30-30 or 44 mag

[ExAgoradzo]

I have an opportunity to get one of these guns or the other. Both lever action. Neither with a scope. I want something without a scope that I could use for hunting at short distances but also steel sight targeting.

I have both a 30-06 and a 270 for larger game.

30-30 = post 64 Winchester 94
44 mag = Marlin 1895

Which do you think?

 

[Smokey in PHX]

I have both guns. I prefer the 30-30 for deer but have shot deer with both. If buying factory ammo the 44's will propably be cheaper per 50 rounds. The Winchester rifle should be significantly cheaper than the Marlin.

You just need to pick what feels best for you.

 

[DM~]

I love the 44 cartridge, but if i could only have one of those two it would be the 30-30.

You already have better rifles than these two, so why not get a lever 22 and have some fun?

DM

 

[45_auto]

If it's a 44 mag I doubt if it is a Marlin 1895.

44 mag is chambered in the Marlin 1894, they made a few 336's in the 60's.

1895 is a long stroke heavy action chambered for 45/70, 444 Marlin, etc.

The 30-30 is a much more effective hunting round. More powerful and shoots much flatter than the 44 mag, which is a handgun cartridge.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

30-30. But if I were you and already had a 30-30, I'd grab the .44 mag if the price was right.

 

[nyc71]

I had the same dilemma but after many post + hunter friend I decided to order the 30-30.


"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"- Benjamin Franklin

 

[R.W.Dale]

Get the marlin
Not because of the cartridge but because the 1894 is quite a bit nicer and all around more valuable than the post 64 winny


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[tactikel]

It depends where you hunt. Shots out to 75 yards would be OK with the .44. If you anticipate longer shots the .30-30 is really a better choice. With the new Hornady loads you can reach out with the .30-30 like never before. IMHO while the .44 is a really nice brush gun the .30-30 is much more versatile.

 

[Slamfire]

On occasion I drag my M1894 in 44 Mag and shoot the thing at gong targets at 100 yards. I am always impressed with the power of the thing at that distance. It hits hard.

I do think once you get closer to 200 yards the 30-30 is the better hunting round but don't consider the 44 Magnum in a rifle as weak, at least up close.

My M1894 is light and handy and that is another reason I like it.

You really can't go wrong with either, buy both!

 

[gathert]

The 30-30 isnt going to be as hard on your shoulder and will be better at longer ranges. The .44 can give you a beating, but if you arent recoil shy, go for it. I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Rem Mag and it is plenty accurate at 100 yards. Shot my first deer with that and it seemed it knocked the thing over

 

[68wj]

Do you own a .44 handgun? If so, get the .44 rifle. If not, get the .30-30. Just my $.02, you can keep the change.

 

[Jake1996]

Either will be equal under 75 yards but the 30-30 has flatter trajectory with more energy out farther. Get which ever one you think feels better and whichever one best suits you're hunting situation.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 30-30 is a much more effective hunting round. More powerful and shoots much flatter than the 44 mag, which is a handgun cartridge.

Not true. A heavy .44 load (such as offered by Buffalo Bore) out of a carbine will eclipse the .30-30 in energy and penetration, at the cost of a more curved trajectory. Both are confined to relatively short ranges anyway, though the Hornady FTX bullet (LeveRevolution) has increased the range potential of both cartridges.

For brush hunting, I'd take my 1894 .44 mag with heavy loaded 240 gr. JSP's over my 336 .30-30. Of course, in reality, I use my AR-10 carbine for this purpose.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

I typed 1895 but meant 1894; thanks for the observation.

Unfortunately I can't have both...I have a buddy that has a stainless 30-30.

It sounds like what you all are saying is that if I view this as primarily a hunting gun then the 30-30; if it is a target/fun gun then the 44 which is the better gun.

I guess I'll wait till I get my hands on both Monday: then decide.

Thanks,

 

[R.W.Dale]

which is the better gun.

without a doubt the marlin

You realize the 44mag isn't exactly a slouch for hunting when fired from a carbine

 

[CraigC]

The .30-30 has more range but the .44Mag, properly loaded, is more effective on game and can take larger game, within its effective range. The problem is that the slow twist of most .44 leverguns precludes use of heavyweight cast bullets that would be considered more effective than the .30WCF.

