Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Lever Action 30-30 vs 44 Mag

Which do you consider the best deer cal in a Lever Rifle? 30-30 or 44 Mag

I used to have a .30-.30 levergun. I STILL have a .44 Magnum levergun.

I don't think you can go wrong with either for deer. The 30/30 has the range advantage, but I like carbines in pistol calibers and the .44 makes a big hole.

I have 4 30-30s and don't use them. I do use my 35 Rem, 444, and 348s, though.

For under 100yds in the thick stuff, I'd rather th 44 Mag than the 30-30.

I have 1 rifle in 44 Mag and it may get some use this year, not sure yet.....

.35

30-30 but I have a soft spot for the cartridge, shot my first deer with one. Both will do the job at levergun ranges though you can stretch a little further imho

I love my old .30-30 but I hunt with a Marlin .41 magnum more often than the .30-30 when I'm hunting in thickets.

Never tried the .44 but the .41 does a great job and I would think the .44 would be even a little bit better.

30/30

The .44 is no slouch and I want one, but I have to say the .30-30 is my preferred of the 2. The .35 Rem is better again but I am afraid that magnum mania has finally struck a killing blow, combined with all the quality budget bolt actions on the market and the ever increasing cost of lever guns and Marlin's QC challenges I think the lever gun may be beginning to finally fade away from popularity.

I have one of each, both 94's, and have killed elk with each. I have seen no difference in killing ability of either.

The 30-30 is an older gun and a tad heavier, and the 44mag is shorter and a tad more easy to handle in the timber. The only reason I prefer teh44 is that I have a small scope on it and my eyes don't see irons any more. I won't muck up a 1936 Winchester 94 just to put a scope on it.

I have both, and really can't see a big difference. It's more of a placement thing than headstamp.

The .30-30 does have more reach, but I generally don't use either one if I anticipate shooting past 100 yards. Within that, it's even-stevens.

Bea, I'm a fan of both, but I'll admit that I have never taken a deer with a 44 caliber carbine.

With that said, I think that there is a common misconception that the 30 WCF is a 100 yard cartridge.

I've spent a few seasons hunting with the 30 WCF and I have shot a 44 Magnum carbine quite a bit at the range. The trajectory of the 30 WCF is significantly flatter beyond 100 yards.

I have been very pleased with the application of the 30 WCF on deer, especially with the plain Jane Remington 170 Grain CoreLokt HP. VAnimrod recommended that factory load to me a few years back and I have to say it was everything he said it was.

On the plus side for the 44 carbine, I like the ability to load ammunition quickly and simply with carbide dies.

My buddy's shop has a Ruger 77/44 on the shelf that has done it's best to follow me home, but so far I have resisted, mostly because I have a good 30-30 in the rack.

30/30 for reach. Also add the fact that 99's don't come in 44.

I agree with you, and I didn't mean to imply that it was limited to that range. I have killed deer past 200 yards with the .30-30, but I guess what I meant to say was that if I'm hunting terrain that has the possibility, and probability, of a shot that far or further, I have better rifles for that.

You oughtta try that 77/44. Addictive little rascals, I have one and love it for the thick stuff.

.300 Savage in a Model 99, as a pure deer rifle. Can also use a scope more easily, and use pointy bullets

A model 94 in .30-30 is no slouch, either, and is a bit trimmer & lighter. A lever action .44 would hold more rounds, and might double as a decent self defense weapon.

30-30 is so plebian... think outside the box. 303 Savage in a 113 year old rifle, now there's some serious style.

Bottom one:

For me the 30/30 hands down

I was just wondering what others think . I have killed deer with both and all the deer i have shot with either the 44 mag or 30-30 carbine dropped right there. I use receiver sights on all my lever guns including my Marlin 45-70 Cowboy and Savage 99 308, which i have installed since these photos was taken. There are my Lever Big Game rifles.

Bob,

A nice bunch of lever guns you got....especially the 1894 .44 sporter model. You don't see many marlin .44 sporters these days.

Doc

.30-30 hands down. No contest.

Marlin only made the 44 Sporter one year and i think it was 1973