Okay so I am going to show some ignorance and hope ya'll can cure it for me. I am thinking that in the next year or two I will be getting a lever action deer rifle. Now my favorite caliber for the kind of hunting that I expect to do, woodlands in AR,

[ozark_ghost]

Okay so I am going to show some ignorance and hope ya'll can cure it for me. I am thinking that in the next year or two I will be getting a lever action deer rifle. Now my favorite caliber for the kind of hunting that I expect to do, woodlands in AR, would be 30-30 coupled with a 3-9x scope, but I have been hearing some good things about lever actions in .357 mag. What I am wondering about is this; 1) Is the chambering in .357 mag comparable to 30-30, and 2) For purposes of the KISS principal, would .357 mag pistol cartridges interchange with the rifle cartridges? Having already own a .357 mag pistol I am looking at not having to add another, different, box of ammo to carry around.

[idduckhntr_2]

The 357 has limited range to about 60 yrds in pistol or rifle. I would go with the 30-30 or even 35 Rem.

[4everAutumn]

Even though the velocity and energies are far better coming from a carbine than a shorter barreled handgun, the .357 is still no match for the 30-30. The .357 handgun and rifle cartridges are interchangeable though.

[huntfishtrap]

There is only one .357 magnum, it's the same round for both rifles and pistols. The .357 is a fine pistol cartridge, but it doesn't begin to compare to the 30-30 ballistically. Of those two choices, I would definitely go with the 30-30.

[JM]

I would take the .30-30 over a .357 in a heart beat, but I am 100% biased. I really don't think any gun could beat a .30-30 with iron sights in thick woods. On Saturday I took a follow up shot through THICK scrub brush at around 75 yards and it went right through and dropped the doe in her tracks. I doubt a .357 would have the energy to pass through that brush even at half the distance. Neither round really has that knock-down power that some rifles have, so tough follow-up shots are common and its hard to beat the .30-30 when going through brush. If you want some real power look at a .45-70(I would say it is too much for deer though).

[DSMbirddog]

I think most would agree that a 357 Mag is marginal for deer. The 30-30 gives you a lot more versatility and you wouldn't be limited so much in the range you could take a shot. Any rifle bullet that strikes a twig or a limb on the way to the target will be deflected to some degree, for that matter a clump of grass will also deflect a bullet off course.

[ozark_ghost]

I would take the .30-30 over a .357 in a heart beat, but I am 100% biased. I really don't think any gun could beat a .30-30 with iron sights in thick woods. On Saturday I took a follow up shot through THICK scrub brush at around 75 yards and it went right through and dropped the doe in her tracks. I doubt a .357 would have the energy to pass through that brush even at half the distance. Neither round really has that knock-down power that some rifles have, so tough follow-up shots are common and its hard to beat the .30-30 when going through brush. If you want some real power look at a .45-70(I would say it is too much for deer though).

I had thought of the 45-70 as well but I don't see the availability of the ammo in my area for that round.

[pineywoods]

I agree that the .357 is inadequate. If I were going to get a lever action deer rifle, it would be in .35 Rem., rather than the .30-30---just a little more knockdown power and brushbusting ability. Couple that with the increased range from the new softnose cartridges specifically for tubular magazines and you have a much superior hunting rifle.

[Pathfinder1]

I think most would agree that a 357 Mag is marginal for deer. The 30-30 gives you a lot more versatility and you wouldn't be limited so much in the range you could take a shot. Any rifle bullet that strikes a twig or a limb on the way to the target will be deflected to some degree, for that matter a clump of grass will also deflect a bullet off course.

Hi...

Although you prefer the 30-30...an excellent and popular deer rifle...I would recommend the lever-action.308. I've had excellent luck with mine when deer hunting.

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...

My personal recommendation would be a .308...in particular, a Savage lever action.


The .357 would be minimal for big game, and I could not recommend it.


I've had very good luck with the .308, and recommend it strongly.