If You Had the Choice... Which Lever Action Caliber?

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They're all good. The .444 makes a big ol' hole and you can use .44 Mag bullets for lower pressure applications. For the .375 you can can use 38-55 brass and bullets for an ol' timey authentic feel..... The .35 Remington is a great cartridge that makes a great short range woods gun and is a big step up from the 30-30....

Like 'em all.....
 
I vote 336 in 35 Remington, only because I have one and like it. I have two in 30-30 too, and I consider the 35 a hunting rifle, and the 30-30s a pasture-truck/tractor utility kinda rifle.

Les
 
uh might I make suggestion

ck out 308 Marlin ballistics. AWESOME from 50 yrds to about 185ish personal experiance. Not to be rude, just suggesting.......... Good Luck and God Bless HAPPY HOLIDAYS
 
The .35 Remington is a great cartridge that makes a great short range woods gun and is a big step up from the 30-30....
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Not a big step... more like, somewhat bigger, roughly equivalent.

444 or 450 or 45/70... those are BIG STEP from the 30-30; .35 Rem is just comparable
 
The .35 Rem is great, as is the .444.

But for ammo you can buy at the corner gas station in hunting country, and a fantastic old caliber, you can't beat the 45-70.
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I know it's not one of your chosen calibers but I must agree, 45/70. I'm new to owning the caliber but I like my 1895 Guide Gun. It's very accurate out to 200 yds. I neck shot a Doe at 80 yds two weeks ago, It's first kill. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a keeper.
 
.444 would be my choice of your three other wise I agree with the 45-70
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I agree.

On another note: I see this all the time. Why is it when some one post on a forum (I gave three exact and specific choices) wanting an opinion between X and Y somebody always suggests Z. It is really irritating!
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Easy big fella, they are just words, they can't hurt you. :D
 
.35 Remington and .375 Win are both dying calibers which you probably won't be able to get ammo for in a few years. It's hard enough to find now. The .444 Marlin is OK, but for big game the .45-70 is MUCH better, particularly if you handload.
 
On another note: I see this all the time. Why is it when some one post on a forum (I gave three exact and specific choices) wanting an opinion between X and Y somebody always suggests Z. It is really irritating!
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My sincerest apologies for suggesting 45/70 I never meant to irritate, only to suggest what may not have been considered. Of the choices you listed, I would choose none of them for various reasons. :D
 
The 35 rem. would be my choice

I cast my own 200 grainers which I use for my 35rem., 357mag handgun and rifle. Soon I will have a 356 winchester that will fall into the same bullet, And I'm looking at a couple wildcats that use it too. In short I can cast one bullet and use it for most anything I will need.
 
I would take a 32-40. Not much range but a good heavy bullet for the woods. Chambered in a Winchester 1894 would make for a fast and slick rifle.
 
35 rem is always a fine choice for a deer-sized game brush gun but you're comparing apples and oranges by throwing in the big bores with your 30cal. If you are open to a large bore gun, then go for a 45-70 over a 444. Frankly, I'm not even sure why they made the 444. The 45-70 recoil is like a really big "push" so it's totally manageable (I actually enjoy it) and there are many load choices even if you don't reload. With the new Hornady FTX flex tip ammo and longer barrels (22" or 24") on Marlin levers you get more distance and accuracy so I don't see any advantage for the 35 given the game you intend to bag. Now, if you were limited to brush hunting for medium sized deer and small black bear, one could argue that the 45-70 (or 444) is overkill and that the 35 might have a place.

Good luck. Any new gun is a good gun.
 
I have seen many Marlin lever rifles in .444 that can print consistent 1" to 1.5" groups at 100 yards. Even with a barrels as short as 15 inches, as in an Encore pistol, the .444 remains viciously powerful. Yes, the same is true of the .45-70 Gov't. In fact, neither can be described as possessing any "over-bore" tendencies.

When I have hit Russian boar with either the .444 or the .45-70 Gov't, both calibers have dispatched the satanic beasts' souls before the law of gravity could effect its lifeless corpse to the ground. I have never seen a boar "running dead" after a .444 Marlin or .45-70 Gov't. However, over-all ballistics considered, my nod goes to the heavy-weight champ: .444 Marlin, in blued steel and beautiful wood.

Geno
 
both calibers have dispatched the satanic beasts' souls before the law of gravity could effect its lifeless corpse to the ground.
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Holy cow.....................you must like Hemingway too. :D
 
CZguy:

I always pick on my older brother that, "God gives each sibling a gift. My gift was a way with words. My brother's gift was God made him the pretty brother". His friends then kick in the observation, "Looks like Joe got short-changed!" Well, enough of me being a smart@$$ for the day. :D

Geno
 
Geno,

I understand.

Unfortunately for me, my gift in life seems to be taking out the trash. :uhoh:
 
My old 336 in .35 Rem is Thor's hammer.

Easy to load for and ammo is generally easy to find when I have to buy it.
 
I will only comment of what I shoot and experience with those calibers.
.22 caliber is about as basic and utilitarium as you can get.

.243 with handloads gets my vote for accuracy and long range for varmits.

30-06 is my choice for a good basic deer rifle and the variety of bullets weights and loads. It will never go "out of style" and it will continue to put meat on the table. This caliber is available in just about any gun store in North America. Bullet weights and construction make this a bullet that can be fine tuned for small and large animals you may want to hunt. Although many large bears have been taken with the '06 I would want something heavier for that hunt.

12 and 20 gauge shotguns round out my needs.

Since I don't hunt elk or large bears I don't own and haven't shot larger calibers.
 
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