Single Six
New member
Sarge: Glad to see I wasn't the only one! I may have to look into Rossi since you say they've succeeded where Marlin did not.
Lever Action Questions
- Thread starter Mosinnagant
- Start date
Mosinnagant
New member
Thank you for all the tips. I think I am going to go with the marlin in 357.
+1 Rossi.
Btw, The often-used (including this thread) "Puma" name is used by many to informally describe any Rossi 92 built over the years, starting in the 70s. However, technically it is the marketing name given the Rossi by its largest distributor from the 90s (til 2009 or so), Legacy Sports International (LSI), and by Interarms before then. Other importers marketed the 92 under different monikers.
Despite tooling improvements, different trims/calibers/sights (and a dubious added safety switch) depending on the importer and time-frame over the years, generally a Rossi is a Rossi is a Rossi...but otherwise it's variously been known as/distributed by Interarms (70s-90s), Legacy (LSI-90s-2009), EMF "Hartford" 1892 (late 90s to 2010), Navy Arms 1892 (late 90s-2006) and, now, Rossi itself as the "92" (under its new-ish Taurus/Braztech ownership) since LSI's departure as the sole importer of current record.
Edit: Legacy (LSI) took the "Puma" name with it when it ceased importing the Brazilian (Rossi) 92s in favor of the Italians (Chiappa)...and now, even more confusingly, uses the name for both its new 1892 and 1886--and perhaps others.
Btw, The often-used (including this thread) "Puma" name is used by many to informally describe any Rossi 92 built over the years, starting in the 70s. However, technically it is the marketing name given the Rossi by its largest distributor from the 90s (til 2009 or so), Legacy Sports International (LSI), and by Interarms before then. Other importers marketed the 92 under different monikers.
Despite tooling improvements, different trims/calibers/sights (and a dubious added safety switch) depending on the importer and time-frame over the years, generally a Rossi is a Rossi is a Rossi...but otherwise it's variously been known as/distributed by Interarms (70s-90s), Legacy (LSI-90s-2009), EMF "Hartford" 1892 (late 90s to 2010), Navy Arms 1892 (late 90s-2006) and, now, Rossi itself as the "92" (under its new-ish Taurus/Braztech ownership) since LSI's departure as the sole importer of current record.
Edit: Legacy (LSI) took the "Puma" name with it when it ceased importing the Brazilian (Rossi) 92s in favor of the Italians (Chiappa)...and now, even more confusingly, uses the name for both its new 1892 and 1886--and perhaps others.
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torquewrench
New member
I have a Marlin 1894 and a Rossi M92
I bought a Marlin 1894 last year used. I was made in the 1970s according to a web site where you enter the first two digits of the serial number. This rifle jammed constantly. I took it apart completely and cleaned it and polished the carrier. Still jammed. I identified the problem after my first batch of reloads. My reload manual stated an OAL of 1.61. The factory ammo I was shooting was 1.535. My reloads never jam. OAL is important in the Marlins. That is just the problem mine had. I have read many other problems with the newer guns in my search to correct the jam problems with mine. Crazy stuff.
I bought a Rossi M92 last year as well.. It cycles ammo great. It shoots about a foot high at 100 yards though. The front sight post must be too low. I had to contend with Rossi for months to get them to repair it under warranty. Rossi was not very pleasant to deal with. I am still waiting for my rifle to be returned to me for over a month.
I would have put a new front sight on myself, but the post is welded on.. Not dovetailed in. What a pain. Didn't even notice when I bought it.
I still love the lever guns though.
I bought a Marlin 1894 last year used. I was made in the 1970s according to a web site where you enter the first two digits of the serial number. This rifle jammed constantly. I took it apart completely and cleaned it and polished the carrier. Still jammed. I identified the problem after my first batch of reloads. My reload manual stated an OAL of 1.61. The factory ammo I was shooting was 1.535. My reloads never jam. OAL is important in the Marlins. That is just the problem mine had. I have read many other problems with the newer guns in my search to correct the jam problems with mine. Crazy stuff.
