Best pistol caliber levergun?

[@85waspnest]

Great video. I have a Chiappa 1892 short rifle in .357, a Chiappa 1886 deluxe rifle in .45/70, and an Uberti 1873 rifle in .44 Magnum (yes they are, or were made in .44 Mag). Of the three, the Uberti 73 is the most used,, has the fastest, smoothest action, is the easiest to strip, clean, work on, and in my opinion, the most traditional & best looking. I home cast with range scrap and reload 44 Mag to .44 Special +P velocities which cost the same per round as .357. My 1886 runs a close second. If I had to own only one of the three, the Uberti 1873 would be the keeper.

[@-John-Doe-]

Funny you mention that, because I was trying to find out if Uberti did make a '73 in .44 mag.

[@85waspnest]

@@-John-Doe- Some deny the fact and say the toggle action isn't strong enough. The fact is they do and it is strong enough. 44 mag models have a specially hardened receiver which won't take the fake colour case hardening and only available with a blued finish. They also have shotgun butts with a thin rubber butt plate. I read Uberti ceased production in 2020 although I doubt this as the importer where I live in the UK has them in stock. I bought 44 mag simply because it was the only one available at the time. I wish I'd waited for 44 Special or .45 Colt as I prefer the steel crescent butt plate and colour case hardened receiver.

[@theredbar-cross8515]

I love the systematic, logical, and no BS style of this video. It speaks to Karl's mind and way of thinking. Too often we get videos where the speaker has no real point to make and rambles on.

[@WutangPham]

How crazy, I’ve been looking to pick up my first lever gun and have been searching KZbin the past few days to educate myself a bit and Karl uploads just what I’ve been looking for.

[@roseybut]

Just goes to show how mileages vary. Over here in the UK Marlin is King especially among competition shooters. I've heard of the Marlin jam never witnessed it. Also, here in the UK we tend to mount optics. Marlins are far easier to mount an optic on (I know there's a special place in hell just for us). I believe .44 is popular in target competition due to the bigger hole it makes. Great channel, love content, especially on all the firearms we are not allowed to "Legally" own here. I would love a WWSD AR.

[@DB-yj3qc]

😂 I had to respond on your post, on the special place. There will be many others there too.

[@rebralhunter6069]

If you have the license to own a Marlin could you not just get a straight pull WWSD?

[@loquat44-40]

roseybuy Relative to being a gun owner, you are if not in h_ll already you are at least in purgatory when living in the UK.

[@johngriffiths118]

@@DB-yj3qcthe “special place “ ?

[@PhycoKrusk]

You mean an AR-15 without a gas port? Doubt that'd fly.

[@bisleyblackhawk1288]

I’ve been shooting a Rossi Model 92 24” octagon barrel chambered in .45 Colt in CAS since 2015 and after doing an action and spring change out (it was just OK out of the box and the empty cases flying off to the roof of my range was annoying…after I installed the new spring kit this was no longer an issue…and trust me, John Moses Browning loved himself a puzzle 😜😜😜)…after the action upgrade and removing that ugly assed safety on top of the bolt…the Rossi has been perfect after thousands of my reloads…I can’t remember the last time I had an issue with it…many people don’t realize that JMB’ 1892 design is to this day one of the strongest…if not the strongest designs lever actions around (think Winchester 1886)…as an aside, I was gifted a bunch of Western brand .45 Colt ammunition which included several balloon head black powder rounds…I pulled one down and it contained 38 grains of black powder behind a 246 grain bullet and being of balloon head design it totally lacked an extraction groove…enjoy your channel immensely 👍👍👍

[@StudioVoodooMusic]

Thanks for a great, informative overview of pistol caliber lever actions. I decided to go with the Winchester/Miroku 1873 in .38/.357 because they make such excellent quality rifles - I have a Miroku/Browning BL-22 as well that I adore. I like their furniture better, and the fact that it has the Winchester name on it. I got a great deal on a safe queen basic blued 20" model. I 100% agree about the subpar front sight, and that's the one thing I will probably change with a new tang rear sight and something more visible in front.

[@MisterJake]

I know this is repetitive but this is yet another informative and interesting video. Thank you.

[@Geekofarm]

Would love to see "Deadeye" done in "Wasteland" format so it is open to more people, Karl. I came to much the same conclusions: Started out on the (wife's) .38/.357 Rossi '92 for CAS and loved it. Looked around for a few years, saw what jammed, saw what worked. Got a short-stroke Uberti in .357 & won 3 medals with it at the last NZ CAS National Championships. I *like* the Rossi, I shoot the Uberti better. Caveats: Don't lighten the ejector or hammer on a Rossi, they're that strong for a good reason. In NZ we have a 10-round limit, and I had to have mine pinned (but 12 short .38's fit in, as it is chambered for .357). Runs fine with R or 2R projectiles, but flat-nose projectiles feed more smoothly - the Rossi don't care.

[@InrangeTv]

There are no costume requirements for Dead Eye - if you want to do it wasteland style, feel free!

