Lever Gun - .357 or 30-30?

Chris_Brice

Chris_Brice

New member
Time to decide 357 or 30-30. I know the differences and both have advantages. I already reload for both and have ammo, brass, bullets, powder, etc. for each. Here's what I'm seeing:

30-30:
plus side: easier to find, cheaper, many marlins can be easily scoped, better range. Overall, a better deer and medium range varmint gun.

.357:
Plus side: posible CAS in the future, some states that are "shotgun only" deer states are legalizing pistol caliber carbines for deer hunting (hopefully Iowa will be one in the future), more "fun factor" while plinking.

I had myself talked into a .357. I had a Win 1894 Trapper in 30-30 that I wished I had never sold. It had a Williams Receiver sight that I liked and will more than likely go with the same on my next Lever gun. But never the less, I did sell it and kinda have that "been there, done that" feeling so I thought I'd go with the .357 this time. Like I said, I liked the receiver sight (looks, plinking) but for hunting I prefer a low power scope. I thought of doing CAS and been to a couple matches. And there is the possibility of "home state" rifle hunting in the future. The 30-30 will never be legal for deer here in Iowa. The 30-30 would be a better hunting gun if/when I decide to go out of state for deer hunting and is also a better coyote gun do to the extra range (although I already have a 22-250 for coyote I could still see a Lever Gun being fun to take on occasion).

I may never do CAS, Iowa may never legalize .357 carbines for deer so the 30-30 makes a lot of sense. But then, kick myself if I bought the 30-30 then decided to do CAS or Iowa opened up the deer hunting.

Enough incoherant rambling, what in the world to do?

CB
 
Go with the .357. And check out the next CAS in your area. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif You can tell by your post you want to. Ya just need a little nudge! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Not allot of point getting a 30-30 if it will never be legal there.
 
Decisions, decisions, decisions! It sounds like you have good reasons to get the .357 and the .30-30 both. If Iowa moves to allow the .357 for deer hunting and you want to participate in CAS then then .357 gets another vote.

I have the .30-30 in both the lever-action and a bolt-action and for inexpensive plinking and hunting ammo using cast bullets it is by far the better of the two. My young sons and I have taken both whitetail deer and black bear using these same loads. These new Hornady loads extend the practical range of the .30-30 beyond the standard factory loads if you want try it on coyotes (have taken three coyotes this week with the .223).

Getting either one, I would have to reload for it and I do now for both cartridges. The simple solution is that you already hunt coyotes and enjoy deer hunting so the .30-30 will better suit your current needs. Then next month when you decide to get into CAS, you can get the .357 and already have it when Iowa adds it to their approval list.

I just can't see how this could be considered incoherant rambling! You simply need both!

Remington Raider
 
C.Brice,
I have a Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag and really like shooting it. I usually use 130 grain FMJ Ball ammo and shoot .38Spl in it for fun and it is cheaper than the Magnum ammo. The .38 ammo is subsonic and is very accurate: with factory iron sights, I am getting ten-shot groups at 40 yards around an inch off a rest and at 100 yards, the same loads shoot about 1.5-2.25 inches (depending on wind and my poor shooting), also off the rest with factory iron sights.

The Marlin is one of my most fun guns to shoot. I usually do not load the magazine when I am doing sustained shooting at 100 to 200 yards. Instead, I drop single cartridges into the action while the rifle is on my shoulder (tipped the muzzle downward toward the shooting bench) and then raise the rifle for the shot (standing position), all the while keeping the gun butt against my shoulder. After the shot, I work the lever to eject the brass and, at the same time, lower the muzzle toward the bench (close to the ammo) and with my shooting hand, load another round in the action.

It is easy to go through a box of 50 rather quickly with this method but it is very good standing shooting practice. I get to estimate wind speed and hold-off and elevation and make the shots with the iron sights. I am shooting small steel targets the size of coke cans and usually hitting them. It is great fun.

There is almost no recoil force whatsoever. The report of the shot is also relatively quiet (compared to a 16 inch .223).

Please forgive my rambling response to your question. I would recommend the .357 Mag Marlin carbine (lever action) for your new tool. With the Barnes X-Type bullets, you can easily provide good killing force inside living targets with the .357 Mag carbine at practical ranges.

For me, hunting is usually about closing with my prey and taking it in "fair chase" rules.

