It seems you are being forced by circumstance into a pistol caliber gun; I'd find a 44Mag that shot well and go from there. Actually I'd keep what I had and buy another if there is a way you could swing it.

 

The 44 mag is just not accurate enough for pistol cal silhouette. I have tried on several occasions to get one that is good enough and just have not got it done. I shoot alought of Cowboy Rifle Silhouette and I don't know of anyone who does good with a 44 mag.

I would say your best choice would be a 357 mag. It will be accurate with lots of different bullets and you can come very close to a 30-30 in the power department. However, don't think you can bring a 357 mag up to or higher than a 30-30 espically with a marlin 94 action. I had a good strong Browning in a 92 action that I ruined trying to make it shoot as strong as a 30-30. It did it for a couple of years. One day The accuracy went to pot and then I started noticing little cracks in the reciever. A 92 action is stronger than a marlin 94 action so you must approach those max loads with caution.

Some other good things about a 357 mag in a marlin 94:
It is cheaper to shoot than a 30-30 or a 44 mag.
You can use it for both Pistol Cartridge and regular Cowboy Rifle Silhouette
It is very easy to work up an accurate load that won't damage the targets.
Brass and bullets are easy to find and they are way less expensive.
There are more good reasons but this will help, I hope
Sixgun

 

If you handload the 45 colt gets my vote.

 

30-30

 

I'm partial to the 44-40, but then I've been told I can be a bit odd too.

 

If I could only own one lever gun it would be a 30/30. If you can help it, try real hard not to sell that SS. For one, it's always great to have more options but they are going up in value as well. Used ones in my shops tend to run about $50-75 more than I paid for mine new. And our gun shop prices tend not to be too crazy.

But if you must sell it and you're set on those pistol-caliber matches, then as said, it would be real hard to beat a .357.

 

30-30 ;D

 

44 mag, hands down. My CB models have killed quite a few elk and deer with their woefully inaccurate loads that can just barely stay around 1 3/4" for 5 shots at 100 yards with my own cast bullets........... ;D

44

 

Selling my 30-30 was just a crazy thought.. I'm keeping it as I its the favorite and could not bring myself to sell it. But I had a look at the 357 rossi s/s 24" and 20"barrels (what are your thoughts on this 92 action copy) as I can afford one of these.
Like the guys at the range said to me "what! you only have one lever rifle? Oh well least you got one"

Is there more velocity from a 24" barrel compared to the 20" from a 357 being a pistol cartridge? (for hunting)

 

Selling my 30-30 was just a crazy thought.. I'm keeping it as I its the favorite and could not bring myself to
Is there more velocity from a 24" barrel compared to the 20" from a 357 being a pistol cartridge? (for hunting)

Maybe. Depends on what powder you are using I would guess. Any difference would be negligible between the two lengths and I'm sure any deer would never notice any difference

44

 

Like I said, if you handload, the 45 colt is the ticket. I got a new found respect for the 45 colt when I started handloading for it and started loading those 250gr. hornady XTP's over 296. Turns a little pop gun into a roaring beast. A 250gr. bullet leaving a 20" barrel at 1650 FPS+ makes a real loud boom and hits pretty darn hard!

 

I get a little more velocity out of my 24" 357 than Mrs Willy does out of her 18.5". But then I load using slower burning powders to take advantage of the extra barrel length of a rifle.

As for the 1892 action, my 357 is a Navy Arms 1892. Not as smooth as a Marlin and harder to put a scope on, but it'll get the job done.

 

The 45lc Marling cowboy I am showing off on my avatar pic,shoots well bullets from 200grains to a 300 grain LBT (look for loads in the last Sierra manual).
The top loads are more powerful than a factory 45/70.
I use exclusively 45 Schofield brass in my New Vaquero revolver to avoid dangerous mixing of ammo.

 

1886 45/70 with williams FP on the rear and globe front sights.Can be loaded down to 300 gr. pistol catridge velocities for targets and plinking or up to 500 gr. in one side of the buffalo and out the other.

