Which deer hunting rifle - lever 357 or AR15

The lever action in .30-30 has been Americas Deer Rifle since 1894. Dropping down to a pistol cartridge is a significant loss of power and range. Even the .30-30 isn't known for much better than 250 yards, but that does cover most shots hunting in edge woodland.

The lever is ambidextrous, but is also old school - which means it takes some workarounds to get modern performance. Leverevolution ammo improves range and flattens the trajectory a bit, making the combination work further with "point blank" aiming. Less figuring holdover means less chance of a bad shot - or not getting one.

Having hunted with the Lever the last five years, it's light, handy, won't take a good scope mount, or has much option to put it exactly where you want. The loading cycle is arbitrary, and clearing the gun after hunting means jacking all the rounds thru the chamber. That's a chance for a ND every time right there, plus bangs up the bullets unnecessarily, which lessens accuracy.

They work ok, but having used the AR for 22 years in the Reserves, it's better.

The AR is inherently more accurate, and easier to get it that way. It's just as light and handy, the flattop scope rail puts it where it needs to be. Operating it is easy for lefties, and left hand models are available. Loading and unloading it is much simpler, safer, and easier. You have more choices in cartridges than the lever - BTW, Winchester is just a name for a high grade Japanese repro now, so only old levers or Marlins are your choice anymore. There's over two dozen AR makers of repute, and more models than you can count.

If you go AR for a hunting rifle, the better option is 6.8SPC, the #1 alternate selling cartridge. You get 40% more power, and avoid the kinky impractical magazine and low performance of the 7.62x39. A fixed stock flattop 16" barreled midlength gas makes a great deer rifle.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. The appeal of the AR is that I could get an upper in 6.8 spc and also a 22lr upper which would be a very versatile setup that would last me a long time (I don't know if that's a good thing because then I couldn't justify other rifles as easily. :-) ).

The more I think about it, I'd want to reload for this gun anyway, and even if it were a 357, I'm still probably going to need different components anyway for best performance. So, maybe trying to share a common caliber is just not worth the effort. In that case, I'd still have to decide between an AR in 6.8 spc and a lever in 30-30. My favorite currently seems to be the markin 336xlr - can't get that one out of my head, and would match my revolvers very nicely. But, that AR is still calling to me. Ah, decisions.

Would anyway suggest a season of handgun hunting first just to see if I like it before purchasing a rifle? I don't like selling guns so whatever I wind up with, I'm planning to pass down to kids.
 
If hunting from a stand AR rifle's will give many more choices IMO, .300 AAC Blackout would top my list. The .300 with 125 grain bullets will put you in 30-30 territory for range and power out of a 16" or longer barrel. Plus there are a lot of other chamberings to be had, many already mentioned.

Now if you are out walking around I'd rather carry a lever action rifle. I would look for one in .30-30 or .35 Rem over the .357 Mag. Look to Savage or Remington for a good lefty bolt action.
 
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I carry my 357 Puma Levergun quite often deer hunting ...with a 16in barrel very comfortable to carry...I use 158gr. JSP... penetrate well through and through on both deer I 've taken with the 357 ...big wound channels....But you have to actually hunt ..no 200 yd. shots with this set up...for sure...

Out of my 16in barrel I get over 1825 FPs with 158 gr. factory JSP,which makes it a dandy Deer short range carbine...


A good 30-30 is hard to beat....
 
Lots of opinions...here's some of mine

AR10 IN .308 ,it is the only rifle you will ever need .
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Sure, if you carry around 10lbs+ of rifle and optics while deer hunting.
I don't.

hunted with the Lever the last five years, it's light, handy, won't take a good scope mount, or has much option to put it exactly where you want
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Not all levers fall into this category. Marlins and the BLR scope quite nicely with traditional mounts and scopes.

The AR has the advantage, now days, of being modular, and all kinds of options just bolt on and off. And if you are thinking of using the rifle for several other things, the AR is versatile. But they aren't specificly a hunting rifle. They are a different kind of rifle that will serve just fine for a lot of hunting (where legal).

The Marlin is a hunting rifle. That's all it is meant to be. There is nothing there you don't need, and everything you do.

.357 Mag Marlin will do just fine on the deer in your part of the country, at any range you can accurately hit. For most folks, that's going to be about 100yds give or take a bit.

The key is choosing the right ammo. The 125gr JHP is great for defense against humans from a handgun, but the longer carbine barrel drives it too fast to give the best performance on deer at closer ranges. The 158gr is built heavier, and even though going faster from the carbine, doesn't have such a tendency to "blow up" like the 125 can.

No matter what many say, the .357 has plenty of punch to do the job, especially on the smaller deer in your neck of the woods. Just go with the 158 bullet for best overall performance. Some 180gr will work through the short action of the Marlin, others can be too long. Its something you will have to check out if you want to use the 180gr weight. Personally, I see no need, the 158gr JHP, JSP, or a hard cast 160gr SWC will do just fine if you do your part.

