Not a one centerfire rifle arsensal, but one centerfire levergun.

What would you choose?

For pig flusher. Maybe meat deer. Close range targets of opportunity. Alternative to a 22 as a plinker. Woods bumming.

The 30-30 certainly has the longer range and if I was ever down to one and only one rifle, I think it could suffice. And in my choices, would be easily scopeable if I was to go that way. Most likely a 336 carbine, maybe a youth model /buckhorn, but possibly a 94 angle eject also.
I pretty much know what to expect with the 336 in 30-30 as I've had a few.
A pound of trailboss and some light lead slugs might make it a more fun plinker, although I've never reloaded. Over the counter ammo is fine for hunting.

The 357 and 45 come in a lighter sleeker package, and would be more versatile as a plinker or a pack rifle for targets of opportunity or self defense in the field in the southern U.S.
Most likely this would be in a Rossi or similar 92 replica.
Never owned one of these, but have handled a few and was impressed with the toy like dimensions, the light slick actions, and the solid feel.
The 45 caliber holes would be cool for plinking, but the 357/38 cheaper to shoot.
I most likely would reload for either of these also, but not exclusively.

No matter the choice, I'd go cheap and simple with the hammer style reloader or possibly the hand press as I have little desire to set up a loading room or a permanent bench.

hard to beat a 44 mag........or 45 Colt.......even 357

Trailboss & cast boolits are fun shootin'

or load it heavy with JHP's.........pic is 44M......

A .30-30, especially when hand loaded, can be used for anything from squirrels on up.

My vote goes to the 30-30

I don't think there is a wrong answer, and the 30-30 has pretty much dominated for well over 100 years for good reason.

My only lever is a 45-70.

I have thought the 35Rem would be a pretty versatile number too considering all the handgun and rifle bullets from light jacketed to heavy cast and heavy jacketed. But that would be more for the reloading tinkerer.

It's gonna be hard to beat a 357 magnum for a 'woods bumming'. Especially if you already reload for a 357 mag revolver. My Marlin 1894 if just so much fun and cheap to shoot.


Get a pre safety though.

I think your forgetting the 44 mag. Gets my vote.

If I could only own one, I'd buy a Savage 30-30 just like this. 26" barrel just lays down and stays down, boom, and stuff dies. And just think how cool you look while you're out hunting.Carrying this gun you'll never think about another rifle. This is IT. This is what you yearn for, strive for, search for, pine for. This is the one. There is no other.

That sure does look nice hanging on the wall in it's custom gun rack. But if I were to want a long levergun I might opt for a 1895 Cowboy in 45-70 with the octagon barrel.
But that sure looks like a real sweetheart of a shooter.

I didn't really forget the 44, I just always thought of it as a short range 30-30 in a rifle. Now if I was to have an old Dirty Harry 29 to go with it, then it would make more sense to me.
But I won't rule it out if I see one I really like.

This was my thought initially. But an older 1894c is really hard to find, and overpriced a bit when I do see them around here.
If I could find one on the scratch n dent rack for five or six hundred I'd grab it.

I guess this answer makes the most sense. Any of them will work for the tasks I'd ask of it. I'll just keep my eyes out for the closest thing to perfect in my eyes and live with and love whichever cartridge it shoots.

I've even thought about a 45-70, but for my needs it would be a secondary levergun. I like the old original Marlin 1895 with the 3/4 magazine and the 22" barrel the best. Although the Guide and the Cowboy both have their appeal.

That's a sharp looking rifle. I had initially thought I wanted one of the smaller lever actions like the 92. But I won't rule out a Marlin 1894. I've always favored Marlin lever actions for their sturdiness.

This is the obvious and most sensible answer. But I think if I get a 30-30 I want a more specific, harder to find rifle. Although the standard Marlins are generally cheap and widely available enough that I wouldn't mind altering one to my specific wants and needs.

Something along the lines of an 18" barreled 336 SC with the thin forend and Texan buttstock would be about ideal in my eyes. Which would take a bit of cutting and/or bending and stuff to get. I don't think they ever made one in this configuration.

Or I might take a chance on really liking a Winchester 94 AE in either standard or trapper. Although the first time I ever cycled the action on one it really freaked me out. I thought I broke it..
I think they had a take-down model called the Trails End or something like that with an 18" barrel and a gentle pistol grip. But that's probably more of a safe queen status price-wise than the shooter that I would want.

