Higher speed 125gr hollow points aren't going to penetrate any deeper, they'll probably fragment inside. Maybe the 158 to 180gr would go further if they were a SWC or WFN style.
@@TargetSuite Might be worth using .38spl in that application for less blast. You still probably get .357 revolver velocities or close to it and a lot quieter.
I own a Winchester 94AE 16" Trapper in 357 mag, and a Rossi R357S single shot rifle which I shortened the barrel from 20" to 16" with basically no loss in velocity. They are both handy little hunting guns. I've owned both for about 20 years, and I highly recommend a 357 mag with 16" barrel.
I like 20” barrel lever guns. For me this is the sweet spot. A 20” gun is still short enough to be handy. They hold 10 rounds of .357, also the extra 4” of sight radius is really nice if you want to stretch your shooting out to a bit longer distance. Finally, the chrono results showed no velocity loss for a 20” barrel.
Agreed. Also 357 is a smaller round compared to something like 44 magnum, so with other cartridges like 44 magnum you'll need the extra length to get full velocity.
A longer sight radius - - - OK I don’t think Round count matters much in lever action Rifle. Also, the 16 inch will be about a pound lighter for those who hunt or trek in the woods with it.
Lever guns are so hard to find at the gun stores, the sales people tell me that they last at best just a few hours before the few they get once in a while fly off the shelf's. I had been in the market for a Henry Big Boy 44 magnum in a 20 inch barrel, no luck, last week I found a Rossi 357 stainless steel 20 inch and pounced on it. I do have a 45 colt and primarily fire +P through it since the cowboy stuff really doesn't do it for me, but they are also quite expensive, I figured a 44 magnum is very close to it and would cut my cost in half for the power, but no luck, so I settled for the 357, but I was quite surprised the power this rifle has and the ammo is cheaper yet. So the 20 inch is just perfect, holds more ammo and has better sight radius, the fps between the two lengths is so marginal that it really doesn't matter.
I've had my 16" Trapper for well over a decade. The only carbine I have fired more is my 10/22. I tuned and slicked it up a bit and it has been a trusty companion. It's probably time to refinish the stock again.
Thanks for the testing. Marlin did some testing many years ago and it determined that there is no practical advantage in velocity when the barrel length exceeds 18.5", which is the standard length of its 1894 model in .357 mag. These results seem to mirror yours.
I just love the new content you are producing George. The 16" looks really capable of doing the job in a very compact package. Shot Show was fantastic and this vid is excellent. Keep it coming Mate. Thank you from Australia.
I looked over both a stainless 20 and 16 inch .357 at a local shop. The 16 was just plain “handy”, and when I found one online (sadly not stainless) kitted out John Wayne-style, I went with it. My local 25 yard indoor range experience wit it was sweet. I may pick up a range permit later this year and see how it does at 50 and 100, but for personal protection range it’s just fine.
The shorter barrel brings the muzzle blast closer to your ear, a consideration for some. As with cartridge capacity, it comes down to personal choice. How it handles for you, is decisive. A good video.
Those two points are my bonuses to the 20”. I currently use a 20” 454 casull r92 & believe it’s one of the most underrated short - medium range hunting rifles around. I’m not really to concerned about costs of running it has I hand load cast boolits! However no denying a 357 mag blasting out 180gr rnfp’s would most likely achieve mostly what I wanta do ! Not sure about the instant anchoring ability at extremely close range ( under 5 yards on pigs )
Mate, here in Australia, we cut the overflow on the uphill side at 9 to 3 o'clock of the main flow-in point, with the overflow running around almost level (slightly downhill, yet wide enough to drain the largest possible inflow rate from the biggest expected torrential downfall... say, at least 4m wide depending) and running across the hill on the uphill side and then draining well away from the dam (your pond) wall edit: blade width of say, a D6 dozer). The highest water level should be around 1m below the wall height to give time for the biggest expected inflow to drain as it enters to ensure the top of the wall isnt breached at any time. Then you never have any concerns no matter what the weather.
This was an excellent video! Just purchased a similar 16” model, now I’m even more excited to pick it up from the shop. Really enjoy your videos, especially the ones about lever action rifles. Good luck with those beavers!
I have the 16 inch, and I love it. It's so light and compact---smaller than my Henry .22! Would have expected that the 20 inch would be more accurate and have a little more muzzle velocity, but it doesn't look like that's the case. You do get a couple of extra rounds, and it's still a light and compact gun; in other words, I want one of those, too!
I did lots of studying on this subject before getting my Marlin 1894C.. In a factory loaded 357, the 16" is about peak velocity wise. With the longer barrel, you can actually lose velocity. It depends more on sight radius you prefer. I have found 18.5 from Marlin is the perfect medium. Thanks for your time and testing. Check out "ballistics by the inch"
And I believe 18 1/2" is what Ruger is planning for the new 1894 in 357 magnum. They will stay with the 20 inch barrel for the 44 Magnum. Perfect! Thanks for your comment!
@Target Suite I think the larger case capacity of the 44 will be well Suited to the longer barrel. The 357 can only hold so much powder, hence the negligence of barrel length.
You are correct with factory rounds. As a handloader I use a tumble lube and powder coated Lee 158gr SWC seated out to maximum length and with a slower burning powder like H110 or Enforcer you can push the 158's over 1900fps no problem. I have a 20" stainless Rossi M92 and in my case the longer barrel really excels, no leading with the powder coated bullets too.
@Ken Fischmann Yes sir, I handload myself and can really tailor loads to barrel length. I have a few 357s and a handful of 35 Remingtons. I have a 16.5" 35Rem that does great with 180gr XTP pistol bullets at 1900fps with slow pistol powder. Fun load.with no recoil and obliterates coons and varmints.
FYI. I have a smaller pond than yours about an acre and its spring fed. I used to have an overflow pipe 30 years ago . One night a tree branch got in it and cause the water to go over the damn and the next morning I had a 20 foot wide hole where the damn was . The contractor put in a 12" Stand pipe rather than a overflow and its worked well every since. Its easy to control the level of the pond and because its spring fed it runs all the time. I also have anther 8" pipe that can bring it down about 2 feet in case we have a Hurricane and get a lot rain. Its worked well for me.
I have 2, 20" Stainless Rossi's, one in 454 Casull and the other in 357. The 357 see's the most shooting and I prefer the longer barrel, just me. I corono'd some factory rounds and came up with very similar results, big surprise but I'm a handloader. Using new Starline brass I loaded some cast and powder coated 158gr Lee TL358-158-SWC bullets seated out to maximum length and pushed them with large charges of 2400, H110, IMR4227 and Ramshot Enforcer. With the slower burning powders than the handgun designed loads velocity really took a jump and all loads were in a 50fps group just under 1900fps, that's as far as I wanted to push it, wanted to do some testing with 180's but never got around to it. The performance of the rifle and bullets was awesome, the alloy I used was just some scrap lead, old solder, jacketed range scrap and and a two fisted handful of old Meister 9mm bullets I had hanging around. No leading even at those elevated velocity's and very, very little smoke because of the powder coating. My favorite loads are with the 2400 and Enforcer right around 1500fps, light recoil and cheap. In John Deere green of course.
