I am considering a new all around the farm rifle. I want a lever action. We have the typical varmin, woodchuck, coons, a stay wild dog or even coyote come through once in awhile. I'm leaning towards a Winchester. My question is, Caliber? 30-30's seem to be a dime a dozen, but is it also seems to much for what I need. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Lever Action?
- Thread starter J2.
- Start date
What sort of ranges are you looking at? If your ranges are, say, less than 100 yards for the smaller varmints and somewhat further for the larger ones then the .30-30 will work ok.
About lever action rifles and the rounds that they are commonly available in: Sadly, there are not as many offerings now as there once was. And some of the offerings that were once available are probably more appropriate for what you want to do. Nowadays, you have .22s, .30-30s, .35 Remingtons, .357 Mag (shoots .38 Spl as well), .44 Mag and some big bores.
Of these, the .22s are going to be a bit light on the larger critters. .35 Rem is more of a dedicated deer/black bear/hog round. .357 Mag/.38 is a possibility, but it doesn't perform all that well at longer ranges. .44 Mag is probably too much. And the big bores are intended for a completely different class of game than what you are intending to engage.
Which leaves .30-30. In its factory loadings, it is usually considered a deer round. But -- if you are handloader, you'll find that it will be better suited for the smaller varmint sized critters you expect to use it against. Normally, it is factory loaded with jacketed bullets in the 150gr-170gr range. But there are lighter jacketed bullets and cast bullets available to the handloader that should work well for what you want to do.
About lever action rifles and the rounds that they are commonly available in: Sadly, there are not as many offerings now as there once was. And some of the offerings that were once available are probably more appropriate for what you want to do. Nowadays, you have .22s, .30-30s, .35 Remingtons, .357 Mag (shoots .38 Spl as well), .44 Mag and some big bores.
Of these, the .22s are going to be a bit light on the larger critters. .35 Rem is more of a dedicated deer/black bear/hog round. .357 Mag/.38 is a possibility, but it doesn't perform all that well at longer ranges. .44 Mag is probably too much. And the big bores are intended for a completely different class of game than what you are intending to engage.
Which leaves .30-30. In its factory loadings, it is usually considered a deer round. But -- if you are handloader, you'll find that it will be better suited for the smaller varmint sized critters you expect to use it against. Normally, it is factory loaded with jacketed bullets in the 150gr-170gr range. But there are lighter jacketed bullets and cast bullets available to the handloader that should work well for what you want to do.
Do you hand load your own cartridges? The reason I ask is because you can then take advantage of bullets not normally found in factory ammunition. With factory stuff you pretty much only find 150 or 170 grain traditional ammo or you can get the new 160 grain Leverevolution cartridges. Which all are great bullets but I wouldn't call them overkill, vermin can never be too dead.
If you hand load then you can use bullets like Sierra 85 grain RN pistol bullet or their 125 grain FNHP bullet for you varmints. Plus Hornady offers a 86 grain RN pistol bullet as well as a 110 grain RN bullet. If you kept the muzzle velocities to the 2500 fps range then you would have a nice plinking round that wouldn't be overkill.
Take what I'm about to say with caution. You can shoot any spire point bullet, if your rifle will feed it into the chamber. There are some great Varmint bullets in 110 grain V-max and 125 grain Nosler ballistic tip. However you can only load two cartridges in your rifle at a time. The problem with spire point bullets in the M94 magazine is that the tip of the bullet rest on the primer and during recoil can start what is called a chain fire. This is where the rifle will literally blow up in your hand. Two cartridges is all you get to work with one in the chamber and one in the mag this will prevent any rounds from going off in your magazine.
If you hand load then you can use bullets like Sierra 85 grain RN pistol bullet or their 125 grain FNHP bullet for you varmints. Plus Hornady offers a 86 grain RN pistol bullet as well as a 110 grain RN bullet. If you kept the muzzle velocities to the 2500 fps range then you would have a nice plinking round that wouldn't be overkill.
Take what I'm about to say with caution. You can shoot any spire point bullet, if your rifle will feed it into the chamber. There are some great Varmint bullets in 110 grain V-max and 125 grain Nosler ballistic tip. However you can only load two cartridges in your rifle at a time. The problem with spire point bullets in the M94 magazine is that the tip of the bullet rest on the primer and during recoil can start what is called a chain fire. This is where the rifle will literally blow up in your hand. Two cartridges is all you get to work with one in the chamber and one in the mag this will prevent any rounds from going off in your magazine.
Bowhunter57
New member
Northslope Nimrod,
I'm about to purchase a Henry Big Boy in .357 Mag. for the purpose of hunting the varmints you've mentioned. There are other brands such as Marlin, Puma/Rossi and Browning.