Another vote for the 30 30. Good guns and ammo are easily found and very reasonable. Good for almost anything you are likely to encounter. If you reload, many choices of bullets and loads.

You might want to look into the new models for this year. Marlin is making a stainless 1894SBL in 44 Magnum, with a 16 1/2 inch barrel, pistol grip laminated stocks, big loop lever, and an XS Scout Rail & peep sights. They are also producing basically the same gun, the 1894CSBL, in 357 Magnum. Or the 1894CST Trapper, with Skinner peep sights, big loop lever, and black painted wood stocks, also in 357 Magnum.

Mine is my Browning M71 Carbine though I do enjoy a '59 M94 30-30 and my recently acquired '70's M336 35 Rem.

Did Marlin ever tighten up the twist rate on the 44 Mag carbines?

I seem to recall they finally went 1/20 on the 444 Marlin rifles, but what about the 44 Magnum?

I narrowed it down to three, 2 30-30's and a 45 Long Colt Rossi. I first went with a 44 magnum but it would not shoot light plinking loads or working handgun loads at all (240-255 gr bullets at 950 fps out of the pistol) as they tumbled so I went with the 45 colt. There are a lot of Cowboy action loads out there and sometimes you can get them cheap. On the full power end there are a lot of reload combinations and some factory options (Buffalo Bore) that will take down just about any beast. My 16 inch barreled Rossi is very accurate with both cast and jacketed loads. The two 30-30 thing is so I could have one scoped and another with irons but I may just end up with the scoped 30-30 and the Rossi.

If you handload I would go 30-30 all the way.

As far as a rifle, I grew up being a Winchester fan..but the last 40 years of owning various rifles has taught me that maybe the best 30-30 rifles EVER made (especially for scope use )were the 1960s to late 1970s Marlin 336 rifles.

Look around and you should find a very clean one for under $500.

Their like will never be made again and you can do darn near anything with one.

How bout a 454 casull Rossi ? Good out to 150 yds easily. If you can find a Rossi they are great hunting rifles.

Sounds interesting, but I don't think I'm cool enough for a Casull. Not really diggin the high pressure thing in a lever action either. Also, in a .45 I like the nostalgia of the 45LC and the 45-70. They seem more my speed. I know you can shoot the 45 in the 454, but I don't love the big shoulder pad on that rifle and wouldn't want to shoot the 454 without it.
And I don't really want to shoot 150 yards without a scope anymore.

This is probably the way I'll end up going. It just makes too much sense. I see them all the time for well under $500. And I already have a few boxes of ammo, and a 1-4x20 shotgun scope waiting.

I'll add a Lee Loader, some trail boss, 3031 or Leverevolution, and I'll be set. I already have a mallet😂. Maybe I'll even buy a mold to make some light boolits for plinking.

I might get a Champion plastic stock to lighten it up a bit.

get every lever gun you think you want. then you can git rid the ones you donot like .have fun in your quest

454 Casull easily loaded to 45 Colt levels........

a full nuts Casull load in a 6# Rossi is not everyone's cup of tea......

I'd say the best bang for your buck today is a Henry.....

357.....44....41.....45 Colt........$700 ish for a 20" or 16" carbine

new Marlins also a suggestion..if you can personally look it over

I would buy a Browning BLR in 308, tough to beat a 308 win.the other thing I have notice 308 win. are easier to buy in many different grain weights too .

I had not thought of the 308 in this context but it would work for me . I like the BLR also. For a reloader the 308 can be anything you want it to be . I have several and load cast and several bullet weights depending on what I want to shoot . 38 special level to full bore 308.

But that wont work for everyone.

Marlin in .357mag. From the deer woods to home defense, you will like it.

You know I want one of these. I would love it!
I just hate paying scalper prices. This one is near the top of the list with the essential 30-30.

This is the most brilliant answer!
But I'd end up with 25 leverguns piled in the safe and a couple of closets and hangin all over the walls and never be able to decide which one to use.

Probably I should have a 45-70, which I really don't need. A 30-30 which could do everything I need. And a 357, which would probably be the most fun.

The marlin 1894 in 44 mag that I’ve owned simply don’t have the correct bore diameter or twist. Never been able to get one to shoot good. So I bought a 1894 CPC in 357 mag. Shoots 38spl & 357 mag into little tiney groups.

