Woods gun choices

[Empty Quiver]

Compare and contrast a 1894 .44mag and a 336 in 30-30. Not really opposed to a 94 either.
I've just about talked myself into finding one or the other for my daughter. She carried my 1895 last fall and commented she liked it but wished it didn't kick so hard, it wasn't fun to shoot.
 
With the 1894 being daintier, for lack of a better term, I have begun to watch for them much closer. How much if anything does one give up in a 100yd deer gun?

[spruce]

Either of the Marlins will give you the option of easy scope mounting if that's important to you.  The Win 94 is not so good for scope mounting unless it's one of the later angle eject versions.
 
As far as size/weight, the 336 is the heaviest, the Mar. 94 is the most compact, and the Win 94 falls somewhere in between.
For shots 100 yards or less I don't see any difference between the .44 mag and the .30/30.  I've had a Win 94 .30/30 since I was about 15 yrs old and shot many deer with it.  The last 4 deer I've shot were with a .44 mag Handi rifle.  With either cartridge the usual scenario is dropping within a few feet or running 35-40 yards and dropping.
My personal opinion is that beyond 100 yards the .30/30 begins to gain the upper hand and the .44 mag starts to fall off rather rapidly beyond about 125 yards or so - a moot point if ranges are 100 yards or less!

[ScoutMan]

For further observation , look here:
 
http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscelle.htm#accurate

[mcwoodduck]

What ammo are you using in the 95?
The cowboy loads are mild compared to the 300 JHP loads.
I think the 30-30 is on par with the 300 grain loads for recoil, it is a sharp crack as opposed to the 20ga like shove of the 405 cowboy loads.
As far as a kids rifle it would be hard to beat the 44 mag and loaded with mild 44 mags or hot 44 specials.  A 200 or 246 grain lead slug from a 44 Special out of a rifle (to paraphrase Altlaw) will not bounce off a deer.
The mild 180 grain JSP or JHP loads are fast and do a good job on deer.  The mild 210 grain Winchester Silver tips too would work for deer and pigs with littel recoil.

[mcwoodduck]

Also when you compare the 336 and the Win 94 to a Marlin 94 or Win 92 you have the difference between a rifle action and a pistol action.  The pistol action being a shorter throw for a smaller person

[Him]

If you decide you want a .44 Magnum, get a short action, such as a Rossi '92, or whatever the short Marlin is.


The Winchester '94 doesn't always do well with pistol length cartridges. The way the guts all fall out of a Winchester '94 when you work the lever makes it easier to clean/lubricate those guts without disassembly, the '92 is harder.


I couldn't ask for more than my 20" Rossi '92 Carbine in .44 Magnum.


It is light, handy, accurate, and it will put anything I am likely to encounter right on its butt.

[Flynmoose]

I don't want to start a war here, but what about a Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag? For close shots it would be adequate and you wouldn't have a young shooter with a flinch problem. As was mentioned, a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag with a good 44 Special load would work as well. The 357 is slightly smaller and lighter if that is a consideration. Whatever you choose, GOOD HUNTING!                   FM

[Empty Quiver]

The main thing here is to broaden the choices I suppose. This gun will be used for sure, and I kinda like what I here about .44 mag rifles but have no real world experience.
 
I've stated this before, I am prone to think too much is just about enough. I would be very happy to hand her the 45-70 and say "toughen up Nancy it's a rough world". But, she is my baby, and the only one who has shown continued interest in hunting. She got used to the rifle with Cowboy Action loads and thought it a pussy cat. I upgraded to the Leverevolution rounds (it was sighted for those) when hunting season came around.
 
My thoughts have gone from 7-08, to .270 / .280, .308, 30-06, as many of those have reduced recouil options available. Rifles include Win. featherweights, Rem, mountain rifles, Ruger compacts, and now a Model 92. I suppose what I need to do is get off the pot and start her a collection.  

[Him]

Have you considered letting her choose?


Drag her around to some gun shops and let her handle and fondle.


I would not buy my daughter a .45-70 unless I wanted to sour her on the whole idea.


You didn't say her age, or I missed it.

[kynardsj]

I'm putting a second vote in for a Marlin in 357 mag. The recoil isn't bad at all and the proper 357 mag bullet will do well out to 100 yards. I took several deer with mine when I had it. Easy to put a scope on that Marlin too. Rossi's and Winchesters are good but as was said, kinda hard to put a scope on.

[Empty Quiver]

Have you considered letting her choose?


Drag her around to some gun shops and let her handle and fondle.


I would not buy my daughter a .45-70 unless I wanted to sour her on the whole idea.


You didn't say her age, or I missed it.

17


 I've taken her around and she starts the I dun know crap. To be honest she isn't really that worried about which gun, she just wants to hunt with whatever I think is suitable. I know I'm much more involved than she is. the is no more important than the spoon she uses for breakfast, ... so long as the cereal gets in her mouth she is happy.


 Most of the guns I have come in big and bigger. Friends guns are similar. When shooting the AR she thinks it is uncomfortable , it is loud. I did get her to admit it wasn't when she was behind the trigger rather than next to it.


 I'll get this figured out. The more large holes I see the more impressed I am with that school of killing. Something about that 45calibre hole never getting smaller, no matter what the bullet does or does not do. I am a fan of pass through as well.

[schoolmaster]

My grandson has killed 2 deer with the .357 mag in a handi rifle. We followed Jerry Lester's advice on this board and used a 158 grain softpoint bullet not a hollow point. Both shots completely penetrated the deer. The farthest shot was 68 yards. 20 to 30 yards trailing job. I have two Marlin 1894's one in 44 mag and the other in .357 mag. I would feel comfortable with my 11 y/o grand son using either. I like the Marlins for their ease of scope mounting, compactness, and handling. A good recoil pad helps with recoil. Shot placement is everything when hunting deer and it is easier to precisely place your shot with a good fitting, low-recoiling rifle. Another option would be the Ruger bolt action 77/44 or the 77/357. Light, compact, and more inherently accurate than the lever actions.
 

[mattmillerrx]

I don't want to start a war here, but what about a Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag? For close shots it would be adequate and you wouldn't have a young shooter with a flinch problem. As was mentioned, a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag with a good 44 Special load would work as well. The 357 is slightly smaller and lighter if that is a consideration. Whatever you choose, GOOD HUNTING!                   FM

My thoughts exactly.  I was looking for either a 357 or a 44 mag for my wife to shoot and possibly hunt with.  She was showing some interest at the time.  I found a 44 mag first and thought, this is a pistol caliber the recoil should be mild.  I had shot a 357 marlin before and new it was not much.  Well the 44 mg in the marlin kicks pretty hard...the recoil numbers are not all that high but it hits me in away that felt recoil seem high.  The wife shot it one time.


I have since got a 357 and it is great.  I have the long barrel 24 in Rossi.  Not only is it low recoil, it is pretty quite too. especially with 38 specials. 


I will add that in my state, the minimal overall length for a case is the length of the .357/44mag for hunting deer.  So, I can not drop down to 44 special.  I reload now, so I have made it into a fun gun with lighter reloads.

[45-70.gov]

my daughter has a CCW and a 38 special


so if she wanted a rifle  it would be a 357/38  first choice
same   ammo in  38.....357 when more is needed


[2nd.....she has a 22 rifle]


every woman should have a  powerful pocket gun
a matching rifle is a bonus

[yukondog]

At 100 yrds. I would say nothing, I have taken deer at 125 yrds. and had compleat pass through and dead deer.

[Swampman]

A .45-70 with Remington 405 grain factory loads will kick no worse than the .44 Magnum 1894.  If recoil is an issue get her the .30-30.