I recently picked up a 77/.44 stainless that is definately one of the nicest rifles I've emptied my wallet on in many years.

Shooting it for a bit, it occurred to me that it would be really nice if Ruger came out with a 77/.357.

Would anyone else spend their money on such a toy?

If someone made a 357MAX, I would be interested, but the regular .357Magnum, from a rifle or carbine, wouldn't do much for me.

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Ask me about QDMA.

Agree with broom - a .357 Max would be a considered cartridge for the auto loader or levergun.

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"Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicans" author unknown

How close would that get to a .358 Win ?

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Volatile & Unstable

I think Ruger should have made their 99/44s in .357 and .45 Colt, since they managed to find a reliable feeding mechanism for rimmed cartridges.

I have a .44 version and I like it a lot.

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Buy American, it may be your own job you are saving.
UTU, TY&E Service, BNSF

I've been looking for a levr .357 for a while.Most folks want half the national debt for 'em tho...

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Chris in NH.

"some days, I wish my dogs could talk"

The .357 handi rifle is my latest fun toy. Many owners have this rifle re-chambered to .357 Max. Chamber walls are extremely thick and a handloader can go directly to maximum published loads with little fear, provided you don't mind a single shot.

As I don't hunt with mine, i'll leave it a .357 Magnum. The single shot feature is actually lots of fun and with a little practice, you can run rounds through it about nearly as fast as using a bolt action.

there are lots of .357 Magnum LEVER rifles from Marlin and Rossi and Uberti and others.....

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IRISH BIRD DOG
NRA Endowment Member
2nd Amendment Supporter

I'd buy one. I have a Marlin 1894 in 357 and enjoy it, but find it is not exceptionally accurate. It would be interesting to see what the cartridge might be capable of if built up on a more stable/accurate platform. I've heard that the Ruger No. 1 single shot has been chambered in 357, but have never seen one and none are listed in their current catalog.

Guess that is as close as puttin' a squirl in the freezer 'stead of a deer.

Ruger is not seeling too many in 358 W chambering , and doubt if many could be sold in a 357 bolt. Maybe if there was something on the Mini patform, then a trapper might be intersted .

I'd love to have one, even wrote Ruger and told them so... They wrote back saying they had no current plans to offer one though. This was about 4 years ago.

I think most people who are interested in pistol caliber rifles generally want them to be lever actions not bolt guns.

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Sean,

"Much learning doth make thee mad" - Festus

I would buy a Ruger rifle in a heart beat if, it were a lever action rifle with a hammer. I wouldn't buy a Ruger 77 again. I have one in 22 Mag & another in 762X39, both are stainless, I'm sorry I spent the money. The Ruger 22 Mk pistols and any of the single action revolvers are my favorite Ruger firearms. I own several Ruger rifles, even their 77/50, but I doubt I ever buy anymore 77's.

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If its got a cork, I'll drink it - if it's got a tune, I'll dance to it - if it's got a trigger, I'll shoot it - if it's got hair, I'll ride it

I've got a Marlin 1894 in .357/.38 What a great gun! I use it for cowboy matches, it is dead on, and when you practice enough with a lever action, it's almost as fast as a semi-auto.

I can fire 8 shots out of that rifle in about 6 seconds...putting them all on target.

Also have the 1894 Marlin Guide Gun in .44 Mag Loaded with 300 grainers, it is the ULTIMATE hog hunting rifle, especially in the thick brush of this AO, with all those "wait-a-minute" vines.

Short, ported 16" barrel, lightweight, easy to get on target and keep it there, good sight picture, and good accuracy. What's not to love about that?

It was the Ruger No. 3, I had it in my hands, and passed.

Thanks for the comments, much as I'd like one, I'm not sure how practical it would be, especially in my 16 1/2" barrel SS fantasy.

The little Marlins are nice, and I didn't order a 1894CP, when I should have, or the M94 Trapper by Winchester, when I should have.

RATS!!!

Ive got a Marlin 1894 carbine in .357.
Ruger made their Number 3 in .357 magnum. It would be really slick on their model99 as a 99/357.

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Be popular? Heck, I have enough friends.
and...
"That way lies madness".

I was lucky enough to get a Win M-94 in 357 at a very reasonable price before Win went belly up and the prices went into the stratosphere. Love the rifle! Not legal for deer here, but great for what I want. Loves cast blts, have even put maybe 10- or 15 rds of jacketed thru it. Just a fun gun! Wish I also had one in a Marlin as well.
1Shirt!

We have a 357 trapper and it has gone through about 3,ooo rounds of 38 spl. over the years . Note only "some" rifles will load 38 Spl. Last year we had to replace the link. They seem to be prone to wear , so gather a spare . You will find one day your shells start to end all up under the lifter from the tube as this the place there is wear , You will then need to take the tube end cap off to get the shells back out .
Happy

A peek at Ammo guide shows that you have some versatility with the 357 in rifles. I used the barrel length filter (18" to 22.5"). The 358 Winchester exceeds what you can get from the 357 by wide margins..like approx 900+ fps greater with 150 grn bullets. But the 357 was no slouch and certainly looks adequate for deer at short/moderate range plus it handled the light bullets well ( 2400 fps with 110 grn and 1900+ with 125 grn). The 358 Winchester showed no loads under 150 grain bullet weight. Most loads were 200 and 225 grain. The 357 mag even showed a few 200 grain bullet loads and higher including a 239 grain cast Lyman....1600 fps!

Just for grins, I looked at the 357 Max with rifle length barrels and there is a definite step up in velocity over the standard 357 plus alot more loads using heavier bullets.

357 mag looks like a fun complement to one's collection of rifles. Thanks for the posting.

I copied this photo from Paco Kelly's LEVERGUNS website. Obviously, 357 MAG downed this impala. Hornady XTP hollow tip bullets produce ghastly wound channels.

TR

A Rossi 92 is not expensive and they shoot very well. I found my used one in 45Colt for less than $250 a few years ago.

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"I don't drink or smoke, I spend my money on gunpowder and gasoline."