I don't have a specific use for a lever action rifle, I just wanted one. I will use it for fun and defense if I need to, but I like to think about what is ideal.
I had to decide between .30-.30 and .44 Mag and picked .44 for a few reasons:
1. Holds 11 shots instead of 5.
2. Can shoot reduced loads in the form or .44 Special whereas it would not be possible to buy reduced .30-30s (although you could make them).
But I was unsure which was more "powerful." I note that the .30-.30 has 45 grains powder capacity whereas the .44 Mag is 39.6. So that would indicate that the .30-.30 has more potential, but in a .20" barrel, I see you can get an honest 1823 ft/lbs of energy from a standard (240 grain) bullet, whereas the .30-.30 is more like 1650 ft/lbs from a 150 grainer. Since speed is squared in the energy formula, and the .30-.30 has more speed, I find it surprising that the slower .44 Mag has more muzzle energy (in a 20" barrel).
So my guess, correct me if I am wrong, is that the .44 Mag will have more stopping power. This seems to be confirmed by people saying they would use a .44 Mag for bear defense. I have not heard anyone suggesting the .30-.30 for that.
Is this true? Would everyone consider the .44 Mag to be more "powerful" in a 20" barrel?
I do not that somewhere in the 50-100 yard range, the .30-.30 starts to gain an advantage due to better ballistic coefficient. But on a short open-sighted rifle like this, I would expect to get most of its use under 100 yards because further than that I would prefer a scoped bolt action.
So what do people think about .30-.30 vs .44 Mag?
I had to decide between .30-.30 and .44 Mag and picked .44 for a few reasons:
1. Holds 11 shots instead of 5.
2. Can shoot reduced loads in the form or .44 Special whereas it would not be possible to buy reduced .30-30s (although you could make them).
But I was unsure which was more "powerful." I note that the .30-.30 has 45 grains powder capacity whereas the .44 Mag is 39.6. So that would indicate that the .30-.30 has more potential, but in a .20" barrel, I see you can get an honest 1823 ft/lbs of energy from a standard (240 grain) bullet, whereas the .30-.30 is more like 1650 ft/lbs from a 150 grainer. Since speed is squared in the energy formula, and the .30-.30 has more speed, I find it surprising that the slower .44 Mag has more muzzle energy (in a 20" barrel).
So my guess, correct me if I am wrong, is that the .44 Mag will have more stopping power. This seems to be confirmed by people saying they would use a .44 Mag for bear defense. I have not heard anyone suggesting the .30-.30 for that.
Is this true? Would everyone consider the .44 Mag to be more "powerful" in a 20" barrel?
I do not that somewhere in the 50-100 yard range, the .30-.30 starts to gain an advantage due to better ballistic coefficient. But on a short open-sighted rifle like this, I would expect to get most of its use under 100 yards because further than that I would prefer a scoped bolt action.
So what do people think about .30-.30 vs .44 Mag?