thug the bunny 0 Posted April 18, 2013 So I recently learned that they make lever action rifles in handgun calibers (never knew that before!), and I am thinking of getting a little 16" (mainly) for the wife due to their light weight, maneouverability, and price. However she is pretty petite,5'3", and I'm wondering about the kick. Out of a 16" barrel, what would the order of recoil for: 44 mag, 45 colt, 357? I'm leaning towards the 44 mag, but I'm thinking it might be a bit much for her.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mag1 0 Posted April 18, 2013 Go .357 and shoot .38's in it...............that is one sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet little plinker....sorry I sold my marlin in 357............should have never..... Make a NICE HD CARBINE IMO with .357........she will NOT notice any real kind of 'kick' Thats my next one in a Henry.. I have a .44 mag Henry, and it really doesnt have that much of a kick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
va_bank 0 Posted April 18, 2013 Look into Rossi, my wife loves it. Even with 20 inch barrel - there's no kick whatsoever when shooting 38 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted April 18, 2013 Rossi 92 16" 8+1, one great little lever action (20" is 10+1, 24" 12+1). Henry is there also, alas a bit more expensive, but made in USA (Bayonne, NJ of all places). Length of pull is short, a plus for petite females. Takes 38 or 357, 38 is the way to go. Lots of fun. There are ways to slick up the action on the Rossi. A little google-fu will get you to the right places. Add Skinner sights. I'd stay away from Marlintons right now, their quality is a little on the low side now from the Remington takeover. http://www.rossiusa....readcrumbseries= http://www.henryrepe...fle-big-boy.cfm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gun Guy in NJ 10 Posted April 18, 2013 Henry big boy shooting 38's would be great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pizza Bob 1,488 Posted April 18, 2013 You could also shoot .44 Spl out of a rifle that is chambered for .44 Mag. Nothing like 240 grains of SWC lumbering along about 1000 fps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sludog 0 Posted April 18, 2013 What is your budget? I saw a sweet .38 Umberti lever for sale for $800. It is used but looked like it was in very good shape. I don't know how to see if the action is good or has been reworked but it seemed ok on my hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scarecrow 0 Posted April 18, 2013 38 lever action great choice but don't count out a 9mm Hi-Point carbine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thug the bunny 0 Posted April 19, 2013 Thanks for the input. I think I will go with the .357 if I can find one. They seem to be rarer than the .44s. One question about shooting .38 out of a .357 - isn't the .38 a larger diameter bullet? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pizza Bob 1,488 Posted April 19, 2013 One question about shooting .38 out of a .357 - isn't the .38 a larger diameter bullet? Both are .357" in diameter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thug the bunny 0 Posted April 19, 2013 Both are .357" in diameter OK, I'll follow up with an even dumber question: why is one called 357 and the other 38? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pizza Bob 1,488 Posted April 19, 2013 Refers to the appx diameter of the loaded brass case. The .38 Spl goes back about 100 years and was preceded by other rounds of appx .38" diameter. Converted .36 caliber cap & ball revolvers shot a .38 cartridge with a heeled bullet of appx .38" and the diameter (not the heeled bullet) carried over into the design of the .38 Spl. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HODGIE 3 Posted April 19, 2013 Thats my next one in a Henry.. I have a .44 mag Henry, and it really doesnt have that much of a kick. I have the Big boy in .357 you feel next to nothing with the .357 round, with a .38 round the recoil is compareable to a paint ball gun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mag1 0 Posted April 19, 2013 I have the Big boy in .357 you feel next to nothing with the .357 round, with a .38 round the recoil is compareable to a paint ball gun. OK, WTB Henry .357...Shoulda listened to Tony the first time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sludog 0 Posted April 20, 2013 Love the Henry rifles. The only I don't like is the barrel loading. I much prefer the side loading levers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RUTGERS95 890 Posted April 20, 2013 I definitely want a nice lever action in the future. I also think it would be awesome to have a AR in .357 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RUTGERS95 890 Posted April 20, 2013 some guy made one in .44 mag not to hijack this thread...... http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=121&t=485964 