Lever action caliber choices?

bowhunter57

bowhunter57

Well-known member
I'm considering the purchase of a long barreled lever action rifle (24" or 26") for hunting varmints. Varmints = groundhogs, coyotes, fox, coons, feral cats, etc. Hunting yardages will be inside 100 yards. I will be reloading and using open sights with this rifle.

What caliber would you suggest and why?
* .357 Mag.
* .44 Mag.
* 30/30
* 45-70
* Other

Your opinions and experiences are appreciated.
Thank you, Bowhunter57
 
Get the 30-30 for these reasons:

1. Ammo availability. It's everywhere. Almost grows on trees (I wish). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

2. Good 200 yard cartridge, perhaps farther. The handgun cartridges will peter out much short of the 30-30's range.

3. Recoil is mild enough that anyone who ought to be shooting a rifle will barely notice it.

4. You can move up to larger game with confidence that the 30-30 will do the job.

5. John Wayne used one.

6. You'll be making a statement which says: "I don't get ridden by the cockle-burrs of fetish cartridges and rifles and the circular reasoning which leads a man to such decisions. I use what works." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Dan
 
I totally agree with Dan. I just tried reloading a few of the new FTX Hornadys. They are the new rubber tipped 160gr. I just wanted to relive some of my youth with the 30-30. Everywhere that sells ammo will carry 30-30 if you ever forget sometime. It happens...Let me know if you come across a killer load.
 
Quote:
"I don't get ridden by the cockle-burrs of fetish cartridges and rifles and the circular reasoning which leads a man to such decisions. I use what works." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif





WOW,,,,, Feeling a little philosophical today Dan?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My vote goes to the 357.

(1) It's not going to be as hard on fur as most of the others you mentioned.

(2) Ammo actually does grow on trees for the 357.
(2.5) You said you would be reloading, so the components are easy to come by,,, well,,, they used to be,, And you can reload for it for a little less money. Which equates to more shooting for your dollar.

(3) You specifically left Deer off of your list,, but some folks do use the 357 carbine's for Deer with good results.

(4) I'm pretty sure John Wayne had one, and liked it better than his 30-30. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
For nostalgia, the 45 Long Colt cartridge. I have a Win 94 in 45 LC and I love it for plinking and fairly short range hunting.

If you want superior performance in a 30-30 type package, try the 308 Marlin Express cartridge in their lever action rifle.

JMO - BCB
 
Refering to the 30-30

Quote:
....Good 200 yard cartridge, perhaps farther. The handgun cartridges will peter out much short of the 30-30's range.



Ummmmm....Actually the 357 Magnum when loaded for a rifle/carbine and using 125 grain bullets the velocity is actually higher that the old 30-30 with 125 grain bullets. (under 200 yards... further than that and the BC of the 30-30 will prevail.. but the original post says 100 yards or less)

You can actually get higher energy transfer numbers due to the larger surface of the .357" diameter. Bullets cost less, brass lasts longer, uses less powder and the bullets are designed for lighter game that you listed.

My choice would be the 357 magnum, followed by the 45LC.

The 45LC does everything the 44 Magnum will do out of a rifle and a little bit more due to larger bullet weight availability in the Long Colt.


I have or have had all the above mentioned plus the 45LC.
The 3 I use the most are 357 Mag, 45LC and then the 30-30; in that order. Lastly, once a year I break out the 45-70 for elk/deer. I sold the 44 Mag, didn't do anything the 45LC couln't do better.

Another cool one is 25-20... for the being different cool factor.
 
In a lever gun my vote would be for a 32-20 for varmints....you could even shoot deer with the right shot placement.

Very slow loads with 95 gr. round nose all the way up to close to 30-30 ballistics. Here's a good article explaining more of the "whys"

http://www.gunweek.com/2000/feature0801.html

That being said, I saw for a sale yesterday a Winchester 94 30-30 that the previous owner had painted everything but the wood in Coyote Tan. Must have been a plains hunter?
 
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"Ummmmm....Actually the 357 Magnum when loaded for a rifle/carbine and using 125 grain bullets the velocity is actually higher that the old 30-30 with 125 grain bullets."