And for those who object to the cross bolt safely, as I do. Just buy the replacement filler solid bolt and use the halfcock like marlin designed it to be used.

yes......I've posted this pic before.....bought this from original owner........

he chopped from 24" to 20"......I always wanted a 16" Marlin......so here it is......

2001 Cowboy in 45 Colt......super smooth...fun to shoot Cowboy plinker loads......

I removed OEM X/bolt safety......added a delete.......can you say home defense ?

8 + 1 capacity.......250 gr Dardas cast......6 grs Universal.....

I've owned lever guns in 218 Bee, 30-30, 45-70, 38-55, 357 magnum, and 45 long Colt.

And multiples of most.

I'm down to one right now. A Navy Arms 92 Trapper in .45 Colt.

It, and my Wife's Browning 92 in .357 Magnum are/were my/our all-time favorites.

Lost the 92 Browning to a theft. Would LOVE to have another for my Wife some day.

Virgil B.

That's what I opted for. 308 with Leupold VX-2 3-9x40.

D S i have lever guns from 22 to 4570 in marlin an win. hand load & cast for all the 38/357 marlin is prob the best all around gun 800 fps 158 cast 38 sp to 2250 158 xtp hp 357mags lite recoil with full house loads good if kids or wife wants a 200yard gun if scoped

Thinking this thru, I would go with a Savage 99 in .358. Load it down with pistol bullets or cast, up for deer, elk, bear, and moose.

Marlin mod 94 in .357 is a fun gun and a deer killer



I've got a Marlin 1895 45-70 as a companion piece, both manufactured in the early 70's

Seems everyone that has one loves their Marlin 357. I'm pretty sweet on the standard 18.5" 1894C.

Looked at a 24" Cowboy in .357 once, which apparently was a great deal on a pretty rare rifle, but not exactly what I had invisioned for a multi-purpose walk about rifle, so I left it behind.

And that 92 Trapper in .45 LC sounds right handy too. Never had the pleasure of a Navy Arms, but I've handled a little Rossi and it was pretty slick.

I sure wouldn't mind an old Marlin in 45-70. And a 30-30 feels almost like a must have.

An 18" Marlin 357 is near purfect to carry around....this is a '79

The 24" Cowboy in 357 is gonna be heavy in comparison...

Even a 20" CB is heavy........

Yep. That looks dang near like my 22, except the barrel bands. Maybe a touch shorter overall length.

I would go m92 in either .45 or .357, depending on how heavy I was needing to throw.

Honestly though, a rifle/carbine in .357 with full power 180 grains loads is right on the heels of a 30-30.

Actually it's not very close at all. About the best you're going to get out of a .357 with 158's is still 400- 500 fps shy of what you can get with a 150 or 160 out of a .30-30 and the .30 cal bullets have a considerable BC advantage so the gap only widens downrange. The story is pretty much the same with 180's out of the .357 vs. 170's out of a .30-30. I've had both, handloaded for both and taken considerable game with both. The .357 is a versatile little cartridge out of a carbine but it ain't no .30-30.

yea but..........

where the 357 is gonna be used..........

short range crab apple thickets on the east coast......

50 yards............one dead deer........or pig if you desire......

a 6 # Marlin would be the catt's azz...........

Yeah, that'll work but a Win. 94 .30-30 weighs the same and carries just as well but will reach out and clobber one 200+ yards across a field just as easily.

i have both of them. my 357mg load with 158gr xtp hp with lit gun powder shoots about 1 1/2 inc higher at 200 yards then a 150 gr speer hot core with varget powder in my 3030 when sighed in at 100yards. with both a round 2250/2275 fps with my guns. 3030 marlin made in the 50s to my marlin 357 made in 90s

How much lil gun you stuffing in there ? 18 grains {Hodgdon's current listed max.} clocked just under 1900 fps. with 158's out of my 1894c. Even if you do get the velocity stated it is simply not possible for the 158 XTP with a BC of .206 to shoot flatter than the 150 Speer with a BC of .255 when launched at the same velocity. There are also powders that will goose the velocity 150-200 fps higher than what you're getting out of your .30-30 with varget.

This is my thinking. Small predators to 100 yards. Deer and hogs to 50.

The 92 has the advantage in weight. But I don't mind a small receiver mounted scope at all. And the 1894c is basically a more powerful twin to my 39m.

