[kevin ford]

I will purchase a 45LC Vaqero SS 5.5". I also want a 45LC lever rifle (cowboy style) 16" barrel, any recommendations? I have heard the Rossi is better than the Winchester and Marlins any truth to that. Are any of these type rifles made in stainless steel?

 

[Marshall Stanton]

I do like the Rossi (pre safety models), but have only seen the .45LC in the blued version.  .357's were made in the stainless model 92's, but only with 20" barrels.

Marlin is gearing up for stainless 1894's!  Talked with Brian Pierce on the phone last week, and he was putting a stainless .44 Mag Marlin 1894 through its paces for an upcoming article.  Word has it, that the gun will also be available in .357 and .45LC as well.  I don't know as yet what variations of the gun will be offered in regard to barrel length.

I do beleive the Rossi M92 (and the Navy arms, made by Rossi) to be stronger than the Win 94 or the Marlin 1894, but those differences are purely academic and for armchair theorizing, if you are loading within sane pressure perameters for your handgun.  I wouldn't want to be pushing the pressure envelope of either the Winchester or Marlin with my handloads... these guns are plenty effective on game even at modest velocities with wide meplat bullets... besides these guns are supposed to be fun to shoot, not endurance lessons in pain!

Hope this helps!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[Zoonie]

Kevin,
I bought a 24', octagon barrel, stainless with a brass receiver last spring from a gun dealer in souther Idaho.  He told me he had heard about it at the shot show.  So he put an order in for 3 and I had one put on hold.  I use it for CAS.  It's a 45colt. It does have the new safety.  However, I did buy an old model rossi in 45 colt, blued with a 20 inch barrel while I was waiting for my other one to come in.
I love them both and like their looks better than the Marlin.  The crossbolt safety on the Winchester turns me off.  Just my opinion.

 

[Stranger]

Actually I've come to appreciate the crossbolt safety on my Marlin which has become my do-everything, go-everywhere rifle. It's not as inherently ugly as the one found on the Winchester. But the biggest reason I like the Marlin's design is the simplicity of removing the bolt to enable cleaning from the breech end.

 

[Schwabster]

  I've never understood the difficulty with the crossbolt safety, but then again I'm not a big hunter.  Maybe it's awkward with gloves, or maybe it's just estetic (sp?), but I have a Winchester in .45 LC and a 1895SS.  Both have the crossbolt safety & I don't mind a bit.
   I think the Winchester '94 in .45LC would be a great partner to a Vaquero...been thinking about one myself.

Erich

 

[Russell]

Does Rossi still make a lever-gun?  A check of their website doesn't show any leverguns - just a .22 rifle.

I've been wanting a .45 Colt levergun for a long time.  My problem is, I don't really trust the Winchesters (I read a lot of negative things about those guns), & the Marlin only offers a .45 in a "Cowboy" rifle, which I don't really care for.  The gun has a 24" barrel which is way more than I want.

The fact that Mr. Stanton considers the Rossi a STRONG gun has my real interested.  I've always liked the look of the Rossi, I just never read too much about them.

 

[RugerNo3]

Russell, it is my understanding that the Rossi M92 leverguns are exclusive to Navy Arms. Supposedly they got some QC problems whipped and want exclusive distribution rights.
www.navyarms.com/

 

[kevin ford]

After some research spawned by Mr. Stantons post I find that the Navy Arms Stainless 1892 20" barrel is the only new Stainless 45lc lever in production barring Marlins 1894 Stainless 45lc possibility. Is there any reason not to purchase the Navy Arms 1892 now  or wait for Marlin? Anyone know the lead time for the new Marlin?

 

[Stranger]

I'm hearing that shipping of the new Marlins is scheduled for March. In the real world, that means May before it hits the gun stores.

If it was me, I'd wait for the Marlin due to the inherent advantages of the action's design.