Marlin Lever Action .357

[Bapak2ja]

Yep, that's it. I'm hoping to actually harvest something this year, so I'm starting to put equipment together now and will start sighting in this spring.

Plus my father had a 30-30 Winchester lever action when I was growing up and I still remember sneaking in his closet to play with it. So, I've always wanted a lever action.

I used to have a beautiful 357 Security Six, but sold it. I think I'll be looking for another pretty soon, as I don't have a revolver right now.

Sounds like we are on the same page. I bought the Marlin 1894c in .357 with plans to go deer hunting as soon as I have time to complete the hunting license course on-line and find a place to hunt. I am encouraged by all the deer hunters on this thread who have been successful with the .357. I think we made a good choice, especially as we can practice with the cheaper .38 ammo.

Looking forward to the photo of your first kill.

 

[NullSyndrome]

Sounds like we are on the same page. I bought the Marlin 1894c in .357 with plans to go deer hunting as soon as I have time to complete the hunting license course on-line and find a place to hunt. I am encouraged by all the deer hunters on this thread who have been successful with the .357. I think we made a good choice, especially as we can practice with the cheaper .38 ammo.

Looking forward to the photo of your first kill.

I have some experience hunting with my H&R Handi-Rifle in .357 mag and it works good on deer if you place your shot carefully. One thing I would advise is to stick with 158gr and 180gr bullets for hunting. I saw someone in this thread suggest 125gr bullets. That may be a great SD choice, and you can kill a deer with it, but it's not the best choice for hunting. The 158gr and 180gr rounds have a little more mass for punching through bone and such if neccessary. They also tend to hold together better on impact with the increased velocity of being shot through a rifle-length barrel.

Congrats on the new gun, Que!

 

[Que]

I have some experience hunting with my H&R Handi-Rifle in .357 mag and it works good on deer if you place your shot carefully. One thing I would advise is to stick with 158gr and 180gr bullets for hunting. I saw someone in this thread suggest 125gr bullets. That may be a great SD choice, and you can kill a deer with it, but it's not the best choice for hunting. The 158gr and 180gr rounds have a little more mass for punching through bone and such if neccessary. They also tend to hold together better on impact with the increased velocity of being shot through a rifle-length barrel.

Congrats on the new gun, Que!

I would definitely go with a heavier HP round.

 

[Bapak2ja]

I have some experience hunting with my H&R Handi-Rifle in .357 mag and it works good on deer if you place your shot carefully. One thing I would advise is to stick with 158gr and 180gr bullets for hunting. I saw someone in this thread suggest 125gr bullets. That may be a great SD choice, and you can kill a deer with it, but it's not the best choice for hunting. The 158gr and 180gr rounds have a little more mass for punching through bone and such if neccessary. They also tend to hold together better on impact with the increased velocity of being shot through a rifle-length barrel.

Congrats on the new gun, Que!

Thanks for the advice. As a deer hunting I need all the good advice I can get!

 

[silkpoet]

If you already have a .357 handgun and not a .44 , that may narrow it down. I agree with those that say accuracy will outweigh power in this category.

 

[bd1024]

.44 mag

Like the others, I agree that either will do the job, but the ballistics of a .44 speak much louder than the 357---check them out. --- I had a 44 mag Marlin for a short while, was not impressed. Poor craftsmanship, and lacked accuracy for me. ---- Compare the Henry rifles, (also top ejection) to the Marlin. Work the lever action, then see what you think. -- If you're on a budget, go for the Rossi single shot in 44 for about $225--- Unlike the H&R, it comes with iron sights on it. --My Rossi 44 is very accurate.---- Would not want to be in the scope if I were a deer.

 

[gdog243]

I bought one in 357 last fall at Bradis Super accurate even at 100yds with just iron sights. 158gr SWC seem to be the most accurate!

 

[paperboy]

I hunt with a Marlin 44mag and it is awesome! I don't think you'd go wrong with the 357, I just prefer a bigger round for whitetails. For a gun to have fun at the range, I say the 357 has the edge. Shooting 38 out of a rifle is really cool......

