.357 Magnum Lever-Action Rifles

A .357 Magnum lever-action rifle is one of the most practical firearms you can own — a carbine-length rifle that fires both .357 Magnum and .38 Special from the same gun, shares ammunition with your .357 Magnum revolver, and gains 300–400 fps of velocity over a handgun barrel to extend the cartridge’s effective range to 150+ yards on deer-sized game. With .38 Special, it’s a gentle, quiet, family-friendly plinker. With .357 Magnum, it’s a genuine hunting rifle for deer and hogs inside 150 yards.

Read our full .357 Lever-Action Rifle Buying Guide ↓

Why .357 Magnum in a Lever-Action Rifle?

The .357 Magnum cartridge gains substantial velocity from a rifle-length barrel — a 158-grain bullet that leaves a 4-inch revolver at 1,250 fps exits a 20-inch rifle barrel at 1,800+ fps, nearly doubling the energy. That transforms a handgun cartridge into a legitimate 100–150 yard deer round. Add the ability to shoot cheap .38 Special for practice, and you have a dual-purpose rifle that’s a serious hunting tool on one end and a low-recoil plinker on the other. For shooters who already carry a .357 revolver, a lever-action in the same caliber means one ammo supply for both guns.

Henry Big Boy .357 Magnum

The Henry Big Boy is available in .357 Magnum/.38 Special across multiple configurations: the classic brass-receiver Big Boy, the steel-frame Big Boy Steel, the Side Gate models (Henry’s most popular — adds a loading gate on the receiver for individual round loading), and the Big Boy X with a threaded barrel for suppressor use. Henry’s .357 lever guns are known for smooth actions, excellent triggers, and the best factory fit and finish in the lever-action market.

Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum

The Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum is the other pillar of the .357 lever-action market, now produced by Ruger (who acquired Marlin in 2020). The 1894 uses a solid-top receiver with a side ejection port, making it naturally easier to scope than Henry’s top-ejecting models. Ruger-production 1894s have been well-received for quality and accuracy.

Rossi R92 .357 Magnum

The Rossi R92 in .357 Magnum is the budget entry to .357 lever-action ownership — a Winchester 1892-pattern action at a lower price point than Henry or Marlin. Available in 16-inch and 20-inch barrel lengths with hardwood or laminate furniture. The R92 is a solid, functional lever gun that gets the job done without the premium price of a Henry Side Gate.

.357 Lever-Action for Suppressed Shooting

A .357 lever-action rifle with a threaded barrel and a suppressor firing .38 Special subsonic loads is one of the quietest centerfire setups available — the lever action produces no gas blowback to the shooter’s face (unlike a suppressed semi-auto), and .38 Special subsonics are inherently quiet. The Henry Big Boy X with its factory threaded barrel is the most popular platform for this use.

.357 Lever-Action vs. .30-30 Lever-Action

The .30-30 (.30-30 ammo page) hits harder at range and is the traditional lever-action deer cartridge. The .357 Magnum offers cheaper practice ammo (.38 Special), less recoil, revolver ammunition sharing, and is more than adequate for deer inside 150 yards. If you hunt exclusively with the rifle, .30-30 has the edge. If you want a dual-purpose rifle that shares ammo with a revolver and doubles as a low-cost plinker, .357 Magnum is the better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I shoot .38 Special in a .357 Magnum lever-action?
Yes — all .357 Magnum lever-actions safely fire .38 Special, just like .357 revolvers.

Is .357 Magnum from a rifle good for deer hunting?
Yes — from an 18–20 inch barrel, .357 Magnum delivers 1,800+ fps with 158-grain loads, which is adequate for deer inside 150 yards with proper shot placement.

Henry vs. Marlin for .357 lever-action?
Henry for fit, finish, and the smoothest action. Marlin 1894 for easier scope mounting (side ejection). Both are excellent.

Can I suppress a .357 lever-action?
Yes — with a threaded barrel and a pistol-caliber suppressor. The Henry Big Boy X ships with a factory threaded barrel for this purpose.