would like too know if a lever action 357 mag rifle could be reworked too shoot 357 maximum ? what gun would be best too start with and what you think cost would be ?thanks don
keep on bangin boys

Hi Don,

I'd think that it would be easier to start with a .30-30 - sized action, either a Win 94 or Marlin 336.  At least you won't have to do massive modifications to the receiver, like I suspect that you would with a '92 or Marlin 1894.  I really doubt that the pistol-cartridge carbines could handle the long max round, I could be wrong.

Then it's a matter of the correct sized barrel, and fiddle around with the lifter etc. till it feeds.  Doubt if the manufacturers would sell you an unchambered .35 cal barrel, so have to get someone to turn down a barrel blank, thread it, and chamber.

I know that both the 1894 and 336 have been offered in straight-walled cartridges (.38-55, .375 Win, etc), so there is no reason that this could not be done.

Might be a neat gun.  Case head size on a .357 isn't all that big so should be able to run pretty decent pressures.

Cost?  Best find someone who thinks that it would be an interesting project!  My dad has made one 336 into a .25-20 and another into a .250 Savage.  Of course he enjoys doing such things and it's his own time.

It would be a whole lot cheaper to do this on a single-shot .357 mag, as I'm sure you're aware.

Just saw in the leverguns forum a description of a Win 1894 in .357 Mag.  So it would seem that this would be the ideal candidate for a conversion to .357 Max.  Rechamber and mess with the lifter... sounds fairly simple.