Lever Action Rifle Poll

[jwalker497]

There's just something about a lever action rifle, I don't know what it is, maybe it's because it's "the cowboy" gun or maybe it's becuase owning a lever action BB gun is a right of passage for many young boys but everytime I go into a gun store, I cannot stop myself from picking one up and playing with it. I know it's an old fashioned design but to this day it still seems absolutely ingenious. For me, it's like the 1911 of the rifle world. Simple, no frills, it just works!!

Anyway, aside form the nostalgia, what caliber should I get. My top 2 choices are 30-30 or 44mag. I don't know all that much about these 2 rounds, so which one would be more powerful of the two if fired form the same length barrel??? This would be a fun gun, no hunting, possibly Home Defense as well.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Fun gun...get the 44 (or better yet a 45 Colt)

 

[hammerklavier]

I vote for the classic 30-30 (or .35 Remington for even more power).

 

[batex]

Both guns are excellent choices. For general all around fun and shooting out to 100 yards, I'd recommend the 44mag. You could shoot anything from light cowboy/target loads to full house loads such as the CORBON stuff.

Of course 30-30 is a great choice also. Ammo is readily available and relatively cheap, it will shoot much flatter that the 44 mag, is good out to at least 200 years and because of it's much higher velocoity should put more energy on target at longer distances. Oh, not to mention that it's probably taken more deer in the US that all other cartridges combined.

So, it really depends on what you want to use it for. I'd recommend a Marlin in either case. In fact, I'd recommend you getting both (you will eventually, believe me). In fact, in my neck of the woods, a nice used Marlin 336 in 30-30 can easily be had for less than $300. A Marlin 1894 in 44 mag will run a little more because there are fewer of them out there. I've been looking for stainless on myself.

 

[gunnutery]

Personally I prefer the 30-30 lever action, but since you said you'd maybe use it for HD, I voted for the .44. I think either one would be really fun, you can get more rounds into the .44. I'm looking forward to buying a lever gun someday.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I voted 30-30. It's more of a rifle caliber, and has more hunting, range and accuracy potential. However, with the 44, you could also use it in a handgun.

 

[batex]

Oh, one more thing...Here's a link to get the addiction started...
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php#3

 

[SatCong]

Or the Model 95 in 45/70.

 

[wnycollector]

I'm a very happy Rossi M92 .44 mag owner here. It is a blast to shoot plus with light SWC's its very economical and easy on the shoulder.

 

[jwalker497]

I just realized that the 44 mag rifles a hold about 4 more rounds than a comprable length 30/30. That may be a deciding factor.

 

[AKElroy]

I have had an on again off again search for a 94' trapper in .44 mag. As a general rule, I really want a rifle or carbine to chamber rifle rounds, so I would stick with the .30-30 for the rifle. I would make an exception for the trapper; it is so handy & trim that a pistol round just seems to suit it fine.

As for capacity, what would you possibly need more than 7 rounds of .30-30 for?

 

[Hardtarget]

My vote is "YES" get a lever gun! I only have one...a Win. '94 in .30-30. I'm left handed so the lever gun was a good choice. The Marlins are good for scope mounting. The Win. is top eject so I put a set of peep sights on mine. I haven't hunted deer for five years now...so the .30-30 is just a paper puncher now.

Again...get a lever gun. They are fun guns...no matter the caliber.

Mark

 

[CraigC]

The .44Mag is easier to handload for, more fun to practice/plink with and properly loaded will take anything that walks or crawls on planet earth. The .30-30 is an excellent cartridge (I own three of them) but I really hunt with them much more than I shoot them for fun.

 

[jmr40]

For a fun gun you should consider a 22. The Henry is a dependable, accurate gun, but will never really have any value. If you can afford it a Marlin, or find a used Winchester 94-22, is what you really want.

Of the 2 choices a 44 would be the most fun. Ammo would be cheaper and the pistol calibers are smaller and faster shooting. The downside is thatt he rifles are less common and are more expensive. You can still pick up a used 30-30 dirt cheap, but ammo is a little more expensive.

