30-30 vs .357mag

[NYRebel13]

Well, my mind has been wandering again.  I have a 30-30 handi now but have always wanted a .357 handi for some reason.  I have access to a 30-30 to hunt with if needed and just got rid of my .357 revolver so I have leftover ammo.  I have been thinking of selling my 30-30 barrel to have a .357 barrel put on the receiver.  Where I hunt with my 30-30 the longest shot is about 100 yds.  Can the .357 do what I need for my short range brush/woods gun?  The 38 special would be fun to use for the short range plinking I have been doing with my wifes family lately too.  I can't afford to get the barrel and keep the 30-30 but I could always sell my extra .357 ammo to my wifes uncle for his revolver.  Is there a big advantage of one over the other.  I don't reload so reaming it to .357 max isn't an option.

[je265]

I bought a .357 talo trapper and it's a blast to shoot. I also don't reload and kept it as a 357 mag. I've had my 12 yr old son shoot it with 38's and it's like an oversized .22 with mild recoil. The ammo is reasonably priced and although I've only shot one deer with it he was dead right there. I've been meaning to use it for close range predators but always seem to grab my 22 mag lately. I believe the only 357 mag barrels they sell don't have open sights so that's something to consider because you'll have to scope it. I mounted a leupold 1-4x shotgun scope on mine that works great. Either way you can't go wrong, the 30-30 is also a great round.

[trotterlg]

I guess the grass is always greener some place else, if you have a 30-30 and it works for you just keep it and save your self some money.  Larry
 

[OldSchoolRanger]

I guess the grass is always greener some place else, if you have a 30-30 and it works for you just keep it and save your self some money.  Larry
 

Larry is right.  I have both, but for deer, I would stay with the 30-30.  If the extra .357 ammo is bugging you, sell the ammo to your wife's uncle. 

[geezerbiker]

I'd say sell the .357 ammo and use the proceeds to buy a Lee hand press and a set of .30-30 dies and get into reloading.  Low powered cast bullet loads are fun to shoot and cheap to make. 

You can get 500 cast bullets for about the price of one or 2 boxes of loaded .30-30 ammo and 1 can of powder would go a long way with these rounds...

Tony

[hoytcanon]

If you are not going to Max it, then stick with your .30/30... personally, I would not get the .357 if you are only going to have the one gun... don't get me wrong, .357 is alot of fun... you won't find many that don't love theirs, but a .30/30 is a better alround choice. Your next one should be a .223 anyway (cheap fun shooting for a non-reloader)... then fill in the gaps as the money becomes available.   

[cudatruck]

I agree with most of these posts. I have a .357. I did the ream to Max. it shoots .357 mag just fine and .38 specials too. IF you get the .357 and decide to ream to Max loaded ammo is available but it is expensive. for less than 200 bucks though you can get enough basic stuff to reload and have a whole new hobby! I enjoy the reloading almost more than shooting. the coolest part is one set of dies can be use for the 38 the mag and the Max! they are cheap and common. can find on ebay any day of the week. I have shot bullets from 95 grains all the way to 220 in mine. jacketed and lead. easy to load and fun to shoot. What's not to love?

[theratdog]

i personally wouldn't trade my 30-30 for a 357 mine is more accurate and shoots farther both are fun though 

[LaOtto222]

I am a buyer not a buyer and then seller. I have traded off 3 guns in my life and regretted every single one. A single shot Stevens 20 gauge, a single shot 22 Mossberg and a Winchester 16 gauge double. The last one was 35 years ago and I will not do it again. If it was me, I would keep the 30-30 barrel and start saving until I could buy the 357 barrel too, or better, the complete rifle. If it takes 5 or 6 months or even a year to save up the money, then so be it. I have both, the 357 is reamed to Max and is the one I use the most, but my 30-30 barrel is not going anywhere.

Good Shooting and Good Luck

[NYRebel13]

I was hoping my father would give me his Winchester 94 for Christmas this year.  If he did I was going to sell sell the 30-30 barrel.  I do have a .308 bolt action for my longer range hunting.  Maybe I will just keep the 30-30 and see what I find at the gun shows this spring.

[8uck5nort]

Ditto to LaOtto Said. Get both and double your fun.

[jpshaw]

I have both but for Deer hunting it's the .30-30 all the way.  If you reload the .30-30 Handi and .30-30 lever you can borrow are not the same thing.  My Handi loads are way too long for a lever action, use a pointed spire point bullet to have more down range velocity left and is loaded to over 40,000 lbs of pressure.  None of this is advisable in a lever gun.  BTW it is fitted to a SB2 frame.  While before this year all my shots have been under 60 yards my last buck (1/2 an 8 point-1 branch broken off) was at 200 yards.  Wouldn't have tried  that with a .357.

[devil60]

I would go .357 cause I use a Blackhawk in the camper and truck loaded with everything from snakeshot to heavy hardcast all good to go in the Handi too. I cast and load for both .357 & 30-30 so love em both.

[gcrank1]

Cheap plinkin' fun is still best with a .22LR Save the 30-30, its often regarded as one of the most accurate and trouble free Handi calibers. I agree that getting rid of the 357 ammo will set you at ease and if you can get some money for it buy the reloading stuff for the 30-30 and make anything from short range poppers to full house spitzer hunters.

[rdlange]

The 30-30 is my most accurate Handi, and maybe favorite caliber; cheap and easy reload with way better bullet selection - more versatile.   I got a 357 for ream to Maxi; also easy reload.  For 357 mag I deliberately saved up a year, and built a lever scout.

Keep the 30-30, regardless whether you get a 357.  For my second Handi, I got a 45-70.  JMHO...