[@Geekofarm]

Will you set a course for people to enter videos like you did with wasteland? I'll dress up proper for it! @@InrangeTv

[@rcspoon1]

Twice a year postal matches would be pretty cool

[@Gerald-do9yg]

That's a lot of good info friend, thanks for sharing! Blsgs, gg

[@wreckingpress7080]

This was helpful. Every once in a while I think of going for a lever, but most of the you tube reviews don't talk about the comparison of the mechanical aspect and issues. Usually just: look at this shiny new "tactical"thing.

[@InrangeTv]

Glad you liked it, and to be honest, I'm bored with shiny new tactical things.

[@BillyJ244]

The first rifle I ever shot was a Winchester 25-20. It was manufactured in the 1880's and belong to my father. I've been a fan of Winchester ever since. That was back around 1970. It was a really nice rifle. It had a half octagon barrel. Unfortunately when my dad passed away the rifle disappeared. I wish I knew which one of my stepbrothers stole it. It was a great gun with a lot of history.

[@BikerJim74]

I agree with your sentiment about Henry products. I have a Henry 45-70 I bought in 2018 and I can say it's not built well, the internals are so loose and the tolerances are so bad I am worried it's going to fall apart. Currently it sits on my wall as a decoration.

[@michalbarsfajny4268]

So weird, I had henry 22lr and it was super smooth and super precise. Hard to put back tgt after cleaning cos everything super tight. Sold it cos that front end reloading, but amazing gun, after 500 ish rnds after cleaning I started to have feeding issues, usually fixed by pushing on bullet or tiny bit of oil. Also crazy reliable with, had maybe 10 ish issues in 4-5 k rounds, which is impressive for 22lr

[@suntzu5562]

I have a 30-30 Henry and it's tolerances are the BEST I have ever seen. I wonder if it's a QC issue. I own 3 henries and all are perfect. Reach out to Henry, they have the best customer service in the industry

[@evocati6523]

That sounds like a stretch, or you got a lemon. Henrys are known to take the hottest loads on the market and keep on trucking

[@kenibnanak5554]

In spite of the Glock fans maintaining the only safety needed is a brain and trigger control, I like my rifles to have a safety. It isn't carried in a holster and sometimes it is loaded and a round is chambered while being carried too. I fully understand that wasn't a thing in the 1860s and 1870s, but there were so many unintentional deaths and maimings that most firearms makers began adding safeties to their rifles. Hunting rifles sometimes get carried through areas with thick brush while a round is chambered and the hunter is following a blood spoor or trail. Terrible to say, but sometimes people slip on ice or trip over a vine or a stone. An external safety switch adds a little more safety. Henry feels comfortable making rifles without a safety switch. Good for them. I won't buy one.

[@BikerJim74]

@@evocati6523 yeah I'm sure I made it all up

[@Wolf-yt5de]

You win. I own all the brands but tend to favor my old New Haven Marlins. 2 days ago I went to the range with my 25 YO daughter who has been shooting a .357 Marlin 94 since she was 12. I had my Uberti Winchester 73 along in 45 Colt, she loved it, shot so fast the RSO thought she was shooting semi auto. Now she wont give it back! And just FYI world, she is the best shot in the family rifle or pistol!

[@nemo5335]

miroku actually makes an OUTSTANDING rifle, they just don't want to bother setting up sales and distribution networks in the US so they sell through other companies, mostly browning (who's bolt actions are all Miroku) and Winchester. their rifles for browning have a long, strong reputation for top quality and extreme accuracy.

[@scruffysstash]

Can't get enough levergun content from you Karl. I have a marlin 94, I haven't had the issue you mentioned, but I'd love to try it at one these matches to see how it fairs.

[@InrangeTv]

Please do!

[@UpstatePatriot]

My Marlin 1894c has been flawless as well. The key is just running it like you mean it and not short stroking the lever. Lever guns aren’t meant to be ran gently, you run them hard. Mine is even an Remington one. The later model Remingtons are solid guns from my experience and everyone I know. It’s those early Remington Marlin models that were not well built at all. They worked a lot of the issues out over time.

[@InrangeTv]

I'd rather have to not "run it like I mean it" for a gun to be reliable. Same problem exists with the 1887 shotgun, and it sucks.

[@alanw1775]

Bolt actions are also meant to be run "with vigor". Too often i saw someone on youtube namby-pambying a bolt action resulting in struggles. For all manually operated long guns, need good muscle force. All the way back, all the way forward, everytime, no exception. Doesnt matter if lever, bolt, pump The gun community is so spoiled by modern self loaders (a good thing), many forgot the art of bolt action rifle. All the bolt actions that had been there and done that, that at the height of their day in the 1900s-1910s were the most advanced infantry weapons the world had ever seen, the mauser, arisaka, mosin, lee, mannlicher, were all designed to be run that way. Otherwise they wouldnt be reliable either. Its the self loaders, replacing human muscle strength with cartridge energy, that solved this problem. An ar/ak is just a cartridge powered straight pull bolt action.

[@RCZM64]

​@@UpstatePatriot I heard Remington had to re-hire the retired Marlin gunsmiths when complaining started to pile up. I have one from that era, in 38/357, but don'run it often enough to have suffered issues. But 38 wadcutters are too short to cycle reliably.

[@mbell9995]

The Miroku is an excellent model. Mine is flawless.

