Model 92 Big Loop, on which I mounted a Williams 5D-94AE receiver peep sight meant to fit the top rail scope mount holes on a Win 94 angle-eject,

The low mounting of the 94AE sight let me zero the rifle with the issue height front sight blade, and the Rossi has been stone reliable with everything I've fed it, through approx 500 rounds so far,

As far as reliability goes, however, I haven't had a problem one, with any of my leverguns - of whatever brand/model - and most have had over 1,000 rounds put through them, with some having been shot much more.

.

I own a LSI/Rossi chambered in 454 Casull. While it has been a great weapon,if I was to pick up a 357Mag to go with my revo, my choices would not include the Rossi.

Take down and reassembly is the main reason. Accuracy would be another concern.I own two Rossi's in 357 and your accuracy concern couldn't be more unfounded. I've heard that some of the 45 cal Rossis required you to slug the bore to find out which dia bullet they needed for good accuracy. None of the 38/357 Rossis have had any concern on bore diameter.

Seriously, my 24" rifle and 20" carbine are accurate enough for my to hit a 12" steel target at 175yds with no problem and that's with my 62 yr old eyes to boot!!! Our own Nate Kiowa Jones (Steve Young of Steve's Gunz) will tell you that the 357 Rossi is generally more accurate than the Marlin and has a much stronger action. And, anyone can slick up their Rossi's action and lighten the trigger pull so you have a sweet running shooter.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/Coloradoglocker/100_0645.jpg

I can't say I'm disappointed in any way with my Puma 92 or my 444 Marlin. I think any one you choose will be a good rifle.

Hmm.. They're all good guns, then. Looks like this is going to be a very difficult decision..

Hmm.. They're all good guns, then. Looks like this is going to be a very difficult decision..
When you cannot make a bad choice, tis an easy decision.

I take back what I said about the Rossi earlier.
The photos I had seen up until today didn't do it justice.
Found some nice photos of a 92 in stainless, and I have to say it is real pleasing to my eye.
Think I may have just found my rifle..

Edit: Seeing that rifle in stainless has got me thinking.
I'm very seriously considering having my S&W 19 refinished in stainless also..

Just food for thought I had a winchester model 94 in 357 mag and traded it off on model 1886. The thing would not cycle good because the round was so short for the action. Now have a new model 92 and all the lawyer junk in 357 and it works just fine. I know some of the model 94's work ok but mine didn't and I didn't want to spend the money to get it working right.
If you are serious about the .357 mag look at the model 92 actions doesn't really matter who makes them as they all work pretty much the same.
just my nickle in the discussion

Ive got a Marlin 1894c in .357 and Puma M92 carbine in .45Colt. I have been very happy with both. Durable, accurate and reasonably easy to clean.

Cant go wrong with either one if you ask me.

I have the puma 92 as well and it is very reliable and as accurate as any lever action rifle on the market and better than some three shots at one inch at 75 yards with 125 grain rem hollow points with the factory iron sights, great rifle.

Why not get Henry? It is every bit as good as the options you listed.

A 336 in 30-30. Yeah I would miss it too.
Seems like by asking the decissions got harder!:mad:

Did you read on the board why the .444 marlin is the best choice in big bore? Justing throwing it out there. You get options though and it can be very versatile.

I bought a new 1894C in 1982 and still have it. It was shot quite a bit with hot loads, and used pretty hard, but continues to shoot VERY accurately and has never needed any repair. This spring I bought another (1894CS) from a friend and it shoots the same hot loads very well. Mine are both microgroove, and shoot heavy (185gr) gascheck bullets better than they did 158gr jacketed bullets at 100 yards.

Marlin changed from microgroove to conventional rifling about the time that they introduced the CB series, so the newer 1894CS (18-1/2" round barrel)have conventional rifling. They also made the 24" octagon barreled CB, and a 20" octagon barreled version.

The 1892 Winchester design is much simpler, and better IMO, than the 1894 Winchester design. I've read a fair amount of positive comments on the Rossi. Miroku Browning's first 1892s looked nice but had aluminum barrel bands.

Why not get Henry? It is every bit as good as the options you listed.

The only problem I have with the henry (1869 repro) is that my off han keepd getting in the way of the follower!