This is true also. And in an AE model with a 1-4 scope I might actually find 200 yards useful on occasion.
The 357 still wins the fun factor as a plinker and occasional target shooter. And those 1894C's are too sweet.

yep......especially the older ones..........

my badd.........I believe the 'CS' is the 'Carbine safety'

black heart 18gr litgun in 357 32.5grvarget in 3030 .shot over a buds croney .both guns have the same scope 1/5 to 4/5 bushnell . shot at a 8inc steel plate.we were kind of suprised it happend. we both shot them a lot. was suprised that the 357 shot that flat at 200yards i like the varget load in my 30/30 it is the most constent. shot in fla at just about sea level with 90*temps

I like my Marlin 35 Remington. A powerful deer killer that can be a 38 spcl 357 mag and 357 rem max. But then again my 444 marlin can act similarly!




BTW 444 marlin analysis here

https://thehandloadinglog.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/the-magnificent-444-marlin/

Kinda like my 1964 36g in .30-30
Now I find myself having marlinitis
Wanna get a .35 or .444 half tube presafety to be its big brother

If you will reload, I'd consider a 35 Rem. I've got 3 Marlin 336 in 30-30, 35 and 356 and also a Browning BLR in 308. For a short range hog, deer and plinker the 35 would be a pretty good choice. Can load it down to 357 mag or load it up to the 220 Speer and shoot nearly anything if you keep the ranges close enough.

I meant C's as in plural. I don't need no stinking safety. But I'd take one if the price was right.

And yes Tikkanut, your old Marlin looks just right. I like Fireball2's also, with the little 2.5x20 scope.

renegade50's 36g looks sweet too. I've thought about a Glenfield 30A, so I wouldn't feel bad about putting a plastic stock on it to lighten it up, or 30TK as is. But those half tube rifles aren't so common around here.

The 444 is a great cartridge, as is the 35. But if I'm getting away from what I know and have ammo for, 30-30 and 357, then it would be a 45. Or a 45-70 if I want an artillery round.

Also, if I reload a 30-30 then I can reload 223 with the same powder.

'CS' is I'm sure post '83......'C' prior

thats when they put the silly azz X/bolt safety on

That is a well rounded lever arsenal.

Love my lever guns. I've had them in 22, 357mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 30-30, 35 Remington, and 45-70.

WIsh I Hadn't sold the 45 Colt, have multiples of a couple. But I wouldn't miss an opportunity on a B-92 in 357 mag or 44 mag. Nice rifles as well.

One area a 45 lc will give the 30-30 a run is if you want really deep penetration on flesh and bone. If you reload, you can launch some really heavy cast bullets (approx. 345-350) grains out of a Model 92 at some hearty velocities. 30-30 your pretty much maxed out at 200 grains. For short range thump I would take a heavy loaded 45 LC, Model 92 over anything a 30-30 can push. .

You can't go wrong with any of your (3) choices.

If I didn't have an 1894 357 mag already, I would have no problem with buying one of the newer Remlins. they are producing some nice guns. I think far better than Marlin was toward the end of their run. Personally I don't see how a guy can pick just one. One thing most people don't think about is you put a descent handgun cartridge in a carbine and you have a very potent round. I think you should consider picking an 1894 and a 336. Maybe a 357 mag or 44 mag, and a 35 Remington. You would have the best of both worlds. Especially the 336's are not hard to find.
I have a couple of 35's and when ever I went to Canada, I would want to carry something so I always took the same 35 Remington with me so they had a record of it and knew it was mine.

Don’t you love it, give them a choice of 3 and they add 10. 30wcf in a 99 so you can load anybody’s bullets....

Yes. The pressure is immense. I feel the need to have three 30-30's, an 1894C 357, a 92 in .45 Long Colt with matching hogleg (which I picture myself hand loading for on a rock in the desert), and some kind of a 45-70.

You can't have too many leverguns.

I'm no damn help, when I want to hunt the creek bottom thickets, I throw one round from each of my lever rifles in a cap, reach in and pull one out, that's the one I hunt with that day.

I picked up a 1894C (357 Magnum) back in 2004 and have taken several Deer and 1 Black Bear with my 180 grain handloads.

All my levergun chores can be handled nicely by my 20" 45 Colt and a 94 Winchester in 30-30.

I like my Marlin 30-30 but mainly nostalgic reasons, as it was my grandpas and was the rifle I killed my first several deer with. If I were buying a new lever gun though, I’d go with a 44mag or a 45-70/444. I already have several good deer rifles, those 2 would give me a little something different, and would allow me to take the rifle to one of the midwestern states like Ohio that now legalized certain rifles for deer.

