Which levergun caliber?
 

So I really want to get a marlin levergun this summer. Problem is I keep flip-flopping between a .44 or 45-70 or even a 30-30. I can't hunt deer in illinois with rifles, but I'm going to school in western kentucky and it may see some action there. Basically I'm getting one for fun and just shooting around. The 30-30 is on the bottom of the list...but the only real reason I can seem to come up with is "because everyone has one". I will handload for the .44 or 45-70. And I love the idea of using Blackpowder loads in the 45. The 45-70 is overkill, but its an 'amusement' gun. I fear the .44 will leave me thinking, "Gee, I wish I'd went up to the 45". What says you?

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

If you are shooting 100 yards -125 yards, the 44 Mag will work fine and will be a lot more fun to shoot that the 45-70. You can load some reduced loads for the 45-70 that can be pretty pleasant. 44 Specials will also fire in the 44 Mag rifle. I have both the 44 Mag rifle and several 45-70 rifles. The 44 mag is the most enjoyable to shoot. Its really good for out to 150-180 yards with a little practice. Nothing wrong with the 30-30 either. I love the pistol cartridges in the carbines though.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Another plus for the .44 is ammo price, and another knock against the 30-30 is that I'd rather have a straight grip then the pistol grip on the 336s. Oh, well...thanks for the personal insight. I'm still up in the air on this so anyone else with experience between these calibers feel free to chime in.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I agree with James the 45/70 is a great calibur. You can load them to be very tolerable and fun to shoot then you can wack just about anything with full power loads. I do like the .44 but if was going to pick one 45/70.James wasnt this just on the firearms review?

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Look up Wild West Guns in Anchorage and check out the .450 and .50 Alaskans. That'll turn some heads at the firing line!

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I want a 45-70 as a brush gun in Missouri. Everyone who hunts herehas a Winchester 94 in 30-30, I want something a bit different, those Marlins look good.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

There might be a reason for that.

Find a good used one.....it'll be traded off when you discover boltactions later.....

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I hear ya. I bought a winchester .44 magnum lever just cause I wanted something different, and boy do I love it. It is both fun and accurate. Plus it holds like 11 rounds. I only wished they had the Marlin Stainless steel .44 out when I was looking. I would have bought that instead, most likely. I may still pick one up just cause I like the .44 caliber so much. Anyhow, I've had a lot of novice shooters try out the .44 lever at 50 yards on bowling pins and no-one has missed yet :D. I have a .44 encore pistol which accurately shoots the same ammo as the levergun, so I only have to worry about 1 kind of cartridge when hunting. For a "fun" gun, the .44 is very hard to beat. I too hunt in a shotgun only zone, so I've only shot paper and bowling pins thus far, but the knowledgeable members of this site have assured me the .44 is plenty of gun for deer.

KEJ

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Vapo...I'm a lefty, and I've already "discovered" bolts. Don't need that precision from anything but my .22, which my 10/22 has plenty of (for me at least) Since deer are the only 'big' game in Illinois, besides cougar...but that's a big can of worms, and rifles are illegal I don't have much use for bolts.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

i just got (x-mas) a 1894 in 41 mag andlove it, big fun, i agree with all above and would even throw a 444 marlin in the mix, i think i may try one down the road, as far as practical i'd say the 44 would be the most practical or a 30-30 or the 35 rem, i got the 41 cause i like different stuff[&:];):D:D:D:D, anyway about it another gun will always be fun;)

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

hands, I have a S&W (57...*I think) in 41 magnum. Like you, I like to be a little different. And whether it's the pistol (I KNOW part of it is, it has the nicest trigger in my gun collection...I'm pretty sure it's been in a gunsmith's hands before.) or the cartridge I'd rather shoot it than my SRH 44 anyday. Tough break how it never got the following it deserved in the law enforcement and defense world. I thought about the 444 for a little while, but if I'm going to go with a more expensive round, I'd like to stick to the classic 45-70

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Although you didn't mention it (others have), I'd cast my vote for the 444 as well. Awesome round. Big debate between the triple 4 shooters and the 45-70 shooters as to which is better. If you're a loader, the 444 won't cost you much more than than the 44 to shoot and you gain a bunch IMHO.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

My first and still one of my favorites is my Marlin in 35 Rem. Light weight, accurate and plenty of energy to get the job done without the big recoil.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I think in your situation the 44 is best choice. For what you are using it for I think the cheaper more available ammo and plenty of killing power if you do get to use it for a hunt.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I understand your scenario!
I have a 30-30, 44 mag and a 444 lever gunthat were allbought for whitetail in Eastern Kentucky.

