r/canadaguns • u/Big-Guitar-1979 • Jul 15 '26
Buy recommendations Lever action 44mag or 30-30
Can someone please suggest?
I only shoot in range. No hunting. I don’t like 357mag.
Shoot from 15yard to 100yard
Thank you!
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u/battlehawk6 Jul 15 '26
30-30 can be pricey and really only provides a benefit if you plan on hunting. For your use case, you’ll have a ton more fun with 44. It is closer to the old cowboy loads, lighter recoil, and cost effective for plinking
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u/Scott-YYC Jul 15 '26
if you don't reload already, 44 magnum is a perfect candidate.... everything from mouse loads to something capable of downing a moose, not to mention 44 magnum is actually a cartridge you can save money on by reloading.
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u/Big-Guitar-1979 Jul 15 '26
Thanks y’all. I’ll grab a 44mag.
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u/prosper_0 Jul 16 '26
Few random thoughts:
44 mag with 180 grain loads is prettttty similar to a 30-30 with 170's at typical hunting ranges for this class of firearm.
By the same token, a 357 with SPICY 158 grain handload loads can almost approach 30-30 150 grain loads.
Pistol calibers are more fun to shoot. Clanging steel out to 500 yards with a subsonic load is really satisfying.
357 is substantially cheaper to shoot than either, and quite a bit 'flashier' to shoot. Concussion is really impressive.
If you're really sensitive to recoil, I'd say that the 44 might potentially be getting into 'uncomfortable' territory, especially with a lightweight gun. For some folks, it might be big enough that a flinch develops, or fatigue sets in after a much smaller number of shots than with something smaller.
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Jul 15 '26
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u/VanillaHighlights Jul 15 '26
.357 cowboy silhouette shooting is a fucking blast. 44 is fun for cosplaying Dirty Harry at the range but I'll take saving $40 a range trip for what amounts to the same/better target results.
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u/prosper_0 Jul 17 '26
it will do anything a .44 mag will do
I have both. I can assure you, that's just not true. The 357's probably more fun to blast with, but the 44 has SUBSTANTIALLY more stomp to it, it's not even close.
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u/Lord_Stetson Jul 15 '26
I will be a contratian and say .30-30
I like the boom, not too much kick, and is a the quintesential lever gun round :)
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u/NeruLight Jul 15 '26
Aren’t these two cartridges very similar in terms of muzzle energy? I only learned that a week ago.
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u/CurrentStructure7960 Jul 16 '26
I like my Henry Big Boy in .44mag. It’s a great round and doesn’t beat you up in a rifle.
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u/TheObviousNovice Jul 16 '26
I have gotten rid of a few lever action 30-30 rifles over the years, I now only have one single shot sharps in 30-30 but I have kept all of my .44 magnum rifles. They are just such efficient hard hitting rounds that are superb in a carbine length platform.
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u/IndividualCertain358 Jul 16 '26
dont be knocking the 357! it can hit jsut as hard as the 30-30 if you reload the ammo right! only droppin about 1.5 inches at the 100 yard. and much cheaper to shoot.
but i support all the S&W 1854 comments, great rifle!
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u/Tactical_Anteater Jul 15 '26
I've got a Smith & Wesson 1854 in .44 mag and it's an absolute riot to shoot.