Hands down 30-30. Better effective range. Doesn't kill shoulder. Can be downloaded for varmints. Most versatile, works well with cast or jacketed, and most broadly used, best market support.
Hands down 30-30. Better effective range. Doesn't kill shoulder. Can be downloaded for varmints. Most versatile, works well with cast or jacketed, and most broadly used, best market support.
I chose 454 Casull, cause I already got it. Wish they made one in 460 S&W. My brother likes the 308 Savage cause he found one engraved & grape vine pattern carved, a beaut!!
for a 35 Rem I prefer my Rem 8-81s & contender. Gotta go Daughter is calling for supper helppp
Had a 45-70 Marlin, traded it off after 2 eyebrow scars, 3 broken glasses, & for a Browning.
IN the last great ammo shortage I went to wal-mart. For the first time in my life I saw you could not get 30-30,22,38 spec. The only thing they had was 12 gauge. Realizing of course, this is not a valid representation of current times It does make one wonder. For those of us here on this forum we are only limited by availability of source materials,primers,lead, time etc. I guess I would have to say 30-30. (which I here was available even during ww2)
My choice is the one I love, the 30-30.
I voted for 38/357 even though I don't currently own one. ...Never should have sold the Marlin carbine.
But if I could've, I'd vote for the 22LR which I do own.
44-40 wcf.
I chose the .45 Colt for two reasons,,,I already have a handgun in that caliber and I just seem to like it. Knowing that the .45 Colt was not chambered in the early lever guns is a mere technicality.:bigsmyl2:
However, the 12ga was at one time available in a lever action,,,that would be my real choice.
Marlin 30-30 is tried and true, ammo is available everywhere. Reliable firearm that can be scope mounted without hassles!
Nit Wit
The Winchester Model 87 Shotgun is available in a reproduction. I shoot with several people who own them, and once you get the loading down, it's a very fast shotgun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winche...odel_1887/1901
Hope this helps.
Fred
358 Win gets my vote. I had an early 358 BLR and sold it to fund a project. One of Henry's new Long Ranger would be really cool, but "short" ranger probably wouldn't be the best name![smilie=s:
I have a BLR in .358 and Marlins in 35 Rem, .375 Win and .30-30. I have little use for most of the list but a 1894 Marlin in .25-20 or a 336 in .25-35 would be nice.
Welp, being rather poor, I did have to choose just one. I'd been saving for about a year and a half to buy a lever gun. I love the .357 for various reasons, but it just couldn't muster 1000 lbs of energy @100 yrds required for deer hunting in this state. The 45lc could do it, but still seemed short-ranged compared to the 30-30, and basic ammo is hard to come by around here.
But, I can buy 30-30 ammo any time, day or night. It's good to 200+ yrds depending on the bullet, which probably exceeds this shooter's ability. But hunting antelope on the plains, I might get a long shot now and then.
That's how I ended up with my Mossy 464 back in February. :) (I would give my gun a name, but my wife already gets jealous when I take it out to fon... err, hold.
-KF
PS... Mossy... I think I just gave the gun its name! Subtle, to fool the wife... "No Dear, I was just referring to the Brand - you know, Mossberg. :D
I voted for 30-30. Easy to find ammo.
32-40 hands down! Then 38-40! Then 35 Rem! All Marlins!
I would also favor the .41 mag, but out of the choices, I would have to go with the .44. Good bullet selection, you can also run .44 special through it. It is just a more versatile cartridge than most of the others. If you are looking for a true 1 rifle, you also need to look at total capacity that the rifle can hold. So to me a 10 rd. .44 mag rifle is the best choice from the list. You can plink with it, you can load it with junkyard loads for home defense or you can run heavy hunting loads and you can carry more rounds easier than all but the .357. Now I have several 45-70's in lever action, rolling block, falling block and even a bolt action. It is my favorite cartridge. I have no .44mag rifles, or .41 mag rifles. I would like a .41 and maybe a .44 to go along with my revolvers, but not at the present day prices and the unsure quality of to many of the manufactures.
.30WCF in a REAL WINCHESTER 94