A great debate

Rifleman336 · Post by **Rifleman336** » Sat May 24, 2008 8:25 pm

All right in My prior posts I was wondering if any one has .357 Magnum rifle and if they had any 600+ yards shooting experiance. Now I am in a great debate. I currently have a Marlin 336 in .30-30 Win and a Marlin 1894C in .357 Magnum.

I am debating losing the .357 magnum handguns I own for I no longer need them for work anymore.

I think I am going to buy two Rugers Redhawks in .45LC or maybe .44 Magnum and a Marlin 1894 in same.

The thing is I don't like have is twenty diffent guns and calibers.

The debate is this I like the .30-30 I know it can VERY be flexiable. I know it can shoot something as small as Squirrals with cat sneeze loads or jazzed up with the .30-30 Auckley Improved. With the hope of one day Hornady releasing their Lever Evolotion bullets to reloaders, we can make some real high performance rounds.

On question I have is how effective is one out to 500 yards? I've not seen anything stating how much energy it has passing the 500 yard line.

With the 1894 I can pool my ammo for both pistol and rifle use using a mix of light and heavy loads. But you just can't take small game with it. I know the .44 Mag and .45LC has some real energy passing the 500 yard line. Enough to knock a man on his duff.

Which would you go with shooting out to the 500 yardline? Which would make the best gun for survival for hunting and defense?

For small game I could use a airpistol to take rabbits and sqirrels. I guess.

Whats your take?

Rifleman 336

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat May 24, 2008 8:56 pm

I'm not sure any 'fat-bullet' gun is worth much at 500 yards; even if you could dope the wind, and hit something that has a full second or more to step out of line, there isn't much punch left for any but the heaviest bullets. If you wanted to hit 55-gallon drums or worry enemy troops, that would be one thing, but to hunt anything at that range I think has to be rather iffy.

Now, 250 yards maybe!

These are just my opinions as more of a shooter than hunter; I've never shot anything beyond 150 yards other than targets.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Sat May 24, 2008 9:12 pm

I know the .44 Mag and .45LC has some real energy passing the 500 yard line. Enough to knock a man on his duff.

500yds isn't that far for just putting a bullet in the air.

If you were able to hit anything at 500yds though, either with a 30-30 / 44mag /45colt, it's going to do more than knock a man on his duff. Any could kill a man at that distance.

On question I have is how effective is one out to 500 yards? I've not seen anything stating how much energy it has passing the 500 yard line.

See above. But any decent smart hunter/shooter knows better than to even try it for hunting purposes.

Which would you go with shooting out to the 500 yardline?

Neither, to me it'd just be a huge waste of ammunition.

Which would make the best gun for survival for hunting and defense?

All those calibers have been used and worked well for over 100yrs for these purposes. I'd feel comfortable with any of them.

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Sat May 24, 2008 9:40 pm

Outside of the fun part, what reason would you want to shoot 500 yards?
Really, if I did years ago I liked a heavy bullet so I could kick up the dirt,
(I am speaking of handguns), to walk my shots in.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat May 24, 2008 9:59 pm

If the goal is to streamline inventory, I'd pick your handgun/carbine cartridge based on that. If you want a long-shooter to "match" you could get a 444 Marlin to go with a .44 Mag revolver and carbine, or a .35 Remington to go with a .357 Mag revolver and carbine, or a .45-70 Gov't to go with a .45 Colt (or .454 Casull) revolver and carbine. Or if you don't mind a pointy cartridge in the inventory, just get a .243/6mm, .280/7mm, or one of the .30 calibers.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:01 pm

IIRC Elmer was hittin a deer once at around 600 yards and doin damage. that was with a 4" .44. You'd be startin faster out of the carbine so you should be able to expect at least as much.
As for the difference between the pistol calibers and a .30-30, I'd say run what you brung. If what you have or want is a .44 stick with it. You can make cat sneeze loads for your .44 as well.
I don't think I'd count the .45-70 and the .45 colt as interchangeably as I would the .444 and .44 mag. The bullets are different. .454 vs .458.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:08 pm

A friend of mine has a Winchester '94 in .357 Magnum with a mid range vernier sight (interesting combination

). Several years ago, he was shooting at the steel rams @ 547 yards and doing pretty well! The bullet was the 200 gr. RCBS cast bullet. Powder was 2400...I don't recall how much.

With any of the pistol cartridge leverguns, you will not be able to reach 500 yards with any of the standard sights. With the .30-30, you pretty much can.....if the rear sight is at its lowest notch when sighted in @ 100 yds.

Long range target shooting with leverguns is about the funnest thing I have ever done.

w30wcf