[@CtrlAltRetreat]

I've shot a few mirokus in the past and they've all been utterly fantastic. I always wanted a browning blr takedown in .300wsm. They make those too. The reason why Carl picks the uberti over the miroku is valid if you're intending on aftermarket modding your levergun, but imho, the miroku factory setup is quite nice as is.

[@ExtraThiccc]

Even in the airsoft world Japanese made guns are known for being very high quality

[@charlotteblackman429]

I had an original 1953 Winchester model 1894 16" Trapper /saddle ring in 30-30 (I know, it's not a pistol caliber). To this day, it was the best rifle that I have ever owned. Dead eye sights and all. Thank you Karl for this episode.

[@jeramyw]

I have a 1953 Winchester model 64 24" ⅔ magtube semipistol grip in 30-30. Came standard with deluxe bluing and tighter tolerances.

[@antho6713]

In france, laws are pretty complex with pistol calibers, if you only have a shooting license, you can buy any lever action, but not neccessarily the right ammo, you can buy 44rem but not 38/357 unless you have an handgung using said ammo, which means you filed a request for handgun authorization, (can be quite long). I went for a rossi r92 in 44 with long octogonal barrel, heavy but pleasant to shoot, efficient, but not cheap! Great video as usual, thank you Edit : hope i could join dead eye some day

[@davidgoodnow269]

What is the law in France on handloading? I know that primers have for some reason been so constrained in supply for so many years now, that French primers of superb quality have been introduced to the U.S. market for the first time since the 1860's recently! Here, there are many gunpowders available (theoretically, again, supplies have been highly unreliable for about three years now), but one of the best-quality manufacturers is in Finland, and might be available to you. Remember, *always brass scoops and scales!*

[@Jesses001]

I have one of those Rossis in .357. Action needed me to run it a bit to smooth out, but after that, the thing is great. The price is great too. You are absolutly correct though that the action is not nearly as fast or slick as the 73, and the increased streanth is wasted on .357. It is a lot of fun for not a lot of money though.

[@vmpgsc]

Yep, Rossi 92 .44mag here. Great rifle, easy to work on, very handy and the weight damps recoil to almost nothing. I have a micro red dot sight mounted forward of the ejection port and it is fast and easy.

[@LexsLavrov1]

@@vmpgsc Also have Rossi 92? .38/.357. Had to invent octagonal clamps in order to mount red dot, but it ended extremely well. Yep, it needs some filing here and there. And some break-in. But with handloaded ammunition it is not a bis deal. Reliable as a brick. Don't know whether is it true, but heard that they cycle reliably even upside down. Didn't try that, but when tilted - no problem.

[@Alan.livingston]

In my neck of the woods the Rossi lever gun in .357 is the most common rifle you will see at a cowboy action match. People pick them up for cheap, get a gunsmith to slick them up a bit, and you are in a match for less cash than many others.

[@Ujb507]

Decided on an Uberti 19" 1873 in 32-20 around 2011 or so. Picked up the dies, starline cases, and molds. Added marbles tang a few years ago. Ringing steel at 100 yards off sticks is a nice afternoon. No regrets on cartridge at all. Wanted a period specific rifle in a correct hyphenated cartridge. I have bags and bags of 32-20 loaded with RCBS 32-098 SWC whenever I want.

[@lyndonjohnson5063]

Rossi in 45 worked a dream never once had a problem with it worked flawlessly and felt smooth never one failure to feed even with mixed ammo and blanks

[@rymanjones3]

i dont have one yet, but that color case hardened 1873 with the 24" octagonal barrel in the back with the tang sight is like my dream levergun lol i just love it

[@nunyabeezwax1413]

Very refreshing to hear someone with similar opinions to my own on lever guns. Thank you for the great content.

[@hardball107]

I have 3 of the Rossi M92's, a 38/357, a 44Mag/Special, and a 45 Colt/454 Casull. All 20" barrel stainless models built on a copy of the 1892 Winchester. I have thousands of rounds thru all of them especially the 38/357. Very fast and accurate it's a favorite of the CASS crowd and for good reason besides being half the cost of anything else that's up to the task. I don't believe I'll ever outgrow any of them, no reason to. It does take a thousand rounds to slick them up but i'm telling you after that and a little lube mine run like warm butter. I do handload, I'm still working thru cases of small pistol primers I bought for 30 bucks/thousand, I also cast and powder coat my own bullets so that 38/357 costs me less than a nickel a round and the grandkids can go thru box after box. That rifle still has never missed a beat and it has 10 times the rounds thru it than the 2 others.

[@TimberwolfCY]

Super valuable, super useful. Your ability to distill vast amounts of knowledge and experience into such a concise, digestible, enjoyable video is fantastic. Was very curious about all of this after seeing a few of your FB posts. Thanks a ton Karl!

[@Der_Bingle]

Outstanding video! This answered questions I didn’t even know I had!! Thanks!!!

[@InrangeTv]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Walkaheap23]

Nice summary of the options. I went with the Uberti 1873 with the 24 1/4" barrel in 45 Colt from Tayor's and Co. Love that gun and now I've converted a son and daughter. Beautiful gun right out of the box. I reload my 45 Colt, so I can manage the costs.

