.44 mag carbine vs 30-30

[sloatsoccer0204]

what is better a killing deer and pigs, 5 shot semi auto .44 mag, or 3 shot bolt action 30-30

 

[catfish101]

Both will kill them dead but I would use my 44mag. Now I would use my Marlin lever action not a pistol. That makes a big difference in the performance of the round. The 44 mag can be made to be very strong. I know Elmer Keith blew up several guns and some of "his" loads would be dangerous for most pistols.

But either option would do the job.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

But either option would do the job.

Yes and both would do that job very well.

 

[schlockinz]

I'd go with capacity with those rounds.

Now, a 30-30 lever, I'd take that over the mag.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Depends. The .30-30 is going to give you a bit more range.
On the other hand, the .44 probably has a bit more knock down at close range. For hogs, the semi would be nice too, especially if you had to go into the brush after one.
Either will do the job fine.

 

[bucktail]

Either. I'd probably give the nod to the 30-30 unless you're really doing depredation on the pigs, I might go with the .44 auto for the capacity.

 

[chevyforlife21]

a bolt action 30-30 doesnt make much sense imo. its not a accurate round in the first place.i assume you mean a ruger 44 mag. thats a nice gun id use that, or get a marlin or win 30-30 if you want that caliber

 

[schlockinz]

I don't think the accuracy difference between either cartridge will become an issue at effective hog killing ranges.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

a bolt action 30-30 doesnt make much sense imo. its not a accurate round in the first place.

I have one and I would disagree with you.

 

[chas08]

I own both, a Ted Williams 100 (Win.94) 30/30 and a Rossi model 92 .44 mag. Inside a 100 yds your choice, outside a 100yds 30/30. I actually prefer the .44 if I have to help look for a wounded hog, because it carries 11 rounds verses 7 rounds on the 30/30. And in those instances, ranges are measured in feet not yards.

 

[-eaux-]

since you asked about deer and hogs, i'd have to agree that a .30-30 levergun would optimize both. BUT, since you did ask about both, i can only assume that you already own both weapons you described. personally, i'd carry the .44mag carbine for pigs and the .30-30 boltgun for deer. if you happen be hunting one species and accidentally encounter the other, you won't be underarmed.

 

[natman]

It's going to boil down to a question of range. Within 100 yards I'd take the 44. Past 100 to 175 I'd take the 30-30. If you plan to hunt farther than that I'd get a 308.

 

[GooseGestapo]

A .30/30 bolt-action NOT accurate ????
What planet do you live on chevy4life????

I've got a '70's vintage Glenfield (Marlin M336) M30 (half magazine w/birch stock) -a very cheap, average Marlin, that will shoot at least as well as most of my Bolt action varmint guns (Remington M7 and M700). The last time I benched it to replace the 4x scope with a vintage Leupold Vari-X II in 2x-7x, my favorite load of 36.0gr of RL15 and Remington CoreLokt 150gr, put 3 under 3/4" at 100yds, two were one-hole. I did this twice sighting the gun in.

On more than one occasion, My Marlin M336C (also '70's production) in .35Rem has shot under 1.25" at 188yds (max distance on range behind my house).

Don't come here claiming the .30/30 is NOT accurate. The individual rifle may not be accurate with specific ammo, but the cartridge with quality ammo in a quality rifle is capable of amazing accuracy.

I had a Remington M788 in .30/30 in the mid '70's. With the Speer 130gr Hollow Point seated to touch the grooves, over a max load of IMR4320, would shoot One-hole groups with monotonous regularity. I foolishly traded it because I "thought" I wanted more gun....... Could have taken over 99% of the game I've killed through the years with that rifle....

I also had a Savage M340 that was easily a 1.5MOA rifle..... perhaps the least accurate .30/30 I've owned was a Winchester M94 with a bent barrel (had deep cut in the reciever and rusted beat up finish; I refinished the rifle, appeared to have been thrown from a moving vehicle......) It would still shoot under 2" at 50yds for 3-shots w/iron sights; Then the barrel would heat up and shots would start walking....

Sorry for "hijacking" the thread.....
Some ignorant, blind statements just get under my skin....

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I don't own either of those but have shot a Ruger semi-auto .44mag, it's a quick handling carbine for sure and accurate at 100yds too.
a nephew owns a Marlin lever 30-30 that is a great shooter, I load for it and we've got near moa at 100yds off rolled-up sleeping bag rest, has a 4X Bushnell mounted.
I'd choose the .44 myself though specially if on foot in the bush. it's practically a hip-shoot capable rifle.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Some ignorant, blind statements just get under my skin....