 

[MachIVshooter]

problem is that the slow twist of most .44 leverguns precludes use of heavyweight cast bullets that would be considered more effective than the .30WCF.

This is true. Most don't do well with 300 gr. and up. But there are a lot of good 225-270 grain bullets/loads out there that will stabilize just fine. My 1894 actually does OK with 300's, just doesn't like anything heavier (like BB's super heavy 340 gr.)

 

[Fiv3r]

I'd get the Marlin simply because it's probably a better made gun. I certainly wouldn't sneeze at the .44 mag going down a 20" barrel.

That said, I prefer the 30-30 over it as a rifle round. It's much more pleasant to shoot and common as dirt in my neck of the woods. Not that .44 mag is hard to find, it's just that there are boxes and boxes of 30-30 on the shelves year round ammo drought or not. A yeah and a half ago, I couldn't find much more than some of the weirder calibers for my pistols locally. Plenty of 30-30.

 

[Harley Quinn]

The 30-30 is a better all around Many bullets and loads to pick from...
Most of the time your 44m is a pistol load


Edit for R.W. Dale Comments

http://www.chuckhawks.com/30-30Win.htm

The reloader has access to a larger variety of bullet weights than the factories offer. These include 110 grain, 125 grain, 130 grain, 150 grain, and 170 grain bullets. Premium .30-30 bullets such as the 150 grain Barnes X-Bullet and 170 grain Nosler Partition bullet are available to the reloader, and a good choice if a .30-30 rifle is to be used on tough game. Conventional soft point bullets will often give quicker kills of CXP2 class game. Handloads can essentially duplicate the factory loads, but cannot exceed them by a meaningful amount.

Regards

 

[R.W.Dale]

The 30-30 is a better all around Many bullets and loads to pick from...
Most of the time your 44m is a pistol load

Regards

Yeah many bullets to choose from why you can have RN and FN bullets ranging from 150 grs to a whopping 170grs why that's an almost 20grn spread!

Rolleyes

Having owned both in carbines AND revolvers it's my opinion that 44 is the most versatile and powerful chambering


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[SeekHer]

What are you hunting and at what ranges?

Deer under 100 yds no difference but the .44 mag will be cheaper to feed but with much less variety of bullets...Out to 150 yds the .30 WCF will be the flatter shooting and harder hitting and beyond that distance neither carbines are 200 yd guns but the .30 WCF will at least kill at that range--cleanly especially in a rifle length barrel.

Hornady .30/30 Win, 170 gr InterLock FP
Test Barrel (24")
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle...............100.............200............300
2200/1827.....1796/1218.....1450/793.....1186/530

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle.....100........200........300
-1.50.......0.00.....-9.40.....-35.70

Hornady .44 Mag 225 gr FTX LEVERevolution
Rifle (20" Barrel)
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle...............50................100
1870/1747.....1629/1325......1416/1002

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle.....50........100........200........300
-1.5....... 0.9........0.0......-16.2......-60.0

Results from Hornady Ballistic calculator

 

[buck460XVR]

Sounds like to me you are lookin' for more of a "fun" gun since you already have two dedicated hunting rifles. In this case I suggest the .44 lever. It also gives you the excuse to get a matching revolver..........

 

[R.W.Dale]

Where are you guys getting that .44 has less of a variety of bullets?

A .44 carbine can not only shoot bullets ranging from 180g to well north of 300 it can also fire another cartridge.

If you don't count the same bullet from different makers there are pretty much only FOUR bullets for 30/30
125g hpFP's
150g FN or FP
170g RN or FP
and the 160g FTX

THATS IT


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[LTR shooter]

I like the 44 mag in lever gun. With the longer barrel the 44 mag lever can have as much power at 100 yards as some 44 revolvers at the muzzle. For a short range hunter I like the 44 Marlin. The accuracy is usually pretty good too , at least with the 240 grains I have fired.

The .30-30 is still a actual rifle cartridge and maybe a better choice at longer ranges. Although you have the longer ranges covered with the .30-06.

 

[Jason_W]

Since the OP already has a .270 and a an '06 for 125+ yard shots, I'd get the .44 for poking big holes in things at close and medium ranges.