Yes sir! We are very blessed. And I'm constantly reminded that my ancestors worked long, hard, miserable hours right here through the 1950s, just to survive
I have done a fair bit of handloading and I think it boils down to how fast the powder burns. H110 W296 and IMR4227 are one after another on the burn charts (63 64 65) and appear to be the slowest pistol powders available.
I load mine with Blue Dot or 800 X . Still have a can of 4227, but preffer them for 140 -158 stiff loads. Slow burning Shotgun powders but perfform very well. Reload heavy shotgun loads so they are do it all
I have some similar muskrat issues with my small pond. Those traps are difficult to set up but sometimes do work very well. However, my current muskrat seem to be pretty smart to avoid them. That thermo scope of your might need to come out again! Also, you have some of the best commenters on any gun channel that I view and I view many.
I wonder if the 20" barrel is a few thousands oversized. I have a 20" Rossi .357 in stainless. It is about 100 fps slower than the same loads shot from a Marlin 18.5", and 150 fps slower than a real Winchester M92 with a 20". I have not cast the barrel, but have wondered. The loading gate was rough on mine out of the box, so I took it apart and smoothed and polished everything inside. No problems now and the trigger is much better also. The good thing about the stainless version is that you don't have to re blue it after you work on it. I love the 20", it seems just right for me. I like that it holds 10 rounds which is two rows from a box of 50. ( Technically it holds 10 + 1 but I only load 10.) I am holding out for a Ruger/Marlin .357 M94 in stainless with threaded barrel. I wish they would make it it in the 20" barrel but it will probably be the traditional 18.5". I never understood why they made the 44 magnum in 20" and the 357 in 18.5" My 20" Rossi seems to be perfectly balanced.
Nothing is ever simple. I’ve always felt that once the propellant was exhausted a longer barrel would just add drag to the bullets’s path. So from a cartridge performance perspective my preference has always been for the shorter 16” barrel; any pointing speed or accuracy differences were primarily a shooter’s responsibility. But it appears to be a mixed bag for sure.
Having held my brother's new 20" Henry side gate in 44 magnum I think it's plenty small enough for me to maneuver well! I can see the merits of a 16" barrel too. With most 357 loadings being with faster burning powder I think the 16" will have better velocity with most factory loads. The barnes are made with rifles in mind so it makes sense that the 20" edged it out there slightly. All that said ballistics will be very close so don't judge your choice on that.
Seems like there is a sweet spot for different calibers on barrel length. I know some rifle magnum calibers require a longer barrel to get the magnum velocity most people buy the caliber for. High pressure pistol rounds can see huge velocity increase over pistol for sure. My 9mm carbine shoots about 200 fps faster than my pistol. .44 mag will shoot about 400 fps faster in a rifle over a pistol. I have killed several animals with a .44 mag rifle, both lever action and single shot. HP bullets designed for pistol velocity can turn into grenades when shot out of a rifle causing penetration and lethality problems, especially if you strike a bone on entry. The super high velocity can cause a crater wound on the impacting the surface of the animal and never penetrate the body cavity.
I chose both. The first Rossi 92 I bought was a blued 20" in 357 mag. Several years later I bought the stainless 16" in 357 mag mainly because I figured the stainless steel would fair better in foul weather and the shorter barrel would make it lighter weight. Once I got the gun home and weighed it there wasn't much if any difference in weight. I'm assuming it's because the 16" stainless version seems to have a heavier and more dense wood than the older 20" blued version. Not a big deal because I still like both of them.
I SBR'd a Rossi Ranch Hand a few years back. 12 inch barrel. No issues ringing steel with it at 100 yards. Had the action slicked up by a well known gunsmith involved in Cowboy Action Shooting, or whatever you call it. It is a giggle machine when shooting 38 Special & 357 Mag. Only complaint is it's a Rossi, which means finding any spare parts is very difficult/non-existent, depending on whether Rossi is in business, or not in business, or being sold off to anther company, or, well, you get the picture. You see spare parts, buy them all. 😁
Nice video George, some great shooting and I was thinking the same thing to with the 20in over the 16in. Beautiful lake and land that you have to. Thanks for the video.
And most folks don't have a clue. Same thing with hogs. Those kinds of problems are out of sight and out of mind leaving people to just love the cute animals. But don't get me wrong. I love nature, but I do not place that above self-preservation, if you know what I mean
From your data i said that the 16 inches is the way to go. In general, the 20 inch began to loose velocity, Some specific loads may have slower burning powder or more powder, which may favor the 20. But I think that for most the 16 is the sweet spot
As a female I'll take the 16" please! You shoot very well and it always looks like you're just having a fun time. What a beautiful farm and pond! Hope you can get rid of all those destructive beavers quickly. And Austin needs to stop messing around with those traps😄
I think you were a little quicker with the 16” barrel. And considering a wash on the velocity between the two, the 16” is lighter and easier to maneuver in brush. Always appreciate your content, George! Good luck with the pond projects.
Thanks Bud! Truth is, the only measurable difference might come with more precision shooting needs. And with that, the longer site radius of the 20 inch barrel might make a difference.
I got a rossi R92 24". Per some data I found on the net - a very impressive study using the same ammunition in pistols and rifles of different barrel lengths - the 24" doubled the muzzle energy of the round over a 6" revolver barrel.
Nice rifle. I had a friend want to sell me a 16 inch one of those once. Kinda wish I had bought it for a spot of target shooting. I saw a guy in New Zealand 🇳🇿 on UA-cam (keeping it wild) carrying one of those in the bush and shooting red deer with a Rossi 357. Seemed to work good. I sure was impressed with the way you handled the lever rifle there. Cheers Dave 🇺🇸 🇳🇿
It would seem that 18" would be the best barrel length by splitting the difference between the two. I understand that folks have to buy what's available and make decisions according to the available data. But it sure would be nice if manufacturers would provide that 18" option.
Every spring i have to deal with beaver in two places on my property. my 17 hornet does a good job of dispatching them. But once in a while i get a smart one and have to sit back a couple hundred yards with my 2506
Ballistics by the Inch show velocity drops off after 16" in .357...I would say your tests tend to show this....sort of. It would be interesting to put both the 16 and 20" on paper...not as much fun as banging steel...but more defining of accuracy potential....loved the video, thank you!
I think the stainless would make a great truck gun and self-defense in close quarters. The longer barrel theoretically should be more precise at longer range because of the longer site radius. Personally I like the blued steel for some reason I've just never been a big fan of the stainless. So my choice would be the longer Blued steel. But they both seem pretty great. I think 357 Magnum makes a great fun lever action. Thank you 👍
Have had variations of both going on 45 years, most pre-safety and all the calibers, except .454 and .480, but including an early .44-40 and a rare-ish discreet .38 Special. And both "carbine" lengths have their charms for reasons others have noted, but my favorite is a passel of 20-inch blue saddle rings.
.357 out of a carbine is serious. That cartridge and the bullet options we have today would have really impressed some 1800s cowboys used to .38-40 and .44-40:carbines when things got beyond spitting distances. Velocity sure makes a difference in hitting things easier at 200 yards.
I think the longer sight radius would come in to play if you were doing the test at 2 or 3 times the distance, up that close it doesn't really matter too much outside of the 16 probably being slightly quicker to move
I prefer 20”. Not much difference in ballistics but I enjoy being able to have 11+1 .357s or 12+1 38 specials and a longer sight radius because I refuse to use anything but irons on it. It’s still a handy rifle at 20” barrel length in my opinion.