[@Bojangles6]

I was 14, waiting for shooting light on my very first deer hunt. When my dad gave me the ok, i loaded my late 60s '94 30-30. When i tried to chamber a round, i limp wristed it and jammed it so bad, we had to drive home and take it apart to clear.

[@danbradley6553]

I have not yet owned a lever-action anything in my life, and have no immediate plans to change that, and I thoroughly enjoyed the video so much so that I was rewinding to catch details I didn’t wanna miss. Thank you again Karl for such a succinct education on a cool topic.

[@InrangeTv]

Wow, thanks and glad you enjoyed it!

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

You can get a set of lighter springs for a Rossi '92 and make the action significantly smoother and faster. You can also file down the leaf spring of the loading gate to make it a lot smoother and easier to load. Changing the springs is a little tricky (especially the ejector spring) but it can be done without being a gunsmith, if you have a little understanding of mechanics and diy.

[@rklkify]

add a red dot and it's a great for fun gun

[@Bob5mith]

I just bent them (trigger return and loading gate) a little. I didn't mess with the hammer spring. I also worked it a good bit, then tore it down and polished the places that showed rubbing, then worked it a lot. It's not super slick, but it's pretty good. I just got a new one in 454 though, and it is a bit stiff, but it's already smooth. I'm probably not going to mess with it. Teardown is such a PITA and the loading gate has to go back in just perfect.

[@MsPetra2009]

Yupp. A little fluff and buff isn't hard and makes a lot of difference. The only other issues, at least with mine, is that the dovetail for the sights is a little generous so after market sights have to be either shimmed or the barrel metal has to be dimpled to keep them tight. Also, the mag tubes tend to migrate under recoil. I ended up having to bed my mag tube to the for-end and underside of barrel with black RTV. Worked well and seemed to improve accuracy slightly. Great guns if you're willing to do a bit of work.

[@DB-yj3qc]

​@@MsPetra2009 Interesting technique bedding with RTV, long term it may lead to pitting rust and corrosion on barrel. RTV many contains acid that I've used.

[@MsPetra2009]

@@DB-yj3qc Mine has a stainless barrel. We'll see if it's a problem

[@VictorGonzalez-zv6kv]

I have a Marlin in 357/38. Really like it. Haven’t had any issues with mine. It wouldn’t be fun to try and have to take it apart on the fly.

[@sroberts421]

I know it’s haram but I think it would be nice to have a 73 with a threaded barrel on it for a silencer. After using a silencer for a while it’s hard to go back. It’s really changed my requirements for getting new firearms.

[@lukeman9851]

You could probably get it threaded by a gunsmith shop, there should still be people that do that

[@mChrest05]

You can get a Marlin Dark Series it comes with a threaded barrel.

[@sroberts421]

@@lukeman9851 I'm sure I could find a gunsmith who would do it. The gunsmith would need to cut down the magazine tube in addition to threading the barrel which would be an expensive upgrade in addition to a pricey rifle.

[@draksia]

I would love to see a video on period modifications

[@jddrafts]

I've got an Uberti 1873 in .357 mag, it always makes the trip when I'm going to the range with someone that doesn't shoot much or any. It's always a favorite.

[@turbo_vanner]

I had a rossi 1892 with excessive headspace that would rip fired cases in half, since the case head didnt have enough support behind it, it would try to move back while the neck was still expanded and tight in the chamber from firing. The warranty replacement they sent had a .433" groove diameter (44mag should be .431" for rifles and .429" for pistols). It shot 10" groups at 50 yards, even with .434" oversized cast bullets. Sold the second one for cheap, bought a Miroku 1892 and its been perfect.

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

I can’t spell for nothing with my dyslexia and I can’t get spell check to get your name right, so Carel thanks again for another excellent video, I have a modern Uberti 1873 rifle length in 45 LC that I really like and is quite accurate. I have a 1990’s made Marlin in 44 Magnum and a family air loom 1898 made 1897 in 40-82 caliber that was bought brand new back in 1898. I have taken them apart and cleaned up all of the edges and now they don’t have the Marlin jam problem. Thanks again

[@060racing8]

I love the simplicity of the toggle lock system also, which has the benefit of throwing debris clear of the action.

[@richardvarnold6245]

One of the best lever action videos I've seen. One of my first loves for a gun was a lever action, from my Daisey BB gun as a kid to an adult having owned a 94 in a 30-30 to my present 94-22m in 22 magnum. I'm shopping around for a 44 magnum and have narrowed it down to a Rossi 92 in a 20" barrel. The main use will be plinking followed by hunting and house defense. Almost bought a Marlin but glad I didn't.

[@proxcess4946]

I have a ‘72 Uberti 1866 that’s the lever and trigger springs have just failed on, so this video came at the perfect time!

[@20thGTI]

I have a Rossi R92 in 357 and I’ve been very impressed with it.

[@InrangeTv]

Awesome, and I'm not surprised. :)

[@SurmaSampo]

A mate f mine got the Rossi 92 Citadel in .44 mag and it is light and spicy.

[@geodkyt]

I impulse purchased a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt, and honestly the only thing I regret is the one they had was a big loop level model, and I haven't been arsed enough to swap it out for a standard lever yet.