Mine too and there seems to be an unusually higher number of them on here over the past couple of days.

 

[Kernel]

With factory ammo, the .44 Mag and the .30-30 have very similar performance on game animals. Which is better? Flip a coin. Unless you handload.

Handloaded the .30-30 easily exceeds factory performance. In a bolt action it really shines. For one, you’re not limited to flat nosed bullets. For two, you’re (likely) not limited to a lever action’s stubby COAL. For three, factory load .30-30 is pretty tame stuff, pressure wise, and can be safely improved on.

For hog hunting there’s something to be said for a semi auto, though. Shots could come quick, and there’s always the likelihood of multiple targets.

For close range hunting, use the .44 Mag semi or the bolt .30-30 with factory ammo. For longer range shots, a handloaded .30-30 bolt is clearly superior.

 

[rcmodel]

Which is better? A 5 shot semi auto .44 mag, or 3 shot bolt action 30-30

A seven shot 30-30 lever-action carbine is better.
Or a 9 or 10 shot .44 Mag lever-action carbine.

rc

 

[sloatsoccer0204]

thanks for the imput every1, i already have the .44 mag, friend has a 30-30 just curious whose was better, and since he cant mount sights on his gun, it looks like ill have the upper hand

 

[T.R.]

I have a 44 MAG carbine and a 30-30 carbine hanging on my hunting rack. Both have taken many animals.

I prefer 44 MAG loaded with 44 Special for hunting porcupines at night. Quiet but hits hard! 44 MAG loaded with 240 grain Hornady XTP bullet makes a much bigger hole in mule deer but kills NO BETTER than 30-30 with plain 170 grain soft tip ammo.

30-30 has considerably more reach which makes it a lot more versatile in open country where stalking is difficult but not impossible.

44 MAG loaded with 300 grain Hornady XTP bullet is in a different class than 30-30 for amazing deep penetration. But in my opinion, this heavy 300 grain bullet is a strictly a 50-60 yard hunting load. In contrast, 30-30 can be loaded with any round nosed (.308) 180 grain bullet filed flat for safety to produce nearly the same depth of penetration. 150 yards or farther is well within 30-30 range for heavy bullets.

In summary, 44 MAG is quiet with 44 Special ammo. A variety of Hornady XTP bullets are available for any big game this continent has to offer. 30-30 has considerably more reach and can be hand loaded to be even more versatile.

There you have it - two great hunting cartridges for the foothills and forest hunters of this planet.

TR

 

[natman]

what is better a killing deer and pigs, 5 shot semi auto .44 mag, or 3 shot bolt action 30-30?

A seven shot 30-30 lever-action carbine is better.
Or a 9 or 10 shot .44 Mag lever-action carbine.

Only if you plan on doing a lot of missing.

 

[schlockinz]

Only if you plan on doing a lot of missing

Or if you see more than 8 pigs

 

[MCgunner]

I'd use my .357 carbine to 100 yards. It pushes a 165 grain SWC at 1900 fps and can push a 158 JSP to over 2000. That'll kill any hog inside 100 yards. The .30-30 and .44 are just mo bedda.

I've killed one with a 3" Taurus M66 .357 magnum. Was a head shot at about 15 yards and only an 80 lb pig. I've shot 'em with .308, works fantastic. I shot one with a 7mm Rem Mag, didn't lack power. I mean, just grab your deer rifle, whatever it is. Hogs ain't immortal.

 

[Art Eatman]

If iron sights, I figure that out to a hundred yards or so it's six of one, half-dozen of the other for deer.

The thing about hogs is that the semi-auto would probably allow for follow-up kills better than the bolt gun.

Odds are that if deer were my primary notion, I'd take the .30-30. If I was mostly after hogs, the semi-auto.

 

[natman]

Or if you see more than 8 pigs

If you see a sounder of more than 8 pigs and start shooting, by the time you get three shots off the rest will be long gone. BTDT.

 

[schlockinz]

I beg to differ, if you get them in a wheat field with a lower recoiling rifle you can get more than 8 hits off.

I know that in close proximity in the woods I've run out of bullets in a bolt action, didn't have a miss, and still had pigs coming out. I would have loved to have had 8 rounds in a mag that day. Last time that I went out I could have easily gotten off 20 rounds (10 and a reload) with some pigs in the middle of a grain field. The smart ones ran off, the others just sort of ran around and stayed in range.

But, my pig problem may be different than yours.