A few years ago, a gunsmith told me that the ideal barrel length ballistically for pistol caliber carbines was between 13"-14".The maximum velocity will be at13" or 14". He said that, because of the short bearing surface of pistol bullets, anything over 13" or 14" the bullet will actually start to slow down due to friction.
Look up Ballistics by the Inch online. The gunsmith was a little off on his ballistics. 50 percent of gunsmiths graduated in the bottom half of their class.
Thank you Maestro. As stupid as this sounds. I like the 20" barrel for one reason. In my 357 there have been a couple times when I was deer hunting in thick hardwoods and I was able to stick the barrel through the brush and get the rifle beyond the bush and on target and take a couple bucks. If I had a 16" barrel I would have had to go around the brush and the deer would have seen me. Purely a technical thing. Either are amazing rifles imho. Man if my shoulder could handle that 454 I'd have 2 of them!!!! What a round the Casull is.
When it comes to pistol rounds, rifles with shorter barrels are typically better, especially if you’re shooting hotter loads. Pistol bullets are designed to be shot from pistols at lower velocities, and if you try and push bullets rated for 1200-1500fps, they’re going to essentially explode on impact at 2000+. Poor penetration will likely be the result. This can even be seen in hopped up pistol rounds like 460 Rowland and 357 Maximum. One of the most important things when choosing a firearm and ammo combo is considering bullet construction.
My Henry Big Boy Carbine balances nicely for off hand shooting. I consistently get two inch groups at fifty yards.. however.. with a LPVO.. I get clover leafs consistently. I feel guilty for putting the scope on it.. but it doesn't look bad! I'm going to install a Skinner Peep Sight once I get one 😊 Great shooting as usual ❤
16 in is super handy . Will not compromise the Ballistics of the 357magnum. I bet there is not that much velocity difference between the standard 20in and shorter 16in.
I had my choice and bought the 16. The stainless looks cool as mine is blued I think that would have been a tough choice. I have added a sling and am pretty sure it doubled the weight. I bought mine after watching your videos, and have never looked back.
Sounds like you got a good 1894. I had one back in the 70s but sold it. Then I bought three here for the channel. All JM models. All of them had major issues. So, I'm really looking forward to Ruger's resurrection of the 1894.
Takes me back to the homestead by Dad grew up on. They had a lake, but beavers kept trying to dam the outlet and raise the level. Back then, it was a repeated chore to pick up some dynamite at the hardware store, and keep any dams blown out.
Thanks for this video George! I've been shopping the 92 in 357 and couldn't decide on the 16" or 20". I think it's the16". However I saw that you're having some issues with your new Rossi's. Maybe I'll wait to see if Rossi resolves the issue with your stainless rifle before pulling the trigger.
I like the handling of the 16" and the capacity of the 20". With factory loads, my 16" seems to put things out there a little faster than the 20" tube but sometimes, there are loads that run better from the 20" gun. Thanks for settling this debate once and for all, George!
Since I've never owned property with a pond or ponds, I have only observed what some farmers in our area have resorted to when their overflow pipes failed for whatever reason. I have to make a huge assumption here but bear with me. I noticed years ago that the above-mentioned farmers were using the kind of pumps plumbers use to pump out flooded basements and fire departments use when they have to "daisy chain" hoses beyond the point where their pumper trucks could provide high enough pressures to be of any use in wildfires. The pumps remind me a bit of "bilge pumps" and are gasoline powered. I wonder if you could invest in such a pump and two lengths of fire hose, or something similar, and use them to keep the water level of your pond under control without having to depend on a contractor to bring in heavy equipment and a crew that might actually make things worse. Great video as usual and now I'm wondering what kind of data would come from comparing velocities of the same ammo from a good quality 6" revolver and a "unicorn" 18" lever gun assuming anybody manufactures an 18" barreled rifle in .357 Magnum.
I really appreciate the information about pumps. The problem for me is that the Watershed for this Pond is really big and Winters are very wet so the volume of water we have to draw out of that pond is tremendous. During the wettest part of the year, a 6-in pipe running full, 24/7 cannot keep up.
For me, 18-18.5" is my favorite. I have 16, 18, 20" & 24" 24 is unwieldily but mine is a Savage 24 so different then a lever. My 20" is a H&R single shot so again differe t then a lever. The 16 & 18" are levers Rossi and Marlin. 18 gives slight velocity gain but better handling. Thats what I prefer.
@@TargetSuite My favorite 24 is my 357 Max/20ga but my most used is my 222/20g!! Its light trim and very accurate! It is a coyote killing MACHINE!! (I have 7 different 24's)
As always I really enjoy your videos. Austin, I feel your pain. Had one of those close on my hand once. Left a mark on both sides of my hand. Love the a Rossi rifles, but my marlin 1894 is a good fit for me. Hope the beavers don't become a new hobby for you.
I just love 357 Mag carbines. They will actually produce more energy than my 44 Mag revolvers, which is amazing! No better "bang for your buck" than a 357 Mag carbine. 16" to 20" is about ideal I think.
The velocity with a .357 usually maxes out around 18". There are some tweaks with powder and bullet combinations that may improve it some if you are reloading. But with factory ammo, you get what you can get. As another Louisiana resident and living less than I00 miles north of you, I understand about the beavers. The highway dept here fights them all the time. They block up the culverts under the roads. With all the recent rain. It is a problem.
Thanks, good information. I recently acquired a stainless Hartford model rifle, love it. I was amazed at the velocity I obtained with a 250 grain XTP pushed by a starting load of H 110 , .45 Colt load . Lots of fun and plenty of room to explore.
Based on the nearly equal ballistic numbers, and seemingly insignificant differences in speed and accuracy, I would prefer the 16 inch for in home and in woods handling. Seems about perfect to me.
I figure the faster burning pistol powders is hampering performance with longer barrels. Handloading with Win 296/H110 might give the edge in velocity.
It seems the only advantages of the 20in are a longer sight radius and possibly a longer magazine. Considering that the sight issue can be immediately rectified with a red dot sight (which would honestly improve both), that just leaves it up to you to decide if you want a handier package or more capacity.
I'm partial to the 16 inch because that is what I have. I just replaced the buck horn rear sight with a Skinner peep. For what ever reason my friend is deadly with the Skinner peep on my gun, but when I shoot it I have to cover the entire plate with the front post. He indicates that he center's the post in the aperture. I'm thinking it may be the difference between cheek welds. I've raised the rear aperture a good bit, but it still shoots low for me. I've got three more aperture sizes on the way to try. I sure hope that helps me with the aim as the aperture that came with the sight is their largest. Sorry about Austin's fingers. Those traps can break bones. Also sorry to hear about the pond issues as well as the heavy equipment operator issues. I've run into the same thing when trying to get dozier work done in the past.
Thanks for your comment! Good luck with that skinner sight. It is a great replacement for the Buckhorn and I have done that on several rifles using both skinners and the marble arms bullseye sight. But with all of my shooting for UA-cam I have gotten much better at using the standard irons.
I recently purchased a 24 inch octagon barrel .357mag. It is such a beautiful rifle, not a scratch or mark on it and worried taking it through the woods. I’m on the watch for a not so perfect 16 or 20 inch barrel with some use on it for hunting.