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thug the bunny 0 Posted April 23, 2013 Well, I looked all over the internet and a couple lgs, and only found one Rossi .357 16" for $700. Found a TON in .45 Colt, and a handful in .44 mag. Just purchased a Rossi .44 mag 16" for $450, and will go with .44 spec for the wife's plinking rounds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sludog 0 Posted April 23, 2013 Well, I looked all over the internet and a couple lgs, and only found one Rossi .357 16" for $700. Found a TON in .45 Colt, and a handful in .44 mag. Just purchased a Rossi .44 mag 16" for $450, and will go with .44 spec for the wife's plinking rounds. Sounds like you got a good deal. Was it new or used? .44 cal sounds like it will pack some punch with such a short barrel. Let's us know how she shoots. I guess you have to wait a week or two or the NICS to come in if you bought from a dealer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotkot 26 Posted April 23, 2013 just picked up my original 1979 Marlin in 357 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lunker 274 Posted April 23, 2013 I got my Rossi 92 in 357 for under $500 from Tony at TJ Sporting Arms a few months ago, but after Sandy Hook shooting. He is a site sponsor. Give him a call. Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackDaWack 2,895 Posted April 24, 2013 I shot a friends Henry .45 colt, damn was that one accurate soft shooting rifle, my AR packs 10x the punch that thing did. bench rest At 50 yards with iron sites putting holes in holes. the only thing i didn't like was the front loading magazine tube, but it's simplicity means durability. I yearn for one but there expensive to shoot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thug the bunny 0 Posted April 25, 2013 Sounds like you got a good deal. Was it new or used? NIB, a place called Robertson Trading Post in TN through GunsAmerica.com Man, I just started shopping for some .44 rounds, and it is bleak out there. Anyone know where I can get some .44 ammo, mag or spec? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thug the bunny 0 Posted May 15, 2013 Well I finally got a Rossi M92 .44 mag 16". Wow, it is so compact, agile, and light. The action is pretty slick right out of the box, and became even better with a little lube. It sits in the hands sooo nicely, I can't believe that some folks say it would not be a good (OK maybe not the best or most ideal) HD weapon. I think it is much more agile than any 12ga sprayer. I'm pretty sure it would be very accurate from under the armpit up to 50ft. Plus the fact you can carry it around all day or stick it easily in a backpack and IMO you got a perfect all-purpose gun (shtf, travel, hd, hunting, plinking, etc). I can't wait to take it to PA (along with my new 30-30 Marlin lever) for some deer hunting. I got some .44 rounds on the way, will report back after feeding some through... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lunker 274 Posted May 15, 2013 A short barrel carbine is perfect for home defense. I think people probably meant that 44mag is not a good home defense caliber. In most configurations, it has enough momentum to go through bad guys, walls, and can ultimately end up who-knows-where before it has expended all its energy. 44 Special might be a better choice for that job. I have a 357 Rossi M92 and love it. 9 rounds of 125grain JHP is formidable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueLineFish 615 Posted May 15, 2013 I have been on the hunt for s very specific rossi in 357/38 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Purple Patrick 638 Posted May 15, 2013 Buy a kriss vector. No recoil and semi auto 45 Sent from my hidden under ground bunker between Taco Bell and the dry cleaner Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueLineFish 615 Posted May 15, 2013 Buy a kriss vector. No recoil and semi auto 45Sent from my hidden under ground bunker between Taco Bell and the dry cleaner Definitely relevant to title of thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sludog 0 Posted May 15, 2013 Nice choice. I ended up buying the Uberti 1866 Yellow boy .38 cal lever last week. Still sitting in the shop waiting for the "INSTANT" check to come in 3 weeks. This is my first rifle and I am a huge carbine and lever action fan. I was even a fan before the movie Django came out and made everyone lever action crazy. lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maksim 1,504 Posted May 15, 2013 Go .357 and shoot .38's in it...............that is one sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet little plinker....sorry I sold my marlin in 357............should have never..... Make a NICE HD CARBINE IMO with .357........she will NOT notice any real kind of 'kick' So I should not sell my 1894 Marlin? Original Marlin, not a remlin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites