.30-30 or .44 mag lever action

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My personal solution to this same question was a 20" .30/30, a Winchester 94. There are reasons to go different ways, but that was my choice. When I was shopping, there was a big cost difference in platforms/calibers, so consider that as well as ballistic performance.
 
30-30 has better performance at the muzzle than 44. With the poor 44 ballistic coefficient, it doesn't get any better for the 44 from there. The 30-30 has more energy, more velocity, more sectional density, more flat shooting range. The 30-30 rifle also will cost a lot less, as has been mentioned. The only thing going for the 44, ignoring bullet expansion, is it makes a bigger hole.

Now, the 44 is a lot of fun, easy to reload, might match up with a revolver you have, and will kill black bear and deer dead up close too.

However, of the two, the 30-30 is the better all around performer.
 
30-30 has better performance at the muzzle than 44. With the poor 44 ballistic coefficient, it doesn't get any better for the 44 from there. The 30-30 has more energy, more velocity, more sectional density, more flat shooting range.
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I just looked up the load data in the Speer Reloading manual. With both test rifles having 20" bbls the .44 Mag (with rifle loads) will throw a 200 gr JHP a mere two feet per second slower than a .30-30 Win will throw a 170 gr JSP. 2 FPS is far less than most loads deviate shot to shot, so .44 Mag rifle velocity with 200 gr pills is really the same as .30-30 with 170 gr pills. That swings the energy numbers back in favor of the .44 Mag. For close work as the OP specified, the .30-30's flatter trajectory doesn't come into play. The 30 cal bullets do still have better SD than the 44 cal bullets as you state. On the other hand, the .44 Mag's heavier projectiles have more momentum.

Really, it's a toss up, and both are more than adequate for the intended use. Higher magazine capacity in the .44 mag's tube can either be an advantage or disadvantage depending on mag capacity limits in the state you intend to hunt.
 
really either will work
the 30/30 gives better performance
the 44 can be mated with a pistol
 
Personally, I'd go with the 44. I like being able to have a revolver to match it up with and I've always had very good success with the old Marlin I grew up shooting Deer with. Don't have a bunch of black bear around here so I've never had the need to shoot one but from what I've read a 44 will easily do the joby. Not knocking the 30-30, just not much day to day experience with it.

C-
 
i own both 44,s and 30-30,s, and have killed deer with both. the 44mag is a good killer to 125 yds,but past that it drops like a rock. the 30-30 is good for 225 yds with out a problem. with the new evolution ammo both will do better alittle farther out. i do however like the slimness of the 94 winchesters. i have worked up loads for the 44mag,in a ruger 77/44 and have had to drop the loads alittle for the lever action clan. i would not feel under gunned for deer or bear with either rifle. eastbank.
 
What would be a better gun for black bear protection and close in deer work?
MY first rifle was a 30-06,killed many deer before I noticed that long range in these parts was 70 yds, a seven hundred yard rifle really beats your shoulder and ears, unnecessarily.
Unless you consider 150 yds+ "close in" go with the 44,you and your wallet will appreciate it.
robert
 
30/30. Has a better selection of ammo choices and has a flatter trajectory. I have owned both. Still have my 30/30's.
 
Go with whatever you think is cooler. Nothing you with either one inside of 100 yards will know the difference.

Personally, for close in applications, I'd go with the .44.

It's easier to handload, the action cycles a little faster, greater magazine capacity, and large bore diameters just make me happy.
 
ugaarguy said:
I just looked up the load data in the Speer Reloading manual. With both test rifles having 20" bbls the .44 Mag (with rifle loads) will throw a 200 gr JHP a mere two feet per second slower than a .30-30 Win will throw a 170 gr JSP. 2 FPS is far less than most loads deviate shot to shot, so .44 Mag rifle velocity with 200 gr pills is really the same as .30-30 with 170 gr pills. That swings the energy numbers back in favor of the .44 Mag. For close work as the OP specified, the .30-30's flatter trajectory doesn't come into play. The 30 cal bullets do still have better SD than the 44 cal bullets as you state. On the other hand, the .44 Mag's heavier projectiles have more momentum.
Click to expand...

