Lever Action Calibers?

Crazytrout

Crazytrout

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I was totally impressed this deer season when I borrowed my friends Winchester 94 in 30-30.
At 100 yards the 170 grain Winchester silvertip pushed through alot of brush and was surprisingly accurate and the deer went 10 yards before dropping.
The area in which I hunt whitetails is typical Northern Ontario scenario, lots of brush, shots usually under 100 yards, however murphy's law always seem to put a really nice deer at 200 yards the odd time.
Before rushing out to buy a 30-30, what other lever action calibers are comparible to the 30-30, however may push through the bush and hit with authority and accurate.

Other than whitetails, I would also be using for moose and black bear.

I do not plan to reload so please take this into consideration.

Thank-you for your replies.

CT
 
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Personally I would get a Browning BLR in 308. They offer, or did offer, many cartridges and calibres. I'm not convinced there is a huge difference between say 30-30 and 308 for lack of deflection by brush. The biggest factor is the distance between the obstacle and the target. If the brush is right in front of the deer, there will be much less deflection than if the brush is in front of you.
 
How much "authority" do you want it to hit with? .45-70 will hit with plenty of authority! (on both ends, so I hear...but these are the same guys that tell me a .300 Weatherby kicks hard)
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Personally I would get a Browning BLR in 308. They offer, or did offer, many cartridges and calibres. I'm not convinced there is a huge difference between say 30-30 and 308 for lack of deflection by brush.
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im a huge .308 fan, but not a big BLR fan.
a BLR is essentially a modern bolt action rifle with a lever-operated bolt. while it certainly solves the whole spitzer bullet/tube magazine issue ive just never really liked them. its a personal taste issue i guess. id just buy a browning bolt action before i bought a browning levergun.

if you want a true levergun look at the marlins, or winchesters in classic lever calibers like 30-30, .45-70, etc. you can get hornady leverevolution ammo nowadays which has a squishy tip and solves the problem with pointed bullets in tube mags, and its opened up the possibility of modern spitzer bullets in classic leverguns to squeeze out more performance.
if you want a modern caliber like .308 in a levergun also check out the old Savage 99s, although they dont make them anymore. someone was selling one cheap in the EE in .308 but its been over a week now and he still hasnt responded or mailed me photos, could give that a try too or post a WTB ad in the EE.
 
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45-70. Go with a lightweight 300 grainer at 2200+ fps to mimic the 30-30 170 grain trajectory, or a heavier thumper for shorter shots. The only downside is increased recoil, if that bothers you
 
since they don't make the 99 anymore, i'd go 45/70- that thing is downright wicked in the guide gun
 
i like the Marlins in 45/70 especially with warm loads and heavy hard cast flat pt. bullets.....the other caliber I really like now(just found one) is the .356 Win. I'm loading a heavy 250gr. flat pt. gas check bullet at 2100+ fps, mine is a 94ae and I'm suprised how accurate it is.
 
Go with a .308, that way your good to go out to 500 yards(with practice of course), plus you have a wider variety of ammunition that can be used. While the .30/30 and the .308 both use a .308 projectile, because of the tubular magazine on a M94 you are limited in the different projectiles that you can use.
 
Crazytrout said:
At 100 yards the 170 grain Winchester silvertip pushed through alot of brush and was surprisingly accurate and the deer went 10 yards before dropping.
Click to expand...

Crazytrout said:
Before rushing out to buy a 30-30, what other lever action calibers are comparible to the 30-30, however may push through the bush and hit with authority and accurate.
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In a real fast way, you need to lose the notion that you can shoot (or push) through brush with a bullet and still rely on it to be accurate. Simply, this is NOT the case.

Any bullet, of any caliber, at any weight, at any speed, WILL deflect when in contact with brush on it's way to the target and therefore cannot be relied upon to be accurate.


.
 
BLR in.308 is by far the best alternative IF you want long range ballistics from a lever gun.

Otherwise, .30-30 model 94 is one sweet little light weight, light kicking carbine. My 14 year old son took his first deer last weekend (with a proud papa and grandpa by his side). He shot it with my 1957 year model 94 .30-30 with a scout mounted scope. It went straight through the heart and clean through the animal. I was impressed with his clean one shot kill. For woods hunting the model 94 handles fast and is superbly balanced. For long range, it is a tremendous disadvantage when comparing to almost any bolt gun in standard calibers like .308, .270, and .30-06.
 
The easy choice (and less expensive ammo wise) would be to go with the .30-30 which is what I'm going to do when I get a levergun.
Looks like it's plently good for dear/moose/bleack bear at reasonable ranges
 
444 marlin

hi guys brand new to your forum but i activally hunt every where in ontario when ever possible.if,n you want a tree choppin brush bustin deer droppin load try the 444 lever marlin.used to own one sold it states side years ago.hated target shooting it but it will kill in a hundred yards anything in this province and very quickly.I,m currently waiting on a new blr 325 lever should have bought it in the spring but i waited to long and they sold out .i,m buying one more new rifle in a big bore and after looking at several i,m going to the 325.i will be heading out west one of these springs to shoot buffalo so i,m going for a bull knocker,ballistically comparable to the 300 win mag or the 338 and its awefully purty.my two cents but i like em down for good if,n i hit em.
 
I don't own a lever action and may never...BUT if I did (and if money was not a big deal) I would want to own a Model 71 in 348W....
 
I would have a real good look at the .308 Marlin Express:

From the Marlin Website:

NEW Model 308MXLR

Available Spring 2007, this new model will be chambered for Hornady’s new ground-breaking 308 Marlin Express. It features a 24" stainless steel barrel, full pistol grip, and black-grey two-tone laminated stock characteristic of all XLR models. Also features the Marlin signature solid-top receiver with side-ejection, adjustable folding semi-buckhorn rear sight, ramp front sight. It is tapped for scope mount.
 
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NO one mentioned the 38-55, or the 32 spl. I would't rule out the 300 savage either if you like the 99's
 
I'm a big fan of the 38/55, but you said you don't reload, so I won't recommend it .... factory ammo is pretty weak. I'd recommend the 45/70. I've owned, or still own about 5 different rifles in 45/70 and don't ever want to be without one. 'pushing through bush' is pretty iffy, but if you do happen to hit a twig, a 405 grain bullet at 1,350 fps will have the same momentum as a 200 grain bullet at 2,700 fps (i.e., deflect about the same). Of all the 45/70's out there, I'd recommend either a Winchester 1886 (made by Miroku) extra light, or a Browning 1886 SRC. Neither are being manufactured, but NIB are still pretty common on Gunbroker. You may even find one by posting on the exchange forum on CGN. I've owned both and the Browning SRC is #1 with it's original half-#### hammer and no tang safety.
 
I picked up a real cherry 99c 308 at the gun show in Kamloops this spring and it is becoming my fave bush gun. Solid magazine arrangement and real nice action. I have a 30-06 but this one is a lot more fun to shoot and it fits nice too.
 
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