.357 or .30-30......AGAIN!

[L_Kilkenny]

OK here we go.....

There are 2 guns left in the world and you're lucky enough to get first pick.

One is a .30-30 carbine and the other a .357 carbine.

Fire away... include why. Remember, you're .257 revolvers are gone. Figure on ammo and reloading supplies costing the same as today.

LK

BTW I intentionally left the make, year and model up to your imagination.

[jeepnik]

30-30, kinda a silly question isn't it?

[jhrosier]

Take the 30-30.
Practice 300 yard shots until you are real good.
The guy with the .357 doesn't stand a chance at that range.
(Just kidding)

Jack

[mescalero1]

Scenario is flawed.

[L_Kilkenny]

Take the 30-30.
Practice 300 yard shots until you are real good.
The guy with the .357 doesn't stand a chance at that range.
(Just kidding)

Jack

I was thinkin the same thing! Figure then you get both guns!

Flawed you say?! Oh the Humanity!

LK

[Hobie]

.357 or .30-30 and I have to pick one? Yeah, I'll take one or the other...

[pokey]

30-30, no question. next.

[msmith1228]

30-30

Mack

[kid_couteau]

30-30

[JB]

30-30 between those two, but neither would be my first pick if there were other options.

[Old Savage]

.357

[Lawyer Daggit]

I had a Browning .357. Because handgun hunting is not allowed in Australia it was a pretty useless calibre being good at only limited range. Had I had a .357 handgun however it would have been a keeper.

Between the .30-30 and .357- if you are into plinking the .357 would be a lot cheaper to feed, if you are a hunter, keep the .30-30.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Bigger holes are always better. A 357 170 grain bullet Moving at 2000fps will smack a deer over a wider area and cause more damage than a cal .30 170 bullet moving at 200fps.
I no longer shoot either. I moved on to the 38 rifles and really get the job done.

[Poohgyrr]

Right now, the 16" .357 M92 with a tuned action, good wood, receiver sight, brass bead up front, rifle buttstock, and maybe in bead blasted stainless (or maybe not); because it simply offers more for where I live and play.

Add a few chosen molds, and three semitrucks (one each of Winchester primers, powder (Unique & 296), and clean lead ingots). Already have brass.

But I wouldn't cry if they forced me to take a .30 WCF instead. (Make it a tuned 26" M94, and 748 works for me.)

[Bogie35]

I would take the 30-30 and re-chamber it to 35 Remington!

Best of both worlds! A 35 caliber with plenty of range!

bogie

[gimdandy]

30-30 MARLIN

[GonnePhishin]

Whatever I have the most ammo for.

[AJMD429]

I would take the 30-30 and re-chamber it to 35 Remington!
Best of both worlds! A 35 caliber with plenty of range!
bogie

That's a good one!

[ceb]

I have both and am given up neither!!!!!

[rjohns94]

30-30 would be the smart choice I think, but for me I would take the .357. I don't shoot long distances, and I think the variety of ammo available for the .357 allows me to take small game up to deer. I like the pistol cartridge and I guess I would choose my NKJ slicked '92 in brushed stainless, recevier sight over just about any rifle for all around. Now if it was for hunting all game in NA - I would choose something else entirely. the .357 would act as PD rifle and all around plinker, hunter, protection rifle, just as I use it now.

[Lastmohecken]

In this case the 30/30 hands down. More range, and in my experience 30/30's in general are more reliable in feeding then the average .357 rifle.

[woods-walker]

For regular use I am a fan of both, leaning towards the .30 wcf for hunting applications. However under your scenario I would favor the .357 'cause I can reload it easier than the 30/30 and the my brass will last longer as well. Reloading .357 with carbide dies is far less complex than lubing bottleneck cases. Case stretch and separation is less of an issue with the .357. Carbines chambered for the .357 also hold several more rounds than the 30/30.
Now if I had to decide between my Marlin or the Browning that makes for a tough decision. I will say though that the Marlin is sitting here keeping me company.

[gak]

Bear in mind I'm fosusing on Winchester designs here as they're my greater familiarity/preference; Marlins may suggest other considerations--but could be substituted in most circumstances discussed.

