What caliber?

[Drummer101]

Just had some time to think and I think my enfield might have to retire.

So in thinking of a new rifle here are the choices I came up with.

Lever action 44 mag and a lever action 30.30.

Uses would be HD (light bullets) some plinking, someday deer or others.

Reloading won't be an option for a few years and I do not even know what state I will live in when I graduate.

I would think about the 45-70 but no reloading and the recoil does not look fun.

 

[Big Shrek]

.44 Mag gives you the option to compete in SASS/Cowboy Shooting competitions...
Also great on Hog and deer within 75 yards...although bigger deer, you might want to be within Bowhunter ranges 50 yards or less
Add in a pair of .44mag/special revolvers & a double-barrel 12-gauge and you are SET for Cowboy Action!!

.30-30 takes any game animal in North America...and has since they started making them
Ammo's almost as inexpensive as reloading...if you buy on sale...

 

[slow944]

Have both 44Mag & 30-30, both Marlins. The 44 will shoot the light 44spl cowboy ammo or the thumping 44mag. The 30-30 is a real fun gun to take to the range. Get both is my advise.

 

[jmr40]

I have both. If forced to keep only one it would be the 30-30.

 

[Bob Wright]

Not being much of a hand with the rifle, and shooting shoulder arms from the left shoulder, the lever gun is a natural for me. Here are my lever guns, left is a Marlin 39A, my first real rifle from about 1949 or 1950. Center is my Marlin 336T, and Model 94 Winchester.

The Model 94 sports an octagon barrel and Hawken front sight. The .30-30 is an ideal rifle in my neck of the woods, light to carry and enough to get a shot across a bean field. I do like the .30-30.

Bob Wright

 

[Hook686]

I prefer the .44 magnum, as using Buffalo Bore ammunition, or reloading, I can get all I need out to 100-125 yards. I do not shoot beyond that range, so the extra range of the 30-30 is not something I need.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell44OverWeight.htm

indicates some real pluses to the .44 magnum.

On another level,

http://www.gunblast.com/Winchester-Ranger357.htm

http://www.gunblast.com/MilesFortis-AKChurch_BuffaloBore.htm

indicates that Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast can produce 30-30 ballistics out to 100 yards also.

If short range hunting and range shooting will be your primary uses, I suggest looking first at a Marlin 1894C, then an 1894 in .44 magnum, then a 30-30.