Which lever/caliber combo to buy...

[BigUglyMan]

Take up reloading or find a friend that can get you the stout Garrett or Buffalo Bore loads out of the States and go with the 45-70.

 

[257Roberts]

358 Winchester in a BLR if you are looking to put a new tool in the chest.
Or keep the 30-30 and use the new Hornady loads as suggested.
257 Roberts

 

[Camper]

99 in .300 savage will kill those deer and moose just fine within 200 yards and a bit further if the shooter does his part!

 

[Win94]

I can understand not wanting to reload if its only for one caliber. To get set up with a bench and what not for only one caliber is kind of a pain. A .308 in a BLR or Savage 99c would be the ticket or like Madtrapper143 says, the new Hornady stuff in that .30-.30 of yours is like adding nitrous to that .30-.30 and it will rival the .308's

 

[arch1965]

Lever

1. Winchester 88 in .308 or .358
2. Winchester or Marlin in .356
3. Winchester or Marlin in .375
4. Browning BAR in "pick your calibre"

Arch

 

[huntnman]

I have both the 88 win in .308, and a .450 Marlin. Both the guns are excessively great shooters, but the .450 hits em like a runaway Mack in a 10% downgrade. If you are into handloading, as everyone has said you can beef up the 45/70. but nice to have the off the shelf performance of the .450, especialy in the new leverevolution ammo out now. My choice would be the .450 for exclusively moose or bear, but all round flexibility for deer sized animals too, the .308 in savage or Winchester or any BLR in equiv or short mags.