Just a few comments to the original posts..first of all none of these calibers has the thump of a .308, not even close. The .308 is much more potent under all conditions than a 44-40, 44 mag. or 30-30..that's just the way it is.
Also the 44-40 is a model 92, the 30-30 is a mod. 94..
If you want a lever action win. the 30-30 is the best by far than any 44 for killing hogs or deer or anything else for that matter..but the .308 in a lever action such as the Savage 99 or Browning BLR would be about twice as effective.
The 38-40 and the 44-40, even at short range with rather stiff handloads are still not the best of killers on game..They found that out with the advent of the 30-30, 25-35 and 32 Special, they voided the sales on the the 38-40 and 44-40...In my very early youth we used the 38-40 and 44-40 on our ranch Mule Deer and Del Carmen whitetail and lots of problems occurred. It was whole different ball game when we got 30-30s, 25-35s and 250-3000s and an uncle had the early day magnum a 300 Savage!
wow!