[@whelper4231]

​@@geodkyt Yeah, I'm not a fan of the big loops. There was a company that made a medium loop that looked like it'd be ok with some cord wrapping on it... ya know, to save your knuckles. 😅

[@geodkyt]

@@whelper4231 yeah, I found the enlarged loop just *slowed me down* and made it more likely to short stroke. I should work a little harder to locate a boring old standard handle and swap it in.

[@dermotthompson2115]

I love my Rossi R92 24” especially after its Palo Verde spring kit and polishing

[@derblip4608]

I really wanted an Uberti 1873 so bad... But last year I came across an Uberti 1866 20" carbine chambered in 44-40 in package with 250 rounds for 500€. That deal was awesome! With cast and powdercoated Lee 429-200-RF it's easy to hit the target at 100m and be competitive against other lever actions and other calibers! I still recommend the 1873 in 38/357 to other shooters, because reloading is only performed by a minority here in germany. Greetings!

[@petehaack5228]

Not familiar with prices in Germany, but regardless, I would think that's a steal

[@JamesDavis-ek5sq]

As an avid bullet caster and hand loader I have been putting together 45LC and 357/38 for decent prices. Brutality style competition with a 45 would be a lot of lead! And bore leading-- Have you had good luck with powder coating cast bullets? I have developed a high volume habit that kills accuracy with leading before I'm even warmed up.

[@derblip4608]

​@@petehaack5228That is correct, sir!

[@derblip4608]

​@@JamesDavis-ek5sqPowder coated bullets never failed on me. I like to coat them twice. Retrieved bullets from the back stop (sand) showed no signs of torn coating. The coating adds about 0.001" - 0.002" per coating. Sizing with a Lee push-trough sizer is recommended, otherwise the rounds may or may not chamber I would recommend a lead alloy from 20 parts pure lead or range scrap and 1 part tin. I did not lead a barrel with this alloy and traditional lubed, 45/45/10 or powdercoated pistol bullets. Tested so far in .44-40 carbine, 9mm Luger pistols and .357 Magnum carbine and revolver.

[@ianxtreem]

Fantastic video. I wait impatiently for your next video drop. I have the 1873 in 44 40. It has become my go-to everything gun.

[@kentuckyboy541]

Hugely informative and appreciated. I have been researching lever actions and had settled on .38/.357 for the reasons you stated but this information has helped me to decide the rest.

[@chaosrex5702]

Been wanting a lever action for a while. Had already decided on .357/.38 but Uberti wasn't a brand I was considering. I'll have to go back. Thank you

[@khester7397]

At 70 cents per, I'd say spend $500 on a reloading setup for the 357/38. Straight walled pistol calibers are the best to start reloading with anyhow. No annealing brass, no neck sizing. To really make the most financial sense of reloading though, a fellow needs to spend another $200 for a lead pot and a couple inexpensive lee bullet molds. You could knock your cost down to 30 cents a round. Of course, you'd be paying yourself below minimum wage for your reloading time, so you've got to enjoy the process and self sufficiency or it really doesn't add up.

[@MXRUSER]

Couldn’t agree with you more on the outgrowing the Rossi and wanting an 1873 style. As a big John Wayne fan, that’s the main reason I wanted a 92 to make a John Wayne rifle. I picked mine up in 357 and I still love the rifle, it the classic toggle action I just had to have.

[@ShootingAndReloading]

I humbly suggest you look at the Marlin 1894 model again. I come from the UK which is a significant market for pistol calibre lever action rifles due to the popular sport of Gallery Rifle shooting. In Gallery Rifle, you may use any pistol calibre lever action and the vast, vast majority are Marlins as they have been found to be the most reliable action and by some margin. All the top shooters use a Marlin. I own both a Marlin 1894CB and a Winchester 1984AE, both in .45 Colt and (touch wood) I've found little to choose between them in reliability (each with well over 20,000 rounds), but the Marlin can be made to run much faster and infinitely more smoothly. The Marlin jams you refer to are easy to resolve, either 1) clean it, 2) fix the lifter notch or 3) run it like you mean it (don't short stroke).

[@shotbytim9624]

When hunting, I take advantage of the Marlin's lack of controlled round feeding to clear the chamber without completely unloading the magazine. Working the action smartly keeps the jams away.

[@jfess1911]

@@shotbytim9624 The "Working the action smartly" comment reminds me a bit of one set of instructions I saw for a Lee Enfield rifle: "operate the bolt in a soldierly manner", ie with a bit of force.

[@wildyracing1]

Henry Repeating Arms is the beat lever gun IMO They are made in the USA or not made at all! This is more than enough for me.

[@dusty7264]

I use the 44-40 and have a Colt and MD 92 Winchester, they are both old but still working great

[@kenrentfrow2507]

Great info vid. Trusted knowledge from a veteran cowboy action shooter as am I. I have purchased 2 Uberti model 1873s chambered in. 357/38 one is grandson's. Both 20 " barrels and short stroke equipped. Adding knowledge from fellow shooters and now yours convinces me I have chosen wisely as the performance speaks for itself and I never doubted its action. My 73 helped earn me 2nd place in a state match and produces titer groups then my model 94 with a 26" barrel 38-55 Uberti. If you please. What would be your choice for a pistol cal. long range "73" ? For targets 300 + yards. 🇺🇸

[@davemeister7338]

Its so worth spending some coin on Taylors & Co tuned Uberti in 357 or 44

[@StudSupreme]

Got a Rossi R92 .38/357 with 24" barrel. So far no problems. Has actually performed well. Dad has a Winchester .30-30 (almost certain it's a 94.) Forget how long the barrel is - maybe 18-20 inches. Also very pleased with it.