It'd actually be a close call. My initial thought is .30-30, if considering any serious hunting (or even "Red Dawn," I.e. possible distance "defense") scenario. But, in an otherwise survival mode, the relative (to 92) complexity of the 94 linkage might be cause for long-term reliability pause without ready access to a smith. I like the relatively rapid-fire/reload and low recoil characteristics of the 92 '57 and the 4 extra rounds (5 if shooting .38s)--and just sneak a bit closer for serious meat .
Tough call. Final vote: My Pre 64 '94 - by a hair--for overall capability and nostalgia/sentimental reasons.

If I'm allowed to customize my '94 selection, make mine a 24" "carbine configuration" pre-safety AE (like the fine 7-30 Waters XTRs), with a quik dismount 4x--that'd remain off most of the time.

[L_Kilkenny]

I will say, I thought I was missing something with the first 1/2 dozen or more responces. .30-30 was running away with it and the answers almost left me with a "duh, what the heck are you thinkin" feeling in my gut. .30-30 has more range, .357 holds more rounds and holds the reloading/ammo cost advantage. But in my OP I intentionally left the make/model of the action blank and with that may lie the answer IMO. The short action and cycling throw a distinct advantage to the pistol caliber guns. I also tend to like the Winchester 92 more than the 94 and the Marlin 1894 is leaps and bounds ahead of the Marlin 336 IMO. When it comes right down to it, the gun not the caliber will make the decision for me.

LK

[gak]

I think you've got that down. If pistol caliber, I vote for the '92 first, Marlin 2nd and Win 94 third.

[getitdone1]

Am very fond of a model 92 in 357 but if I had no guns and had to survive with the gun the 30-30 would easily be my pick.

More range, more power.

Don

[TedH]

I've had to think on this a while and still can't say. Many have stated an advantage to the 30-30 due to a longer effective range, but since there was no mention of the type of sighting equipment, I'm assuming no scopes. Right there the longer range advantage of the 30-30 disappears for me. Either one will do as far out as I would shoot a game animal with irons.

[tman]

for big game hunting the 30wcf can't be beat. for everything else the .357 can't be beat

[Old Ironsights]

I would take the 30-30 and re-chamber it to 35 Remington!

Best of both worlds! A 35 caliber with plenty of range!

bogie

But I gotta say .357 just because I like the '92 better.

[COSteve]

I'd take a '92 Rossi in 357mag over a Win '94 in 30-30 every time. Smoother action design ('92 vs '94), much less recoil, 38spl or 357mag ammo available anywhere, better loads available for light game or plinking, higher magazine capacity, cheaper to reload for, and with the ability to exceed 2,000fps with a 158grn bullet, you'll do just fine against deer.

. . Cartridge (Wb@MV) . . . Rifle Weight . . Recoil energy . . Recoil velocity
.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400) . . . . 7.5 . . . . . . . 10.6 . . . . . . . . . . 9.5
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200) . . . . 7.5 . . . . . . . 11.0 . . . . . . . . . . 9.7
.357 Mag. (158 at 1650) . . . . . 7.0 . . . . . . . . 4.7 . . . . . . . . . . 6.6

BTW, I've found that with my max charge reloads I get about 10fps faster velocities out of my 24" rifle vs my 20" carbine so I'd opt for a 20" instead of a 16" bbl.

[Tumbleweeds II]

Since we still have access to loading supplies, I vote for the .30-30. Load a small game round that shoots to the same point of aim as the big game round, and we're good to go. I'll take mine in Savage 99 with a receiver sight, thank you.

I druther have a shotgun, but that wasn't the question.

[Streetstar]

.30-.30 please although neither one is a bad choice

[L_Kilkenny]

Since we still have access to loading supplies, I vote for the .30-30. Load a small game round that shoots to the same point of aim as the big game round, and we're good to go.

See, that's always been my problem. I've never been able to work up a small game load that was even close to POA. I'm not talking just elevation but windage always changes with up and down loads for me. Curious how you get it to work?

LK