SamlautRanger
member
How does the recoil on a Marlin/Winchester .44 mag lever action rifle compare to a 30-30 lever action rifle? Thanks.
.44 mag vs. 30-30 leverguns Recoil
- Thread starter SamlautRanger
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It depends on the rifle. For whatever reason, the Marlin 44 mag kicks worse than a 30-30 in either the marlin or winchester. I had the 44 in the ruger lever gun as well, though, and it was much tamer than in the Marlin. Closer to the 30-30, but I'd still probably give an edge to the 30-30 as the softer shooter. The 30-30 is about as mild as you get for a decent deer getter.
Personally, I'd say get the 30-30. Much flatter shooting.
Personally, I'd say get the 30-30. Much flatter shooting.
Real easy way to figure it out...
Here's a recoil calculator, one of many out there, just plug in the numbers and go:
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/recoil.htm
Here's a recoil calculator, one of many out there, just plug in the numbers and go:
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/recoil.htm
Preacherman
Member
I've shot both calibers in Marlin leverguns, both the short guns (336 and 1894) and the long versions (Cowboy models with 24" octagonal barrels). I find the felt recoil to be much the same between them.
mustanger98
Member
There's also a difference between felt/percieved recoil and actual recoil. Felt recoil has to do with how well the stock fits you. Actual recoil has to do with the weight of the rifle and what ammo you're using.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
It also depends on the load. Most .44 mag ammo through my Marlin 1894 is quite comfortable to shoot. But Georgia Arms' 200 grain JHP "Deer Stoppers" loaded to 1650 FPS (according to their website, from a handgun length barrel) kick pretty hard through the Marlin.
wanderinwalker
Member
Fit matters a lot in these things. I had a Ruger 96/44 that would make me cringe after a few rounds because it fit me so poorly and had that stupid "carbine" stock Ruger uses for their 10/22s. The edge of the stock would just catch me on the bone at the top of my shoulder. Ouch! I'd rather go fire some .30-06 or something in a bolt gun.
The Winny M94 in .30/30 I've fired feels way more comfortable in comparison.
The Winny M94 in .30/30 I've fired feels way more comfortable in comparison.
partially I think its the WAY that they kick that may affect perceived recoil. The 44 being a high pressure shell, the kick seems faster and sharper.
Anyway, according to the recoil table I just went and looked them up on, they are very close. The 44 was listed as 11.2 w/ a 240 gr bullet, and the 30-30 with 170 gr bullet. While the 240 would be most common for the 44 however, the 150 would probably be more common for the 30-30, which is listed as a 10.6 for recoil. Still, close enough to not be distinguishable
Anyway, according to the recoil table I just went and looked them up on, they are very close. The 44 was listed as 11.2 w/ a 240 gr bullet, and the 30-30 with 170 gr bullet. While the 240 would be most common for the 44 however, the 150 would probably be more common for the 30-30, which is listed as a 10.6 for recoil. Still, close enough to not be distinguishable
20cows
Member
I think the working pressure of a .30-30 is higher than the .44 mag, but I'll need to check on that.
20cows
Member
I just consulted the Hodgon powder website and they are loaded to about the same pressure level.
brickboy240
Member
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The 44 mag is MUCH more pleasant on recoil than the 30-30. I have both in Marlin and Winchesters and have shot both extensively. I really love the 1894S Marlin in 44 mag - it is a great woods rifle.
-Brickboy240
-Brickboy240
We won't chide you if you use a slip-on recoil pad.
I used 170 gr bullets exclusively in a 30-30 as it was being used for Elk. Factory 150s are pleasant to shoot.
Factory 240's from a Marlin... I can shoot a hundred rounds before I start to really feel it. Can't say that about a 30-30.
I used 170 gr bullets exclusively in a 30-30 as it was being used for Elk. Factory 150s are pleasant to shoot.
Factory 240's from a Marlin... I can shoot a hundred rounds before I start to really feel it. Can't say that about a 30-30.
I shoot 300 gr Hornady XTP's in my Ruger lever action. Kicks the snot out of me but are accurate. 2" groups at 100 yds.
Shooting .44 mag out of my Contender as well as 30/30, the .44 kicks harder than the 30/30. 'Course we are comparing apples and oranges here since it is 300 gr .44s vs. 150 gr 30/30.
Shooting .44 mag out of my Contender as well as 30/30, the .44 kicks harder than the 30/30. 'Course we are comparing apples and oranges here since it is 300 gr .44s vs. 150 gr 30/30.
mustanger98
Member
Ditto. Some of need more padding- recoil pad or heavy jacket- than others. If too short a lenght of pull is the problem, a recoil pad may correct this.
My Daddy and I were discussing using 170gr .30-30 on elk a while back and I touched on that in another thread in the Hunting forum. How were your results? Daddy and I sight in with 150's to deer hunt and he's always told me 150's were all that was necessary for deer. The 150's are quite pleasant to shoot.
I don't know. I never personally shot more than 40rds of .30-30 (60rds if I was shooting 165gr cast lead Cowboy Load) in a session, but it wasn't the recoil that stopped me. But I agree that 240's from a .44mag Marlin shouldn't be a big deal.
