Author Topic: Ten rounds of .44mag VS six rounds of .30/30 (Read 1723 times)

Sir Knight · « **on:** July 20, 2005, 05:47:37 PM »

A couple of years ago I moved out into the country. I've purchased a few acres of wooded land and my property boarders even more wooded land (some private, some not). What would be a good rifle to carry out into the woods for self protection?

I'd prefer something in stainless steel and am thinking about either the 1894SS

... or the 336SS

... Again, it would not be used for hunting but self defense against four legged creatures -- mostly fox & coyote, maybe wolves and while VERY unlikely, MAYBE black bear.

Would I be better armed with ten rounds of .44magnum in the 1894SS or six rounds of .30-30 in the 336SS?

CJ · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2005, 06:22:27 PM »

Can't go too far wrong with either. Wouldnt worry much about SD against a fox or yote, and either gun is WAY overkill for them. Wolves or blackies either gun will work.
With those two as choices I would go for the .44 for SD if hunting is NOT in the picture. Handier rifle, extra capacity, and at short range probably a better stopper with the right loads. You can also shoot .44special for fun and the fox and yotes with almost no recoil.
Have you considered a good big bore handgun? Much handier than any rifle and concealable from the two legged varmints you may encounter.
Would that be Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania?

Sir Knight · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2005, 08:12:48 PM »

Yep. Lehigh Valley, PA. Up in the northwest part of the county within a stone throw of the Game Preserve.

With regards to handguns, I've got several .45ACP's which I shoot pretty well and I currently carry a concealed S&W 4513 when I going walking around in the woods.

However, when it comes to revolvers, the .357magnum is about as high as I can go and still hit the target. Tried the .41magnum and had trouble hitting the target at 7 yards.

CJ · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2005, 07:06:22 AM »

I am in SE PA, but I rifle hunt Tioga and McKean Counties. Out of curiosity, why would you mention wolves in Lehigh area? Have you seen one? I have discussed it with locals up North, but I'm thinking they saw large coyotes. One was shot in McKean a few years ago that could easily be mistaken for a wolf if it was running in the woods. Coydogs are another possibility. Locals think the PGC is stocking wolves to knock down the deer herd to make the paper mills happy, but I'm not convinced.
PS, Get that Marlin,
I certainly wouldn't feel comfy taking on a bear with a .45acp either.

Civet · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2005, 07:38:10 AM »

if you're afraid of wolves in the LV I can only assume your a city boy born an bred

more chance of having a pot farmer smack you than a wolf around the game preserve

Better stay in the house and play with your XBox

Downeaster · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2005, 02:56:00 PM »

Either one will do the job. The 44 magnum is more versatile, though. For brush country hunting both will work very well. But because of the wide variety of loads available and the extra four rounds, the 44 would be my choice for defense against both two legged and four legged threats. Actually, I have the 44 stainless and I love it. Either way, I recommend an XLS ghost ring set and a Wild West Guns Trigger kit.

Sir Knight · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2005, 08:17:16 AM »

Quote from: Civet

if you're afraid of wolves in the LV I can only assume your a city boy born an bred more chance of having a pot farmer smack you than a wolf around the game preserve
Better stay in the house and play with your XBox

Don't own an Xbox. Don't even know what it is. Before moving to the LV, I spent several years in the Florida Everglades -- my property boardered the swamp and it wasn't uncommon to see a 'gator every once in a while in our backyard until we fenced it in.

hogship · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:05:48 PM »

Either one of those rifles will do what you're looking to do with it. If you don't already have a rifle that is suitable for hunting, the 30-30 would be my first choice.....it's got an edge over the 44mag for range.

hog

phydaux · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:08:37 AM »

Howdy, I have both, {1971 44mag, 1975 30-30 straight stock}. Both guns will do a great job for your application. In order to get the most from either you should consider reloading. I shoot cast and jacketed, bunny farts to sun spot hot loads in both guns. The 1894 weighs 6 lb. and the 336 weighs 7 lb. I think the 1894 in 44mag is VERY cool. phydaux

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2005, 03:41:01 AM »

Sir Knight -

If hunting was on hte menu in the future, I'd probably pick the .30-30. For close-range defensive work either will work. Use 170g bullets in the .30-30 and 300g bullets in the .44 Mag. The trajectory won't be as flat but at defensive distances you don't need a good trajectory, you want penetration and the heavier bullets will give that to you.

I've had a .44 Browning for many years and a Marlin .30-30 since last January. The .44 was a defensive rifle and backup elk rifle for most of its years. This year my wife will use the .30-30 for defensive purposes when she accompanies me on my bear hunting trip. She would use the .44 Mag bit it recoils more and she doesn't like the recoil.

