best all around levergun caliber

K

kcub

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Of course, it all depends on one's particular definition of "all around" so please define that along with your choice. There are no wrong answers. In fact I will probably discover another costly right answer I never thought of before.

What's your opinion?
 
30-06.
Out of a lever or a bolt action, the 06 is probably the most versatile cartridge ever invented.

Browning/Winchester made the modern Japanese made M95 and the BLR in 30-06. Very well made and high quality.
 
Put me down for a 30-30 as well. Not sure it needs any explanation, its been explaining itself for what, well over a decade or so?
 
in increasing populated areas, old is new. I like 32 20. no noise, feeds well. kills things way out of proportion for what it is. bobn ps its the orginal 300 blackout, lol.
 
Well I don't want a lever Gun that I can't hunt big game with, and CO has both caliber and ft-lbs restrictions. So for simplicity sake the .30-30 is the most versatile as far as ammunition and component availability as well as offering the best balance in power and trajectory for hunting use. It's also the easiest to find a used rifle chambered in this cartridge as well as a new one, since it's the most commonly chambered lever action cartridge across the board.

I wouldn't turn my nose up at a .35 Remington in a Marlin 336 either.
 
Best "all around" caliber without question the .308.... Lever rifles chambered in .308 are common just not as prolific as Win or Marlin 30-30s.

If given the choice between a Savage 99 or Winchester 88 or Browning BLR in .308 or a Marlin 336 or Win 94 30-30 which would you select?

I have 2 Marlin 30-30s and a 99F IN 300 Savage, great guns and wouldn't trade them for a .308 but if I had to start from scratch I would probably select a 308 chambered lever gun.
 
I'D be tempted to look around for a Winchester M1894 clone, and have it re-chambered to .30-30 Ackley Improved. Still a light, fast-handling, durable carbine, with ballistic capabilities almost in the .308 range, but can still shoot .30-30 WCF if no .30-30 AI is available. I think the same could be done with a Marlin M336, whose stronger action design might enable a more complete exploitation of the .30-30 AI's ballistic potential.

I'm not in the market for one, but a Browning BLR, Savage M99, or Winchester M88 in .308 would be tough to beat as an "all-rounder".
 
I don't have one but I would say a 44 magnum. I'm sure it would be the equal of either of my Marlin 30-30's out to 100 yds and offer much more versatility going down in power. When I bought my last 336 I was looking for a 357 or 44 Marlin. I couldn't have touched either one of those without having to add 150-200 dollars to the price I paid for that 30-30. It's primarily a farm, ranch, work gun. An Armadillo or Coyote won't care too much which one of the 3 he gets hit with.
 
If you're talking traditional style lever guns nothing can touch 30-30. If you throw in modern versions then a 308 is gonna be the most versatile.
 
I'm not sure how "traditional" this will be regarded, but the Winchester M71 in .348 Winchester will do everything the .30-30 will, plus a few things. I would willingly tackle game with a .348 that I would be very hesitant about engaging with a .30-30. Good luck finding one.

If a Winchester M1895 in .35 Whelen could be had, THAT might be the most versatile, again depending on the definition of "traditional". If, by "traditional", we mean lever action firearms which feed from a tubular magazine, then I revert to the M71. Good luck finding one, these days, though.
 
There is no wrong answer, I have a Winchester 94AE in .307 caliber, velocity just over 2400FPS with a 170gr Partition projectile, powerful enough to take many of the larger animals we hunt.. I don't think it should be used on Elk size animals although I wouldn't hesitate to use it on black bear plus it is a perfect firearm for hunting in heavy cover!! William
 
Keeping the OPs post in mind best "all around caliber"

Ammo is a huge consideration.308 is not quite as common as 30-30 but it's certainly more common than .348, 35 Whelan, etc. A case could be made for the .358 and .284 Winchester cartridges but again, where you gonna find it in a pinch?

The .308 has got to be in the top 3 or 4 on dealers shelves, also don't forget about LC surplus and some foreign military surplus 7.62X51 NATO that you could stock up on.

I have a strong affinity for the 30-30 but the 308 shoots flatter and hits harder over all ranges and is almost as common at ammo stores. A lot of the appeal for the 30-30 is in the weapons designed around it and it kills deer.

The 308 is a military round for good reason, the 30-30 never quite made that distinction as a general issue chambering.
 
"...OPs post in mind best "all around caliber"..." No, it's "best all around lever gun caliber". One fight at a time. snicker.
"...best all around lever gun caliber..." To do what?
The CAS guys see it as a .25-20 or .32-20. Eastern deer hunters as .30-30, or used to. (You couldn't give 'e one of 'em. Excessive felt recoil for the power of the cartridge.) Some Mid-West deer hunters will say .44 Mag. Then you get into the BLR stuff.
I'd be thinking .45 Colt. But only if I can have the consecutively numbered pair of Vaqueros to go with it. Saw those at a Canadian dealer a couple years back. $2500Cdn.
 
Browning/Winchester made the modern Japanese made M95 and the BLR in 30-06. Very well made and high quality.
Click to expand...

Yes, they are both very high quality.

Never shot a BLR, but I can say from experience that .30-06 in an 1895 is, shall we say, not pleasant...

I would definitely prefer a Savage 99 in .308 or .300.

However, what the 94 Winchester has got going for it is that you can find ammo virtually anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
 
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