I was not aware of the compromised ballistics of a longer barrel when I bought a 24" barreled Rossi. I still prefer it because I feel the added weight makes it easier to hold steady on a target and the increased sight radius may aid in aiming. The Rossi are good reliable arms whatever their configuration. Thanks for your comment! ❤
I have to admit I was surprised by the results of the 16" rifle performing as well or better than the 20". So, I checked Ballistics by the Inch, and their testing showed that the 16" appears to be optimal for the .357, although BBTI only goes up to an 18" barrel, the dropoff is pretty clear. I checked a few others, and found the BBTI results for the .327 Federal Magnum, the .22 LR, the .22 Magnum and the .223 continued to show increased speed as the barrel length increased. The .44 Magnum and the .45 Colt were mixed, somewhat similar to the .357. Perhaps it is due to bullet weight?
Can't say bout the 357 mag But Got a 32 winchester special in the wrangler 16 inch barrel 5 + 1 32 winchester special 20 inch barrel Holds 7 + 1 They both are my next step up from 357 mag... Great video sir...
A beautiful place that you live at some of the time George, so many things to address in this video that I will stick to the shooting, first off, I’m jealous , you’re shooting is excellent and the only question that I have is, did you compare the tolerances or slug the bore of both of the rifles , results seem odd ! Have a great day 😊
Thanks for your comment hans. There is a lot going on with that 16-in rossi. There will be a customer service story that comes out of it but I didn't want to go into that yet. I want to give Rossi a chance to make things right with this gun as well as the 24 in 44 magnum. Then I'll post a full video on that.
1000 views in an hour? Good job, im glad to see the channel is doing well or at least i hope it is... George, can i ask what you tube gun channels do YOU like?
Thanks! This may sound funny but I don't watch a lot of gun tubers. But when I do, my favorites are Hickok45 of course, Buffalo's Outdoors, Gunblue490 and a small Channel you may never have heard of that is called Leverguns50. Sure there are others I'm just not thinking about right now. Another great Channel is Forgotten Weapons. Ian McCollum may have more historical knowledge about guns than all of us combined. I do a lot of research on that channel.
I happened to know an excavator operator. If you can find a decent sized rubber track rental 70 would be good, 50 ok, he would probably install a new underground overflow pipe for you. Old telephone poles set deep with underground braces buried would work on the zip line. If it was all planned and material was on site, 2 days no problem. I think you were a little better with the 20, witch surprised me, being longer.
My guess is that in 357, the powder is gone before the bullet leaves the barrel. The longer barrel will have drag without propellent pushing it out the barrel. For about 10 years, I managed a fishing pond in my community. The pond became overrun with muskrats and they started to do a lot of erosion damage to the shoreline. We hired trappers to take out the muskrats. They would up trapping over 100 of them.
I've got a 20" 3030 and that works out great but I've always seen the 357 and 45 colt type rifles as 16" guns. That extra 4 inches makes little difference and you definitely lose maneuverability when trying to use them around a truck, horse, atv, even hiking.
6:49 Thanks for the video, I prefer the 16" Rossi rifle because it is easier to handle, faster, and lighter, especially in dynamic shooting. And they shoot more or less at the same distance, but riding a horse the 16" makes the difference..
When comes to barrel length and efficiency it all about powder burn rates. Extremes noted here not recommended loads but here it goes . Red dot short barrels, IMR 4350 long barrels. Currently I am working on an experiment in black powder grainulations to find max efficiency. Utilizing 10" barrels chambered in .327 federal, .357 Remington maximum, and 45-55 Walker. Nice pond! Looks like you have a Jon boat zip line to me. And the big question is do have the ability to catch some Friday fish fry every now and then. Mountain man
As far as the Pond, You gotta do what you gotta do. As far as the barrel length, I've had a suspicion of the fast burning powder not making as much difference at least for 357 magnum.
I enjoy watching your videos (especially the ones on 357 mag lever action rifles)! After years of wanting a 357 mag rifle/carbine, I am close to buying one; I'm trying to decide which of 3 types would be best for me-the Rossi 16", The Henry 16.5", or the Marlin 357 mag with a 18.6" barrel. Have you fired a Henry or Marlin 357 mag carbine? If so, how do they compare with the Rossi 357? Please keep your videos coming!
The 16 inch looks to be an excellent home defense weapon.
Yes sir! And if you can tolerate that round going off in your house then it would be a great choice.
I donno…even JHP might penetrate the bad guy, and a couple of dry walls, out of a rifle.
Higher speed 125gr hollow points aren't going to penetrate any deeper, they'll probably fragment inside. Maybe the 158 to 180gr would go further if they were a SWC or WFN style.
@@TargetSuite Might be worth using .38spl in that application for less blast. You still probably get .357 revolver velocities or close to it and a lot quieter.
Open country not close neighborhood.
I own a Winchester 94AE 16" Trapper in 357 mag, and a Rossi R357S single shot rifle which I shortened the barrel from 20" to 16" with basically no loss in velocity. They are both handy little hunting guns. I've owned both for about 20 years, and I highly recommend a 357 mag with 16" barrel.
I like 20” barrel lever guns. For me this is the sweet spot. A 20” gun is still short enough to be handy. They hold 10 rounds of .357, also the extra 4” of sight radius is really nice if you want to stretch your shooting out to a bit longer distance. Finally, the chrono results showed no velocity loss for a 20” barrel.
Agreed. Also 357 is a smaller round compared to something like 44 magnum, so with other cartridges like 44 magnum you'll need the extra length to get full velocity.
A longer sight radius - - - OK
I don’t think Round count matters much in lever action Rifle.
Also, the 16 inch will be about a pound lighter for those who hunt or trek in the woods with it.
16 is better
Dude completely missed the takeaway from the video 😂
Lever guns are so hard to find at the gun stores, the sales people tell me that they last at best just a few hours before the few they get once in a while fly off the shelf's.
I had been in the market for a Henry Big Boy 44 magnum in a 20 inch barrel, no luck, last week I found a Rossi 357 stainless steel 20 inch and pounced on it.
I do have a 45 colt and primarily fire +P through it since the cowboy stuff really doesn't do it for me, but they are also quite expensive, I figured a 44 magnum is very close to it and would cut my cost in half for the power, but no luck, so I settled for the 357, but I was quite surprised the power this rifle has and the ammo is cheaper yet.
So the 20 inch is just perfect, holds more ammo and has better sight radius, the fps between the two lengths is so marginal that it really doesn't matter.
I've had my 16" Trapper for well over a decade. The only carbine I have fired more is my 10/22. I tuned and slicked it up a bit and it has been a trusty companion. It's probably time to refinish the stock again.
"Where'd my spot go?" That resonated with me.
Haha!
Love my Rossi 20 inch stainless steel. I considered the 16 inch but went 20 based purely on tradition.
Thanks for the testing. Marlin did some testing many years ago and it determined that there is no practical advantage in velocity when the barrel length exceeds 18.5", which is the standard length of its 1894 model in .357 mag. These results seem to mirror yours.
I just love the new content you are producing George. The 16" looks really capable of doing the job in a very compact package. Shot Show was fantastic and this vid is excellent. Keep it coming Mate. Thank you from Australia.
Thank you! It's good to hear from my friends down under.
