Best lever gun caliber for a 16in barrel

Gulfcowboy · February 13, 2021, 03:32 PM

I'm looking for a shorter barreled lever gun. I want something handy and short in a lever action. I have a marlin 336 in a 20in barrel I was thinking of having it Shorten to 16", but it is an original jm stamp Marlin , and its 30-30 I don't know How much it affects its ballistics. I was also looking into 357 or 44 magnum Marlin.

TBM900 · February 13, 2021, 04:46 PM

16" is the sweet spot for 357 magnum
16-18" is where 44 magnum peaks out depending on bullet weight
20-22" is where 30-30 hits its stride

Me personally, I wouldn't cut down a JM 30-30 to 16"
I would just find a 16" 357 or 44
Maybe sell the JM?

What is the rifle going to be used for?
General use, hunting, maybe pressed into HD?
Yes 20" will make it a bit less convenient, but its utterly workable and a solid firearm as is
I would be perfectly happy using one

Gulfcowboy · February 13, 2021, 05:23 PM

It would be a general use rifle. I might just get another forestock and trim some fat off of it. Love the feel of the winchesters, but I'm not into top eject. The marlin forestock makes them feel alot chunker than a winchester.

MarkCO · February 13, 2021, 08:08 PM

.357 Mag, .41 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt. If you handload, you can make 16" the sweet spot for any of them. All are offered in 16" from various manufacturers with the .41 having the least models.

rc · February 13, 2021, 09:08 PM

Nothing wrong with either 44 or 357 mag out of a 16 inch barrel. Both do well in over 10 inch barrels with a very good bump in velocity from 400 to 600fps. 357 is much better overall as a general use cartridge that's why it's more popular overall but 44 might be better in big bear country or if you just prefer big bores or want to hunt big game. 357 and 38 specials will run 30 to 50 percent the cost of 44 special and mag ammo but if you reload the difference is much less. A 357 at short range makes a 223 FMJ look wimpy. 38 special from a rifle would make a fine quiet home defense loading. You can expect 1750fps out of a rifle using 158 American Eagle JSP ammo. I would expect similar speeds with 240gr 44 mag ammo. Do you need the extra power and recoil? Decisions, decisions...... Did I mention 357 is cheaper and easier to find!

LightninST · February 13, 2021, 10:44 PM

357mag

jmr40 · February 13, 2021, 11:03 PM

The pistol calibers don't really need more than 16". And a 30-30 does fine there too. The ballistics you see in print for 30-30 are from 24" test barrels and are overly optimistic for what you'll see from a much more common 20" real world barrel.

If you compare real numbers from 16" barrels from the optimistic printed numbers from 24" barrels 16" appears to suffer a great bit. But when you compare real numbers from 16" vs 20" barrels the difference is much less than you might think.

I have one of the factory 16" Marlin Trappers from 1988. It is a handy little gun. I used to have some chronograph numbers on file, but it is on an older computer that died and I never backed up that info so it is lost. But IIRC there was less than 100 fps difference between the 16" and 20" guns.

Any way you look at it 30-30 is at its best at 100-150 yards with 200 yards at most. Even a 24" barrel doesn't really change that. The pistol calibers are 75-100 yard guns with 150 yards at most. And once again a longer barrel doesn't really change that.

I'd select the barrel length that I thought looked and balanced best. And if 16" is going to be more handy in thick stuff then go 16".

bamaranger · February 14, 2021, 01:19 AM

Given that the future of Marlin is unpredictable, and the OP's Marlin is the real item and my general attitude towards severe mods on old and now valuable guns, I would not lop off a jm 336 either.

The OP does not state what use his short lever will be employed towards. As a general rule, I am a big fan of .357 lever carbines. In the current climate, the ability to fire two varieties of ammo (.38 & .357) could be a real plus. The .357 will be the cheapest(

) to feed, and there is a wide span of power levels available over the counter (well, usually). The same could be said of the .44's, and if I were to be frequently hunting game bigger than 150 lb whitetails, I would lean in the direction of the larger .44 cartridge. Both the straight walled pistol cartridges are easy to reload, the thin walled 30-30 not so much.

zeke · February 14, 2021, 08:33 AM

Am fan of short levers, especially in pistol caliber carbines. Prefer a 16 in barrel and if not a collector, shorten the stock. Got them short arms, and generally prefer short rifles. If considering hunting, would get the 44 mag. Although a 357 can be made to work.

IMO, huge advantage to have the straight wall case for reloading.