 

[NHBowhuntah]

I've hunted whitetails with a 6 3/8" Colt King Cobra .357 for 10 yrs now in NH and have been very successful. My self imposed max range is 50yds, and with 158gr HP's the 7 bucks I've taken have all dropped within 100yds of impact. Ok, enough bragging! My point is that I would consider that Marlin effective out to 100yds with the right load and good marksmanship! Wow.. am I a newby, or what... I just realized that I'm responding to a very old post. Hope someone still benefits from this!

 

[Que]

I've hunted whitetails with a 6 3/8" Colt King Cobra .357 for 10 yrs now in NH and have been very successful. My self imposed max range is 50yds, and with 158gr HP's the 7 bucks I've taken have all dropped within 100yds of impact. Ok, enough bragging! My point is that I would consider that Marlin effective out to 100yds with the right load and good marksmanship! Wow.. am I a newby, or what... I just realized that I'm responding to a very old post. Hope someone still benefits from this!

Six days isn't old at all. Thanks for the information.

 

[Que]

Well, I picked up my Marlin and Dave forced me to pick up a Savage 17 HMR. Unfortunately, it will be a few days before I can get out to the range and play with them. I really hope I don't experience the difficulties some have with the "Remlins." I think I'll just go with iron sights on this one, as I don't believe a scope will be necessary.

 

[J_Wales]

I was in Bradis today thinking about the two Marlin 44 mag lever action rifles I missed. As they say, if you study long, you study wrong. Well, I saw a Marlin on the wall and just thought that maybe one came in and all 85 people in the store at the time didn't see it. Well, I asked Steve to pull it down and it wasn't a .44 mag, but a .357 mag.

I was about to put it back in Steve's hand, but thought I would ask for the price, just in case. Well, I couldn't pass and put it on hold and will be getting it as soon as I possibly can.

I know the majority of people will say to go with the .44 mag, but is there anyone on here that purchased a .357 mag lever action and hated it so much you replaced it with the .44 mag?

You're going to like it!

The .357 mag will easily take a deer and I would take it over a slug gun any day of the week.

Now if you really want to get crazy, i saw a guy on here talking about a laser equipped 9 mil that could go out to something like a thousand yards through walls and everything. If you don't like the .357 lever I will trade you one of those for it. ;-)

 

[coyote1966]

Just gave my Marlin in 357mag to my daughter for Christmas :-( and I miss it terrible. She's a very happy young lady though.

 

[kjf40]

Just gave my Marlin in 357mag to my daughter for Christmas :-( and I miss it terrible. She's a very happy young lady though.

I can imagine how had that had to be.
My son turns 18 soon and i was contemplating giving him my trusty'ol Ruger 10/22......still contemplating

 

[Bapak2ja]

Well, I picked up my Marlin and Dave forced me to pick up a Savage 17 HMR. Unfortunately, it will be a few days before I can get out to the range and play with them. I really hope I don't experience the difficulties some have with the "Remlins." I think I'll just go with iron sights on this one, as I don't believe a scope will be necessary.

Beautiful sight!! You will not be disappointed!

 

[Que]

I got out to the range today and I absolutely love this rifle. The only thing I dislike is that the trigger still operates when on safe, but it doesn't allow the hammer to strike the primer. This is a silly feature, but I can deal with it. Every other rifle I own doesn't let the trigger engage when on safe.

 

[shooter1054]

I got out to the range today and I absolutely love this rifle. The only thing I dislike is that the trigger still operates when on safe, but it doesn't allow the hammer to strike the primer. This is a silly feature, but I can deal with it. Every other rifle I own doesn't let the trigger engage when on safe.

When you have it on safe and you take a shot at a deer, I can assure you that there is no louder sound in the woods. I know a little about this. This is why I take the gun off safe when I get into my stand.

 

[cornfused]

I would of stuck around and watched you shoot that baby but I already want one bad enough and didn't need any more enticement!

 

[J_Wales]

Should you decide you dont want it, I'll buy it.

 

[dbd870]

2 fun rifles there - well done!