I looked over both a stainless 20 and 16 inch .357 at a local shop. The 16 was just plain “handy”, and when I found one online (sadly not stainless) kitted out John Wayne-style, I went with it. My local 25 yard indoor range experience wit it was sweet. I may pick up a range permit later this year and see how it does at 50 and 100, but for personal protection range it’s just fine.
The shorter barrel brings the muzzle blast closer to your ear, a consideration for some. As with cartridge capacity, it comes down to personal choice. How it handles for you, is decisive.
A good video.
Thanks!
Those two points are my bonuses to the 20”.
I currently use a 20” 454 casull r92 & believe it’s one of the most underrated short - medium range hunting rifles around.
I’m not really to concerned about costs of running it has I hand load cast boolits!
However no denying a 357 mag blasting out 180gr rnfp’s would most likely achieve mostly what I wanta do !
Not sure about the instant anchoring ability at extremely close range ( under 5 yards on pigs )
Oh man, everyone likes a little Beaver.
Got the 16 for the smaller size, what a fun gun
Mate, here in Australia, we cut the overflow on the uphill side at 9 to 3 o'clock of the main flow-in point, with the overflow running around almost level (slightly downhill, yet wide enough to drain the largest possible inflow rate from the biggest expected torrential downfall... say, at least 4m wide depending) and running across the hill on the uphill side and then draining well away from the dam (your pond) wall edit: blade width of say, a D6 dozer). The highest water level should be around 1m below the wall height to give time for the biggest expected inflow to drain as it enters to ensure the top of the wall isnt breached at any time. Then you never have any concerns no matter what the weather.
Great input! Thanks!
This was an excellent video! Just purchased a similar 16” model, now I’m even more excited to pick it up from the shop. Really enjoy your videos, especially the ones about lever action rifles. Good luck with those beavers!
Thanks!
You are a formidable home defender with your rapid target acquisition.
I have the 16 inch, and I love it. It's so light and compact---smaller than my Henry .22! Would have expected that the 20 inch would be more accurate and have a little more muzzle velocity, but it doesn't look like that's the case. You do get a couple of extra rounds, and it's still a light and compact gun; in other words, I want one of those, too!
Both sure have their place. And we now have Rossi's in 16, 20, and 24 in. Thanks for your comment!
Seems @ 16 inches all the powder is used up.@@TargetSuite
16" barrel would be better for maneuver inside the home or for storing rather than a 20" barrel. Either way, both are great guns for any occasion!
16" on a 357 lever is all I'd want or need. Its lighter, less gangly, better balance and doesn't compromise on ballistics in most cases.
I did lots of studying on this subject before getting my Marlin 1894C.. In a factory loaded 357, the 16" is about peak velocity wise. With the longer barrel, you can actually lose velocity. It depends more on sight radius you prefer. I have found 18.5 from Marlin is the perfect medium. Thanks for your time and testing. Check out "ballistics by the inch"
And I believe 18 1/2" is what Ruger is planning for the new 1894 in 357 magnum. They will stay with the 20 inch barrel for the 44 Magnum. Perfect! Thanks for your comment!
@Target Suite I think the larger case capacity of the 44 will be well Suited to the longer barrel. The 357 can only hold so much powder, hence the negligence of barrel length.
You are correct with factory rounds. As a handloader I use a tumble lube and powder coated Lee 158gr SWC seated out to maximum length and with a slower burning powder like H110 or Enforcer you can push the 158's over 1900fps no problem. I have a 20" stainless Rossi M92 and in my case the longer barrel really excels, no leading with the powder coated bullets too.
@@TargetSuite Sounds like the a good balance between the easier to carry 16" and better sight radius of the 20" barrel!
@Ken Fischmann Yes sir, I handload myself and can really tailor loads to barrel length. I have a few 357s and a handful of 35 Remingtons. I have a 16.5" 35Rem that does great with 180gr XTP pistol bullets at 1900fps with slow pistol powder. Fun load.with no recoil and obliterates coons and varmints.
I like the 16" . You can hold with one hand while opening doors, moving brush ,etc.
FYI. I have a smaller pond than yours about an acre and its spring fed. I used to have an overflow pipe 30 years ago . One night a tree branch got in it and cause the water to go over the damn and the next morning I had a 20 foot wide hole where the damn was . The contractor put in a 12" Stand pipe rather than a overflow and its worked well every since. Its easy to control the level of the pond and because its spring fed it runs all the time. I also have anther 8" pipe that can bring it down about 2 feet in case we have a Hurricane and get a lot rain. Its worked well for me.
I have 2, 20" Stainless Rossi's, one in 454 Casull and the other in 357. The 357 see's the most shooting and I prefer the longer barrel, just me. I corono'd some factory rounds and came up with very similar results, big surprise but I'm a handloader. Using new Starline brass I loaded some cast and powder coated 158gr Lee TL358-158-SWC bullets seated out to maximum length and pushed them with large charges of 2400, H110, IMR4227 and Ramshot Enforcer. With the slower burning powders than the handgun designed loads velocity really took a jump and all loads were in a 50fps group just under 1900fps, that's as far as I wanted to push it, wanted to do some testing with 180's but never got around to it. The performance of the rifle and bullets was awesome, the alloy I used was just some scrap lead, old solder, jacketed range scrap and and a two fisted handful of old Meister 9mm bullets I had hanging around. No leading even at those elevated velocity's and very, very little smoke because of the powder coating. My favorite loads are with the 2400 and Enforcer right around 1500fps, light recoil and cheap. In John Deere green of course.
Thanks again. Appreciate the suggestions. One day I'll optimize loads for both these 357 and my 44 Magnum carbines.
You have a beautiful place , so very lucky to be able to own such a place
Yes sir! We are very blessed. And I'm constantly reminded that my ancestors worked long, hard, miserable hours right here through the 1950s, just to survive
I have done a fair bit of handloading and I think it boils down to how fast the powder burns. H110 W296 and IMR4227 are one after another on the burn charts (63 64 65) and appear to be the slowest pistol powders available.
Yep. And that's why I pick w-296 for most of the loads for my 357 Magnum and 44 magnum carbines. Thanks for watching and thank you for your comment
I load mine with Blue Dot or 800 X . Still have a can of 4227, but preffer them for 140 -158 stiff loads. Slow burning Shotgun powders but perfform very well. Reload heavy shotgun loads so they are do it all
I have some similar muskrat issues with my small pond. Those traps are difficult to set up but sometimes do work very well. However, my current muskrat seem to be pretty smart to avoid them. That thermo scope of your might need to come out again!
Also, you have some of the best commenters on any gun channel that I view and I view many.
You are right ken. And Janet was just mentioning that this morning as well. I do have a great bunch of men and women who comment on my channel.
I wonder if the 20" barrel is a few thousands oversized. I have a 20" Rossi .357 in stainless. It is about 100 fps slower than the same loads shot from a Marlin 18.5", and 150 fps slower than a real Winchester M92 with a 20". I have not cast the barrel, but have wondered.
The loading gate was rough on mine out of the box, so I took it apart and smoothed and polished everything inside. No problems now and the trigger is much better also. The good thing about the stainless version is that you don't have to re blue it after you work on it. I love the 20", it seems just right for me. I like that it holds 10 rounds which is two rows from a box of 50. ( Technically it holds 10 + 1 but I only load 10.) I am holding out for a Ruger/Marlin .357 M94 in stainless with threaded barrel. I wish they would make it it in the 20" barrel but it will probably be the traditional 18.5". I never understood why they made the 44 magnum in 20" and the 357 in 18.5" My 20" Rossi seems to be perfectly balanced.