If talking a 16 in 30-30, they lose very little, if any, with the heavier 170 gn bullets. If memory serves.

stagpanther · February 14, 2021, 09:09 AM

I also have and am a fan of carbine style lever guns--but can also bear witness to the fact that a 22" octagonal barreled lever in 45-70 is a thing of beauty, balance and enhanced power as well.

jetinteriorguy · February 14, 2021, 09:30 AM

The Henry X model .357 with the side loading gate would be perfect for you.

shurshot · February 14, 2021, 01:03 PM

.22LR

tex45acp · February 14, 2021, 10:21 PM

Though I have yet to run it through a chronograph, I am very impressed with the accuracy out to 100 yards of my Henry Big Boy Carbine in .41mag.

Shadow9mm · February 14, 2021, 11:11 PM

for what its worth, Have a friend who is big into revolvers and lever guns. He said he very much prefers 44s to 357, cause the crack from the 357 seems a lot sharper to him than from the 44s. Both are loud, but something about the sharpness or shrillness of the tone.... having been there when he has shot both. 44 is a lot more tolerable than the 357.

rc · February 15, 2021, 12:53 AM

The crack is a function of how they are loaded. If both are shooting factory ammo, maybe the bigger bore develops a less distinct pressure wave. I love shooting 1200 to 1300fps loads out of a 357 rifle for plinking. Very pleasant and useful load. The 1800fps factory 158s can sting a bit.

MarkCO · February 15, 2021, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex45acp

Though I have yet to run it through a chronograph, I am very impressed with the accuracy out to 100 yards of my Henry Big Boy Carbine in .41mag.

Do you have the 16" barrel?

This is the next rifle for me and I am starting to get excited for it. I did not do a lot of work with the Marlin, but thinking I will use up a lot of LilGun in a 16" carbine.

chris in va · February 15, 2021, 06:13 PM

I just got one if the new Henry side gate steels in 357, what a gun. It’s my dream rifle, sold my safe queen AR to fund it, no ‘regerts’ lol.

MarkCO · February 15, 2021, 06:42 PM

I keep reading good reviews on the side gate Steel Henry's.

TruthTellers · February 16, 2021, 06:31 AM

Not gonna get much capacity in a 16 inch rifle in .30-30 or .45-70. If you want capacity, you have to choose a revolver chambering, if you don't care about capacity you can't argue with .45-70 out of a 16 inch barrel, unless you are regularly shooting at over 200 yards in which case the .30-30 makes more sense.

As to revolver calibers in lever guns, I'm still not too sure myself which is best. .357 is the cheapest, that's for sure.

Jack O'Conner · February 19, 2021, 06:12 PM

If it was my choice, I'd pay a good smith to shorten the barrel and tube magazine to 16.25 inches instead of buying a different rifle.

Jack

GeauxTide · February 20, 2021, 09:19 PM

Bought a Henry X in 45 Colt a couple of months ago. Gets 1200fps with my preferred 280gr RCBS SAA SWC load.

Pathfinder45 · February 21, 2021, 12:14 AM

It must be for a special application, like inside a confined space... Otherwise, I just don't see the practically of such a short barrel. What could be handier than a 20" barrelled levergun, unless it's a holstered revolver?

Scrumbag · February 21, 2021, 06:50 AM

I have a 44 mag Chiappa Alaskan with a 20" barrel. It's a takedown which I like. Issues with the 1892 rifle clones of course is they are top eject and so for optics you need a scout scope of red dot mounted forward of the receiver.

Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope

Skinner carry case:

Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds.

And when you unpack it:

And out on the range:

Hoping to develop a plinking load (240gr cast lead RNFP and Unique) and a hunting load

(Thinking 240 gr Nosler JSP or Swift A-Frame. Maybe the 265gr Hornady over H110 or N110)

I know Skinner is selling a kit they call the Bush Pilot with a 16” version in this case.
Best wishes,

Scrummy

Scrumbag · February 21, 2021, 06:52 AM

Any thoughts anyone has on a hunting bullet would be welcome here:

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=610772

ThomasT · February 21, 2021, 03:52 PM

You may enjoy reading this article. And the whole site is devoted to lever actions and revolvers. https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/trapper2.htm

That being said I don't know that in the real world you really gain anything from 4" less barrel. Brian Pearce wrote an article on the 30-30 and said you lose about 17fps from each inch of barrel cut off. JMR's post was spot on.

I have two SKS rifles. The one with 20" barrel and the other the Paratrooper Carbine with 16" barrel. The 16" gun is cuter and has a cool look to it but I prefer to use and shoot the 20" gun. I like the longer sight radius and I like the blast a little further from my face.