Daddy loaded up some 300grers for a Win'94 and said they kick pretty stout too. We've been experimenting some along, but haven't yet found the most accurate load for this carbine. Since I haven't dealt with Contenders, I'll take your word for it.
Fact is I never smacked an elk with a 170gr bullet... but I did kill an antelope with it... .30 cal in.. .35 cal out... never saw the bullet, but the hole was oblong which tells me the bullet was turning sideways. Said critter was dead well before it stopped walking. Boom 2 .3. 4 Thud!
I had a buddy kill a bull with a neck shot on a bull with a Winchester 30-30 and one of those 170 gr. bullets.. mushroomed nicely and broke 2 vertebrae. He made a HELL of a shot.
He also warned me NOT to take a shot over 300 yards with a 30-30 as he didn't think it had enough 'pop' for elk at long range... plenty within 150 yards, the in-between range depended on the shooter. (and yeah I've fired it at 300+ yards before)
I grew up being told the 30-30 was 'marginal' for elk and if I shot one to shoot it twice... we'll I've had to shoot a number of animals twice even with a .30-06... placement is everything, odd things can still happen when copper and lead meet flesh.
I've fired some 300 Hornady XTPs out of a Winchester Trapper that hurt to shoot.. mainly becase the rifle was too light, and off the bench the gun didn't fit me that well... in a Marlin, no big deal but there was some 'thump.'
I wouldn't hesitate to use a .44 mag on an elk... from a rifle or pistol but I'd use a soft point bullet, rather than an XTP, and 200 yards is a LONG way for a pistol bullet fired from a rifle, still if YOU can accurately hit with it... why not?
I ran out of ammo shooting my Uncle's Marlin 1894... that's the only reason I stopped shooting it. I can assure you with buckhorn sights you can hit a Skoal can at 100 yards... but after five times in a row there isn't much of the can left. Like I said... can't quite imagine running a hundred 30-30's out without a recoil pad under my jacket... though I've fired nearly 200 .30-06 rounds in an afternoon (1903A3) but that wieghs a LOT more and soaks up a lot of recoil.
I had a buddy kill a bull with a neck shot on a bull with a Winchester 30-30 and one of those 170 gr. bullets.. mushroomed nicely and broke 2 vertebrae. He made a HELL of a shot.
He also warned me NOT to take a shot over 300 yards with a 30-30 as he didn't think it had enough 'pop' for elk at long range... plenty within 150 yards, the in-between range depended on the shooter. (and yeah I've fired it at 300+ yards before)
I grew up being told the 30-30 was 'marginal' for elk and if I shot one to shoot it twice... we'll I've had to shoot a number of animals twice even with a .30-06... placement is everything, odd things can still happen when copper and lead meet flesh.
I've fired some 300 Hornady XTPs out of a Winchester Trapper that hurt to shoot.. mainly becase the rifle was too light, and off the bench the gun didn't fit me that well... in a Marlin, no big deal but there was some 'thump.'
I wouldn't hesitate to use a .44 mag on an elk... from a rifle or pistol but I'd use a soft point bullet, rather than an XTP, and 200 yards is a LONG way for a pistol bullet fired from a rifle, still if YOU can accurately hit with it... why not?
I ran out of ammo shooting my Uncle's Marlin 1894... that's the only reason I stopped shooting it. I can assure you with buckhorn sights you can hit a Skoal can at 100 yards... but after five times in a row there isn't much of the can left. Like I said... can't quite imagine running a hundred 30-30's out without a recoil pad under my jacket... though I've fired nearly 200 .30-06 rounds in an afternoon (1903A3) but that wieghs a LOT more and soaks up a lot of recoil.
JustsayMo
Member
I've been shooting my Marlin 336 (30-30) and my 1994 (44 mag) a lot lately. To be honest I don't think there is a lot of difference in recoil. It's a shove but not too bad. I use Max loads of Varget in the 30-30 with 170 (mine likes the Hornady's the best) and Alliant's Max load of 2400 under 240g JHP & FP gets me 1550-1577 fps out of my 20" microgroove barrel.
Both shoot very accurately.
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=71556
I honestly never noticed the difference between 150's and 170's in the 30-30 either.
Both shoot very accurately.
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=71556
I honestly never noticed the difference between 150's and 170's in the 30-30 either.
Hobie
Member
I've got a .30-30 and a .44 Mag barrel for my Contender carbine. They are identical set-up except for chambering which makes the .44 lighter (less barrel weight). Don't think I could tell the difference.
one-shot-one
Member
i agree
with those that say gun fit is key to felt recoil.
i've had both 30-30 and 44 in marlin rifles "felt" recoil was very close but have shot a friends 30-30 winchester and "felt" recoil was harder than either marlin, never shot a 44 winchester.
with those that say gun fit is key to felt recoil.
i've had both 30-30 and 44 in marlin rifles "felt" recoil was very close but have shot a friends 30-30 winchester and "felt" recoil was harder than either marlin, never shot a 44 winchester.
Mannlicher
Member
I shoot a lot of 270 grain .44 mag in my Marlin 1894S, and a lot of 170 grain 30-30 in several Marlin lever guns, and in my Savage Model 170 pump. I don't think either one has any mentionable recoil. To me, they seem about the same though.
salty
Member
44 mag in the lever rifles seems quite a bit less than a 30-30 to me.
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