30-30 VS. .44 Magnum

[DannySeesUSMC]

The Bushmaster, are you shooting a 60 year old rifle with the same barrel this whole time?

All, for 30-30 vs 44 Magnum I would take the 44...it is a different animal entirely. 300 grain bullets at 1800 fps vs. 150, 160, or 170 grain bullet at 2,100 2,300 2,400 or 2,500 fps it doesn't matter...not in the same ball park. Not that it matters much for animals that live in most states.

If you want flatter trajectory it makes all the sense in the world to put up with a different type of rifle in 308 Win (or similar) and skip past the 30-30 all together. If you want, you could load it down to 30-30 gentle kisses recoil and still use the much better bullets for rifles with stacked magazines.

 

[The Bushmaster]

DannySeesUSMC...The rifle is 100% original...Well...Except for a 14ct gold front bead...Why?

 

[MCgunner]

I wouldn't choose either for long range. Up to 100 yards, it's a matter of preference. I primarily kill my deer now with a 44 magnum revolver and if I'll be getting any longer shots, I take an '06. If you have or are going to get a 44 revolver a matching rifle might simplify your life.

That was the original reason I bought my Rossi 92 in .357, the fact that I was heavily into the caliber reloading and owned handguns in the caliber. I found it quite acceptable for deer/hog at short range and with my 105 grain SWC over 2.3 grains bullseye load in .38 brass, it shoots 1.5" at 50 yards (900 fps MV), good for small game, two guns in one. A 165 grain .357 SWC at 1900 fps is plenty for deer or even meat hogs. I mean, I have scoped hunting rifles in up to 7mm rem mag, but it's just a cool little carbine and I'd like to have one in .454 Casull. That'd be about as good as a .45-70 for thumpin' big hogs, I'm thinkin'. The .44 ain't bad, though, to 100 yards.

 

[DannySeesUSMC]

The Bushmaster, was just wondering concerning the accuracy you were talking about.

I would be glowing with a 60 year old rifle shot on a regular basis with the same barrel that still consistently shoots under 2" at 100 yards.

 

[The Bushmaster]

It only will shoot under 2" with tailored handloads. Factory ammunition it shoots a bit over 3"...

I've had it sense I was 18 and I've taken good care of it...

 

[MCgunner]

Buddy of mine, my age, has a pre-64 M94 with a Williams aperture receiver sight. I sat down with that thing and put 5 rounds on the bull into 1.5" when my eyes were younger with factory 150 flat point Winchester loads. That thing is pretty amazing. Hey, just because it's old, don't mean it's wore out. I keep telling myself that. .30-30 is pretty easy on bores, too.

 

[kmrcstintn]

I'm in a different boat with a single shot NEF Handi-Rifle in .30-30; as I get proficient with handloading, I should be able to use spitzer type bullets since I don't have a tube mag that mandate the flat tip/round tip of factory .30-30 loadings; my vote is .30-30 since I can customize my loads later on

 

[AKElroy]

No choice for me. .30-30 all the way. With 150 gr CL's, I get 3.5 " of drop out to 200 yds. Sighted in 1.5" high @ 100, that is a zero hold over (MPBR) out to 225 yds; I rarely take a shot longer than that. Would never attempt it with a .44 mag.

 

[millertyme]

I've loaded Hornady 150gr spire pointed bullets for my 30-30 Marlin 336 (obviously I didn't load the tube). I loaded them a little hotter than listed with Hodgdon H4895 and they chronoed a bit over 2500fps. That turns the lowly 30-30 into a pretty remarkable and capable rifle. I could only load one round at a time, but that's all I think I'd need given the opportunity.

 

[saturno_v]

I could only load one round at a time, but that's all I think I'd need given the opportunity.

You no longer have this problem with the leverevolution bullets now available separately as components...however, technically, loaded with traditional spitzer bullets, a 30-30 lever is a 2 shots rifle (one in the chamber and one in the magazine), not single shot...

 

[The Bushmaster]

The one in the tubular magazine will be a "flat point" by the time it gets to the chamber.