But if you just have to have a 16" gun I would get either the 357 (first choice for me) or the 44 mag. And the final choice would be based on what you want to do with it. My Marlin 357 with 18.5" barrel is my favorite gun all I own. Thats a good barrel length too.

February 13, 2021, 03:32 PM	#1
Gulfcowboy Member Join Date: January 27, 2019 Location: South Texas Posts: 96	Best lever gun caliber for a 16in barrel I'm looking for a shorter barreled lever gun. I want something handy and short in a lever action. I have a marlin 336 in a 20in barrel I was thinking of having it Shorten to 16", but it is an original jm stamp Marlin , and its 30-30 I don't know How much it affects its ballistics. I was also looking into 357 or 44 magnum Marlin. Last edited by Gulfcowboy; February 13, 2021 at 03:47 PM.

February 13, 2021, 04:46 PM	#2
TBM900 Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2015 Posts: 777	16" is the sweet spot for 357 magnum 16-18" is where 44 magnum peaks out depending on bullet weight 20-22" is where 30-30 hits its stride Me personally, I wouldn't cut down a JM 30-30 to 16" I would just find a 16" 357 or 44 Maybe sell the JM? What is the rifle going to be used for? General use, hunting, maybe pressed into HD? Yes 20" will make it a bit less convenient, but its utterly workable and a solid firearm as is I would be perfectly happy using one __________________ Playboy billionaire Retired Colonial Marine 1st to walk on the moon without a spacesuit

February 13, 2021, 08:08 PM	#4
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,307	.357 Mag, .41 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt. If you handload, you can make 16" the sweet spot for any of them. All are offered in 16" from various manufacturers with the .41 having the least models. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

February 13, 2021, 11:03 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	The pistol calibers don't really need more than 16". And a 30-30 does fine there too. The ballistics you see in print for 30-30 are from 24" test barrels and are overly optimistic for what you'll see from a much more common 20" real world barrel. If you compare real numbers from 16" barrels from the optimistic printed numbers from 24" barrels 16" appears to suffer a great bit. But when you compare real numbers from 16" vs 20" barrels the difference is much less than you might think. I have one of the factory 16" Marlin Trappers from 1988. It is a handy little gun. I used to have some chronograph numbers on file, but it is on an older computer that died and I never backed up that info so it is lost. But IIRC there was less than 100 fps difference between the 16" and 20" guns. Any way you look at it 30-30 is at its best at 100-150 yards with 200 yards at most. Even a 24" barrel doesn't really change that. The pistol calibers are 75-100 yard guns with 150 yards at most. And once again a longer barrel doesn't really change that. I'd select the barrel length that I thought looked and balanced best. And if 16" is going to be more handy in thick stuff then go 16". __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

February 14, 2021, 01:19 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	barrels Given that the future of Marlin is unpredictable, and the OP's Marlin is the real item and my general attitude towards severe mods on old and now valuable guns, I would not lop off a jm 336 either. The OP does not state what use his short lever will be employed towards. As a general rule, I am a big fan of .357 lever carbines. In the current climate, the ability to fire two varieties of ammo (.38 & .357) could be a real plus. The .357 will be the cheapest() to feed, and there is a wide span of power levels available over the counter (well, usually). The same could be said of the .44's, and if I were to be frequently hunting game bigger than 150 lb whitetails, I would lean in the direction of the larger .44 cartridge. Both the straight walled pistol cartridges are easy to reload, the thin walled 30-30 not so much.

February 13, 2021, 05:23 PM	#3
Gulfcowboy Member Join Date: January 27, 2019 Location: South Texas Posts: 96	It would be a general use rifle. I might just get another forestock and trim some fat off of it. Love the feel of the winchesters, but I'm not into top eject. The marlin forestock makes them feel alot chunker than a winchester.

February 13, 2021, 09:08 PM	#5
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,765	Nothing wrong with either 44 or 357 mag out of a 16 inch barrel. Both do well in over 10 inch barrels with a very good bump in velocity from 400 to 600fps. 357 is much better overall as a general use cartridge that's why it's more popular overall but 44 might be better in big bear country or if you just prefer big bores or want to hunt big game. 357 and 38 specials will run 30 to 50 percent the cost of 44 special and mag ammo but if you reload the difference is much less. A 357 at short range makes a 223 FMJ look wimpy. 38 special from a rifle would make a fine quiet home defense loading. You can expect 1750fps out of a rifle using 158 American Eagle JSP ammo. I would expect similar speeds with 240gr 44 mag ammo. Do you need the extra power and recoil? Decisions, decisions...... Did I mention 357 is cheaper and easier to find!