It's a wrap. Scored the circa 1989 blue light special 30-30 Guide Gun, aka Marlin 30TK for the win, and what is for now the only centerfire levergun I intend to own.
I just couldn't justify spendin a G for a 1894c in 357 for a little carbine that I might want to drag through the muck, and less power too.
.
This thing is pretty sweet. Straight stock, 2/3rds mag tube, and 18.5" barrel. Probably about six pounds bare and the same length as my 20" barreled 39M. The trigger might need some attention as it's a little heavy. Got a few of scuffs on the birchwood, but looks barely used otherwise.
Came with a Hubble, but I'm thinkin 1-4x20 turkey plex.

This is actually my third Marlin 30-30. First a '76 336 RC, then a cherry '67 Texan, and now this little jewel. I think it'll make a great combo plinker/hunter. Might even try some long range lobs just for fun.

A nice score on the Kmart Marlin model 30TK.....enjoy the rifle.

[quote=DollarShort]Came with a Hubble, but I'm thinkin 1-4x20 turkey plex.[quote]
Don't they all.

Thank you. I think this one's a keeper.

30-30 or 444, thats it.

.45-70s...lots of them.

I'd have recommended a 357, but nothing wrong with the 30-30. Easy to load both with specs from squirrel to HD to elk in timber. I've found the Marlin in 357 to be far more accurate and easy to find good loads for with all types of power levels than the Marlin 30-30. And if you imagine a 30-30 somehow has more power than a 357 out of a long barrel, well, it's just because you haven't seen them in action. A 180 XTP at 1700 shoots through 10 milk jugs with 4 1/2" plywood pieces spaced between them at 25 yds. And the milk jugs didn't just leak slowly. I was glad I had 12 jugs set up, because the slug, weighing 135gr, was in the 11th. Good luck getting any bullet 170gr and under to do that in a 30-30. 357 rifles are elk guns.

I would've taken a Marlin 1894c in 357 but the only one I saw recently was $1100 and it just wasn't worth that much to me.
And luckily, I won't be after any elk or milk jugs. Just the occasional hog or deer, maybe some paper plates, rocks, small to medium predator if they're a bother.😀

Besides, I got about 260 rounds of ammo in the 30-30. And will probably get a new mallet loader for it to load up some additional plinking loads and maybe some heavy hard cast.

In 30-30, I shoot everything from cast 115's to the RCBS 180 that weighs exactly 200 in my alloy with lube and gc. The 115's are easy to push to 2k with the slower pistol powders, and the 200 works best with a compressed charge of 4350 or a full charge of 760. The 30-30 is certainly versatile, particularly if you get your hands on cast bullets. For a Marlin, I recommend sizing at .311".

Thanks for the tips. I'll probably just get some kind of ball powder that might double for 223 if I get into that. Something like W748, CFE223, or Leverevolution, as I'd like to keep it simple.

Although I did read about some kind of flake powder for plinking loads with light boolits that I might give a try. I'll have to do some more research as I don't recall exactly what it was. Read about it when I was originally thinking about using Trail Boss, but the reviews I read weren't good on the TB.

It's not chambered per your wish list but don't overlook the neglected lever's...they clean up nice, chopped, crowned and re-finished at home.

Lee Loaders are fun!

That's a nice looking rifle. After the chop job, kind of like a better version of my little 30TK. But that's ok. I like it and don't really mind the birch, and I got a pretty good deal for a kind of rare dog that probably doesn't have much more than a couple of boxes of shells through it as the rings on the bolt are very visible and the blueing is pert near perfect. I might try and jazz it up with a lace on leather buttstock cover with ammo loops😉

I don't recall which one has the drop in the stock like that. Must be a 444, which is what I always thought I wanted when reading the ballistics charts in the back of the Shooters Bible. But now I've grown to appreciate the old 30-30😀

I'd still like a pistol caliber carbine with more magazine capacity. But now that I've got my scoped short rifle, I won't mind a 92.
Dang...this one lever action arsensal is going to be harder to stick to than I had figured. Maybe I'll just get some nice quick detach rings instead.