 

[Hunterdad]

My Marlin 336 in .30-30 is my favorite rifle. It's deadly accurate with Remington Cor-loks.

 

[Old Shooter]

Lever gun and 30-30, did you need to say more?

 

[kanook]

Since it is going to be for HD, I'm going to say .357mag or .44mag

This is from the Buffalo Bore sight on the .357mag ammo they sell

5. 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!!
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!

While the hole isn't as big as the .44, it is bigger than the 30/30 and is pushing on the terratory of it. A lot less recoil, cheaper to shoot, makes for more fun on the range and more money in the wallet.

 

[Tallinar]

.44 mag

Superior for the HD scenario; easiest to reload for; and can be had in a model 92.

.44 mag is also perfectly acceptable as a 100 yd deer rifle. The .30-30's main benefit (generally speaking) compared to .44 mag is it's flatter trajectory past 100 yds. This may not even be a factor considering what you're wanting to use the rifle for.

Also, if you ever decide you want a cowboy pistol to match your lever gun, you can't pick up an SAA replica in .30-30, but you can in .44 mag.

+1 to Ridgerunner though. I'd do the .45 Colt.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Where is the option for the .45 Colt???? In a Model 92, you can load the .45 Colt to exceed the downrange performance of the 30-30, and run 900-1000 fps low-recoil loads for home defense.

 

[Joe Demko]

Neither. .300 Savage or .45-70.

 

[Tallinar]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that .45-70 is a little overkill for HD.

 

[Joe Demko]

I dunno about that. A lot of the factory loads are very, very light in deference to the many old BP rifles out there. I have a box of hollow point .45-70's from Remington (I think) that are real puffball loads. Playing around with them at the range, I concluded they were about as capable as a hot .45 acp.

 

[Legionnaire]

I've had 'em in .30-30, .44 mag, and .357 mag. All are "kinda cool," but I've decided I'm really a bolt-action guy. In answer to your original question:

If you have a .44 mag revolver and/or reload, I'd opt for the .44 mag.
If you want a dedicated hunting rig, I'd favor the .30-30.

The only lever I still have in my safe is a .30-30, and I'm about to put it on the block. Really nice gun (pre-crossbolt safety straight-stocked Marlin 336), but I just don't shoot it. For hunting, I prefer a bolt action, and for plinking, I'd prefer a .44. Since you said you're looking for a non-hunting fun gun, I voted .44 mag.

 

[konfederate.kowboy]

if you had said hunting it would have been 30-30. (seeing how i own two, one straight stock marlin and one 94 in 30-30) but since you said for a fun gun i am thinking that the
.44 would be more practical and enjoyable. and the 30-30 does have some over penatration problems for home defense.

in a lifetime ago i once hade a 30-30 go off in my grandparents living room.( i was home alone at the time) the bullet went through a 4x4 stud on the corner of the wall and took a hole about the size of a half dollar out of the wall behind it and stopped before entering the next room. mind you these were plywood walls not sheet rock like most houses.

so i believe that the .44 would be a better choice for hd as well.

 

[336A]

I have both a Marlin .30-30 and a Marlin 1894SS .44 mag, my vote goes to the .30 WCF. One can find a nice used .30-30 rifle a lot easier than the .44 mag rifles and for less money. For the non reloader the .30-30 is more economical to shoot and ammo is easier to obtain. The .30-30 is a true American classic as it has the distinction of being the first American small bore smokeless powder sporting cartridge.

The .30-30 is more accurate and more versatile than the .44 mag and will be there to fill the freezer if you do decide to take up hunting in the future. I have taken deer with both cartridges but the .30-30 is what gets used when it's time to make meat. For the HD role look for either the Federal load that utilizes the excellent Sierra 125gr HP bullet or the Remington Managed Recoil load that also uses a 125gr bullet and you will be all set.