You are compareing a "light" for caliber bullet in the 44, and it's NOT what i would use for blk. bear, especially in a rifle.

If velocity is all you are worried about, compare the 200/44 to a "light" 30 cal in a 30-30.

No matter, i'd grab the 30-30 and load it with Federal 170NP's, and not have to worry about even the biggest blk. bear. In this case, i'll take the good expanding, DEEP penetrateing NP over anything in a 44 mag...

Bullets that expand well AND penetrate deep, kill much faster than bullets that just punch holes through an animal.

DM
 
it sure is refreshing to see real people talk about practical rounds for deer. All of the gun mags i read talk about 180 grain partitions out of a 300 wsm for the same kind of work, with some erring of the side of a 375 ruger. I would suggest the 30-30 because the ammo companys seem to be making it more and more versitile each year. most of the deer i shot at as a kid was with a 30-30. I say shot at beacuse when the deer would die it only had 30-06 rounds through it from my grandpa.
 
always 45lc also :)

which one will you think is cooler or more fun to hunt with is a good way to go with this one, because either will do the job.
 
According to the HITS calculator on the Hornady web site, a 300 grain .44 cal at 1600 fps is considerably more potent than a 160 grain .30 cal at 2300 fps. That would be for the bear protection. Check out the Buffalobore website for heavy load information. One problem is that the Marlin 44 mags would not stabilize 300 grain bullet due to a slow twist. But a Ruger 44 carbine or a Rossi will.
 
"According to the HITS calculator on the Hornady web site, a 300 grain .44 cal at 1600 fps is considerably more potent than a 160 grain .30 cal at 2300 fps. That would be for the bear protection. Check out the Buffalobore website for heavy load information. One problem is that the Marlin 44 mags would not stabilize 300 grain bullet due to a slow twist. But a Ruger 44 carbine or a Rossi will."

^^^^
Well if you're going to load for bear, use Buffalo Bore 30-30 @2500fps and 2081ft/lbs
 
One problem is that the Marlin 44 mags would not stabilize 300 grain bullet due to a slow twist.
Click to expand...
Then how come my 1894P .44 Mag stabilizes 300 grain Noslers just fine then?

rc
 
Only reporting what I've heard, never tried them myself. Where I live, 240 grain is plenty. Never hunted anything bigger than a deer with a 44.
 
In my opinion, the .30-30 is the better dedicated hunting cartridge; it is, after all, a "real" rifle cartridge. That said, I prefer the .44 mag for its versatility ... and if I were really going after bear, I'd use a .308 or bigger.
 
I just looked up the load data in the Speer Reloading manual. With both test rifles having 20" bbls the .44 Mag (with rifle loads) will throw a 200 gr JHP a mere two feet per second slower than a .30-30 Win will throw a 170 gr JSP. 2 FPS is far less than most loads deviate shot to shot, so .44 Mag rifle velocity with 200 gr pills is really the same as .30-30 with 170 gr pills.
^^^^^^^^

According to the HITS calculator on the Hornady web site, a 300 grain .44 cal at 1600 fps is considerably more potent than a 160 grain .30 cal at 2300 fps.
^^^^^^^^

Hogdon web site max velocity 30-30 rifle loads and corresponding Hornady HITS results:
170gr 2332fps 1015 HITS

Hogdon web site max velocity 44 *rifle* loads and corresponding Hornady HITS results:
200gr 2106fps 653 HITS (H110 load) 37,800 CUP pressure
300gr 1473fps 1025 HITS (H110 load) 38,800 CUP pressure - no other powder or load listed higher in pressure.

The 200gr 44 load, well, I just don't see it.

The 300gr 44 load, OK, based on these measures, a whisker better right out of the muzzle. But if short range is farther away than a bear could swipe you with its paws, the 30-30 ballistic coefficient will still come out on top. Pushing the 44 300gr load to 1600fps? Not something I'd try. Compare loads you can actually buy, versus specialized handloads, and the differences remain compelling.

Both will of course do the job, but the 30-30 gives up nothing to the 44 up close, and has more versatility for longer range.
 
I like a 44 cal rifle. Used to have one. But the 30-30 with better sectional density and better for purpose designed bullets is the way to go.
 
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