Personally, I don't hold with the .22 cal anything for deer. Deer can be humanely taken with a number of .22 centerfires (using the right bullets), but only a few states allow this. You can get the AR in bigger calibers, the new 6.8mm is apparently highly thought of by a number of folks, I don't have any personal experience with it, so unlike some, will refrain from comment on that one.

The 7.62x39 has nearly .30-30 perfromance and is a bit more easily used to hit at longer ranges than the .30-30 (or the .357) due to the pointed bullets holding velocity better. Just be sure to get proper hunting ammo for it.

Being a lefty, the AR is going to throw brass across in front of your face. Older AR uppers without the brass deflector hump can throw hot brass in your face or down your shirt when fired left handed. IF shooting lefty with an AR, ALWAYS button all the way up!

The Marlin will also eject "back at you" when shooting lefty, BUT, it does it at your control, and cases are not nearly as hot as coming out of the semi auto.

The Marlin also has the advantage of shooting both .357 and .38 Specials. Great gun plinking, or taking small game & pests with .38s in the Marlin. Virtually no recoil either.

The stock sights on the Marlin are no great shakes, but do well enough for the shorter ranges common for the carbine. A smaller low power scope goes on the Marlin easily and doesn't detract much from its light weight and handling. Flat top AR are made for scopes/optic sights, so no problem there, if thats what you want to use.

Loading and unloading the lever is more cumbersome than the detachable box of the AR, and its quite true you MUST pay attention to safety (and where the muzzle is) when doing it. But people have been doing it successfully for well over a century, so it can be done.

And just so you know, folks have run tests over the years, and slight deformation to the point of the bullet doesn't affect its accuracy significantly.

THe Marlin probably won't group as tight as a new AR, but it will hold a fine minute of deer accuracy, and then a bit more, if you are good with it.

If your .357 revolver is legal for deer where you are, its fine too. And you already have that, and time for practice before next season!
 
Neither, assuming you mean a .223 AR.

One of the 6.X AR's would work fine.

I just finished reading a short blurb in a magazine that I agree with 100%.

You need to be equipped to take the shot that presents itself and the shot presented by the animal isn't always optimal for those calibers. Precious few are disciplined enough not to take "that" bad shot.

There are valid reasons a lot of states won't let you take a .223 Deer hunting.

Edited to add: I see you would also consider a 30-30 lever, which is what I would use. I sometimes take my Winchester Model 94 30-30 as an emergency back up should my main rifle fail in some way.
 
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'Nuther vote for neither.

I realize that deer hunting varies with location (the first time I saw deer back east I did not recognize them as deer at first- they were far too small to be deer.... There are fawns here, yes, but whoever saw 5 fawns and no doe with them ... and fawns don't have antlers ... turned out that was all the bigger they got around there.....) ..... but both of those are marginal calibers for deer, in my book.

A 30/30 would be a good lever gun if you want to go after deer.
 
Where I lived in the South East, the deer were small and I recall stepping on Copperheads was a valid concern for both hunter and dogs if used.
Between the AR-15 or 357 Lever, I'd go with the 357.
You might also carry your handgun loaded with snakeshot if that is a factor in your area. The 357 gives you flexibility: Long gun, hand gun, hunting loads, snake loads. And then you might be able to shoot 38 specials at bowling pins or plinking targets during the non-hunting season.
 
I would take either, with proper bullet choice (and good sights/optics help, too!)

It all comes down to what you shoot better, and what you want to carry in the woods.
 
An AR in 556 will kill anything that walks the earth with more then a few of the bullet selections commonly found. I see the 357 as a small deer 100 to 150yd gun.
 
The .30-30 lever gun really is America's deer rifle.
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Maybe 50 years ago ......

It's 4th or 5th on the list for annual hunting ammo sales these days, behind .30-06, .270WIN, .308, and sometimes the .243 .....

Where I hunt, darn few people tote a 30/30 .....
 
An AR in 556 will kill anything that walks the earth with more then a few of the bullet selections commonly found.
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So will old age ...... but will it kill before it loses the hunter, or worse yet, gets him?

Feel free to use whatever bullet you want outa that toy on a Cape Buffalo, or a Brown bear ...... just make sure I am nowhere near when you try it.
 
If you like a lever gun I would look for a Savage 99 in any of several calibers, probably a .308 (more common) but, 300 Savage, 303 Savage, .243, .250 Savage. Great rifles, and you are not limited to flat nosed bullets like you are with the Winchesters or Marlins. Not that there is anything wrong with a M94 in 30-30. Not trying to start any fights, 30-30 is a great round for hunting in the South East. Especially for heavy brush country, thick woods where you are unlikely to get a shot over 100 yards. Personally, a .243 is my no 1 deer killer. Never lost one yet at any range with a .243.
 
The original Wins were top-eject so it didn't matter if you were shooting right or left, but, that caused scope issues. "Angle-Eject" was Win's solution, right? Maybe an old used top-eject is what he needs. I remember The 336 C being a robust arm.
 
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