30/30 or .44
 

would you reccomend a 30/30 or a .44 mag for short range deer hunting?

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I like the 30-30. I have shot deer at 30 yards with it and 160 yards with it and they all go down fast. I know the 44 can shoot 10 or a 100 yards I just think the 30/30 is best. IMO

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I have had a bunch of the ol ruger .44 autoloader carbines and honestly believe that within 100 yards or less,it's the ultimate fast deer rifle-5 shots of .44mag power in a 6# rifle as fast as you can pull the trigger.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Either one will work good under 100 yards. The 30-30 can reach out a little farther to 150 yards or so but i wouldnt try to push my shots mauch past the 200 yard mark.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

If I had my choice it would be the 30-30. But if I could shoot a centerfire I would get a .243 instead.

Paul

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I have killed deer and hogs with calibers ranging from 223 to 300 WSM, and I would never place a 243 ahead of a 30-30 for a short range deer round.

I would definitely pick a 30-30 over a 44 magnum for no other reason but that the 30-30 does have slight range advantage if it were ever needed.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I would definitely go with the 30/30.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

loanstar...Id go 3030....

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

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.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Both cartridges are great short range deer rounds. I would give the 30-30 a slight performance edge. But not much. The larger Meplat of the 44 magnum is a great short distance asset. If I were only buying one then I would go with the 44 magnum. My reason for picking the 44 is easy, ammo is cheaper to buy, and cheaper to reload. This will allow you to practice more, for less money. Tom.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I repeat what I say about very close range leaning heavily toward a ruger semiauto in .44mag. If I want a more versaitle rifle as far as possible range-I step up to 7mm08 and have never felt undergunned with it on deer-regardless what hunting range.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Don't forget the new LeverRevolution(???) ammo from Hornady. It sounds like it turns the 30/30 into a very respectebal round.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I got to go along with big country on this too. The 30-30 has killed a lot of deer and will continue to do so but it ain't great. From your post I assume you are looking into a lever action rifle. If that's the case you'd be better off with a 35 Rem. instead of the two cartridges you have given. Even the 32 Win Special is better than the 30-30 but these are becoming rare.
Out of all the levers I have and had, I like my Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 the best. Its short, fast handling and has plenty of OOMPH for any deer, black bear, and then some.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I have a Marlin 30-30 and 44 Mag SS and both are very accurate and realiable. I think the 44 does a little bit more damage though.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Thats what I am using this deer season. 300gr nosler partition with 47gr of IMR4198.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

This statement needs justification. Have you ever killed ANYTHING with a 30-30? What is not great about a 30-30 killing a lot of deer and continuing to do so?

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I was thinking the same thing. I have a 30/30, .35, and a .450 and don't hestitate to use the 30/30 on anything. My grandfather used his for a elk. He only ever had one gun in his life and when he went elk hunting with my unclehe used his old 30/30. It is not perfect for elk but it did the job. It is like ANY caliber you need to hit them right or you will lose the deer or whatever you shoot. Just because you shoot a gun that has a bigger bullet or more power it doesn't make up for a bad shot.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

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?

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I like them both ,they both have something that makes them good.The 44mag will make a wound channel that is bigger then the 30-30 but the 30-30 has a bit more range. If I was to pick one for a 100 yard rifle it would be the .44 mag.I have seen several deer killed with it and it just impressed me how good it preformed.Man these pancakes are good.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Full disclosure: I'm not shot a .44 rifle, much less hunted with one, so I can't say how well the cartridge drops the deer. I have shot a lot of deer with a muzzleloader, using a .429-.452 JHP in front of 85-100gr of Pyrodex or TripleSeven. So far, my experiece has been... the 30-30 drops them faster.

Or it could be that I just shoot the 30-30 better!

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I agree with with most of you that the 30-30 is one of the oldest rounds for deer. I would absolutley take the 30-30 over the .44 mag. for deer. With this new LE ammo from Hornady a 250 yard shot is not out of the question. I have used the .44 for blackbear with great results using hollow point ammo. This spring, Hornady will be coming out with a LE for the .44 mag. and the .357 made for rifles. That should be intersting.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Hmm, is that right? Well, I disagree. I have looked over the damage and wounds by both dozens of times, and again loathe the 30-30 as a deer round. I have tried several combos from sierra 170gr and 150gr to hornady from 2000fps to 2200fps with several powder combos and still hate the round for deer. Much better choices out there.

Hey man, if you want to use it, you don't need my approval. If your happy, go for it.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I, on the other hand, have used a 30-30 for 45 years and have never lost an animal and in most cases they drop within 40 yrds of where they are hit or fold on the spot. Shot placement is everything.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Well, good man, congrads,sounds like you have found your gun.

