Lever Gun.... .357 or .44 ?

[altez]

I've shot hogs with a suppressed 44 mag, it did okay, but probably better without the suppressor. I would say just stick with your 30-30 for deer, hogs, and even black bear.

But if I were to choose, I would get a .357. It might be a little light on big hogs but it could work with the right shot placement (behind the ear or even in the ear).

 

[hso]

I have one of the Rossi Model 92 "saddle ring" carbines in .38spl/.357 to go along with a 4" .357 Dan Wesson (still have to find all the barrels). Tons of fun.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Nice choice.

Of course, I would have recommended a Marlin 1894C in .357 mag, but hey, if you like it, that's all that counts.

Of course, no one here will believe that you actually bought it until you post pics of it, range targets, range report, etc.

Besides, I don't think I've ever seen one of the Rossis.

Here you go!

The targets were my first range trip...needless to say I was more than pleased with the accuracy. 25 yards. Off-hand, 1 string of aimed fire and 1 string of "fast fire".

Softball loads of 3.5gr of W231 over a 158gr LSWC in a .38spcl case. Guy at the range said he could see the bullet flying down range it was going so slow!

 

[Paladin7]

WNC Seabee, Good choice! Glad to hear that your search ended successfully.

I just went through a similar decision process and ended up getting a new Marlin 1894CSS...really dumb luck that I found one on the shelf in my area.

I did all the ballistic comparisons and whereas the 44 does a lot more things better than the 357...what it came down to for me was cost and flexibility...

The 357 Lever Action is just much cheaper to feed. And let's face it, if you are spending more time on the range than in the field, cost is king.

As to flexibility, the 357 does just about everything I need doing adequately. It can go from powder puff 38's for plinking and small game up to deer sized targets and do it with fairly flat trajectory and sufficient power out to 100 yards. I hand load as well, so this option made a lot of good sense to me.

All the best...

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I think I have a different approach to the answer. You want the 44 magnum lever action but are concerned about the extra cost of shooting. At least, that's my interpetation per OP and reading between the lines. So, my question to you is how much do you shoot per year and what is your shooting budget? There was a time when I went twice a week and was shooting 10,000 rounds a year. For my budget, if I could save some costs on ammo I did so (shot more 9s instead of 45s, etc). I'm more busy now and don't shoot as much. As such my ammo cost isn't as much of an issue so I shoot what I want. That might help.

Another approach you can take is to calculate the cost difference per round and how many rounds you shoot. If you shoot a lot, you might be able to justify two guns. One for range and one for hunting. I bought a 9 mm identical to my 45 and in about two years time, ammo cost savings in 9s vs 45s essentialy made the 9 mm pistol a free purchase. I still shot the 45 but mostly the 9 mm. Depending on your shooting habits, you might find yourself in a similar situation.

Last thought on topic. The heck with it. Get the 44 mag and don't worry about the money. Life is short. Shoot what you really want and cut back elsewhere.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I think I have a different approach to the answer. You want the 44 magnum lever action but are concerned about the extra cost of shooting. At least, that's my interpetation per OP and reading between the lines.

Actually COST never was a consideration. I looked first for purpose (plinking) and second for general usefulness. Since I have 3 different .357 revolvers that I already shoot often I always have that ammo on hand or ready to reload. I only have 1 .44 Mag revolver and that typically just gets a work out leading up to deer season, and, I'm not committed to keeping .44 Mag in the stable. So, that really narrowed my focus to the .357.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

Did that! Check out the pics further up the page.

 

[ball3006]

I have both 357 and 45lc in Rossi 92 Winchester clones. Both are fun to shoot and neither has much recoil. I doubt if a 44 is much different. I think you can shoot 44 Special and 44 Scholfield in addition to 44 mag in a rifle chambered for 44mag....chris3

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Actually COST never was a consideration. I looked first for purpose (plinking) and second for general usefulness. Since I have 3 different .357 revolvers that I already shoot often I always have that ammo on hand or ready to reload. I only have 1 .44 Mag revolver and that typically just gets a work out leading up to deer season, and, I'm not committed to keeping .44 Mag in the stable. So, that really narrowed my focus to the .357.




Did that! Check out the pics further up the page.

Congrats. Since I orignally replied on a smart phone I hadn't seen that you had chosen. Looks like a nice rifle and accurate.

 

[WNC Seabee]

well...update to the OP...

Walked into the gun shop yesterday to pick up a pound of powder...pocketful of Christmas bonus cash...walked out with a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag!

So...rather than choose .357 or .44, I just went ahead and got both! =)

 

[ColdDeadHand]

In a perfect world (one with unlimited ammo on tap), I would say .44.

If SHTF is a consideration, my gut says .357/.38 will be a lot easier to scavenge and find. That was my thinking when getting a 4" bbl revolver and a short lever gun in that chambering.