 

I'm voting .45Colt too. Like Tman said if you handload, it really comes back to life. But, if you don't, Buffalo Bore has some eye-opening ammo for ya.

C.S.

 

I do not compete in 'official groups' that have 'special rules' like SASS, etc. I have nothing against them - I just do not belong to them.

My first choice, if I could only own one lever action rifle, would be my Marlin Golden 39A - 22LR.

My second choice would be my Marlin 336C in 30-30.

If I did not have my Marlin 336C 30-30 in the walnut/blued version - I would pick it again and/or the other hardwood (Birch?) Marlin 336 model.

If I had another lever action rifle Caliber Choice it would be in one of these calibers...

357Magnum
45 Colt
The handguns 'could match' the 45Colt aka long colt and 357Magnum rifle calibers since we already have those handgun calibers here in our household. We do Not have those pistol caliber lever action rifles now but we previously did in Winchesters - we sold the Wins. We would get them in Marlins if we would decide to buy pistol caliber lever action rifles again.

I own two Marlin Golden 39A rifles... so one could be for my husband if needed. He already owns some 22LR rifles.

I own a Marlin 336C in 30-30 and he owns a Marlin 336SS in a 30-30.

We can share ammunition.

He owns a Marlin 1895GS 45-70. I do not own a 45-70 caliber rifle although I have debated between a Ruger #1 and a Marlin Classic 1895.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/1895.asp

http://www.ruger.com/products/no1MediumSporter/specSheets/1327.html

1-S 1327 .45-70 Gov't. American
Walnut Alloy Steel/
Blued 22.00" 38.50" 8 1:20" RH

I love the classic looks of these rifles. The classic single shot Ruger one is beautiful too.

I have shot his former Marlin 1895 in 45-70 but not the newer one. He reloads so he made some lighter/easier 'loads' for me that worked fine several years ago.

Best wishes to you.

Catherine

 

.357 Mag

With bullet weights up to 200 gr......it's hard to beat!!

 

As someone else remarked above - "I've been told I can be a bit odd". ;D

That being said, I like to have something a little out of the ordinary. My favorites are 44-40 for pistol caliber and 38-55 for rifle caliber. These calibers are especially a hoot if you ever decide to shoot black powder. Now that's living!!

 

"if you could only own one lever gun?"

That's a terrible question to ask.

.22LR is the best if it is a survival type scenario that would cause me to choose just one.
.357 is the best for small to large jobs with the most reasonable weight for carrying a lot of ammo.
.45-70 is my favorite and I could make it do everything since I would have all my time to practice on it alone, but the ammo is heavy.

Let's not even think about having to make do with one.

 

I've owned the Marlin in both 44 mag and 357 mag over the years. The 357 has given me the most enjoyment.

/ 2 cents

 

I have the 1984 cb ltd in .45lc. It is a great shooting rifle with plenty of power at 100 yds. My question is??? what pistol cal to you shoot? wouldn't you want to match it?? I have a colt cowboy .45 and I am partial to that cal. As long as its a Marlin....you surely cant go wrong!! good luck and let us know what you get!!

 

"if you could only own one lever gun?"

That's a terrible question to ask.

.
45-70 is my favorite and I could make it do everything since I would have all my time to practice on it alone, but the ammo is heavy.

do not take offense,I am not looking for a duel with you.MY favourite is the 45/70 too,and may I point out that,you are right calling heavy 45-70 ammo,but you sure need to carry very few rounds of it,if you can shoot well.
Regards from an Italian honorary hillybilly,owner,presently of four 45-70 rifles,two marlins and two replicas,a sharps cavalry carbine and a highwall sporting rifle.

 

.30-30??? You need to sell the .30-30 and get a .348WCF! (Just kidding... ;D )

As much as I like the bigger calibers (I have an 1894FG in .41Mag and a Winchester Trapper in .45Colt...) I would probably go with the .357 for the pure versatility of it.

 

If I could only have one it would have to be the 38-55 caliber.
It's a great caliber and loaded right it will do a good job on most species.
djh

 

444 mild to wild, mouse to moose!