Nothing is ever simple. I’ve always felt that once the propellant was exhausted a longer barrel would just add drag to the bullets’s path. So from a cartridge performance perspective my preference has always been for the shorter 16” barrel; any pointing speed or accuracy differences were primarily a shooter’s responsibility. But it appears to be a mixed bag for sure.
You are right about the mixed bag. Thanks for your comment and thank you for watching!
Having held my brother's new 20" Henry side gate in 44 magnum I think it's plenty small enough for me to maneuver well! I can see the merits of a 16" barrel too. With most 357 loadings being with faster burning powder I think the 16" will have better velocity with most factory loads. The barnes are made with rifles in mind so it makes sense that the 20" edged it out there slightly. All that said ballistics will be very close so don't judge your choice on that.
I think you are right.
I agree with your assumption. Velocity should not drive a choice when it comes to 357 Magnum barrel length
Seems like there is a sweet spot for different calibers on barrel length. I know some rifle magnum calibers require a longer barrel to get the magnum velocity most people buy the caliber for. High pressure pistol rounds can see huge velocity increase over pistol for sure. My 9mm carbine shoots about 200 fps faster than my pistol. .44 mag will shoot about 400 fps faster in a rifle over a pistol. I have killed several animals with a .44 mag rifle, both lever action and single shot. HP bullets designed for pistol velocity can turn into grenades when shot out of a rifle causing penetration and lethality problems, especially if you strike a bone on entry. The super high velocity can cause a crater wound on the impacting the surface of the animal and never penetrate the body cavity.
I chose both. The first Rossi 92 I bought was a blued 20" in 357 mag. Several years later I bought the stainless 16" in 357 mag mainly because I figured the stainless steel would fair better in foul weather and the shorter barrel would make it lighter weight. Once I got the gun home and weighed it there wasn't much if any difference in weight. I'm assuming it's because the 16" stainless version seems to have a heavier and more dense wood than the older 20" blued version. Not a big deal because I still like both of them.
Sounds like you found at least one case where diversity works😉
Stainless steel is more dense than carbon steel. Probably accounts for the slight difference in weight.
I SBR'd a Rossi Ranch Hand a few years back. 12 inch barrel. No issues ringing steel with it at 100 yards. Had the action slicked up by a well known gunsmith involved in Cowboy Action Shooting, or whatever you call it. It is a giggle machine when shooting 38 Special & 357 Mag. Only complaint is it's a Rossi, which means finding any spare parts is very difficult/non-existent, depending on whether Rossi is in business, or not in business, or being sold off to anther company, or, well, you get the picture. You see spare parts, buy them all. 😁
Nice video George, some great shooting and I was thinking the same thing to with the 20in over the 16in. Beautiful lake and land that you have to. Thanks for the video.
330s are bad dudes nothing to mess around with. Great stuff George👍😃✌️🇺🇸
Beaver are crazy destructive! I've been dealing with them on a family ranch.
And most folks don't have a clue. Same thing with hogs. Those kinds of problems are out of sight and out of mind leaving people to just love the cute animals. But don't get me wrong. I love nature, but I do not place that above self-preservation, if you know what I mean
Thanks George great video. Good luck with your pond and varmints ...
Thanks!
From your data i said that the 16 inches is the way to go. In general, the 20 inch began to loose velocity, Some specific loads may have slower burning powder or more powder, which may favor the 20. But I think that for most the 16 is the sweet spot
With a more powerful cartridge like 44 magnum, I prefer the 20 inch to get that extra speed.
@@fortnite.burger Agreed, the 44 will benefit a lot from that longer barrel
As a female I'll take the 16" please! You shoot very well and it always looks like you're just having a fun time. What a beautiful farm and pond! Hope you can get rid of all those destructive beavers quickly. And Austin needs to stop messing around with those traps😄
Haha! Thanks for your comment as always!
I think you were a little quicker with the 16” barrel. And considering a wash on the velocity between the two, the 16” is lighter and easier to maneuver in brush. Always appreciate your content, George! Good luck with the pond projects.
Thanks Bud! Truth is, the only measurable difference might come with more precision shooting needs. And with that, the longer site radius of the 20 inch barrel might make a difference.
Totaly agree with your thoughts. . Great video.
I got a rossi R92 24". Per some data I found on the net - a very impressive study using the same ammunition in pistols and rifles of different barrel lengths - the 24" doubled the muzzle energy of the round over a 6" revolver barrel.
Nice rifle. I had a friend want to sell me a 16 inch one of those once. Kinda wish I had bought it for a spot of target shooting. I saw a guy in New Zealand 🇳🇿 on UA-cam (keeping it wild) carrying one of those in the bush and shooting red deer with a Rossi 357. Seemed to work good. I sure was impressed with the way you handled the lever rifle there. Cheers Dave 🇺🇸 🇳🇿
Thanks Dave! I appreciate you watching my vids!
It would seem that 18" would be the best barrel length by splitting the difference between the two. I understand that folks have to buy what's available and make decisions according to the available data. But it sure would be nice if manufacturers would provide that 18" option.
citadel levtac 92 is 18" but 16"ammo tube
Every spring i have to deal with beaver in two places on my property. my 17 hornet does a good job of dispatching them. But once in a while i get a smart one and have to sit back a couple hundred yards with my 2506
Ballistics by the Inch show velocity drops off after 16" in .357...I would say your tests tend to show this....sort of. It would be interesting to put both the 16 and 20" on paper...not as much fun as banging steel...but more defining of accuracy potential....loved the video, thank you!
Thanks!
I think the stainless would make a great truck gun and self-defense in close quarters. The longer barrel theoretically should be more precise at longer range because of the longer site radius. Personally I like the blued steel for some reason I've just never been a big fan of the stainless. So my choice would be the longer Blued steel. But they both seem pretty great. I think 357 Magnum makes a great fun lever action. Thank you 👍
Have had variations of both going on 45 years, most pre-safety and all the calibers, except .454 and .480, but including an early .44-40 and a rare-ish discreet .38 Special. And both "carbine" lengths have their charms for reasons others have noted, but my favorite is a passel of 20-inch blue saddle rings.
.357 out of a carbine is serious. That cartridge and the bullet options we have today would have really impressed some 1800s cowboys used to .38-40 and .44-40:carbines when things got beyond spitting distances. Velocity sure makes a difference in hitting things easier at 200 yards.
I have a 16. Extra ammo capacity would be nice but for me the compactness of a 16 is more important.
I think the longer sight radius would come in to play if you were doing the test at 2 or 3 times the distance, up that close it doesn't really matter too much outside of the 16 probably being slightly quicker to move
Amen! I made that point about sight radius and shooting distance in another comment. I guess great minds think alike😉
Not to mention, mounting an RDS would rectify it immediately if it ended up being a legitimate concern. Wouldn't look as classy, though...
I prefer 20”. Not much difference in ballistics but I enjoy being able to have 11+1 .357s or 12+1 38 specials and a longer sight radius because I refuse to use anything but irons on it.
It’s still a handy rifle at 20” barrel length in my opinion.
