Talk me out of one lever action rifle and into another...

Which one?

  • Marlin 336 .35 Rem

  • Henry Big Boy .357 Mag


Results are only viewable after voting.
Not really, I'd love a lever action rifle, but I have no idea what caliber I'd like to get. Something that wouldn't require a 3rd shoulder surgery.haha

I've got a Henry Small Game Rifle in 22mag with skinner sights. Lots of fun and couldn't hurt a newborn's shoulder.
 
Ive been away from the forum all doggone day helping an Uncle with some things, then some overtime at my job. So, I havent read this thread since last night.

You happen to have one layin around gathering dust that needs a better home, old man :p

I don't understand the buying of a gun for "plinking and range use".

A good gun has but two purposes. Protection and meat.

The .357 will handle both but in a limited fashion, the .35 crushes the competition.

ps ... a .35 gathers no dust.
 
I don't understand the buying of a gun for "plinking and range use".

A good gun has but two purposes. Protection and meat.

The .357 will handle both but in a limited fashion, the .35 crushes the competition.

ps ... a .35 gathers no dust.

Beg to differ here. The 45/70 is probably one of the most versatile cartridges in modern usage. It's again common, easy to reload, capable of a very wide power range and easy to cast for. So you have low cost to reload if you cast, and if you feel the need to lay a whackin on a bear, it can do it (and then some if you have a Ruger #1 or Siamese Mauser:D). If you just want to plink, cast light boolits with a low powder charge and you have a gigantic bb gun with low recoil. How and what you do with it is up to the user. From what I've seen 35Rem isn't anywhere near as common and a 357 is just a pistol cart in a rifle (pointless :D).
 
Beg to differ here. The 45/70 is probably one of the most versatile cartridges in modern usage. It's again common, easy to reload, capable of a very wide power range and easy to cast for. So you have low cost to reload if you cast, and if you feel the need to lay a whackin on a bear, it can do it (and then some if you have a Ruger #1 or Siamese Mauser:D). If you just want to plink, cast light boolits with a low powder charge and you have a gigantic bb gun with low recoil. How and what you do with it is up to the user. From what I've seen 35Rem isn't anywhere near as common and a 357 is just a pistol cart in a rifle (pointless :D).
The 45/70 wasn’t mentioned in the op, so its pointless to bring it up now.
The .35 is a great lever gun, the .357 is a fun gun but it lacks in many areas.
I have all three calibers but will never part with my .35’s.

But I am a meat hunter, so I am a little biased. :p
 
I've got Marlin leverguns in .22, .30-30 & .45-70, but no .35Rem & need to rectify that.

Yes but. "Into another" leaves it open to interpretation. Has anyone yet mentioned the magic that is .45 Colt out of a lever gun? :D

He brings up a very valid point. I'm a .41Mag loon, but the .45LC is big medicine, especially from a carbine.
 
The 45/70 wasn’t mentioned in the op, so its pointless to bring it up now.
The .35 is a great lever gun, the .357 is a fun gun but it lacks in many areas.
I have all three calibers but will never part with my .35’s.

But I am a meat hunter, so I am a little biased. :p
Yup, it wasn't in the OP, but his post was open to interpretation and I'll stick by the 45/70 thank you very much. And yes, I'm a meat hunter too, ya can't eat antlers.
 
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The 45/70 wasn’t mentioned in the op, so its pointless to bring it up now.

At least somebody understood lol

I've got Marlin leverguns in .22, .30-30 & .45-70, but no .35Rem & need to rectify that.



He brings up a very valid point. I'm a .41Mag loon, but the .45LC is big medicine, especially from a carbine.

Yup, it wasn't in the OP, but his post was open to interpretation and I'll stick by the 45/70 thank you very much. And yes, I'm a meat hunter too, ya can't eat antlers.


I'm not trying to be rude, but there are only two options listed in the poll. It was stated in the OP that there were two options. The question in the OP was which one.
It was even addressed a few posts later in the thread when people were bringing up the Rossi that there were only two options.
Not sure where there was much openness to interpretation or how many more clues I could have given.
Perhaps I should have said 'talk me out of one and into the other' in the title. Would that have helped?

I'll say it again for the kids in the back of the class:

There are only two options.
Henry .357 Mag
or
Marlin 336 .35 Rem


Thank you to all who have spoken on these two rifles and calibers.
 
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Would it help if you read every reply to your post? Likely, since you missed my first post praising the Henry & recommending .357. Good luck in your endeavors.
 
I say come by and try them all out then make up your mind. lolView attachment 41655
Sooo...do I bring beer or something for the grill :)
Looks like a fun time for sure, but I really and truly only have a desire for a .35 and a .357. Just trying to decide whats first. It'll be a while before I end up with both cuz the little woman likes to spend our gun money as quick as I do lol
 
Sooo...do I bring beer or something for the grill :)
Looks like a fun time for sure, but I really and truly only have a desire for a .35 and a .357. Just trying to decide whats first. It'll be a while before I end up with both cuz the little woman likes to spend our gun money as quick as I do lol

And Weather is no problem when you have your own shooting range.Weather.png Weather2.JPG
 
I don't understand the buying of a gun for "plinking and range use".