Downeaster · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2005, 01:10:27 PM »

For brush hunting (100 yard or less) both will work very well. If you think that most of your hunting is going to be over 100 yards, take the 30/30. as some one stated above for closer shots within 50 yards, the 44 has more power (especially with 300 grain cast cores).

Old Griz · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2005, 11:31:54 AM »

:cb2: OK, you said "not for hunting," which I hope means you already have a good hunting rifle. So with that in mind, I suggest the 44. It will handle most anything at short range (100 yards and under), and the main reasonthe ammo is so cheap. Of course, .30-30 is under $10 bucks a box at Wally World, but that's for just 20 rounds. I can get 50 rounds of reloaded 44 for $7.50 (when you turn in your brass$12.50 if ya don't). So you can shoot more for less. Then if ya need hot factory stuff, you can get it. Personally I like the .357/.38. (It's reeeeeeeeel cheap to shoot!) With .38s it's almost like shooting a .22 (except you've got real bullets), and with .357s, again, it will handle 'bout anything you mentionedexcept maybe that "unlikely" black bear. Darn it, it doesn't come in SS though!

Between the twobig punch, smaller cost.44 mag.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2005, 08:15:35 AM »

Given the self-defense parameter you mention, the plain answer is the 44 magnum.

I assume, however, that you are joking about the fear or even possibility of being attacked by a wolf. If you ever encounter a real wolf in the wild, and use your firearm against it, the true self-defense you're going to need is a top flight criminal defense attorney, because you'd better believe it friend, you are going to jail! (The chance of being bitten and killed by a snake on your property is probably 10,000 times greater than a wolf attack, so you should probably put more focus on your snake-bite kit.)

Now, running into 2 legged wolves? That is much more likely.

Old Griz · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2005, 02:45:41 PM »

:cb2: As a matter of fact, there is no documented evidence of a healthy wolf ever attacking a human being. (According to National Geographic) Of course, we have all seen it happen a jillion times in movies and on TV, but Hollywood gets these things just as wrong as it does history. The wolf-dog hybrids are more dangerous to man than real wolves. Coyotesyes, wolvesno (surprisingly).

oso45-70 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2005, 05:04:04 PM »

Old Griz,

You got that right, I've had two wolf/ dog crosses and just given a little encouragement they are bad news, One of the males i had challenged me for male domanation and thank God for a pair of welding gloves because it was getting pretty hair raising before i took control of things, That being said i think Sir Knight would be better off with the 44mag.........Joe.......

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 03, 2005, 12:08:42 PM »

How about a 10 x 45 colt stoked up in a traper?? Works for me

45LC-Man · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2005, 08:35:07 AM »

How about a 10 x 45 colt stoked up in a traper?? Works for me

I agree Onehole. stay away from both and get an 1894 in .45 Colt. Then you can hunt anything from mice to wooly mammoths.

myronman3 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2005, 03:41:35 AM »

Quote

If you ever encounter a real wolf in the wild, and use your firearm against it, the true self-defense you're going to need is a top flight criminal defense attorney, because you'd better believe it friend, you are going to jail

!

really? what about where it is legal to shoot wolves? you do know that they can be hunted in certain places, right?

and if you think that wolves enjoy protected status that everyone heeds, think again. where they are forced onto people, they are not so popular. things happen.

Quote

I assume, however, that you are joking about the fear or even possibility of being attacked by a wolf.

had a buddy that wolves ripped his english setter apart in front of him. he obeyed the law. in that situation, i cant say i would. another had both of his beagles killed in two minutes while rabbit hunting on his property. yeah, wolves are really great; as long as it is not your animals they are killing. or should i say, as long as it isnt your time and money. but hey, it aint your problem, is it? yet.

Keith L · « **Reply #18 on:** September 05, 2005, 05:57:12 AM »

Quote

had a buddy that wolves ripped his english setter apart in front of him. he obeyed the law. in that situation, i cant say i would. another had both of his beagles killed in two minutes while rabbit hunting on his property.

When and where did this happen? It must have hit the papers. It would be great to have that information when told by others that this type of thing never happens!

coopershooter · « **Reply #19 on:** September 06, 2005, 07:58:43 PM »

i have a rossi puma in ss. and .357mag. i put diffrent sights on it, and had the trigger worked on. its accurate cheap to shoot, and i can shoot it well enough, to keep bad critters off me.
like said above, shooting reloads,you can shoot wadcutters for practice and shoot 180 gr. cast at game! mine is my first choice for a rural self/ home defense weapon.

John C-S · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2005, 01:56:14 PM »

They are equal to 100 yds. But the 30-30 is easily the rifle to choose beyond that range. One is a pistol cartridge. The other is a rifle cartridge.