Hi folks, I'm looking at my options for a lever action. I'd love to have some real world experience from you folks with either a 357 or a 30-30. Ideally, I can hunt deer close range with it, we have thick brush around here. But I also want to just have some fun. Whats the better route to go trying to achieve both of those aims; is one a better hybrid than the other? Thanks!
357 or 30-30 lever action
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.357 will also shoot .38 special which will save you some money at the range and has a little les recoil. I'm no hunter but many people do use .357 for deer if they are hunting close range (Think inside 100 yds)
If you are going to be mostly hunting 30-30 would be the better hunting cartridge but is more expensive
30-30 = $1.50 - $2/Round
.357 = $0.70 - $1.00/Round
.38 Special = $0.50 - $0.80/Round
Really comes down to what you want to do with.
If you do a quick search you will find that this topic has been beaten half to death
If you are going to be mostly hunting 30-30 would be the better hunting cartridge but is more expensive
30-30 = $1.50 - $2/Round
.357 = $0.70 - $1.00/Round
.38 Special = $0.50 - $0.80/Round
Really comes down to what you want to do with.
If you do a quick search you will find that this topic has been beaten half to death
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I own a .357, a new Miroku made Win. M92. Definitely a fun rifle and very cheap to shoot with handloads. Deer capable, with good heavy loads but just barely adequate at quite close range. And the .357 is not legal to use for deer hunting in my province of Saskatchewan. So check your regs.
A 30-30 on the other hand is a very traditional deer rifle, capable for even larger critters like bear and subjects the shooter to just a bit more noise and recoil and is a little more expensive to shoot than a .357. Both are good choices, just not the same.
A 30-30 on the other hand is a very traditional deer rifle, capable for even larger critters like bear and subjects the shooter to just a bit more noise and recoil and is a little more expensive to shoot than a .357. Both are good choices, just not the same.
So, to put words in your mouth , you would suggest both of them ?
Thanks again from the experienced gun owners/hunters !
Rob
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I pack around.357 around the farm, I have not used it for deer but have shot a couple of black bears. I reload for it using a 173gr Keith style bullet in a .38 case with a good charge of slow powder, if I recall correctly crono about 1500+fps. Loaded in .38 cases to cycle in action. Deer under 100yds should not be an issue.
I shoot both. 30-30 has been in my pile since 1967, and more have been added. I cast my own bullets and shoot light loads in my 30-30's and 32WS, as well as many other calibres. I've shot lots of 93 gr LEE with 5 gr of 700X in 30-30's, and heavier bullets with fast burning (flake) powder in both 30-30 and 32WS. 38/357 i shoot cast as well. I just finished 150 loads of 4.7 Winchester Super-Lite WSL under 158 gr RN FN cast from Cactus Plains, in 38spl cases for my Chiappa lever. You certainly don't need to spend $2 per round to enjoy 30-30.
I started powder coating and have had good luck, no leading. I've been casting since the early 1980's.
I started powder coating and have had good luck, no leading. I've been casting since the early 1980's.
- Location
- Central Ontario
Just get two rifles.
One chambered in each round.
You're never going to have just one lever.
Problem solved.
One chambered in each round.
You're never going to have just one lever.
Problem solved.
Are you new to hunting? I would pick the 30-30 if it's your only hunting rifle. The power difference is substantial - 30-30 has more energy at 200yds than 357mag has at the muzzle.
Im not saying 357 won't kill of course. If you understand the limitations of 357, then it's certainly the cheaper one to have fun with, and will absolutely kill deer. Those limitations just make it a worse choice for a new hunter IMO.
But 2 rifles is the correct answer.
Im not saying 357 won't kill of course. If you understand the limitations of 357, then it's certainly the cheaper one to have fun with, and will absolutely kill deer. Those limitations just make it a worse choice for a new hunter IMO.
But 2 rifles is the correct answer.
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Maybe it’s just me but if I’m having a pistol cartridge in a rifle I’d prefer a bigger hole…something like a 44 Remington Magnum.
I’ve had 357’s in revolvers and I have nothing bad to say about them but in a lever they just don’t speak to me.
The 30/30 in a ‘94 is a pretty amazing combination, they never made 7 million+ of them if they weren’t…it’s an iconic combination that has more appeal and versatility than most…
I reload which allows me to shoot whatever I want so the difference in cost to feed it is not a driver for me so YMMV.
I’ve had 357’s in revolvers and I have nothing bad to say about them but in a lever they just don’t speak to me.
The 30/30 in a ‘94 is a pretty amazing combination, they never made 7 million+ of them if they weren’t…it’s an iconic combination that has more appeal and versatility than most…
I reload which allows me to shoot whatever I want so the difference in cost to feed it is not a driver for me so YMMV.
Cost to shoot, even as a reloader, is what speaks to me about the 357 Mag in a rifle. Not that 44 Mag is an expensive cartridge to reload for, but bullet cost is an extra 30% (just used cheap Campro as reference) and powder cost an extra 60% (15 vs 24 grains of H110) used as example. With high volume that difference becomes large.
IMO a 357 Mag lever gun is awesome, because it is the absolutely cheapest thing to shoot that reaches a sort of minimum power I would want as a carry around rifle. If I want a lever specifically for hunting I'd rather a .30-30 or .45-70 over any pistol cartridge. That all being said, I could see myself with a 44 Mag Marlin Trapper one day!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Just be careful if you're not a reloader and expect to use .38's in a .357 to save money and if you wish to have a low power/low recoil/low noise ammo option. My Miroku built Win. M92 won't feed .38 special, they're too short. Handloads in .38 cases, with bullet seated long, do feed well, especially if they are jacketed or have rounded nose and shoulder. Semi wadcutter cast bullets tend to hang up on the loading gate.
My old Rossi had no such fussiness, it would feed anything I put in it but was not built to the close tolerances of the Winchester. I believe the otherwise excellent Marlin 1894's are similarly particular in their ammo preferences. Not sure about the Henry.
My old Rossi had no such fussiness, it would feed anything I put in it but was not built to the close tolerances of the Winchester. I believe the otherwise excellent Marlin 1894's are similarly particular in their ammo preferences. Not sure about the Henry.
Location (Hunting regulations) , range required and use, are the questions you need to answer first.
I have lever actions in .357, .44 Mag, .45 Colt and .30-30 (.30 WCF). I reload for all guns as to minimize cost and maximize accuracy on each gun with cast lead and TMJ bullets. My .30-30 (.30 WCF) while built in 1901 can still put rounds very constantly on a 12x18" gong at 200 yds, my .44 Magnum can nail an 8" gong at 100 yds 10 out of 10 shots if I do my part, my .357 & .45 Colt are speed rifles for use under 75 yards. Hope this helps
I have lever actions in .357, .44 Mag, .45 Colt and .30-30 (.30 WCF). I reload for all guns as to minimize cost and maximize accuracy on each gun with cast lead and TMJ bullets. My .30-30 (.30 WCF) while built in 1901 can still put rounds very constantly on a 12x18" gong at 200 yds, my .44 Magnum can nail an 8" gong at 100 yds 10 out of 10 shots if I do my part, my .357 & .45 Colt are speed rifles for use under 75 yards. Hope this helps
My buddy had a order 30-30 it was after a few hunting season named the buck gun. If it went out bucks appeared in the freezer.
