Rossi or Ruger-Marlins

I have a Rossi that's a few years old. The outside is beautiful. The inside looked like it was chewed out by beavers. There were burrs inside that could have been used as steak knives. After a bit of fluff-n-buff, it's awesome. Rossi might have stepped up their game in the last 10-15 years though.

I would expect better fit and finish on the Ruger, with a corresponding price tag.

I'm now waiting on seeing the S&W model 1854 in 357...

The only Rossi I have experience with has had less problems than any marlin lever gun I've owned. I would just replace the follower with a steel one and maybe throw a new mag spring in there.

Ruger but just watch and mantain accordingly with checking screws and parts. I have not seen the rossi's hold up well. but thats just me. only Rossi I have is a 22 and it works fine for what it is?!

You may have a Remington/Marlin. Some were fine, quite a few had a lot of problems. I owned one Rossi, it never gave me any problems, a Model 92 in .45 Colt.
Marlins do loosen screws up a bit, a good fitting screw driver is handy. Or put a drop of blue loctite on the screw. I just check them regularly. The biggest offender is the loading gate screw in my 1894.

Are you looking for side, top or angle eject? A Henry, Winchester or Browning may be a possible alternative.

RooftopKorean said:

I own a pre Ruger Era Marlin which shoots great and works fine that I purchased about 10 years ago (maybe longer).

A buddy of mine recently purchased a Ruger Era 1894 Marlin, put less than 200 rounds through it and several screws walked themselves out while shooting it.

I've been in the market for another lever in a 357 or 44 caliber.

With the bad reviews on the Rossi's and what happened to my buddy with the Ruger Era Marlin's which is the better alternative?

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Henry Big Boy carbine. The end.

I never owned a Rossi. I have a Remlin 1895 that had its share of issues. Still some years before I buy a Ruger Marlin. They need to prove themselves over time. That is the first time I have heard of an issue with one though....a fluke maybe?

i say find a used JM Marlin or a nice Henry big boy carbine. I have an obsession over those short hexagon barrel Henry carbines.

Not sure your budget, but a new (or old) Wincheser 1892 is going to be the best quality lever gun you can buy. I don't even want to repeat what I paid for my 44 mag case hardened deluxe model....

Right now, a JM Marlin, especially a pre-safety model, will cost about the same as a new Ruglin.

I've heard that the new Ruglin's are nice. I have no experience with them or Rossi's. Henry's are an option

I’d go marlin. I’m not happy with my Henry.

I own several lever guns. late 70’s early 80’s Marlins, Winchester , Rossi , Henry and Uberti . All good quality guns in there own rights. The only one that I’ve ever really had an issue with was the Rossi puma. Years ago I came across a tune up video by a guy named dave something or other who was an old school gun smith that became pretty well know in the cowboy action circuit for tuning up Rossi lever guns. I followed his instructions on tweeking and cleaning up the internals of the Rossi and it’s functioned flawlessly ever since. It certainly a bit cruder than the other top brand rifles that I have but it gets the job done an it’s actually a fun gun to shoot. There isn’t a firearm out there that doesn’t have an inherent issue from time to time, even New firearms.

I had an 80s 336 that didn't feed right. I had it fixed and moved on. I know that was a rarity though.

Vapor said:

I had an 80s 336 that didn't feed right. I had it fixed and moved on. I know that was a rarity though.

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I also have an early 80s 336. When I lived out in the stix it killed a whole bunch of woodchucks over the years. Also killed lots of tin cans and popped many apples off the trees. I'm certainly no lever gun expert, but have to say the action seems very smooth to me. And never a malfunction of any kind.