[@jezzasidewinder5993]

The case color Miroku's are lovely compared the older American made ones IMO

[@timl8258]

I wish I knew all of this prior to buying a Marlin 336 back when they were owned by Remington, it had quite a few problems when I received it. I do have an 1873 Uberti in .357 and it absolutely rocks.

[@jfess1911]

Yup, it is annoying when quality suddenly goes downhill since a bunch of people have to experience problems before the word gets out. Every type of product has the occasional dud, so it takes a while to tell for certain if there really is an overall quality problem. I have a couple Winchester M94's from the last decade of US production and the action and trigger of one is truly terrible, even after running the action many, many times.

[@EddieRiggsBF3]

Range i regularly visit have 1873 Uberti in .357 mag and every time i borrow it I have great time. Lever guns are such cool and fun rifles.

[@jeremyrussell361]

Though I love my Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum, and have had minimal issues with it, i definitely HAVE had those issues a couple of times and completely agree with your assessment.

[@Stickman87]

Hi Karl, thanks for the video, your old west firearm content is some of my absolute favorite content out there. In this video, and others you discuss 20 inch vs 24 inch, which got me wondering if historically, there was a barrel length that was more common? Thanks again!

[@Jewclaw]

Karl I’ve learned so much about firearms and history bc of your channel and you do it all with a message that none of the other gun channels say

[@smilingwolf1980]

I have one of the Rossi's in 44 mag. A short little 10 round carbine. My only complaint is not about the gun itself but the action. That design requires a little bit of know how to disassemble for cleaning. It is actually my favorite range day/out in the middle of BFE carbine.

[@GunsmithSid]

These are quality observations and recommendations. The ‘73 is the smoothest and fastest action type. Cimarron does make a ‘73 in 44 magnum - but I wouldn’t use the special hunting or +P loads in it - if you need power out of the rifle/carbine the Marlin or ‘92 are stronger choices. I started with a Marlin 44 magnum in 1986 or so and still use it for cowboy action and hunting. It is very reliable and I’d put it against the ‘73 in terms of less malfunctions and easier to clear if there is a malfunction. The Marlin is easier to single load and will feed semi-wadcutter bullets far better than the ‘73. However, the non-controlled feeding can have you tip the cartridge out of the loading port if you swing to the left quickly while levering! As a gunsmith, I have seen quite a few ‘Marlin Jams’ so it is a real thing - and while I love the Marlin - the ‘73 is faster and in 357 super versatile. Cheers!

[@marioncrane09]

I have both the uberti 1873 and Henry X in .357, and i much prefer the Henry. Lighter weight, fiber optic sights and highly customizable.

[@357Dejavu]

I have a Uberti 1873 trapper (16.25 inch barrel) and I love it!

[@user-mm4je1sb9b]

Excellent presentation

[@InrangeTv]

Glad you liked it!

[@timelliott6036]

Great review…. Thanks!

[@InrangeTv]

Thanks for watching!

[@wbsims2996]

Thanks for your opinion, I have an older Marlin 94 .44 mag. It's not as smooth as my 336 but is very reliable. It does have a flaw or two that can be overcome but is a very noce shooting deer getting tool. Looks good and handles great. I'll just keep it.

[@3ducs]

The Winchester Model 1892 is a very nice pistol caliber rifle/carbine. Very smooth, lighter than the 1873.

[@bobsmoot2392]

Thanks, Karl. Always a pleasure. You bring us home.

[@InrangeTv]

That's a lovely statement, thank you!

[@TheColosiss]

It's good to see another lever action video. It would be interesting to see more in the different power ranges under the clock. From the various .22LR platforms to the big-bore. I realize Karl said he prefers the pistol caliber rifles, especially for the competition they are doing. It would still be interesting to see a Browning BLR vs a Winchester 1895 vs Savage 99 for one example.

[@douglasmcneil8413]

Thanks for a great video. My Uberti is the 44-40 with the 24 inch barrel. I also have Winchester, Marlin and Rossi in various calibers. But I've got to say that just the beauty of the Uberti alone, gives me cause to be a proud owner. The other guns are nice. In fact my JM Marlin in 357 is one of my favorites. But that Uberti is the best looking of the bunch.

[@MerihemXx]

I'd really enjoy trying to do a Deadeye Brutality Match sometime and really run a lever-action. Always seemed like a lot of fun to me. Also, the .38/.357 chambering makes a lot of sense to me since I'm a casual that just buys all my ammo loaded from the factory.

[@harperhellems3648]

I am here for you Karl.

