In my old Win model 94 I use the 170 gr.
This guns prefers the Power-Point ( S.P.) X30303 , Most accurate. It also likes the 170 gr from Fed.
I have shot others lever actions from both Win and Marlin, new and old, each has their preference, some like 150gr, some like 170gr.
I just let the gun tell me what it likes , buy it and feed it.
For the distance, "tasks", and environs , kinda like patterning a shotgun to me. I want reliability first ( feed, extraction) , POA/POI, then I get into the terminal stuff. Terminal - if the the first two req's ain't there, well, not gonna make difference I figure if the cartridge don't feed or if it does feed and heads to the next county...
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Art, perhaps I'm lost in the wrong forum...and yeah I know it( my 94) ain't a smoothbore...someone done cut lands and grooves in my bbl. - on purpose