I am trying to decide between a new 25-35 or a 357 in a Win. rifle.I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Probably the .357. The Winchester Model 94 will feed and shoot well, any type bullet we have loaded for it. This is a great cast bullet rifle. My Dad shoots the 200 grain RCBS flat nose gas check bullet at full velocity and it is a fine combination.
We have even shot the NEI 180 grain LBT style bullet in this rifle with NO lubrication. We obtained excellent accuracy with NO leading. An interesting experiment in which we had to load ammunition at the range to prove it to some people.

Back to the rifle, My Dads has been faultless for several years and a LOT of rounds. My wife has a .45 Colt Trapper and I must admit that while the .45 Colt is fun to shoot, the .357 is a little more versitile.
I have read several; threads of these .357 Magnum rifles having some feeding problems. These problems were cured with replacement parts. The problems centered around the spring on the lever that is used to hold the round in position as the carrier starts up.
The second problem has centered around the ejector. I have read of two instances where the ejector broke. My Dad pulled his and after examining it there was a burr where the two pieces are welded together. He cleaned this up and has had no trouble with his rifle.

As William said, the .357. The .25-35 is rather limited in its usefulness, ammo is spotty, limited to only one factory bullet weight and not very versatile when handloaded. The factory sights are calibrated for that one bullet weight and when changing bullet weights the sights usually lack enough adjustment.
.357.

i'm going to disagree. While the 357 is more versatile, and I have several molds and jacketed rounds I have used on my 357, I am enjoying the 25-35 as a breath of fresh air. Perhaps I prefer the superiority of the true rifle cartridge, whith in my hands its inherent increased accuracy. I obviously have fewer components to use on the 25-35, but I would get one just cause they are not generally made anymore, and because I am making some 200 yard shots with mine. Its been a varmint gun deluxe! Can't believe I'm saying this about a Winnie versus a Marlin! (mine is) :o :eek: It cycles fine, and even tough it has that horrible trigger and rebounding hammer, it is VERY accurate. My 357 is only so-so.

With almost monotonous regularity, I can pick off clay birds on a burm 100, 150 and 200 yards away. I can't do that with the 357!

Obviously I do have a 3-9X scope on the 25-35.

To me there is no comparison. Grab a 25-35 while you can! Get the 357 later. If you do not reload. I might think again.

Another cartridge you might consider is the 25-20. It is accurate as all get out, and twice as fun to shoot :) It is cheap to load for, I have not shot any cast bullets in mine and most likely will not because of the accurate load I have with the 86 gr Rem JFP. I'm really thinking that I need to shoot a bobcat or coyote with it this year.

Winchesters sure make good trading material.

Dr A,
I have been very curious about the 25-35 since I noticed they were being made again. What are your opinions of this caliber being used on deer, I almost bought one of those winnies myself until I noticed that 25-35 ammo is going for $25 a box :eek: . So I got a 1894SS instead.

Have any of you seen the new Timber Scout they show on the Winchester web site. You can get it in either 30-30 or 44 mag. It comes with the scope mounting rail and the XS brand ghost ring sight. That is a good looking gun. I have both a Marlin and Winchester lever gun and I like them both. In my opinion they both have good and bad qualities but mostly good. That 25-35 does look like an interesting caliber.

336A

The 25-35 in any configuration is a smaller cartridge with less ambition than even a 30-30. It has been said many times that it is a gun for experts. I will add its probably for handloaders as well. I have numerous guns, and plenty more able to take a large deer than a 25-35. I have only had mine since early Spring, so have not been through any hunting season yet. I am probably going to try to get a doe with mine, which means I will hunt the main season with a larger arm. I use mine routinely for varmints, and the main difference here is that the longer distance accuracy is impressive. Many round nosed bullets have a rather indeterminant settleing while going from 150 yards to 250 yards. Many claim there is a distance limitation because of this. I would agree. This cartridge, although hampered by the same round nose-flat nose limitations, seems less bothered by the round nose problem, and I have enjoyed longer distance accuracy than with other lever actions. (However, it is no 22-250 BLR). It does not have any appreciable recoil.

If you're willing to accept a Winchester as it is (bad trigger, and rebounding hammer), you can currently mount a scope and plug away at prairie dogs /turkey or whatever else is legal. This gun smokes with Rel. 10 and 75/86gr. bullets. As William Iorg has noted many times, we need a 100gr. bullet to finish off the real needs of the cartridge. It would increase velocity and increase the effectiveness on deer.

I am a Marlin lover, and I feel somewhat like a traitor with this gun, but it has become my favorite truck gun. For me, it succeeds where the 357 failed. (a 200 yard coyote shot)

Another note: My wife who does NOT shoot and hunt took 5 shots on the 3rd of July and put them in 1.5 inches at 100 yards with this gun. It is not hard to get 1 inch groups with selected reloads any day and all day. VERY shooter friendly.

DR. A,
sounds like you are having fun and that is all that counts. I can see where it would be an experts round as well. It would be awesome if marlin would make a rifle in this caliber, but what do you think the chances of that happeing would be.

As far as I know, there wouldn't even be nostalgia for the Marlin, as they never even made them. Their answer was a similar cartridge, the 25-36.

Been reading this one. Never really thought about the two as interchangable...have owned both at the same time but never really thought of them as tools for the same job.

Thanks to these post, they do seem to be related. Both are the minimum I'd recommend for deer hunting...both do that job best at short range...and bothare minimum recoiling rifles.

Certainly don't think of cast bullets and deer hunting when the 25-35 comes up, but the .357 may be at it's best with good cast bullets. Don't usually think of longer range with the .357, but handloaded (and not used in the tubular mag.) with 75 or 87gr. Spitzers, the 25-35's trajectory isn't bad out to 200-225 yards.

Eaisly the .357 will be the best knock about, shoot for cheap, fun gun. Just that I never thought of them in the same sentence before.

I think the difference here is the rifle. The 25-35 is a cartridge that was originally used in the M94 and the 357 is a pistol cartridge adapted to it. If you want the 357 then a M92 would be better. There is also a difference in handloading. The pistol round is easier because you dont have to remove the case lube, a job thats too time consuming. Just my .02