A good gun has but two purposes. Protection and meat.

The .357 will handle both but in a limited fashion, the .35 crushes the competition.

ps ... a .35 gathers no dust.

I beg to differ.

I plink with everything I own (though shotgunning probably doesn't qualify as a "plinker"). The only thing that keeps me from plinking with cartridges like .357, .475 Wildey, etc is the fact that I don't (yet) own anything in those cartridges.

I hallily plink with .45 Colt, .45 ACP, 9mm as my centerfire cartridges.
 
I beg to differ.

I plink with everything I own (though shotgunning probably doesn't qualify as a "plinker"). The only thing that keeps me from plinking with cartridges like .357, .475 Wildey, etc is the fact that I don't (yet) own anything in those cartridges.

I hallily plink with .45 Colt, .45 ACP, 9mm as my centerfire cartridges.
You are a plinker. :p
 
henry .357/38 special then add a ruger Blackhawk for a rifle pistol combo cant do that with the 35
 
Do yourself a favor and shoot a M92 Winchester clone before spending the $ on a henry. I bet you buy the winny clone.
I like the 92, especially in pistol calibers like 357. But in general, Henry beats every new levergun currently made because they are made so well, and practice excellent customer service. I think there are only six other makers: Browning, Remlin, Rossi, Mossberg, US Repeating Arms (Winchester/Miroku) and Uberti. They all make clones, but Browning, Rossi, USRA, Uberti and Remlin make nothing but clones. (Remington makes Marlin clones, and Henry makes Henry clones.) That leaves Henry as the only one currently making their own design. It's an interesting company, and they have only been around since 1996.
 
I like the 92, especially in pistol calibers like 357. But in general, Henry beats every new levergun currently made because they are made so well, and practice excellent customer service. I think there are only six other makers: Browning, Remlin, Rossi, Mossberg, US Repeating Arms (Winchester/Miroku) and Uberti. They all make clones, but Browning, Rossi, USRA, Uberti and Remlin make nothing but clones. (Remington makes Marlin clones, and Henry makes Henry clones.) That leaves Henry as the only one currently making their own design. It's an interesting company, and they have only been around since 1996.

After owning a couple versions of the H001 Henry, I think they are basically disposable rifles. Plastic bbl band and front sight (very soft plastic), what appears to be laminated wood, zinc receiver covers with black paint etc.

Functional, yes..but a far cry from Browning or Marlin. To be fair, the price reflects the build quality.

The build quality may be different in the pistol caliber center fires.
 
After owning a couple versions of the H001 Henry, I think they are basically disposable rifles. Plastic bbl band and front sight (very soft plastic), what appears to be laminated wood, zinc receiver covers with black paint etc.

Functional, yes..but a far cry from Browning or Marlin. To be fair, the price reflects the build quality.

The build quality may be different in the pistol caliber center fires.

Yep, the cheapie rimfire and the Steel, Big Boys and Silver Boys are different. Guess that's why some are $300 and some are $800. Go figure. :p
 
This is a tough one...I have both calibers.......and then some...but they are on totally opposite ends of the power spectrum. If you reloaded, I'd say either because even though the .357 is cheaper per round, you will go through BOXES of ammo in a range trip vs what you will go through with the 35Rem, so I don't think you will save much money on ammo unless you restrict yourself to ONE box of ammo shot per range trip! For me, the choice is always a JM stamped Marlin would be first choice over almost anything else, for you? Well, I don't know what your budget is, but nice Marlins are running anywhere from $400-$550 on average for a nice one.
Good luck with the search!
 
Careful with the suggestions boys or Draco may take offense. :p
 
The Big Boy Steel line are solid guns. Nothing but steel & hardwood. A completely different level than their rimfires. A buddy has one of their 18.5" steel .45-70s & it is a solid, delightful gun as well. Don't get me wrong, I love Marlins, but Henries are very solid, very nice guns.

FWIW, the color case hardened, octagon barreled .357 carbine is next on my long gun list.

H012CC-MRCC-Color-Case-hero-1.jpg
 
The Big Boy Steel line are solid guns. Nothing but steel & hardwood. A completely different level than their rimfires. A buddy has one of their 18.5" steel .45-70s & it is a solid, delightful gun as well. Don't get me wrong, I love Marlins, but Henries are very solid, very nice guns.

FWIW, the color case hardened, octagon barreled .357 carbine is next on my long gun list.

H012CC-MRCC-Color-Case-hero-1.jpg

As George once said on Seinfeld, "I think it just moved".
 
They're not bull$hittin' with their centerfires. It's entirely possible that their .308 Long Ranger will be my first .308.
 
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