I've done some extensive reading/research on lever actions and the Henry is very difficult to beat for all around value. An American company that's still family owned with service that's second to none. The wood to metal fit is outstanding, as well as is the quality of the wood in their stocks. I have owned a Henry in .22 Mag. that was the most accurate .22 Mag. that I've ever owned and it is still in my family.
I've read posts from other lever action owners from all over the lower U.S. and it is absolutely amazing the amount of large game animals that is killed with stunning regularity using a .357 Mag. lever action rifle.
The versatility of this caliber to take small and large game, using the right reloads, is very good. 
The report from a .357 Mag. isn't as loud as a standard varmint rifle caliber. Thus, this makes it a good choice for getting second shots and/or not spooking an entire section for continued hunting. Yet, it's good out to 120 yards...if that's what you have in mind. I intend to use mine with open sights (maybe a peep sight) and keep the shots inside 75 yards. I have other rifles for the long range stuff.
Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
I'm about to purchase a Henry Big Boy in .357 Mag. for the purpose of hunting the varmints you've mentioned. There are other brands such as Marlin, Puma/Rossi and Browning.
I've done some extensive reading/research on lever actions and the Henry is very difficult to beat for all around value. An American company that's still family owned with service that's second to none. The wood to metal fit is outstanding, as well as is the quality of the wood in their stocks. I have owned a Henry in .22 Mag. that was the most accurate .22 Mag. that I've ever owned and it is still in my family.
I've read posts from other lever action owners from all over the lower U.S. and it is absolutely amazing the amount of large game animals that is killed with stunning regularity using a .357 Mag. lever action rifle.
The versatility of this caliber to take small and large game, using the right reloads, is very good. The report from a .357 Mag. isn't as loud as a standard varmint rifle caliber. Thus, this makes it a good choice for getting second shots and/or not spooking an entire section for continued hunting. Yet, it's good out to 120 yards...if that's what you have in mind. I intend to use mine with open sights (maybe a peep sight) and keep the shots inside 75 yards. I have other rifles for the long range stuff.
Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
nstoolman1
New member
+1 what Bowhunter57 said.
Edward429451
Moderator
45/70 
It's a handloaders dream, and plenty of light loadings are available in the cowboy loads.
Really
It's a handloaders dream, and plenty of light loadings are available in the cowboy loads.
Really
pilothunter
Moderator
I'm with *liberty1* on this one. A Browning lever in .22/.250, .223 or .243 with a low power scope of the 1-4X or straight 2.5X or 4X type would seem ideal for all the game/vermin you mentioned. Easily anchor a coyote at 250yds, giving you much more range than any of the pistol calibers.
+1 Dipper
I have a '94 23" 44mag Marlin cowboy and am very, very happy with its performance, you are asking about a general purpose varmint gun, so as Dipper said, my gun, in 357 would be perfect for your needs, IMO.
I would reccomend you stay away from the '94 winchester tho, I started with a new one of these & was less than impressed with its clunky action (others have the same prob. Maybe in a smaller caliber a winchester might be more reliable.... I know the earlier models were/are excellent, just avoid the '94 winchester IMO and experience.
I have a '94 23" 44mag Marlin cowboy and am very, very happy with its performance, you are asking about a general purpose varmint gun, so as Dipper said, my gun, in 357 would be perfect for your needs, IMO.
I would reccomend you stay away from the '94 winchester tho, I started with a new one of these & was less than impressed with its clunky action (others have the same prob. Maybe in a smaller caliber a winchester might be more reliable.... I know the earlier models were/are excellent, just avoid the '94 winchester IMO and experience.
WAPITI_ASSASSIN
New member
Personally i would go for a Marlin 30-30
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I think one of the two popular cartridges is the ticket. 30/30 or 357. What would you want to do "around the farm" that either of these cartridges would not be capable of?
Only other lever action I have looked at is the Savage 99 in 308 and and the 1895 in 30-06, neither of which are traditional lever action.
Only other lever action I have looked at is the Savage 99 in 308 and and the 1895 in 30-06, neither of which are traditional lever action.
For the critters you listed that come wandering through your place, a 30-30 would probably be a little much unless loaded down to 110RN's or 125hp's. Federal makes a good factory load in 125hp for the 30-30 if you don't reload.
Otherwise, lever actions are a sickness. You can't have just one. I would consider a 9422M Winchester (or the highly desirable Marlin 1894M, if you can find one) in 22wrm for the smaller vermin, and the Marlin 1894C in .357mag for the occasional coyote or wild dog. While you're at it, get a pistol to go with that rifle.
Otherwise, lever actions are a sickness. You can't have just one. I would consider a 9422M Winchester (or the highly desirable Marlin 1894M, if you can find one) in 22wrm for the smaller vermin, and the Marlin 1894C in .357mag for the occasional coyote or wild dog. While you're at it, get a pistol to go with that rifle.