I bought a Rossi M92 last year as well.. It cycles ammo great. It shoots about a foot high at 100 yards though. The front sight post must be too low. I had to contend with Rossi for months to get them to repair it under warranty. Rossi was not very pleasant to deal with. I am still waiting for my rifle to be returned to me for over a month.
I would have put a new front sight on myself, but the post is welded on.. Not dovetailed in. What a pain. Didn't even notice when I bought it.
I still love the lever guns though.
torquewrench
New member
Got My Rossi back from Waranty repair
I would say stay far away from Rossi. I just waited 4 weeks form them to fix the sight. It shoots over a foot high at 100 yards. Took it out of the box and put my laser bore site tool in the barrel. They didn't fix it. The repair order states they fixed it from a failure to eject issue. I never had a problem with failure to eject. I called after three weeks of waiting. They said it was in accuracy testing. The rifle looks so dirty that they must have put a couple of hundred rounds through it and didn't clean it.
Rossi will cost less at the check out.. But it will cost you to repair.
Stay away from Rossi..
I would say stay far away from Rossi. I just waited 4 weeks form them to fix the sight. It shoots over a foot high at 100 yards. Took it out of the box and put my laser bore site tool in the barrel. They didn't fix it. The repair order states they fixed it from a failure to eject issue. I never had a problem with failure to eject. I called after three weeks of waiting. They said it was in accuracy testing. The rifle looks so dirty that they must have put a couple of hundred rounds through it and didn't clean it.
Rossi will cost less at the check out.. But it will cost you to repair.
Stay away from Rossi..
Four weeks is not too bad for a factory repair. I sent a 338MX back to Marlin in October and am still waiting to get it back. Concensus on the Marlin forums is that they are waiting to start new production before they replace all the bad recievers with "droopy barrel syndrome." I have no experience with Rossi, but I have lost faith with Marlin.
Rossi, not made in the USA...repair times are LONG.
Marlin, Made in Ilion, NY nowadays...they moved from New Haven, Connecticutt recently.
SHORT repair times for the most part...and cheaper shipping.
Biggest thing that tells you which to buy...go look at an S.A.S.S. Cowboy Action Shoot...
95% of the top 10 at any given shoot will be using Marlin 1894C's.
If you take the time to carefully select your ammo for the best precision, Marlins Micro-groove barrels act like Match Barrels.
12-lands & 12-grooves makes quite a difference!
Marlin, Made in Ilion, NY nowadays...they moved from New Haven, Connecticutt recently.
SHORT repair times for the most part...and cheaper shipping.
Biggest thing that tells you which to buy...go look at an S.A.S.S. Cowboy Action Shoot...
95% of the top 10 at any given shoot will be using Marlin 1894C's.
If you take the time to carefully select your ammo for the best precision, Marlins Micro-groove barrels act like Match Barrels.
12-lands & 12-grooves makes quite a difference!
torquewrench
New member
Rossi repairs are done in Miami, FL
The time isnt the issue. The non-repair is. I have the old '70s model 1894. love it. Maybe i will take the firing pin out of the Rossi and hang it over the mantle.. more useful that shooting it.
BTW: I tried the Laser Cast .431 RNFPs in my Marlin. Tighter group at 50 yards. I heard they work better in Marlins. http://www.laser-cast.com/44Cal.html
The time isnt the issue. The non-repair is. I have the old '70s model 1894. love it. Maybe i will take the firing pin out of the Rossi and hang it over the mantle.. more useful that shooting it.
BTW: I tried the Laser Cast .431 RNFPs in my Marlin. Tighter group at 50 yards. I heard they work better in Marlins. http://www.laser-cast.com/44Cal.html
Fatter bullets work better in Marlins 
Basically, the micro-grooves, while more numerous, are smaller (hence the name "Micro-Groove",
so fatter bullets grab in the grooves & lands better, release less gas around the bullet,
and fly faster & truer.
Of course, anyone could read that on the Marlin site or Chuck Hawk's site
Same is true for the rimfires...careful bullet selection makes the Marlin a very tough competitor
Bad bullet selection (as in, what's cheapest this week), can lead to some really oddball results.
