44 Mag or 30-30

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
If you were choosing a basic hunting/survival lever action, would you go with the .44 mag or the 30-30? What would the advantages or disadvantages be?
 
I have both, out to about 75 maybe 100 yards there is not difference. Past 100 yards the 30/30 is the better choice
My 1894 marlin is a little nicer to carry then my marlin 336 in 30/30, but really i don't see much difference between them
 
I made this choice about 12 years ago.

I went with the Winchester Trapper in .44 mag. Unfortunately this fine little rifle is no longer available. I chose the .44 mag for several reasons.

There is not a whole lot of difference in performance out to 100-150 yards. That is max for both really. So balistically they are a draw.

In the .44 mag I get 10 rounds in the magazine vs (I can't remember exactly) 5-6 rounds of 30-30. In a self defense role the added firepower was a plus.

I can also carry a revolver that shoots the same ammo as the .44 lever gun.

If I want lighter loads in the .44 mag lever gun I can also shoot .44 special.

The .44 mag ammo is more compact so I can carry a bit more in the field also.

Those are my thoughts and that is why I chose the .44 mag.

Tom
 
Depends on if you reload or not.

The 44 mag is a very versatile round if you can pick your muzzle veleocity and projectile. In most factory loadings it is going to kick some in a small lever action.

The 30-30 needs no introdcution or advertisment. If all the animals it has put on the meatpole were piled up they would be a large as one of the moons of Saturn. However, if you reload the range of velocities and projectiles makes it even better. It kicks less to me in a small lever action.
 
I appreciate all of the advice but after posting this, I went to the Winchester website to compare these rifles. It appeared that their lever action and bolt action rifles are not longer in production. This was news to me. I guess there is alway the used market or Marlin.
 
I have a Win.trapper 44mag. it has a 16" barrel, it is also partnerd with a ruger 44mag. that way I just have to carry one caliber of ammo.
 
I would probably choose 44 mag and carry my 44 mag blackhawk. Then I only have to carry 1 type of ammo for both guns. If I could only have a rifle but no handgun then I would go with the 30-30.
 
Actually the 30-30 family of cartridges were developed to improve lever action performance back in the day when most lever actions used pistol type cartridges. Back when the 30-30 came out it must have seemed like a laser rifle with flat shooting out to 150+ yards. Compare that to a 44-40 or 38-40 lever action.
 
cucharadedragon said:
After posting this, I went to the Winchester website to compare these rifles. It appeared that their lever action and bolt action rifles are not longer in production.
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Sad, isn't it?

I picked up two Winchester 94's in .30-30. Both were purchased used while Winchester was still turning them out. I paid $175 for a newer AE model with the cross-bolt safety (included scope rings, and two boxes of .30-30 150gr that the previous owner bought to get it dialed in). It had less than a dozen rounds through it. The second was a 1979 model without the safety and top-eject. I paid $190 for that one and again, it appeared to be very close to unfired(internals). The outside was a different story.

The going rate around here (SE Michigan) is up around $350 to $400 now. I'd love to pick up a 16" trapper but those are fetching even more.

The increase in Winchester levergun prices has even cause a mild spike in Marlin prices.

Obviousy my choice would be the .30-30 ;)

My second choice would be a Marlin in .357mag. Third, the .44mag.
 
Here is a link to Marlins Lever Action Cowboy... LINK

I really like the fact that it has an octagon barrel, I think it looks great and would help with recoil a little as it would weigh a bit more.

Here is what I would really like to have.... LINK

...an 1895 Cowboy in 45-70! This would be a sweet rifle cut down to 18-20"! I can dream!

Tom
 
I have had both. Now I have the Marlin .44 mag. I would say that the 30/30 has more punch and it is a great round. If you carry a handgun and a lever action rifle. Make them both a .44. You can't go wrong with either of them.
 
Peppe said:
I would say that the 30/30 has more punch and it is a great round.
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I don't know... Out to 100 yards I would give the advantage to the .44 mag. It carries a much heavier projectile and is larger diameter. The problem past 100 yards with the .44 mag is the rainbow like trajectory.

Past 100 yards the 30-30 gets the nod with its higher sectional density and flatter trajectory.

Thats just the way I see it...:D

Tom
 
I have both. My feeling is that both cartridges are deadly. The rifle is handy and light and has suitable firepower for killing practically anything up to a black bear in my opinion. I hand load both cartridges to make it more versitile for me. Both cartridges are versitile enough if your willing to pay for ammo if you can't reload.

If your recoil sensitive the .44 can be fired with .44 specials, which is a very mild cartridge fired from the rifle. The .44 is a hard hitting cartridge and my favorite standard loads hit 17" low at 200m with a 100m zero. A suitable range. Cartridges are less expensive than 30-30 and can be bought super hot for protection in dangerous game country (Although it is expensive)

The 30-30 is a tad flatter shooting and with a medium load hitting 9.5 inches low at 200 with my 150gr shots coming out at 2050fps. At 300 though the difference is much different, with the 30-30 pulling much farther ahead.

So if you want a rifle for shorter range firing my vote goes for the .44. Just because ammo is more available and cheaper and is found in decent loadings. The capacity is higher too.

I carry the 30-30 more honestly but I'm more interested in it's longer game. The .44 is an excellent cartridge though. If I can help you any let me know.
 
In .44, or any pistol cal. I would go with the Win.92 or Marlin. The 94 Winchester was designed for the 30-30 length round and many have feed problems with the shorter pistol length ammo.

The Marlin slicks up really nice and with the popularity of the Cowboy games there fast becoming the Chevy of the lever guns. Lots of on line how to's and aftermarket 'hot rod' parts.
 
Never fear. Winchesters are still available, just not from "Winchester", which actually means Browning these days.

Puma rifles are made in Argentina and are copies of the 92 Winchester. They are reputed to be high quality. They even have a model in .454 Casull (basically a magnumized 45 Long Colt). http://www.legacysports.com/products/puma/index.html
http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm

This guy http://www.stevesgunz.com/ specializes in 92 Rossi's which I think are completely interchangeable with the 92 Legacy Puma's. They may even be manufactured in the same plant. BTW, Legacy's other rifle produced, Howa, makes most of the Weatherby rifles.

Both the Rossi and the Puma are pretty common in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. Those guys put lotsa rounds through their rifles and the Rossi and Puma Winchester 92 copies are among the most popular.

Unlike recent Winchester offerings and current Marlin offerings, there is a full range of barrel lengths available with the Puma. 16" Trapper model Winchesters and Marlins haven't been offered for a while. My next purchase will likely be the .44 magnum Legacy with a 16" barrel.
 
I'll have to look into the Puma's. This is the first time that I've heard of them. Are they hard to come by? Thanks to everyone else for the advice. I really like the stainless models that all of them are offering. Right now the one's that appeal to me are the 16" models. I think that these would work great in the thick woods of NW Arkansas. Do these offer much decrease in power? I would think that the 44 mag would maintain more power in the 16" length but I would like to poll those more knowledgable ones.
 
I'd go 44mag and get a 4" revolver to do with it. I'm shopping for a 357 level gun to do the same thing.

tjg
 
I have a 336 in 30-30 and I do in fact, love it. Great gun in a good caliber. There is also 44 mag, which is good, and available in a pistol as well.

But in that case, why not go for a 454 Casull lever action/pistol combo and lay down the prarie dogs with great justice:D
 
Well DAMN! Just saw you are in NW Arkansas. So am I! I live in Gentry.

Come by the shop and say hello, and if you want to shoot my .44 mag Trapper we can work that out also!:D

Tom
PS feel free to call also... 479-233-0508 (cell)
 
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