A few years ago, a gunsmith told me that the ideal barrel length ballistically for pistol caliber carbines was between 13"-14".The maximum velocity will be at13" or 14". He said that, because of the short bearing surface of pistol bullets, anything over 13" or 14" the bullet will actually start to slow down due to friction.
Look up Ballistics by the Inch online. The gunsmith was a little off on his ballistics. 50 percent of gunsmiths graduated in the bottom half of their class.
Looks like the powder is fully burned by 16 inches, and 20 inches offers no added velocity.
But you DO get added cartridge capacity.
Thank you Maestro. As stupid as this sounds. I like the 20" barrel for one reason. In my 357 there have been a couple times when I was deer hunting in thick hardwoods and I was able to stick the barrel through the brush and get the rifle beyond the bush and on target and take a couple bucks. If I had a 16" barrel I would have had to go around the brush and the deer would have seen me. Purely a technical thing. Either are amazing rifles imho. Man if my shoulder could handle that 454 I'd have 2 of them!!!!
What a round the Casull is.
That 16" might be one of the FUNNEST (yeah, I said it 😆) guns we have to shoot! Just enough punch and easy to handle!
Amen! It just needs to get lots of attention! 😉
When it comes to pistol rounds, rifles with shorter barrels are typically better, especially if you’re shooting hotter loads. Pistol bullets are designed to be shot from pistols at lower velocities, and if you try and push bullets rated for 1200-1500fps, they’re going to essentially explode on impact at 2000+. Poor penetration will likely be the result.
This can even be seen in hopped up pistol rounds like 460 Rowland and 357 Maximum. One of the most important things when choosing a firearm and ammo combo is considering bullet construction.
My Henry Big Boy Carbine balances nicely for off hand shooting. I consistently get two inch groups at fifty yards.. however.. with a LPVO.. I get clover leafs consistently.
I feel guilty for putting the scope on it.. but it doesn't look bad! I'm going to install a Skinner Peep Sight once I get one 😊
Great shooting as usual ❤
16 in is super handy . Will not compromise the Ballistics of the 357magnum. I bet there is not that much velocity difference between the standard 20in and shorter 16in.
You are right and I covered that in the video.
I had my choice and bought the 16. The stainless looks cool as mine is blued I think that would have been a tough choice. I have added a sling and am pretty sure it doubled the weight. I bought mine after watching your videos, and have never looked back.
Awesome!
Love my 357 carbine my most fun rifle to shoot, mine cycles 38 specials with no issues as well as magnums, my carbine is a pre safety Marlin
Sounds like you got a good 1894. I had one back in the 70s but sold it. Then I bought three here for the channel. All JM models. All of them had major issues. So, I'm really looking forward to Ruger's resurrection of the 1894.
Takes me back to the homestead by Dad grew up on. They had a lake, but beavers kept trying to dam the outlet and raise the level. Back then, it was a repeated chore to pick up some dynamite at the hardware store, and keep any dams blown out.
And back in those days you could get a few bucks for a beaver pelt. Today you can hardly give them away.
@@TargetSuite LOL!
You are a great shot with a lever action rifle! God bless
Thanks for this video George! I've been shopping the 92 in 357 and couldn't decide on the 16" or 20". I think it's the16". However I saw that you're having some issues with your new Rossi's. Maybe I'll wait to see if Rossi resolves the issue with your stainless rifle before pulling the trigger.
I have a Marlin 1894 CP in 357 with a 16 1/4" barrel. It's very handy, and a good rifle on deer.
The answer is 20". That is the shortest barrel length that allows for a full SASS stage loading of 10 rounds. 😊😇
I like the handling of the 16" and the capacity of the 20". With factory loads, my 16" seems to put things out there a little faster than the 20" tube but sometimes, there are loads that run better from the 20" gun. Thanks for settling this debate once and for all, George!
All depends on powder choice .
george your place looks great,also enjoyed shot show videos , thanks dave
I. Believe the speed between targets has more to do with sight acquisition then it does with barrel length as well as gun management
Beautiful piece of property you have there! Looks like you have your own slice of heaven. That is my goal one day. Thanks for the video 🇺🇲
Since I've never owned property with a pond or ponds, I have only observed what some farmers in our area have resorted to when their overflow pipes failed for whatever reason. I have to make a huge assumption here but bear with me. I noticed years ago that the above-mentioned farmers were using the kind of pumps plumbers use to pump out flooded basements and fire departments use when they have to "daisy chain" hoses beyond the point where their pumper trucks could provide high enough pressures to be of any use in wildfires. The pumps remind me a bit of "bilge pumps" and are gasoline powered. I wonder if you could invest in such a pump and two lengths of fire hose, or something similar, and use them to keep the water level of your pond under control without having to depend on a contractor to bring in heavy equipment and a crew that might actually make things worse. Great video as usual and now I'm wondering what kind of data would come from comparing velocities of the same ammo from a good quality 6" revolver and a "unicorn" 18" lever gun assuming anybody manufactures an 18" barreled rifle in .357 Magnum.
I really appreciate the information about pumps. The problem for me is that the Watershed for this Pond is really big and Winters are very wet so the volume of water we have to draw out of that pond is tremendous. During the wettest part of the year, a 6-in pipe running full, 24/7 cannot keep up.
@@TargetSuite Thanks for the kind reply!
Those 2-3 inch trash pumps can move a lot of water.
Fascinating video, thanks! Some surprising results for sure, but I guess I'd say the barrel length just comes down to a personal preference. Cheers!
For me, 18-18.5" is my favorite.
I have 16, 18, 20" & 24"
24 is unwieldily but mine is a Savage 24 so different then a lever.
My 20" is a H&R single shot so again differe t then a lever.
The 16 & 18" are levers Rossi and Marlin.
18 gives slight velocity gain but better handling. Thats what I prefer.
I love that Savage 24. I have one on loan chambered in 222 Remington over 20ga(?). You'll see it in a few weeks.
@@TargetSuite My favorite 24 is my 357 Max/20ga but my most used is my 222/20g!! Its light trim and very accurate! It is a coyote killing MACHINE!!
(I have 7 different 24's)
👍👍
Supressed un jacketed. No tephlon swipe. No super charge and noise reduction
As always I really enjoy your videos. Austin, I feel your pain. Had one of those close on my hand once. Left a mark on both sides of my hand. Love the a Rossi rifles, but my marlin 1894 is a good fit for me. Hope the beavers don't become a new hobby for you.
Thanks for your comment. One thing for sure we will treat those beavers with the same persistent disrespect that we do the Hogs😉
I just love 357 Mag carbines. They will actually produce more energy than my 44 Mag revolvers, which is amazing! No better "bang for your buck" than a 357 Mag carbine. 16" to 20" is about ideal I think.
A 16" in .44 mag is even better though. That cartridge gains even more velocity from a longer barrel than a .357 mag does.
My 94AE has a 10.5 inch barrel... And I love it.....
Thanks for the video! George! I haven't seen one of yours in a while. The video DID jeavwe me with a smile!
The velocity with a .357 usually maxes out around 18". There are some tweaks with powder and bullet combinations that may improve it some if you are reloading. But with factory ammo, you get what you can get. As another Louisiana resident and living less than I00 miles north of you, I understand about the beavers. The highway dept here fights them all the time. They block up the culverts under the roads. With all the recent rain. It is a problem.