Check Hodgdon's numbers... even the 130 grain bullets from the 30-30 outpace the rifle shot 125 grain 357's by a couple hundred fps.

Notwithstanding the higher BC, and greater sectional density... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Dan
 
There is also the .25-35 Winchester which was chambered for the Model 94 in 1895. Based on the 30-30 cartridge it will throw a 75 grain bullet at 2800fps.

The 7-30 Waters is a 30-30 necked down to 7mm. 2600+ fps with a 120 grain bullet.
 
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Quote:
"Ummmmm....Actually the 357 Magnum when loaded for a rifle/carbine and using 125 grain bullets the velocity is actually higher that the old 30-30 with 125 grain bullets."

Check Hodgdon's numbers... even the 130 grain bullets from the 30-30 outpace the rifle shot 125 grain 357's by a couple hundred fps.

Notwithstanding the higher BC, and greater sectional density... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Dan



Thanks Dan, just working off velocity from a Speer manual I've been using for over 20 plus years.
Those 357 rifle loads in Hodgdon site are pretty tame, yet the 30-30 loads are near maximum pressure...Hmmm
 
don't forget the .338 Marlin Express....pretty flat shooting from what i've seen....
i have a friend shooting the factory Hornady loads and it shoots very nice....
 
The description of what you want fit the description of one of my favorite little lever action rifles to a T. It's a Browning model 65 in 218 Bee. I put a Lyman receiver sight on it when I got it and its been a great little rifle.
Doc
 
I'd go with a 45-70 just cause they will stop pretty much anything you want to and they are a blast to shoot.I dont have one to call my own nor do I have any of the other calibers mentioned.But I'd say any of those calibers would get the job done on any of the critters you mentioned out to 100 yards.So whichever one is cheapest to shoot is the one I would get.
 
I have had a Marlin 1895 in .45/70 and found it fun to shoot but for the assigned mission, I recommend the .357Mag as the 100 yard critter getter.

I have a Marlin 1894c in .357Mag and it is as easy to shoot well as a .22LR. Even with the factory open sights, it is easy to hold on and hit a 4"x6" index card at 100 yards, off-hand. At 50 yards from a bench rest, it is a one-holer.

This is an easy-to-shoot-accurately rifle that is easy on the ears (for those hunting shots where hearing protection may not be in place).

The 16" barrel gets great velocity with 110-125 grain bullets and very good energy with 158 grain bullets.

A CQB 1X sight (Trijicon/Doctor Dot) or 2X fixed scope would do well with this rifle (carbine).

Best of luck.

Karl in Phoenix
 
My vote is pretty close between the .357 and the 30/30. For hunting I'd vote for the 30/30 but if you do any plinkin at all the .357 is great.

I picked up a 30/30 from a fellow forum member a couple months ago for the exact reasons you stated. Basic varmint/coyote gun but I don't want to blow the heck outta coon and fox either. I have been experimenting with reduced loads for it and can get 100 and 110gr bullets down between 1600 and 1800 fps (even lower but I haven't tried those yet). The Hornady and Speer half jacket bullets are down right cheap and using blue dot and SR4759 I can reload as cheap as the .357. These loads will be great out to about 125 yards.

CB
 
Quote:
Other.

How about 22-250? or .243?

Check out the Browning BLR's and get yourself a real varmint round



+1 on the BLR. Might consider the BLR 223 as well.
 
Quote:
Other.
How about 22-250? or .243?
Check out the Browning BLR's and get yourself a real varmint round


Thank you and others, for the varmint round suggestions. However, I own a Rock River Arms A4 Varmint that fills that option quite nicely. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm looking to purchase something other than what I already own...something "different" and that's where the long barreled lever action came in the picture. I already own the dies, brass, etc. for the .357 Mag., due to a current ownership of a Desert Eagle that's for sale or trade for a lever action rifle.

Even so, a 45-70 sure would be fun and there's a lot of variations for loads...from 250gr. JHP mild loads to 400gr. SWC large game loads. However, the .357 Mag. does seem to be the reasonable choice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Coin toss, anyone? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For varmint hunting, both would be accurate and I don't care if I carve a canoe out of the critters or just put a hole in them. I appreciate all your suggestions, just the same. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
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