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Posted: 9/6/2026 2:24:22 PM EDT
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I’m looking to purchase a lever gun that I can use for deer hunting, range time etc but, it’s going to be the gun that I use for years and eventually pass down to my son. For reference, I normally ground hunt and spot/ stalk in swaps and a mix of oak and pine flats and most of my shots are 100 yards and under. For the past few years, a Ruger American of AR in 5.56 have been my primary means of a deer gun. I’m considering either a Henry H9 in 30-30 or a Marlin Trapper in 357 Mag. Either gun will have a suppressor live on it. My big hold up though is caliber selection. I know both will work, 357 mag is cheaper and both suppress well. However, I literally can not make my mind up about which round to go with…. I would welcome any input into which caliber you’d pick and why but I know at the end of the day this is a major personal preference issue! |
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Originally Posted By COSteve: This Originally Posted By COSteve: Originally Posted By motoguzzi: Well, the 30-30 is the quintessential American hunting round and 100 yards is quite doable in the caliber. Yep, nobody hunts deer with .357 in these parts. |
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Patriot
Q-Tard
“We’re surrounded. That simplifies the problem.” - Chesty Puller, USMC
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357 is a decent round for hunting. But if you ever want to just run and gun at the range it is definitely the way to go. Much more fun and cheaper. Plus 38 special...... And straight wall state legal. If it is strictly a deer gun then 30-30. Longer range and more stopping power. |
I've never shot anything with it but boy do I love my .44 Henry X; a little more power than .357 and a higher capacity than .30-30 and .45-70. Henry makes this Explorer line in both pistol and rifle calibers, might be a nice camo fit for wherever you live and hunt and it's threaded. It's a silly name but you might consider .360 Buckhammer over .30-30, there's a ton of pistol bullets you could load for plinking. Whichever you get I suggest you also consider a .22 levergun! |
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Thanks for the replies everyone! So for a bit more info. I normally try to take two year a deer and again, they are all under about 100 yards but we have a ton of big hogs in our swamps (GA) that I could go after as well. The lever gun I pick will mainly be used as a hunting gun but it’ll see its fair share of time at the range as well. I come from having lever actions and growing up around them so luckily I have a few hundred rounds of 30-30 on hand. I guess as this is such a personal choice, which would overall suppress the best? This gun will also be used by my son as he gets older in both the woods and at the range. Ammo cost isn’t really a big issue for me but at this time, 45/70 is out of the question as it simply isn’t needed around here. |
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Originally Posted By guncrazy72: Thanks for the replies everyone! So for a bit more info. I normally try to take two year a deer and again, they are all under about 100 yards but we have a ton of big hogs in our swamps (GA) that I could go after as well. The lever gun I pick will mainly be used as a hunting gun but it’ll see its fair share of time at the range as well. I come from having lever actions and growing up around them so luckily I have a few hundred rounds of 30-30 on hand. I guess as this is such a personal choice, which would overall suppress the best? This gun will also be used by my son as he gets older in both the woods and at the range. Ammo cost isn’t really a big issue for me but at this time, 45/70 is out of the question as it simply isn’t needed around here. .38s through a .357 are hilariously quiet. Like just barely louder than a .22. |
| 357 gets into rifle velocities with long barrels, with right load. I went Marlin SBL, suppressed 38's were deciding factor as I shoot a lot more than I'll ever hunt with it. The one deer I took with my older Rossi carbine with hornady leverevolution dropped at 60 yards |
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Never understood carrying the weight and bulk of a rifle and not carrying a rifle caliber long gun. I've always like big bore stuff, so for me it's a 1895 GS, 45-70. But honestly, if you want a "deer" rifle a 30-30 is the way to go. Some have taken elk with them, but that's pushing the envelope for a humane kill. And I know there are those that will say it's good for moose and black bear. To each his own. I would make one additional suggestion. Regardless of what centerfire lever gun you get, pick up a rimfire with the same safety set up. Lever guns, like any other type of weapon, have a learning curve. |
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"Every man needs at least one good rifle and know how to use it," Dad.
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"Every man needs at least one good rifle and know how to use it," Dad.
"Dad, we either kill them in their country or they will kill us in ours"
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The .357 is what I would choose. You (and your kid) will shoot the crap out of it and .357 is a lot cheaper to handload for than a .30-30. I get 2080 fps or so out of my 20” Rossi R92 with 158gr bullets over max published loads of Lil’gun powder. That is not 30-30 power as bullet construction and sectional density matter… but you will have more fun with the .357 to the point that you will really know what the gun can do as you will have shot it a bazillion times. |
Scratch And Sniff
| Either will work on deer inside 100 yards. The 357 with hot loads max is 125 to 150 and anything past 100 is going to require some holdover. 3030 with the right ammo is a legit 250 yard gun and excellent out to 200. The 357 will suppress better and be a better host as a 16 inch barrel is all that's needed to get full performance where as the 30-30 needs the 20 inch barrel. 38 special out of the 357 is movie quiet |
| I have two 30-30 lever guns. Two 357 magnum lever guns and two 45 Colt leverguns. The 45 Colt are hands down my favorite. I hunt with them and just plain carry them far more than I do with the other two cartridges. That said, I reload and therefore 45 Colt is no more impractical or expensive as anything else. |
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