Lever Gun Most Versatile Caliber?

[Teapot]

I have a Marlin SS GG in 45-70. I have put a red dot on it and it makes it just as handy as irons. The 45-70 can be loaded up or down in terms of velocity and light/heavy, soft/hard in terms of bullets. So pretty versatile.

For other calibers I want to know what you feel about pistol calibers vs rifle calibers. I am thinking of a SS Marlin in 30-30. It's velocity and bullet energy are far greater than any 44Mag and of course the trajectory is flatter and the range greater.
Why would one choose a 44Mag or other pistol cartridge over a 30-30? Same caliber as revolver? Easier/cheaper to re-load? Just perfect combination of range/velocity/bullet energy for hunting needs?
I've seen pictures on the net of guys hunting in Africa with Marlins in 44mag and 357Mag. So I know the pistol rounds are capable.
Just wondering the reasons people choose pistol calibers.

 

[H4831]

I wonder why some choose blondes as wives, while others choose red heads or brunnetes?

 

[Matt L.]

A 30-30 especially with the new Leverevolution ammo is a very versatile round. Personally I'd take it over the pistol calibres for hunting purposes.

 

[Teapot]

It can't hurt to have more than one lever gun.

 

[geologist]

I don't own one (yet) but a Savage 99 in .308 WIN would be very versatile. I'd like to find one with a detachable magazine and a good un-cracked stock.

 

[Gatehouse]

I've always kinda had a desire to own a Mdl 94 trapper carbine in 45 Colt....I don't really like most lever rifles, but a few call to me.

 

[ben hunchak]

This is an easy one, 45/70.....load it down to .45 Colt ballistics with small charges of Trail Boss or load it up to near .458 Win. ballistics with M.T. Chambers 480gr. WFN GC bullets at 1900 fps, and 9 of them in the Mag. of the '95 Cowboy rifle, what fun!!!(Not for the faint of heart)

 

[Pickles]

Just to be different how's about a Win 71 in 348 Win.

 

[MadDog]

99 in 308 or 358 is about as versatile as I can see.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

I bought my marlin .44 mag to use as a utility/camp/bush/Deer gun. With handloads it can do alot of tricks, be very quiet and .22 lick with clays powder and lead bullets all the way up to very loud,mean and with high penetration with frontier FMJ's and H-110.Also it holds ten rounds plus one in the spout,if you can solve your problems with 11 rounds of .44magnum take up golf.

 

[Wilson]

Just to be different how's about a Win 71 in 348 Win.

Darn right!!!

Instaed of 2 different rounds I bought 2 rifles

1/ Win 71, old so I feed it 255gr. CB's comes out on nice days and there aint much it dont work on out too ??

2/ Browning 71 220X bullets it aint no slouch

and after more than a few tries only bother with R19 to feed em!

 

[SuperCub]

I'd think that a BLR or 99 in .308 would be very versatile.

I don't shoot icky leverguns so my opinion means little.


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[Woodsman]

A 30-30 especially with the new Leverevolution ammo is a very versatile round. Personally I'd take it over the pistol calibres for hunting purposes.

Yup! Especially in a good old model 94!

 

[John Y Cannuck]

You just can't own enough varieties of leverguns, pistol calibers included.
Try one, they are just plain fun to shoot.
Usually in very light guns, like the '92 Winchester, and some in cartridges that are quite capable on close range deer.

 

[woodchopper]

I wonder why some choose blondes as wives, while others choose red heads or brunnetes?

and here is the problem, you can have as many lever guns as you like but you only get to have one wife.

But then when you get older one wife is normally more then enough

 

[Levi Garrett]

Puma 454 , light plinking 45 LC , to the power house 454 with 300 grain kill the beast fodder.

 

[ruffbird]

For me it was always the idea of having both rifle & revolver shooting the same cartridge. Kind of like the old cowboys used to do, & it still works today. Reloading a "pistol cartridge" & being able to fire it in either type of gun turns me on, & no doubt the larger calibre ones will kill any north american game within range of course, is bonus.
.44 mag, .45 colt & .357 mag,.....take your pick.....

No need for me to have any rifle calibre gun, but for those that want or need one, by all means.....

 

[jaywill]

im getting a new marlin 30-30 soon , maybe tomorrow! the leverevolution ammo doesnt seem to have gone up as much as I thought.

 

[MadDog]

Are we still talking versatility here or are we talking "hey this is my favorite lever"?

How is a 45 colt versatile?

 

[bunny]

I recently bought a Marlin 1895 cowboy 45-70 it holds nine hard cast Bullet Barn 450 grain loads and with peep site its scarry accurate, 4050 grains of bullet available at the flick of the lever, very comforting !!!