[@jacobmarley4907]

Great video, and you covered just about everything important newcomers need to know, especially the fact that .45 Colt has gotten ridiculously expensive and unless one reloads .45 Colt, one may be looking at well over $100.00 per match for ammo. Many who are dedicated speed competitors usually choose .357/38 Special because recoil is lighter and one can shoot and recover faster. Also there are short stroke kits available for the 73s' although I don't use one because it is not an historical upgrade. Any kind of Cowboy style competition is a lot of fun and the whole family can be involved. Thank you so much for your videos showcasing cowboy style shooting and the relevance of these 19th century firearms. Keep up the good work!

[@davidmeek8017]

Aloha Karl; mahalo for the great content!

[@Syntax_Error_404]

Thanks a lot! Recently git my CAS course done here in Sweden and will get my rifle in April. Thisbhelped me choose.

[@derrelcarter9401]

I used a standard Marlin for over five years in SASS practice and and never experienced issues you mention. You may argue that that I did not run it fast enough? The EOT & Winter Range Modern titles, state championships, many fastest stages (5 at WR one year) & man on man trophies as well will stand upon themselves. The Marlin issues are primarily created by operator error in my personal experience. That said, they are not controlled feed & do work well tilted to the right or upside down, neither of which I encountered in a match or while hunting? Until the 66/73 Winchesters started to be allowed to be modified for a very short stroke, they could not compete with the slicked up Marlins. Personally I detest how the hammer covers the sight picture when it falls, but that is just me. I also doubt the strength on the 66/73 action type when fed a steady diet of modern high power loaded food. In a competition only application this is will not be an issue. The 73 is also noticeably heavier than the Marlin. This comes into play in the circus that SASS has become & certinaly helps when dumping many rounds on a single target. It is a detrement when swinging to engage 4 to 8 different targets however. I also feel that when traveling through many states a pistol caliber levergun is an excellent choice, as they rarely are considered nasty or evil and are generally sneered at by the utterly clueless? My Opinion (Crowkiller), it differes from your own, so what. Keep up the great content!

[@derrelcarter9401]

Did a bad thing to the pooch there, "They Do Not work well tilted to the right or upside down"

[@hinanobubbie5257]

Awesome information. I was on the fence between the Uberti and Winchester. Great information about the barrel length and ammunition capacity, I over looked that. Thank you for putting out this great video.

[@williamperson6713]

I watched your brutality match with the Winchester/Miroku and your comments on its quality and finish convinced me to purchase one. I did own a Uberti model some time before and found it to be need breaking in,adjusting sights, etc. The Miroku model was not much more than the Uberti, required no break in or sight adjustment, and to me looked better with the unvarnished stock. Love to see your recommendation on what pistol to use for Deadeye.

[@duanephillips2343]

Really good video. I have a Rossi 92 in .44. It has a color case hardened receiver and 24 in octagonal barrell. I bought it used with a slicked action for CAS - right before the pandemic. And .44 became an issue to get...

[@m-n18]

I have and enjoy my Rossi R92 in 357/38spl. My opinion this gives the best of all worlds, the 357 has more than enough power for near any application and the 38spl is a nice inexpensive, low recoil, and fast shooting target round. And if you need more power you can go to a +P of either. The Rossi R92 is a fine rifle, I haven't had a real malfunction the only problem I have had was an operator error. I learned with 38spl that you needed to lower the muzzle slightly before working the action or the next round would eject with the empty case.

[@tyetylerballz]

The real question is what is the best rifle caliber pistol, just kidding Karl I love your work and inclusivity

[@Hostilenemy]

Karl, when are you doing a desert brutality in a Steamboat Willie costume? Given that the patent just expired, this is a golden opportunity to dress as your favorite character.

[@InrangeTv]

Oh, I was already doing that privately.

[@hiddenacresoutdoors]

We just picked up a Taylor/Uberti 1873 in .45 Colt yesterday. It matches our Uberti .45 Colt SAA "El Patron" perfectly. I don't have the stockpile of brass as of yet so a quick order of 500 rounds was our next purchase. From there it's off to the reloading bench. Thanks for the info. We did a lot of research before our purchase. Now to wait on the ammo to arrive!

[@jfbft5007]

i have a Henry 1860, a 1866, a 1873 and two 1892 (Uberti and Rossi, all in 44-40WCF) for me, the smoothest is the 66. I use it in CAS (without short stroke) since years and she is faithfull et smooth. I like it. after, everybody have his choice 😁😉

[@SomervilleBob]

I have an older Marlin in .38/357 (second series). I bought it used 30 years ago. With .38 wadcutters, it's super quiet. Fun gun!

[@kenwalker687]

I bought the Winchester 73 by Miroku (Japan). It is fantastic & beautiful ! Best lever rifle I have ever owned. .Excellent with .357 length. Probably a great bush rifle for hunting. I think their quality control is superior to all European reproductions.