Micrometers are your friend, when it comes to wringing the most out of a particular barrel
Basically, the micro-grooves, while more numerous, are smaller (hence the name "Micro-Groove",
so fatter bullets grab in the grooves & lands better, release less gas around the bullet,
and fly faster & truer.
Of course, anyone could read that on the Marlin site or Chuck Hawk's site
Same is true for the rimfires...careful bullet selection makes the Marlin a very tough competitor
Bad bullet selection (as in, what's cheapest this week), can lead to some really oddball results.
Micrometers are your friend, when it comes to wringing the most out of a particular barrel
My 16" Rossi .45 Colt shot way high with factory duplication loads. I went with the Marble Folding Sporting Rear Sight No. 95, Brownell's Stock No. 579-000-082 and the Marbles 50W front sight, Brownells, part # 579-105-031. The latter is a .500 tall front sight, with a 1/16" gold bead and the oddball dovetail base that fits these rifles. Yours might need a different front sight to make it zero.
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22309
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22309
shootniron
New member
I own a Marlin that I really like and I would recommend to anyone. However, I hear some negative things about the Remington/Marlins......quality problems, but I have no first hand experience with them.
Look on the used market for the Marlin. Prices (of everything) have gone nuts in the last few years, but deals can still be found. I've had two of the .357s (gave one to my Father-in-law), and one of the .44s. Fine guns. Wouldn't pay what they want for retail these days, though.
I bought my current .357 at a gun show about 3 years back, $300 cash, rifle in like new condition.
I bought my current .357 at a gun show about 3 years back, $300 cash, rifle in like new condition.
gearhounds
New member
I bought an 1894 limited (16" barrel) LNIB back in 2000 for $300; at first it would fail to cycle some rounds, but after 100 or so, it smoothed out and it perfectly reliable. Had it Black-T'd at Birdsongs and assoc, and now it's a matte black all weather brush gun. Love it!
44-40 Willy
New member
Found this surfing the net, and registered here to put my two cents worth in as I've got both a Marlin 1894C and a Rossi built Navy Arms 1892 in 357. The Marlin is an older one built in 1982 and I bought the 1892 new in 1999.
The Marlin is a great little carbine and the cousin I bought it from killed at least two deer a year with it for over 20 years. If she hadn't of been in a money bind, she'd still have it. I can't really think of anything bad to say about it at all other than the 18.5" barrel is a little short for my tastes. But Mrs Willy likes it so she uses it more than I do.
The Navy Arms 1892 is the 24" octagon rifle and is more accurate than the Marlin. Seems Rossi used the same barrel blank for all calibers and in 357 it's a pretty thick heavy barrel which is why I figure it's so accurate. Also the Navy Arms uses real American walnut unlike the normal Rossi mystery wood and the fit and finish is as good as any other rifle I own including a limited edition Marlin in 44-40. The action was a bit clunky out of the box, but over the years it's worn in nicely. Right now the only complaint I have about it is that it's ejects the empties into low earth orbit which when you reload can be a bit aggravating.
Both are great guns and I'd buy them again.
The Marlin is a great little carbine and the cousin I bought it from killed at least two deer a year with it for over 20 years. If she hadn't of been in a money bind, she'd still have it. I can't really think of anything bad to say about it at all other than the 18.5" barrel is a little short for my tastes. But Mrs Willy likes it so she uses it more than I do.
The Navy Arms 1892 is the 24" octagon rifle and is more accurate than the Marlin. Seems Rossi used the same barrel blank for all calibers and in 357 it's a pretty thick heavy barrel which is why I figure it's so accurate. Also the Navy Arms uses real American walnut unlike the normal Rossi mystery wood and the fit and finish is as good as any other rifle I own including a limited edition Marlin in 44-40. The action was a bit clunky out of the box, but over the years it's worn in nicely. Right now the only complaint I have about it is that it's ejects the empties into low earth orbit which when you reload can be a bit aggravating.
Both are great guns and I'd buy them again.