30-30 or 44mag???

If it were mostly longer shots, I would use the 30-30. If the shots were 25 yards or so in the thick bush, and we were talking about deer, I would be very comfortable with a 44 mag rifle. Ruger made a nice 44 semi, and still today in a different model. Marlin makes a very nice lever. The Win 94 was also good.
 
the QUESTION IS 'CAN YOU CLOSE 50 YARDS, if you can, the answer is 44, if you can't then the answer is 30/30= plus you typically get 3 more up the pipe
 
true... if going beyond 100m i'd say 30-30, but under the .44mag is a fine choice, for ammo selection, mag caapacity, and overall cool factor.

Mind you, you can find 30-30 ammo almost anywhere that sells ammo. If you handload i'd say .44 mag because you can load it much hotter than factory and the available bullet selection for .44 is much better than for a 30-30.

If you dont handload, i'd say 30-30 because factory ammo for it is pretty devestating these days. the leverevoloution ammo is pretty potent stuff. and all other things being pretty similar it will also give you the extra range on the off chance you should need it, making the gun more versatile overall.
 
even ct handles 44 mag; the availibilty factor isn't a problem anymore- trick is do you want to PAY PREMIMUM PRICES for TWENTY rounds- at our tire the price for 20 ROUNDS of 44 MAG IS THE SAME AS 20 ROUNDS OF 30/30- it's an OBVIOUS HOSE because the box has the WORD MAGNUM on it and it's remington ammo- go across the street and the box of 50 is the same price
 
In my opinion, the .44 mag. in a Marlin levergun has the edge over the 30/30 if you handload to get the most out of both calibers. My Marlin is fed 325 gr. WFN GC cast bullets, which out perform alot of bigger rounds and hits with a loud "smack". I can't really improve on factory loads with my Marlin 30/30 except maybe get some increased penetration on game.
 
I'm going to have to go with 30-30 because you can get it anywhere, and it's good past 100m.

I'm not a 44mag hater, one day I'm going to get one just so I can handgun hunt in Alaska.
 
Of the two I'd take the 30-30 but I would take a top loaded 45 Colt over both = more hitting power out to 150 yards than the 30-30 and at every distance when compared to a 44mag...
 
I take both to camp with me. My general carry, including dogging, is a bolt action 30/30 with a clip. I run handloaded leverevolution and I can hit anything from 50 to 150.

The 44 is in case I get bored or am sitting station. Then my max distance is always under 100 yards. I run fairly hot 240 gr hollow points.
 
I have 30/30 Marlin and 44 mag Browning. Sometimes I take the 44 and sometimes I take the 30/30.

The 44 has an aperture sight and is in a '92 action and is very light and handy. The 30/30 has a scope on it, so I can take a little longer shot.

I think, loaded hot, the 44 has an advantage for bigger game at close range. You can load 300 grain bullets with it.

But up to and including moose either will do the job.

And every store in North America has 30/30 ammo. Not many have 44 mag rifle loads.

It's almost a personal preference decision.
 
I'm heading out after blacktail deer in the morning taking my 14" barreled T/C Contender carbine in 45 Colt loaded with either 300gr XTP's or Beartooth 345gr WLNGC's...
 
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