The trigger is also not bad (5 pounds IIRC), and I like the fact they got rid of the crossbolt safety. I put a 1-3x20 Weaver scope on the Trapper, and the accuracy has been surprisingly good. The last thing I need is another caliber to feed. I liked the extra capacity and the fact that I can use the same bullets as my Redhawk. You can probably get another 50 yards or so with the 30/30, but for my purposes that was unnecessary. IIRC, my muzzle energy is over 1900 ft/lbs, and the gelatin testing that DocGKR has done shows that the 44 with the right bullets has good expansion and oustanding penetration.Īs far as trajectory, the 44 is 125 to 150 yard gun. I'd feel very confident that the 44 in a rifle can handle anything you need it to.
I'm not so sure that the 30/30 packs any more punch than the 44 from a rifle. It has significantly better ballistics than a 44 handgun. This gives it energy and trajectory similar to a 30/30. My 300 grain XTPs go over 1500 fps at the muzzle. It is short, light and slim, but still has 9 rounds in the mag. I bought it as a truck/camping gun and it works well in this role. My 44 is a trapper and I like it quite a bit better. Good luck, and check out a pre-1964 94 if you can find one! I like cartridge exchangeability, but I think of pistols and rifles as different animals. If you are determined to get the 16" barrel, I'd think that would build a stronger case for the 30-30 since it will still have better performance even with a shorter barrel and justify the weight of carrying a rifle. a 44 magnum won't have the reach to fit this niche if that's a thought for you, but a 30-30 is well on its way there. I'm planning on making this more of a scout rifle setup later this year. I preferred the robust feeling of the pre-'64 to the newer ones, despite some of the design improvements (like angle-eject) on the later evolutions. It feels great and very agile, even with a 20" barrel. I was able to find a pre-1964 Winchester 94 in great condition except for some cosmetic flaws (scratched stock) and restored it inexpensively. I had similar uses to yours in mind, and came to the conclusion that the 30-30 was the right choice for me - acceptable capacity, significant punch, common caliber, etc. 44 magnum, but I did research them.Ī couple months ago I decided to buy a lever-action rifle and read a lot about them before making a decision. As a disclaimer, I haven't shot a Winchester 94 in.