Carbine Length Lever Actions

[cynergyou]

Hi All - I have a Winchester 94 Trapper (16" barrel, 44 Mag) that I love.  It's a great gun - handy, accurate out to about 100 yards, and fun to shoot.  I handload 44sp and 44 mag loads for this gun and hope to use the gun for deer hunting this season. 

I always wanted another 16" lever gun, but didn't buy one before Winchester stopped making them.  I've seen some Trappers now on sale and the prices are pretty high (700 or 800 bucks!).

What 16" barreled guns are available nowadays?  I've seen some Rossi 92's in 16".  I like them, except for the placement of the safety.  I'd rather have a tang mounted safety or cross bolt safety like my 94.  Does Marlin make a 16" or 18" lever gun in 44 mag or .357?  What other manufacturers make a good quality carbine length lever gun?

[jlchucker]

I like my new Rossi in 357, but unless you stick to 357 caliber, and not 38 special, it can be a handloader-only proposition.  As to the bolt safety, Nate Kiowa Jones makes and sells a couple of ways to replace that, or you can just leave it on "fire".  I bought the replacement button, and watched a gunsmith friend of mine replace it in about one minute. He then handed me the safety and a tiny ball bearing in case I ever wanted to put it back.  I've had a couple of Marlins with the crossbolt safety--just left them on "fire" and ignored them, except for when it came time to levering out unshot ammo.  Everything that Winchester ever tried was either clunky, ugly, or both. I own a Winnie trapper in 44 mag--angle eject but rebounding hammer.  I've never had trouble withthe rebounding hammer, but it's a gun that's nowhere near as tight as earlier Winchesters overall.  Nowadays, my favorite truck gun is my new Rossi, with my own cast-bullet handloads.

[Rangr44]

Marlin made a 16 1/4" bbl'd .44 Mag for two years ca Y2K, the M1894P.

Rossi still makes 16" bbl'd .357/.38Spec & .45 Colt Model 92 Big Loop carbines (I switched out the big loops of mine for standard loops).

.

[dougk]

In the 60's Marlin made a Marauder and in the 80's they had a LTS.  Both have 16 inch barrels.  I have the LTS which is a nice gun.

[dpe.ahoy]

The standard length for the Marlin 1894C, (357) is 18 1/2" and is close to what you are looking for.  A good gunsmith can always shorten the barrel and mag. tube for ya.   I have 2 of the Rossi 16" trappers that are very quick to handle.  Also have a Win Trapper AE in 45 Colt.  DP 

[eastbank]

just keep your eye,s open, they are out there, i picked this win. 94 trapper in 30-30 AE in like new condition fairly cheap after being told he had a new model 94 and did i want to see it,well not realy but he was a nice man(i realy like older 94,s,not newer ones). when he showed it to me i knew i had to have it and the price was very good. eastbank. 

[jlchucker]

You've got some pretty nice wood on that gun, Eastbank.