Who makes a good 357 magnum Trapper?

CCCLVII · June 15, 2013, 11:36 PM

So I am going to be spending the next hunting season in an area where I have to hunt with a pistol caliber carbine.

So does any one make a 357 magnum rifle with a short (16 inch) barrel that will handle the hotter loads?

I was originally thinking Rossi but I have read lots of bad reviews on them. Does Winchester or Marlin or Henery no longer make a trapper in 357 magnum.

PetahW · June 15, 2013, 11:40 PM

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ANY Model 92 can/will handle any load you care to fire in it.

FWIW, I've owned/shot/hunted with a 16" Rossi .357 Model 92 for the past 5 years w/o issue.

I've replaced the bolt-top lawyer safety with a peep sight, and NEVER attempt to use (feed/shoot) ANY boolits that have sharp shoulders, like Keith-style semi-wadcutters, etc.

It flings 158gr JSP's downrange (100yds) into 1-1/2" to 2" groups about as regularly as I can make it and also makes deer DRT.

Of course, if you want a PERFECT .357 Model 92, you can always hunt down a discontinued Browning/Miroku for 2X the money - and it'll still need a decent set of sights for hunting, and won't feed boolits as above, either.............

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mike7.62 · June 16, 2013, 05:30 AM

I have a Rossi 92 38/357 with 20" barrel. You're doing yourself a disservice by writing off the Rossi 92 because of Internet reviews. all the other brands of lever action pistol caliber carbine's have a lemon every so often. Some have to justify spending $800 - $1,200 when they could have bought a $450 Rossi. My own Rossi will shoot any thing I put in It. I shoot It more than any of my other CF rifles. Just give It a good cleaning, After a couple hundred rounds It'll slick right up. I did refinish my stock & forearm. Cost me about $20 bucks.

saddler · June 16, 2013, 09:13 AM

My Winchester 94 Trapper works like a dream

Marlins MAY be around, but I'd avoid the new batch as the QC went South when the factory moved North! (Look for the "JM" inpector marks for a good pre-move example)

Never ANY issues with feeding: it's main fodder is the Keith bullet (Ideal mold 358429)

Has an aperture rearsight & more recently I added an XS Sights scout rail to it...so I have the option of the already fitted open sights, or adding a scope or Aimpoint

I also added a saddle ring to use as a carry option & made up a canvas & leather single-point sling with a few cartridge loops added to it

Orion6 · June 16, 2013, 09:25 AM

A buddy of mine has had several Rossi .357's and .44s and has never been disappointed.

Malamute · June 16, 2013, 11:06 AM

If its in your budget, the later Winchester/Miroku 92's had some short varients, like short rifles, and perhaps some short carbines. They were sold at somewhat of a discount at times through cdnn. The Rossis are functional for the most part, so long as you don't get one of the ones that have minor issues, but the Miroku Winchesters are generally simply outstanding guns, in fit, finish and function.

My Browning 92 feeds Keith bullets (Lyman 429421) fine in 44 spl cases, they are too long for mag cases, but otherwise feed fine.

CCCLVII · June 16, 2013, 04:32 PM

are the 1873s any good? I see some Ubertis that look very pretty.

Hawg · June 16, 2013, 05:43 PM

Uberti 73's are great guns but I'm not sure they offer a trapper version. I love my Rossi 92. Most Winchester 94's don't function well with pistol length cartridges as it was designed for a rifle cartridge from the get go and the long lifter is a problem with short cartridges.

CCCLVII · June 16, 2013, 06:16 PM

there is a trapper version. The issue I have is will the 1873 hold up to the hotter loads? Id rather not have a blown up gun.

Hawg · June 16, 2013, 06:52 PM

They're supposed to chamber it in .357 now but haven't seen where anybody has one. It does have a toggle link action so I dunno how hot you can get it.

badlander · June 16, 2013, 07:13 PM

Another vote for the Rossi. My 92 in .45 colt has been great. the marlins have gone out of reason on price.

tgstoken · June 16, 2013, 07:31 PM

Rossi's are hit and miss. I ordered two from Bud's recently and sent one back. It was a 24" .357 octagon and it had a faulty stock, forend, it was rusty and had canted sights. I kept the other faulty 20" stainless .44mag, which had a hammer that was binding on the frame, preventing cocking. Aside from the fact it has the worst tooling marks I have ever seen on a production rifle (worse than most Mosin's), after I fixed everything, slicked it up and installed a spring kit it is now an excellent rifle. For $500 (including springs, etc) its a great rifle now for almost half the cost of a Win or Marl. If you buy a Rossi, be prepared to do some work to it, unless you hand pick a nice one.

Hawg · June 16, 2013, 08:08 PM

I bought my Rossi sight unseen and its been great. You couldn't give me a Miroku Winchester for it.

TXGunNut · June 17, 2013, 01:25 AM

I like my Trappers but I'm wanting a 92 in .357. My research is pointing me towards a Rossi. A new gun will need a thorough cleaning and maybe a little smoothing up and the wood may need a new finish (if you're picky like me) but I think they're the best gun for the money today.