[@davidgoodnow269]

Thank you for explaining your dislike of the Marlin action. I grew up with the Marlin 45-70, my dad's hunting rifle and he was one of three hunters who kept the Watchtower shooter at University of Texas at Austin pinned down, saving many fleeing students for an extended period despite none having more than a box or two of cartridges by coordinating loading, using that rifle. The shooter was stopped by a policeman who borrowed another hunter's scoped 30-06 bolt action. I have concluded by some graph-paper and math, that trying to hit a man popping up at 300 yards at a height a hundred-and-fifty feet above, with a pumpkin-roller, without overshooting and endangering someone on the far side, is a non-trivial task. I am very fond of the pairing of an old Marlin 1894C and a Ruger GP-100, myself, and of course a Marlin 45-70 like my dad's. But my personal favorite lever-action is the Browning Lever-action Rifle in .308 WCF, light, smooth, extremely well-balanced and fast-handling, very good accuracy, detachable 5-round magazines for different loads. I do want a Winchester 1895 30-06, with the stripper guide, as a collector. Williams receiver-rear peep sights are a must, as is a half-dime silver front sight!

[@werre2]

I have a Rossi 1892 clone in 44mag. Never had even one malfunction. Getting a Marlin 1894 in 357mag today :)

[@mtslyh]

Great info that is amazingly timely. I was just trying to make this very decision for an upcoming purpose. There is nothing I hate more than buyer's remorse.

[@whelper4231]

Yep, I guess that's the double edged sword of having so many options nowadays. We are grateful until you have to make a decision on what we want and what is best. Good luck! 😅

[@JamesKintner]

This is crazy timing for me. I have had two of these open on a tab on my computer for weeks... Karl, you already had me on the 1873... but this was excellent info.

[@matthewdiehl1647]

Wow! This was just the video i needed! Wouldnt mind someday maybe getting something just like u described at the end-i just had so much bad luck with lever guns that i wasnt sure where to go next.

[@AKAKiddo]

Thank you thank you thank you. I too love the lever action pistol caliber. Bought a 20 inch Rossi 92 last year and immediately had to do a bunch of stuff to it, like turn the cheese grater into a proper loading gate, cut the magazine spring, lighten the ejector spring, do some polishing. It is soooo much better. But OMG what a lot of work to make an $800 gun work right. That's okay. But I want an 1873 lever action. Now I know what to look for.

[@CoreyCJordan]

In 1989, I purchased a Rossi 92 SRS Puma. It has a 16-inch barrel chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special. I had no intention of shooting it in Cowboy Action competition. I was looking for a pack rifle ammo compatible with my S&W 586 revolver. As a pack rifle, size and weight were considerations. Short, thin, and reliable were driving my choice. The action was rough when new, but it soon smoothed out with use. Compared to the 1873 action, it is stronger. The dual wedges lock it up super tight. I wanted that because I was hand loading full pressure rounds (2,050 fps from the 16-inch barrel). Over the many years, I suffered two malfunctions. One was a cartridge stop that loosened up, resulting in a round getting under the shell lifter. As you know, that was a hard failure requiring some work to clear. The second failure was a broken firing pin. I replaced the factory firing pin with one manufactured in 1912 for the Winchester 1892. This required shortening the firing pin, which was easy to do and re-profile on a lathe. Over the 34 years of use, I have fired somewhere near 5,000 rounds through the little carbine. At 71 years old, I don't do 50-mile wilderness hikes any longer. I have relocated to a state where bears are not a threat, exchanged for gators. Still, I bring the Rossi to the range, and it never disappoints me. I keep three long guns loaded in my "ready safe." A custom AR-15, a tactical shotgun, and the Rossi. I trust it that much. It is shorter and lighter than the tactical guns and will absolutely do the job intended.

[@454FatJack]

1950 film Winchester ’73 James Stewart etc

[@wedge7j7]

I have a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt and a Winchester model 94 in 30-30 made in 79... Both without the lawyer safety...

[@HouseholdDog]

Thanks so much.

[@USAACbrat]

I had 2 Marlin 44 SS first Poduction run 1895 in 44 Mag Fiest my brother Sean,bought the first one and the second Dan, my youngest brother got. Sean had a Winchester 44 Mag Winchester that could not get thru a magaine without jamming.

[@GrendalTheBeasty]

I have a 24" 1873 from Winchester/Miroku in 38/357 mag. It is by far my favorite gun to shoot. It's fast, smooth and handles wonderfully. I added the obligatory folding peep sight on it too, which is really the only way to shoot it imho. Obviously it's not the most practical gun I own, but when it comes to range toys, it just can't be beat. Reloading 38 and 357 costs very little and with the more or less straight up ejection, brass seems to last almost forever. No experience with the Ubertis but I've heard mostly good things except about the sights being crooked. I've shot a Henry a few times and they are ok, but not the same. I can confirm that sketchy build quality on them too. I don't think they are meant to be shot with any degree of regularity.

[@billmccormick874]

Good breakdown of potential lever guns. I need one for my son as he is a fan of them.

[@covertops19Z]

Great Brief!!.. I shot Cowboy action a lot... I have a very early Marlin M94, (high quality), two Uberti Henrys, one brass, one steel frame. But my all time Fav is my Uberti "injun" M66 Carbine.. fast, sweet and just looks so darn cool. Glad I got one before they stopped making them. The M66/M73/M76 are excellent!!, Then there's M92s..

[@lukeman9851]

Wonderfully informative, as ever. One the one hand, it's unfortunate that there aren't more great options, but on the other hand it is nice sometimes to be able to get a definitive answer that's just "this is the one"