I myself loathe them. Much better out there. Not sure if I mentioned it before.:D

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Bigcountry - ditto here. The 30-30 will definately kill a deer. And dead is dead. Even with the new Leverevolution ammo out there, there are still much better choices for taking deer. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And for those of you that like the 30-30 - so be it. I myself, like I mentioned before, would prefer in a lever gun a 45-70, 35 Rem or 32 Win Spl. over the 30-30 any day of the week. This would be in a saddle gun like the 94, 336, 1895, etc. If I were to pick only a lever gun it would probably be a Browning BLR in a more efficient chambering or (if I could get my hands on one) a Winchester 88 in .284 or 358.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

One thing I like about the 30/30 is that you don't have to get too extravagant with the bullet choice. My favorite ammo is the cheap Winchester power points. They have always produced a dead deer with a good short blood trail. Several died within a few yards.

My favorite kind of hunting is sitting in a tree stand in the middle of the woods. That in my opinion is the kind of hunting where the 30/30 excells.I have shot a box of the Lever evolution from Hornady, and they shot very well. But, I don't really see a need for them when I think I already have the perfect round in a flat nosed bullet that is designed perfectly for 30/30 velocities inside of woods range. The bullet doesn't get much of a chance to complete a ballistic curvewhen it is already through the deer's vitals in close range woods hunting.

Of course, that is the my kind of hunting, and I think what causes a big difference in opinions is 1. the type of hunting people like to do, and 2. What part of the country you are from. I have always grown up in the woods. The 30/30 has never choked.

C. Davis

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I prefer the .30-30 W/Hornady Ammo

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Agreed. I hund in a climber in the woods; even with the leaves down, a 200 yards shot is unlikely. I've not used the fancy rubber pointed Hornadys, considering them to be hype. But after having looked at the charts... it looks like Hornady did a home run. For the time being I'll stick the to Fed Powershot 150s that have been instantly dropping deer for me; if I feel the need for a longer-reaching bolt gun, then maybe I'll sight in with some 160gr LEVERevolutions.

My experience with that a 150gt FN 30-30 bullet drops the deer just as fast as a 130gr 270 bullet. YMMV.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Killed it with a Pre 64Win 94 Carbine W/Fed 170gr NP

460lbs with Win .30-30 and Fed 150gr SP/FN

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I know that you know that thousands and Thousands of deer have been killed with a 30/30. Actuallyit wasmy first deer rifle as a kid hunting the East Texas Piney Woods where 75 yards is a long shot. The problem I found with the 30/30 when shooting soft point bulletswas that the bullet does not exand very much because of the lack of velocity. However you can find hollow point rounds for the 30/30 that really aid in bullet exansion. I have shot several deer with those hollowpoints and never had one go over 40 or 50 yards after being shot through the ribs, and all of them left a blood trail Ray Charles could follow. Just a tip you may want to pass on to your buddies who have had trouble with not recovering deer.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

An even better tip might be, work on their marksmanship, and make sure their rifle is properly sighted in BEFORE they go huntin'

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

:D:D:D:D:DHaveretrieverman post all the pictures of the 250+ Hogs he has killed with the .30-30...

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I've got a Marlin 1894 in .44mag and a Win. 94 in 30/30. Killed a dozen or so deer with both of them. Never had a runner with either of them. Overall, I'd probably give the nod to the 30/30, but there's just something about seeing that 240gr JHP hit the side of a deer...

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Catus, I realize its extremely important that you convince everyone that the 30-30 is great. Because thats what you use.

But the guy asked for opinions. And I gave mine, and you gave yours. I myself like to shoot dozens of different Chamberings. So I don't pigeon hole myself to one gun.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I will pass. That guys hunting and my hunting are very different. I think he is big into QDM, and food plots and all that. Quite different than running around the mountains for wild deer and hogs that I am not feeding.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

You're richer than I am. But seriously: if your friends will sight in their rifles, and practice a bit with them, they won't have to blame a proven, ample cartridge for their lost game.

I'm not sure the 30-30 is great; just proven, ample, and much underrated, even by those who oughta know better.

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Boy you are right there!A buddy of mine has a Desert Eagle in 44 Mag...I video taped him shooting a doe with it. Very impressive at impact and planted that doe VERY effectively. On the video in slow motion the doe looked like she took a left hook from Mike Tyson behind the shoulder. It took her off her feet completely!

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

Nah, he just went and got a big boys rifle. I am saving my 30-30 for my son to shoot one day.:D

RE: 30/30 or .44
 

I killed my first deer with a 30/30 as have all three of my sons.While there certainly are better cartridges available the question was 44 mag or 30/30.In that case I would say 30/30.I have killed a lot of deer with the 30/30 in years past and never had problems recovering deer.Most of my shots were inside of 100yds.A 150 grain bullet at 2400 fps is pretty close to 308 ballistics and at less than a 100 yds you won't see much difference.Most of my woods hunting is done with a model 7 308 and honestly I have not seen any difference in terminal performance at close ranges.The Marlin 336 I have is also very accurate at 100 yds with factory corelockt bullets.

CB