Ozzieman · June 18, 2013, 06:19 PM

If you’re not set on a lever action you might want to give one of these a try. 100 yard with 3 inch groups and heavy reloads.

http://www.ruger.com/products/rotary...57/models.html

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-list.cfm?category=8
I never gave Rossi much credit till they came out with their ranch hand lever action pistol. It’s a well made gun with a lot going for it. But it is a toy.
I would own another one.
You really should take a good look at one.
P.S. not talking about the ranch hand, just a rossi lever

June 15, 2013, 11:36 PM	#1
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	Who makes a good 357 magnum Trapper? So I am going to be spending the next hunting season in an area where I have to hunt with a pistol caliber carbine. So does any one make a 357 magnum rifle with a short (16 inch) barrel that will handle the hotter loads? I was originally thinking Rossi but I have read lots of bad reviews on them. Does Winchester or Marlin or Henery no longer make a trapper in 357 magnum. __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

June 16, 2013, 04:32 PM	#7
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	are the 1873s any good? I see some Ubertis that look very pretty. __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

June 16, 2013, 06:16 PM	#9
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	there is a trapper version. The issue I have is will the 1873 hold up to the hotter loads? Id rather not have a blown up gun. __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

June 18, 2013, 06:19 PM	#15
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	If you’re not set on a lever action you might want to give one of these a try. 100 yard with 3 inch groups and heavy reloads. http://www.ruger.com/products/rotary...57/models.html http://www.rossiusa.com/product-list.cfm?category=8 I never gave Rossi much credit till they came out with their ranch hand lever action pistol. It’s a well made gun with a lot going for it. But it is a toy. I would own another one. You really should take a good look at one. P.S. not talking about the ranch hand, just a rossi lever Last edited by Ozzieman; June 19, 2013 at 07:14 AM.

June 15, 2013, 11:40 PM	#2
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. ANY Model 92 can/will handle any load you care to fire in it. FWIW, I've owned/shot/hunted with a 16" Rossi .357 Model 92 for the past 5 years w/o issue. I've replaced the bolt-top lawyer safety with a peep sight, and NEVER attempt to use (feed/shoot) ANY boolits that have sharp shoulders, like Keith-style semi-wadcutters, etc. It flings 158gr JSP's downrange (100yds) into 1-1/2" to 2" groups about as regularly as I can make it and also makes deer DRT. Of course, if you want a PERFECT .357 Model 92, you can always hunt down a discontinued Browning/Miroku for 2X the money - and it'll still need a decent set of sights for hunting, and won't feed boolits as above, either............. . .

June 16, 2013, 05:30 AM	#3
mike7.62 Member Join Date: May 25, 2012 Location: Down South Posts: 95	I have a Rossi 92 38/357 with 20" barrel. You're doing yourself a disservice by writing off the Rossi 92 because of Internet reviews. all the other brands of lever action pistol caliber carbine's have a lemon every so often. Some have to justify spending $800 - $1,200 when they could have bought a $450 Rossi. My own Rossi will shoot any thing I put in It. I shoot It more than any of my other CF rifles. Just give It a good cleaning, After a couple hundred rounds It'll slick right up. I did refinish my stock & forearm. Cost me about $20 bucks.

June 16, 2013, 09:13 AM	#4
saddler Junior Member Join Date: June 14, 2013 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 8	My Winchester 94 Trapper works like a dream Marlins MAY be around, but I'd avoid the new batch as the QC went South when the factory moved North! (Look for the "JM" inpector marks for a good pre-move example) Never ANY issues with feeding: it's main fodder is the Keith bullet (Ideal mold 358429) Has an aperture rearsight & more recently I added an XS Sights scout rail to it...so I have the option of the already fitted open sights, or adding a scope or Aimpoint I also added a saddle ring to use as a carry option & made up a canvas & leather single-point sling with a few cartridge loops added to it

June 16, 2013, 09:25 AM	#5
Orion6 Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 340	A buddy of mine has had several Rossi .357's and .44s and has never been disappointed.

June 16, 2013, 11:06 AM	#6
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	If its in your budget, the later Winchester/Miroku 92's had some short varients, like short rifles, and perhaps some short carbines. They were sold at somewhat of a discount at times through cdnn. The Rossis are functional for the most part, so long as you don't get one of the ones that have minor issues, but the Miroku Winchesters are generally simply outstanding guns, in fit, finish and function. My Browning 92 feeds Keith bullets (Lyman 429421) fine in 44 spl cases, they are too long for mag cases, but otherwise feed fine.

June 16, 2013, 05:43 PM	#8
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,380	Uberti 73's are great guns but I'm not sure they offer a trapper version. I love my Rossi 92. Most Winchester 94's don't function well with pistol length cartridges as it was designed for a rifle cartridge from the get go and the long lifter is a problem with short cartridges.

June 16, 2013, 06:52 PM	#10
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,380	They're supposed to chamber it in .357 now but haven't seen where anybody has one. It does have a toggle link action so I dunno how hot you can get it.

June 16, 2013, 07:13 PM	#11
badlander Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: So. Fla Posts: 344	Another vote for the Rossi. My 92 in .45 colt has been great. the marlins have gone out of reason on price.

June 16, 2013, 07:31 PM	#12
tgstoken Member Join Date: December 17, 2006 Posts: 35	Rossi's are hit and miss. I ordered two from Bud's recently and sent one back. It was a 24" .357 octagon and it had a faulty stock, forend, it was rusty and had canted sights. I kept the other faulty 20" stainless .44mag, which had a hammer that was binding on the frame, preventing cocking. Aside from the fact it has the worst tooling marks I have ever seen on a production rifle (worse than most Mosin's), after I fixed everything, slicked it up and installed a spring kit it is now an excellent rifle. For $500 (including springs, etc) its a great rifle now for almost half the cost of a Win or Marl. If you buy a Rossi, be prepared to do some work to it, unless you hand pick a nice one.

June 16, 2013, 08:08 PM	#13
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,380	I bought my Rossi sight unseen and its been great. You couldn't give me a Miroku Winchester for it.

June 17, 2013, 01:25 AM	#14
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	I like my Trappers but I'm wanting a 92 in .357. My research is pointing me towards a Rossi. A new gun will need a thorough cleaning and maybe a little smoothing up and the wood may need a new finish (if you're picky like me) but I think they're the best gun for the money today.