Cheers,
 
Just get both, that way you can take advantage of haveing both. Even if you cannot hunt deer with a 30-30 in Iowa (stupid rule BTW) you may go to Kansas to deer hunt some day or any other state with resonable hunting regs. You May want to do some longer range CAS target shooting, ect. Then for the general CAS stuff the 357, although you will be shooting weaker 38 spl. (I like the 44 or 45 better myself for that) But do what you want. I would think about just getting both and doubleing your fun while decreaseing the decisions.
 
Thanks for the help guys.

I guess what it comes down too is that I'm getting tired of passing up cheap, clean 30-30's in the pursuit of the 357.

Let's face it, I may never do CAS (Even with the addition of a lever gun I'll still need 2 more guns) and the 357 Lever Gun may never be legal in Iowa for deer.

A 30-30 would be fine for everything else but CAS and pistol caliber deer hunting. And better for hunting do to better ballistics and the option of scopes. Cost of reloading isn't much different.

But like I said, I'd sure kick myself in the Butt if the .357 was legal and I had a 30-30 in the gun locker instead! And good luck finding a .357 lever gun if they do make em legal!!

Both would be nice, PM me if you care to make a donation or sell me a gun cheap. LOL.

Still leaning towards the .357,
CB
 
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Throw them both out the window and have the best of both worlds with a 35 Rem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif I run 158 gr SWC pistol bullets with a small load of Unique thru mine all the time when just plinking. Man it is fun too shoot!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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I'm looking for a .357 carbine, so don't get one. I want the carbine because I reload for the 357 already, have a 357 revolver, and like what the carbine can do with a longer barrel and 357 handloads. Also, Hornady now has their "magic bullets" for 357 tube magazines in production.
 
Get the .357 Mag. I have a Marlin 1894 I picked up when they first came out.. I own a number of rifles including 7mm Rem Mag, 35 Whelen, 6.5x55 Swede and 30-06. In truth I killed more deer with the .357 Mag Marlin than anything I own. The maximum range is about 150 yds (before Hornaday's magic bullets). I used a load of 16.5 grains of 296 pushing a 158 grain JSP which Sierra lists at 1750 fps with energy of 1074 ft.pds. You just have to know the gun and hunt within its limitations. Besides it is a fun gun to shoot. If you hunt in brush it is the handiest rifle you'll ever own.

Choose the Marlin .357 Mag you won't be sorry.
 
Susquash, what are your energy figures at 150 yards? Are you still above 500 ft.lbs.? If so, that would be like sticking a .357 revolver's muzzle into the ribs of a buck and squeezing the trigger. More potent than alot of people would imagine. Interesting though that you favor the .357 Mag carbine over the .30-30. The .30-30 packs more energy at 150 yards and shoots with a flatter trajectory. Interesting thread! --- Mike
 
Oh yea! He was good eats!

I've shot a 170gr speer Gold dot flat point in 357 mag out of my win 94 at 4 one gallon milk jugs lined up back to back at 100 yds.

It acted just like a nosler partition. Nose "opened" or blew up on the first and second jug and the base penetrated the next two all the way through.

Pleanty of juice if you ask me.
 
I'm not worried about the 357's ability to kill deer out beyond 100 yards. I killed a buck this year with my 4" Security Six @ about 30 yards (texas heart shot). It did all sorts of damage. BTW, that was with heavy handloads not factory loads that G&A posted (but thanks for posting that, good info). I'd be stupid (don't worry, it happens all the time)to not agree that the 30-30 is better beyond 100 yards though. I had one guy try to agrue that a 357 carbine was questionable on coyotes at 100 yards? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

This is a good read, I think it calls for a sticky /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

CB
 
Quote:
Susquash, what are your energy figures at 150 yards? Are you still above 500 ft.lbs.? If so, that would be like sticking a .357 revolver's muzzle into the ribs of a buck and squeezing the trigger. More potent than alot of people would imagine. Interesting though that you favor the .357 Mag carbine over the .30-30. The .30-30 packs more energy at 150 yards and shoots with a flatter trajectory. Interesting thread! --- Mike



Sierra Infinity Suite quotes 502.1 FootPounds of energy at 150 yards with that load. I originally got the Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag as I had two handguns in that caliber and already reloaded for it. It is a light, small, fast handling, accurate carbine. Of course my 7mm Mag with 160 grain Nosler Accubond handload does a much better job out to 300+ yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks for the reply back Susquash! Yes, I can see where that would definitely get the job done! A little surprising (to me) that it still had that much pop left so far out---impressive! ---Mike
 


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