Well Frizzler I guess I didn't put the word pistol after the 44 mag statement, excuse me. Question though if you had such a poor opinion of the 30-30 why did you use it for 20 years?
The 30-30 in a Marlin with a 2.5 power scope was my first deer rifle and that was around 32 years ago, I still have it. Sighted in 3 inches high at a hundred yards is 3 inches low at 200. This rifle has killed many deer out to 250 yards and these are mule deer,some big ones. This round will generally give complete penetration and break bone while doing it to this range though past 200 yards expansion is not so great. The rifle has also killed two elk, one of which was 200 yards out by friends who borrowed it as for elk I like my 30-06. Don't forget the the 30-30 was a long range sensation when first introduced and just because we have the fat sevens now does not mean the old rounds are less effective.