ORIGINAL: bigcountry
I loath a 30-30 myself. I have spent countless hours tracking marginal shots with friends who use a 30-30. I don't know if its my friends luck,or the round. But I love hunting with a 44mag pistol, so a lever would be even better.
I currently have a 30-30, I keep saying I plan to hunt with, but its pretty well shoved to the back of the safe for several years.
It was yours friends' bad luck and poor shooting, and not the round (unless he was shooting at over 200 yards). The 30-30 is absolutely lethal on whitetail. Most I've shot with it dropped RIGHT THERE.
Between 30-30 and .44 - I'd opt for the 30-30. More reach, better ammo, more effective. What's not to like?