I've hunted there with the 444 and the 30-30 and have had GREAT success with them. I just recently bought the 44 mag and I have to agree with everyone else, what a great, fun, and extremely accurate lever-gun. I must admit, I like it a heck of a lot more than I thought I would, and I'm really looking forward tohunting deer withit. If I had to give em all up (God forbid) and just choose 1 for whitetail or all-around, I'd choose my first love, the 444 Marlin. To me, it has it all, knockdown,(3009 lbs of energy out ofcertain factory loads)accuracy(I have no problemtaking a whitetail at 150 yards with it)and speed(2250 fpswith a 280 gr bullet and 2350 with a 240) You never know you might head North and take a Black Bear with it someday, or head to Tennessee and take a hog, if you've chosen 444 you'll be more than ready for any of that!
BUT I guess that wasn't one of my choices, If I had to choose between the 3 choices you gave me I'd choose the 45-70.
Happy hunting!!

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Dang you....Dang you ALL!!!!! haha, Highpower I hadn't realized the .444 could be handloaded for close to .44 costs. I'll check farther into that and if I can find that to be true with my small-volume orders I just may go that route, because it does fit nicely in between.



Quick question: You can NOT shoot .44mag or specials in a .444 even though they are the same bullets with and the cases only differ by length, correct?

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Another vote for the triple 4. I put a Leupold FX 4 on it and it makes a great combo. Here piggy piggy. Come to daddy!

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I would go with the .44 because of lo recoil.I have a marlin model 1894 and i love it.It is a real tack driver.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I have a .22, 30-30, .35 rem, and a .450 Marlin all in Marlin lever actions. They are all fun to shoot though you don't want to shoot the .450 too many times in a row. We play with mine and shoot a lot of different things with it and it is amazing what it will do. It works great on hogs as well which is what I bought it for. For what you are wanting the .44 might be best.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

have a marlin 30-30 that i have had for like 20years and i tak ethe gun on every hunt i go on. It might sit in the stand next to me or even in the cabin but its on every hunt. i love my 30-30 and it has killed more than all my other rifle combined.

Ps: with the hornady Ammo for the 30-30 they claim no bullet drop to 200yards and only 16inchs at 300yards with 1699velocity/1025ft.lbs. @ 300yards

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

A claim which is impossible. Gravity effects the round immediately after leaving the barrel. You can easily sight the 30-30 for a 200 yard zero but the round will be higher between the muzzle and 200 yards and dropping long before 200 yards. The 30-30 is not known as a very flat shooting round.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Within the parameters of your original question... 45-70 hands down.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Hi Soil:

What you are asking for isa .45-70. While you can't load .45 handgun bullets, you have a plethora of .458 bullets to choose from and you can get within about 400fps of .458 magnum loads. Using Rem 405gr SP, my reloads still come in at less than $.30.

With bullets weights from 250gr to 600gr, you have tremendous flexibility. Add in bullets like the Beartooths or factory stuff like Garrett, and you will be good to go for anything.

CE

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Thanks guys. I looked over the 444marlin pretty hard. Just not enough availability out there for me. Looks like it's down to the .44 or 45-70 now. Coloradoelk, where are you getting your supplies!!!??? I have to assume that your $0.30 reloads don't count the first purchase of brass, because I was coming up with $.60-80 at BEST from midway prices. In looking at the 444 I ran across the beartooth bullets...VERY NICE!!! Right now the .44 holds the economic and "all-around fun" card, but the 45 trumps in with the blackpowder possibilities and extreme versatility.

Blackpowder loads aren't too harsh on the leverguns are they? (I don't mean pressures, just cleaning hassles)

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

Soil, my numbers came from the cost of 1000 shots, $296, when I bought supplies last. With current Midway prices:

Starline cases, 100ct(will get more than 10 loads) $38
Primers, 1000(fromlocal store)I use Fed 210$18
Rem 405gr JSP (1000 ct), free shipping$138
7lbs IMR 3031 (local store)$126

Comes in at $320/1000. Don't you love inflation??? Still comes in at less than $6.50.box

Good luck,
CE

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

No drop to 200?:eek: It must really take a nosedive after there.

RE: Which levergun caliber?
 

I have marlin lever actions in 357,44,and 444. The 357 is really a fun gun to shoot.I have killed deer with it but the 44 and the 444 are better.My 44 is the 1894p it has a 16 1/2 inch ported barrel this is a handy gun from a tree stand.If I had to choose one it would be the 444, loaded with the hornady 265 gr FN it's awesome on deer.