It's good to hear from a neighbor! Maybe I'll see you at Ron's Guns in Bossier someday.
Thanks, good information. I recently acquired a stainless Hartford model rifle, love it. I was amazed at the velocity I obtained with a 250 grain XTP pushed by a starting load of H 110 , .45 Colt load . Lots of fun and plenty of room to explore.
Based on the nearly equal ballistic numbers, and seemingly insignificant differences in speed and accuracy, I would prefer the 16 inch for in home and in woods handling. Seems about perfect to me.
I figure the faster burning pistol powders is hampering performance with longer barrels. Handloading with Win 296/H110 might give the edge in velocity.
It seems the only advantages of the 20in are a longer sight radius and possibly a longer magazine.
Considering that the sight issue can be immediately rectified with a red dot sight (which would honestly improve both), that just leaves it up to you to decide if you want a handier package or more capacity.
3 extra rounds for the 20 inch
I picked a 20" henry just for capacity sakes
Makes sense. No significant loss of velocity, more magazine capacity, longer sight plane.
I'm partial to the 16 inch because that is what I have. I just replaced the buck horn rear sight with a Skinner peep. For what ever reason my friend is deadly with the Skinner peep on my gun, but when I shoot it I have to cover the entire plate with the front post. He indicates that he center's the post in the aperture. I'm thinking it may be the difference between cheek welds. I've raised the rear aperture a good bit, but it still shoots low for me. I've got three more aperture sizes on the way to try. I sure hope that helps me with the aim as the aperture that came with the sight is their largest. Sorry about Austin's fingers. Those traps can break bones. Also sorry to hear about the pond issues as well as the heavy equipment operator issues. I've run into the same thing when trying to get dozier work done in the past.
Thanks for your comment! Good luck with that skinner sight. It is a great replacement for the Buckhorn and I have done that on several rifles using both skinners and the marble arms bullseye sight. But with all of my shooting for UA-cam I have gotten much better at using the standard irons.
I recently purchased a 24 inch octagon barrel .357mag. It is such a beautiful rifle, not a scratch or mark on it and worried taking it through the woods. I’m on the watch for a not so perfect 16 or 20 inch barrel with some use on it for hunting.
I was not aware of the compromised ballistics of a longer barrel when I bought a 24" barreled Rossi. I still prefer it because I feel the added weight makes it easier to hold steady on a target and the increased sight radius may aid in aiming. The Rossi are good reliable arms whatever their configuration. Thanks for your comment! ❤
That 16” just needs a red dot! And that pond needs my kayak and I to do a fishing survey
Thanks for your video's on the Rossi 92 . I bought the carbine , it just work's for me..
Appreciate your testing.
Rip rap the over flow ..
I have to admit I was surprised by the results of the 16" rifle performing as well or better than the 20". So, I checked Ballistics by the Inch, and their testing showed that the 16" appears to be optimal for the .357, although BBTI only goes up to an 18" barrel, the dropoff is pretty clear. I checked a few others, and found the BBTI results for the .327 Federal Magnum, the .22 LR, the .22 Magnum and the .223 continued to show increased speed as the barrel length increased. The .44 Magnum and the .45 Colt were mixed, somewhat similar to the .357. Perhaps it is due to bullet weight?
Can't say bout the 357 mag
But
Got a 32 winchester special in the wrangler 16 inch barrel
5 + 1
32 winchester special
20 inch barrel
Holds 7 + 1
They both are my next step up from 357 mag...
Great video sir...
A beautiful place that you live at some of the time George, so many things to address in this video that I will stick to the shooting, first off, I’m jealous , you’re shooting is excellent and the only question that I have is, did you compare the tolerances or slug the bore of both of the rifles , results seem odd !
Have a great day 😊
Thanks for your comment hans. There is a lot going on with that 16-in rossi. There will be a customer service story that comes out of it but I didn't want to go into that yet. I want to give Rossi a chance to make things right with this gun as well as the 24 in 44 magnum. Then I'll post a full video on that.
@@TargetSuite 😊
1000 views in an hour?
Good job, im glad to see the channel is doing well or at least i hope it is...
George, can i ask what you tube gun channels do YOU like?
Thanks! This may sound funny but I don't watch a lot of gun tubers. But when I do, my favorites are Hickok45 of course, Buffalo's Outdoors, Gunblue490 and a small Channel you may never have heard of that is called Leverguns50. Sure there are others I'm just not thinking about right now. Another great Channel is Forgotten Weapons. Ian McCollum may have more historical knowledge about guns than all of us combined. I do a lot of research on that channel.
@@TargetSuite thanks for the reply
Ill have to go check those out, strangely I'd seen leverguns 50 before ( watched his big bore lever videos..)
I happened to know an excavator operator. If you can find a decent sized rubber track rental 70 would be good, 50 ok, he would probably install a new underground overflow pipe for you. Old telephone poles set deep with underground braces buried would work on the zip line. If it was all planned and material was on site, 2 days no problem. I think you were a little better with the 20, witch surprised me, being longer.
Yep. If only I knew someone . . . 😉
16'' would be my pick. The 16'' is a little handier and gets most of the available velocity available in 357 Mag.
I always preferred 16" for brush hunting!!! Always quicker handling!!
My guess is that in 357, the powder is gone before the bullet leaves the barrel. The longer barrel will have drag without propellent pushing it out the barrel.
For about 10 years, I managed a fishing pond in my community.
The pond became overrun with muskrats and they started to do a lot of erosion damage to the shoreline.
We hired trappers to take out the muskrats.
They would up trapping over 100 of them.
Wow! That's a lot of muskrats!
I've got a 20" 3030 and that works out great but I've always seen the 357 and 45 colt type rifles as 16" guns. That extra 4 inches makes little difference and you definitely lose maneuverability when trying to use them around a truck, horse, atv, even hiking.
6:49 Thanks for the video, I prefer the 16" Rossi rifle because it is easier to handle, faster, and lighter, especially in dynamic shooting. And they shoot more or less at the same distance, but riding a horse the 16" makes the difference..
When comes to barrel length and efficiency it all about powder burn rates. Extremes noted here not recommended loads but here it goes . Red dot short barrels, IMR 4350 long barrels. Currently I am working on an experiment in black powder grainulations to find max efficiency. Utilizing 10" barrels chambered in .327 federal, .357 Remington maximum, and 45-55 Walker.
Nice pond! Looks like you have a Jon boat zip line to me. And the big question is do have the ability to catch some Friday fish fry every now
and then.
Mountain man
As far as the Pond, You gotta do what you gotta do. As far as the barrel length, I've had a suspicion of the fast burning powder not making as much difference at least for 357 magnum.
I’ll bet the guy overbid thinking you wouldn’t accept and then when he did he still didn’t want to.
I used to shoot a Rossi Puma 24" Octogonal barrel and it was a blast whith my hot reload ammo...
Since the 357 is a pistol load, it doesn’t surprise me that it does well in a shorter barrel rifle.
I enjoy watching your videos (especially the ones on 357 mag lever action rifles)! After years of wanting a 357 mag rifle/carbine, I am close to buying one; I'm trying to decide which of 3 types would be best for me-the Rossi 16", The Henry 16.5", or the Marlin 357 mag with a 18.6" barrel. Have you fired a Henry or Marlin 357 mag carbine? If so, how do they compare with the Rossi 357? Please keep your videos coming!