RE: .44mag vs. .30-30
The ballistic program I have shows the 30-30 170gr having 990ftlbs at 200yds shooting 1619fps and the best 44 mag is the 275gr getting 729ftlbs at the same distance still clocking 1093fps.
The 30-30 shoots so much flatter that I still would go with the 30-30. The thing is if you load a super hot 44 mag you should load a super hot 30-30 to compare it with.