Best '92 clone

[Barcelona Rick]

Evening men/ladies,

Got a friend hunting a .45 Colt lever...he's been looking for a 1894 Marlin pre-safety but they are hard to locate according to him. So who makes the best '92 clone ?? Had another buddy that bought a really nice Hartford 92 with 24" barrel several years ago. I think it was made by Rossi in SA.....my budddy would use his to hunt feral hogs and deer so he is looking for a carbine. I appreciate the input.

jumbeaux

[Buffboy]

The reason your friend has so much trouble locating a pre-safety 1894 Marlin in 45 colt is: they didn't make it in 45colt till after they put the crossbolt safety on it.

[1886]

As you know the Marlin 94 is not a 92 clone. Marlin never offered a pre safety 94 chambered in .45. I am partial to the Browning 92 but that is just me. I have had several pre safety Rossi rifles. I liked them as well. One was a .45. I do not think Browning offered the 92 in .45. Winchester/Miroku offered a tang safety 92 chambered in .45. A .44 mag. 92 was offered by Browning though. Hope this helps, 1886.

[AJMD429]

The safetys on the Marlins I don't mind - they are well made and positive, and there are several easy ways to disable them for those so inclined (that don't involve any permanent alteration of the gun - Slip-on O-rings, Spring retainer clips, and overtightening an internal screw all come to mind). They are easy to scope and put peep sights on.

If a person wants the "92 clone" the Pumas seem to be pretty close, and are decent, functional, if not 'classic' or perfectly fitted. Harder for scopes or peeps, but peeps easy with drill and tap. THEIR safeties seem fragile, non-positive in action, and I don't like them. Deactivating them is also done by many shooters, but unless done with super-glue I'm under the impression that it at least involves some parts replacement.

Of course the lawyers would have a field day if anything ever happened they could remotely pin on an "intentionally inactivated safety device" - they could sue the shooter/owner as well as the company (for making a safety device it was "so easy" to inactivate). I just put up with them. I don't hunt dangerous game, though, so the biggest problem I'd likely have is 'click' instead of 'bang' and one less deer in the freezer...

[gak]

Best: Browning 92 - made for a limited number of years 20 + years ago. Only in .44 Mag and .357 (the latter = pricier due to relative scarcity).

Best Value as a shooter: pre-safety Rossis (both the Interarms imported ones as well as pre 2006 (pre safety) EMF and Navy Arms). Some of the Interarms ones near the end of their run received goofy (or goofy dark stained) stocks; otherwise they're all about the same. The later EMFs and Navy Arms locate the front sights more like the original 92s (we're talking carbines ) OFF the front barrel band unlike all Interarms variants. Among the Rossis, Navy Arms uniquely claimed genuine walnut for their stocks--but the carbines are hard to find used. NA no longer imports the 92s. No reason to get an LSI unless you want one of the "super magnums" (454 or 480 Ruger), butt pad or one of their new-fangled "scout" configurations--all of which are unique to LSI. All LSIs, since the company started importing Rossis, have had the worthless (IMO) and un-safety atop the receiver that some have mentioned here. Sadly, the recent year EMFs have gone this route as well--and during their last year of import, so did Navy Arms finally succumb I believe.

Honorable mention (about the price of a nice Browning 92): the Italian - Armi Sport made (Taylor, Cimarron and maybe one or two others are importing) 1892. These are, generally, very faithful in their lines and operation to the original Winchester. Nate Kiowa Jones (Steve Young) may want to weigh in here (again) on a few internal parts he has had issues with - and I think even swapped some Rossi parts out for. If you want a brand new 92, and especially one with no goofy safety, the Armi Sport's the way to go. The carbines even, uniquely among all modern-era 92s, come with the original "period-correct" ladder sight a great percentage of the old Winchester carbines sported.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Best: Browning 92 - made for a limited number of years 20 + years ago. Only in .44 Mag and .357 (the latter = pricier due to relative scarcity).

Best Value as a shooter: pre-safety Rossis (both the Interarms imported ones as well as pre 2006 (pre safety) EMF and Navy Arms). Some of the Interarms ones near the end of their run received goofy (or goofy dark stained) stocks; otherwise they're all about the same. The later EMFs and Navy Arms locate the front sights more like the original 92s (we're talking carbines ) OFF the front barrel band unlike all Interarms variants. Among the Rossis, Navy Arms uniquely claimed genuine walnut for their stocks--but the carbines are hard to find used. NA no longer imports the 92s. No reason to get an LSI unless you want one of the "super magnums" (454 or 480 Ruger), butt pad or one of their new-fangled "scout" configurations--all of which are unique to LSI. All LSIs, since the company started importing Rossis, have had the worthless (IMO) and un-safety atop the receiver that some have mentioned here. Sadly, the recent year EMFs have gone this route as well--and during their last year of import, so did Navy Arms finally succumb I believe.

Honorable mention (about the price of a nice Browning 92): the Italian - Armi Sport made (Taylor, Cimarron and maybe one or two others are importing) 1892. These are, generally, very faithful in their lines and operation to the original Winchester. Nate Kiowa Jones (Steve Young) may want to weigh in here (again) on a few internal parts he has had issues with - and I think even swapped some Rossi parts out for. If you want a brand new 92, and especially one with no goofy safety, the Armi Sport's the way to go. The carbines even, uniquely among all modern-era 92s, come with the original "period-correct" ladder sight a great percentage of the old Winchester carbines sported.

That's pretty much how I see it. But, I would point out, the Winchester made 92 by Miroku is no way near the same gun as the Browning B92.
And, the Armi Sport/Chiappa is a great looking gun on the outside but these guns have functionality problems. They are basically a reincarnation of the ASM 92's with much better fit and finish. The problem is some of the same design flaws of the ASM's were brought forward, too.