Which .357 16" lever action carbine?

[steve2267]

Man, they grow up quick, don't they? Just the other day I realized that my son will be eight in two years... and be getting big enough / old enough to start taking hunting.

I had bought a Marlin 336Y Spikehorn (16" .30-30) for his first hunting gun, but I'm beginning to think that .30-30 recoil in such a light gun may be too much for a youngster's first gun... so now I'm wondering ifn't a .357 levergun in a 16" barrel with a youth stock might not be a better choice. Such a rifle oughta make a good deer rifle, shouldn't it?

With an eye towards a youth's first hunting rifle, and possibly as a self or family-defense carbine (aka a trunk gun), which .357 levergun would you recommend?

Marlin 1894?
Winchester 1894AE? (You want the Angle Eject (AE), don't you?)
EMF (Rossi) 1892?
Hartford (is that just an EMF/Rossi?)

I'd like the option of being able to either mount a EOTech / Aimpoint / Generic Red Dot / Scope on it, and possibly forward mount the scope like a Scout. I believe this is all doable with the Marlin 1894 -- that is, Ashley is making a Scout mount etc.

Anyway, looking for y'alls advice. Thx.

[Brownie]

Steve,

You'll have to find a Winny trapper model, the Legacy Puma model 92, or maybe find an EMF made Winny 1873. I've not seen a Marlin in 16" 357 anywhere, might be a hard animal to locate.

I have the 20" Rossi 92 in 357 in stainless. I ordered and had it worked from Steve Young out of Port Arthur, Tx who's considered the top gunsmith on 92's in the country.

It's got the trigger, hammer, and lever work smoothed out so well, you can actuate the lever with your little finger. He does full blown action work on the 92's.

Check this thread from two years ago for sites you can ask more questions from:
http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488

and this thread on levers might be of help in your search as well:

http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82

[DocH]

I bought the EMF,the last one in the shop without the new "safety." The wood grain is beautiful and it does shoot.A really handy piece for an all around utility gun. Excuse me.I said gun.Should have been PC and said "firearm" instead.:D

[Sgt443]

Doc,

You guys will like that little carbine. One of its twins is on my must have list.

It's also great to know that another American boy will grow up with the kind of memories that many of us have, and yet seem to be in short supply these days.

He's a lucky boy, good job Dad.

Lonnie

[pistola]

I had a 16" Rossi '92, that I regret very much letting go of....:(Excuse me while I try to kick myself on the hind side.