44m or 30-30 ??

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BrownR

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So I’m looking at purchasing a Henry x lever action for hunting preferably for deer, but who knows maybe bear one day. For now deer will do as that’s what I have around me where I live. Now I’ve been told by my local gun smith he recommended a 44m/44spc if I could get one over the 30-30. But the 30-30 doesn’t drop as quickly further out than the 44m/44spc. The price between the two in my area isn’t much of a difference. 30-30 seems harder to potentially find as well

Curious as to what you guys think I should do, any help would be great ! No I won’t be doing my own hand loads yet either, no equipment for that. Likely one day though I may
 
Availability of ammo by caliber varies from year to year. So does availability of Henrys by caliber. Go with what you can easily get right now (and upgrade to another model/caliber at a later point).
 
It seems odd to me that the gunsmith would recommend 44 mag over 30-30 in a lever for a deer rifle. If all you expect to do is treestand 50 yd shots, then fine, 44 will do, but if you want to take a 150 yard shot across a small meadow, the 30-30 will handle that so much easier. (Not saying the 44 mag can't do a 150 yd shot, but it will me much easier with the 30-30).

I've never found 30-30 ammunition to be difficult to source, and I would expect it to be easier to find than 44 mag. Every Co-op hardware store around here has 30-30, but I bet its a trip to the city for 44 mag. If you mean its easier to find a 44 mag rifle, well, there's a reason for that.
 
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Unless you have a handgun in 44 mag/special, I'd go for the 30-30 as well. Just a better cartridge for the end game your talking about. The Henry in 44 mag maybe an easier resale if you decide to go another way someday though???
 
Watched the video, looks and sounds like a 30-30 is more suited for myself for what I wanna do. All though 30-30 is hard to source out my way here though. Not many places have em in stock ever, and unfortunately I don’t have any handguns ban was placed a few weeks before my restricted license arrived
 
BrownR said:
Watched the video, looks and sounds like a 30-30 is more suited for myself for what I wanna do. All though 30-30 is hard to source out my way here though. Not many places have em in stock ever, and unfortunately I don’t have any handguns ban was placed a few weeks before my restricted license arrived
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Realistically you can hunt anything in North america with the 30-30... It's been around for 125 years for a reason.
 
30-30 the only exception would if there’s a straight wall cartridge restriction. But there is none of those silly rules in BC.
 
As much as I love using my various 44’s I believe the 30-30 is the better choice. Up close the 44 works excellent but start extending the range and the 30-30 is the winner. I have never found 44 ammunition to be that easy to find but 30-30 every store usually has some. As far as current shortages go 30-30 is still easier to find compared to 44 and 30-30 is cheaper. I reload for both so haven’t any worries about finding ammunition.
 
For 125 yards or less I would take the 44 magnum as it's cooler. Even cooler would be a 45 Colt with handloads.

But 30-30 is probably more practical for hunting. Remember, when the 30-30 was first introduced, hunters thought it was like a laser beam. it was the 300 Winchester of the era.
 
Interesting video.
Have a couple 44mag units.
One 30-30.
I'd take the 30-30 over the 44's for hunting.
Plinking, the 44mag is way more funner.

Now to compare the 30-30 to the 35rem?
Any yewtewbers awn this?
 
Gatehouse said:
For 125 yards or less I would take the 44 magnum as it's cooler. Even cooler would be a 45 Colt with handloads.

But 30-30 is probably more practical for hunting. Remember, when the 30-30 was first introduced, hunters thought it was like a laser beam. it was the 300 Winchester of the era.
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How much can you push limits of 45LC and in what gun? In the other thread I described my experience handloading 45LC to the power of 44mag and even 454Casull. But those loads were tested in 460sw gun. What was your venture?
 
No Brainer to me. For deer hunting or black bear the 30/30 is a clear winner over the 44 magnum. The 30 has been knocking stuff down for 128 years, ammo is common most places. In the hands of a cool marksman it will do the job on anything in North America.
 
BrownR said:
Watched the video, looks and sounds like a 30-30 is more suited for myself for what I wanna do. All though 30-30 is hard to source out my way here though. Not many places have em in stock ever, and unfortunately I don’t have any handguns ban was placed a few weeks before my restricted license arrived
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I was un your situation a few years ago and went the 30-30 route with zero disappointment. If ammunition is hard to source in your area take a look at some of the site sponsors here. Some ship with a flat rate and is worth shipping cost when buying multiple boxes
 
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