Pistol caliber carbines

[bjones]

I have a newbie question for yall. I have been considering purchasing a Marlin 336 30/30, I know its a good rifle and caliber combo. But before I do I like to here some opinions on the handgun caliber carbines. What game do yall take and at what range with the different calibers. I like the idea of having a long gun and a short gun with the same diet.

[Rangr44]

In 42 years of hunting the NorthEast/New England, I've yet to take an animal over 150yds away from the muzzle - but only a few were that far, most coming well under 50yds.  Some were so close, they could have been speared, instead. YMMV.

When I first started out, I went with what "everyone" used - the longer, heavier, more powerful rifles.

As I get older, I've gravitated to short/light - since I carry more than I shoot (at game), although I still prefer a rifle caliber of .35 or larger(even though I still have a few .30-06's). (I'm very recoil-tolerant)

"Short/light" means pistol cartridge to me, "over .35" means .44 Mag, and the combination is what I find I use for most everything these last few years -  a Marlin M1894P(ported)LeverScout.

I can't argue with someone's decision to use a "thutty-thutty" the same way.

[Jerry Lester]

I hunt with a Marlin 1894C 357 magnum a lot. I've killed everything from squirrels with light loads to dozens of deer with full house loads. Honestly, you can't beat a rifle in a pistol caliber for 90% of the "real world" hunting situations most of us end up in.

[Castaway]

I have a Model 94 Trapper  in 45 Colt.  Loaded judiciously, it has taken its share of deer and pigs.  Longest shot was 92 paces on a 250 lb. pig, most were within 50 yards.  All were taken with authority and I don't feel undergunned within 100 yards.  I use a Marble tang sight and Lee's 255 grain RNFP bullet over a generous amount of either of the 4227's.

[Lloyd Smale]

any lever gun in 357 3840  4440 44mag or 45 colt makes an excellent deer rifle if loaded properly for the job and there all capable of taking game out to a 100 yards or in some cases a lttle more.

[jimster]

I got sold on rifles chambered in pistol calibers years ago when I bought a .44 mag Marlin.  I love the .45 Colt in a lever gun and your right about packing a rifle and a pistol in the same caliber, it just seems so much easier sometimes.  You load them up right like the others here are saying and you'll have enough power for sure.  For me,  one of the best things is the sound when it goes off in the woods. A .32 special or 30.30 just plain hurts my ears in the woods and the pistol calibers don't. 

[bjones]

Thanks for all the good info guys. It's good to get some real-life input on these matters, instead of a bunch of numbers.