I've never tried Trail Boss, but I've never seen the need. Any flake pistol powder can be used in 30-30 cases to produce good results with the right bullet. I like Unique and Blue Dot, but H110 or 4227 also work well. My favorite powder for 2000-2200 with 115's is 4227. The H110 pressure curve is very steep, meaning that things go from mild to tops in a couple grains. I don't like the volatility, but I've gotten great results from it in regard to accuracy. It doesn't beat 4227 though, and 4227's pressure curve is far more flat. 4198 is another great one. And 3031. And Reloder 7. I've not tried CFE or Lever with cast bullets, but they are excellent with jacketed bullets, and my favorites, producing top speeds and excellent accuracy. My brother swears by 748 for jacketed and cast bullets 150-200gr. It was the powder my father used as well. 748 seems to be the perfect burn rate for the 30-30 case and its lower MAP.
.
There is plenty of pistol powder data out there for the 30-30. www.castpics.net is a place I often glance at for loading data that is tested. If you go to the Reloaders Reference tab, scroll down to Cast Bullet Data Lookup, and then select "30/30" (not "30-30") from the drop-down menu, there are many loads listed that correlate with Lyman's and RCBS's cast bullet data, as well as that of gun writers and powder manufacturers.

Sounds like some good info HuntnShoot.
I'll try to get out this weekend and put 60 or 80 downrange to make some brass. Then next weekend hit the fun show to do some horse tradin for some loadin supplies. Who knows what lies in wait.

You should post a pic of your new to you rifle. Another scope option you might look at is the Weaver Classic V 1-3 x 20mm. Plenty of reviews on it there at MidwayUSA.

yep Weaver 1-3x20........helluva bargain for $160 ish......

Marlin SS 44 mag 2005

Can't seem to figure out how to add a picture from my fancy phone camera. Went to image gallery, but when I try to choose a file I get nothing.
Says HTML disabled, but not exactly sure what that means or how to enable it, or if this is preventing uploas from phone.

I have a VX1 1-4x20, but waiting til I find the perfect base before I take the 3-9x40 off.

1-3x or 1-4x20 fits purfect

Kind of jumping ahead here to get my 2 cents in, A Rossi 92 short rifle in 45 Colt will run a 300 gr XTP at 1700 FPS which will/would probably give a grizzly bear second thoughts about is future behavior. A 300 gr to 325gr hard cast would probably shoot thru the same grizzly end for end. A 250gr bullet at over 1800FPS will reach 150yd easily and a 0.452" hole thru a whitetail will leave a short blood trail. My Rossi weighs almost exactly 5# and as been fitted witha shotgun style stock. A 5# rifle running the 300gr gives a stiff little kick with 300 gr. Recoil with a 454 tends to move the magazine tube forward. Also with appropriate pressures a 45C will exceed a 44 magnum by about 10% in kinetic energy.

I may just gas up some 250 grain XTP's and use my 20" Rossi 45 Colt to thump Bambi this year.

Here she is as delivered. Marlin 30TK 30-30. For now, my one and only centerfire levergun. The 18.5" barrel is just right for a knockabout, woods bumming, rock-paper-critter poppin rifle.

As soon as I get around to locating a new base, I'll put the 1-4x20 on her. She's a little top heavy right now.

Nice. That scope is a touch large for the carbine, LOL.

How are you getting 1700 fps/mv with a 180gr XPT from a lever gun? .357 Mag, correct? Or, was that a misprint? Curious.

If I could only have one, I would choose:

1 1895 in 40-72
1 1894 in 25-35
1 1873 in 38-40
1 1892 in 44-40
1 1876 in 45-60
1 1886 in 40-65
1 Marlin 1889 in 38-40
1 Marlin 1894 in 44-40
1 Whitney Kennedy in 38-40

I've had two Marlin 1894C's and one Rossi 92 in .357. I 've also had a half dozen 336's in .30-30. I put thousands of rounds, both handloads and factory through all of them and never found the .357 to be as accurate as the .30-30. I never got close to .30-30 power out of the .357's either. The best I could get out of my .357's was 1885 fps with a 158 grain XTP over a book max load of lil gun. I suppose 1700 fps would be possible with a 180 but doubt it would best a 170 partition at 2200 or a 190 grain Hawk at 2000 out of a .30-30 for penetration.

That’s a lot of ones. Something close to 29 1’s in 38-40. I will probably need more ones after I get this one broke in good.

What load you using to get that? The highest estimates I've calculated in quickload were around 1800 FPS with a 200 grain bullet before running out of powder space, much less a 300!