lever action caliber?

[Anteater1717]

I was wondering which caliber I should get a lever action in. it would either be a marlin 1894 or a 336. The .357 is cheapish and takes cheaper .38 special but is a .357 out of an 18 inch barrel adequate for dear. The .44 is more powerful than the .357 but it costs more and .44 special is about the same price. 30-30 is the most expensive but I believe it is middle in power I know this can take a dear. Also what kind of groupings ant 100 yards? I would probably use the .38 for coyote and plinking.

 

[Cosmoline]

What's your main purpose going to be? If it's plinking, the .357/.38 is the cheapest by far. If your purpose is deer hunting, the .30-30 is probably the best.

 

[Brian Williams]

Plinking 38, deer from nosepicking to 125 yards, handloaded 357 or some hot loads from a loader like Corbon, anything else or outside of these parameters, get either the 30-30 or the 44mag.

 

[Anteater1717]

deer is probably 150 at most ussualy 75 or less. it would be used alot more to get cyotes.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Get the .30/30 and start reloading.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I would probably use the .38 for coyote and plinking.

Here in Arkansas it's illegal to use a larger than 30 caliber rifle for yotes (dumb ain't it), Check your local laws first.

 

[byf43]

Marlin 1894S in .44 magnum.

 

[highlander 5]

30/30? why not 45/70? That's a lever action as well as
is a 444 marlin. More thump for the buck!

 

[Nhsport]

Marlin in 44 mag will do it all if you handload.44mag is a simple round to handload (only slightly more expensive than 38/357) and will do anything you need with cheep lead bullets. 30/30 is more work to reload (bottleneck case and all) and jacketed or cast rifle bullets for the 30/30 cost lots more than fairly cheep lead 44 mag bullets.
Plinking only go with the 38/357. Best hunting only round 30/30 . 44 mag + reloading = fairly cheep plinking and with a little learned skill will hunt near as well as the 30/30 (some might say better)

 

[Essex County]

I'd go for the 30-30 if my shots might run out as far as 150 yards...Essex

 

[AH-1]

since you don't handload I would say get a 30-30.marlins are good rifles but I just like winchesters better...but thats just me.I shoot/reload and cast my own bullets for...45/70,444,44/40,375 win and the 30-30.
the last coyote I shot was with the 45/70 and they do very nice back flips when hit with a 405 gr LFN .
psssst my fav lever is my win BB94 375 win .
pete

 

[Sistema1927]

The .44 is more powerful than the .357 but it costs more and .44 special is about the same price. 30-30 is the most expensive but I believe it is middle in power I know this can take a dear.

Probably better not to let "dear" know that you are gunning for her.

 

[19-3Ben]

If you're worried about .357 for deer, look here:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

Scroll down to where they give the velocities out of each barrel length, and check out the velocity of a 158gr round from an 18"bbl.

 

[torpid]

AH-1

Now I have to post this pic by Wayne McLoughlin (www.blueloonfinearts.com) :

 

[gbran]

308 Marlin

Hornady has developed a 308 Marlin. Should be on the market in a few months and will give 308 Win balistics/performance out of a lever gun. This will be a long range shooter. I'm kinda anxious and may get one when they're available. I love leverguns, but have always been put off by their short range issues. I also expect ammo will be a little pricey to start. Shooting Times has an article this month on this cartrige.

 

[CU74]

For plinking, coyotes and deer at fairly close ranges (~100 yds) the .357 lever is a good choice. It's fun to shoot and has light recoil.

If you're a more dedicated deer hunter, I remind you that there have probably been more deer taken with a 30-30 than any other single caliber. More recoil than the .357, (but not bad) and like the .357, it's fun to shoot.

44 Mag? I just can't see why I would need one in a lever gun. If I was going after something big and/or dangerous I'd rather have a 45-70. Don't have one yet, so I will have to get by with my bolt-action 30-06 if I decide to go hunting for something bigger than white-tails.

OBTW, none of the lever calibers above is "appropriate" for longer-range hunting.

 

[AH-1]

funny about long range hunting.in all "my" years of hunting I have only shot 2 deer over 100 yards.one with a 7mm mauser and one with a 270 win.2 this year with my steyr both under 70 yards.
all the rest have fallen to a lever action and most 70 yards or less.
it would seem the art of getting close is slipping away to high power scopes and wizz bang cal. rifles sad very sad.
pete