February 13, 2021, 10:44 PM	#6
LightninST Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2021 Posts: 9	357mag

February 14, 2021, 08:33 AM	#9
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	Am fan of short levers, especially in pistol caliber carbines. Prefer a 16 in barrel and if not a collector, shorten the stock. Got them short arms, and generally prefer short rifles. If considering hunting, would get the 44 mag. Although a 357 can be made to work. IMO, huge advantage to have the straight wall case for reloading. If talking a 16 in 30-30, they lose very little, if any, with the heavier 170 gn bullets. If memory serves.

February 14, 2021, 09:09 AM	#10
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,773	I also have and am a fan of carbine style lever guns--but can also bear witness to the fact that a 22" octagonal barreled lever in 45-70 is a thing of beauty, balance and enhanced power as well. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

February 14, 2021, 09:30 AM	#11
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,173	The Henry X model .357 with the side loading gate would be perfect for you.

February 14, 2021, 01:03 PM	#12
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	.22LR

February 14, 2021, 10:21 PM	#13
tex45acp Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Location: The Great State of Texas Posts: 1,032	Though I have yet to run it through a chronograph, I am very impressed with the accuracy out to 100 yards of my Henry Big Boy Carbine in .41mag. __________________ “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.“

February 14, 2021, 11:11 PM	#14
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,969	for what its worth, Have a friend who is big into revolvers and lever guns. He said he very much prefers 44s to 357, cause the crack from the 357 seems a lot sharper to him than from the 44s. Both are loud, but something about the sharpness or shrillness of the tone.... having been there when he has shot both. 44 is a lot more tolerable than the 357. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

February 15, 2021, 12:53 AM	#15
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,765	The crack is a function of how they are loaded. If both are shooting factory ammo, maybe the bigger bore develops a less distinct pressure wave. I love shooting 1200 to 1300fps loads out of a 357 rifle for plinking. Very pleasant and useful load. The 1800fps factory 158s can sting a bit.

February 15, 2021, 06:13 PM	#17
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I just got one if the new Henry side gate steels in 357, what a gun. It’s my dream rifle, sold my safe queen AR to fund it, no ‘regerts’ lol.

February 15, 2021, 06:42 PM	#18
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,307	I keep reading good reviews on the side gate Steel Henry's. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

February 16, 2021, 06:31 AM	#19
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,883	Not gonna get much capacity in a 16 inch rifle in .30-30 or .45-70. If you want capacity, you have to choose a revolver chambering, if you don't care about capacity you can't argue with .45-70 out of a 16 inch barrel, unless you are regularly shooting at over 200 yards in which case the .30-30 makes more sense. As to revolver calibers in lever guns, I'm still not too sure myself which is best. .357 is the cheapest, that's for sure. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

February 19, 2021, 06:12 PM	#20
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	If it was my choice, I'd pay a good smith to shorten the barrel and tube magazine to 16.25 inches instead of buying a different rifle. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

February 20, 2021, 09:19 PM	#21
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,423	Henry X, For Me Bought a Henry X in 45 Colt a couple of months ago. Gets 1200fps with my preferred 280gr RCBS SAA SWC load. __________________ Reloading For: 223R, 243W, 6.5 GR, 6.5 CM, 260R, 6.5-06, 280R, 7mmRM, 300HAM'R, 308W, 30-06, 338-06, 9mm, 357M, 41M, 44SPL, 44M, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 450BM.

February 21, 2021, 12:14 AM	#22
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	It must be for a special application, like inside a confined space... Otherwise, I just don't see the practically of such a short barrel. What could be handier than a 20" barrelled levergun, unless it's a holstered revolver?

February 21, 2021, 06:50 AM	#23
Scrumbag Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2012 Posts: 173	I have a 44 mag Chiappa Alaskan with a 20" barrel. It's a takedown which I like. Issues with the 1892 rifle clones of course is they are top eject and so for optics you need a scout scope of red dot mounted forward of the receiver. Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope Skinner carry case: Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds. And when you unpack it: And out on the range: Hoping to develop a plinking load (240gr cast lead RNFP and Unique) and a hunting load (Thinking 240 gr Nosler JSP or Swift A-Frame. Maybe the 265gr Hornady over H110 or N110) I know Skinner is selling a kit they call the Bush Pilot with a 16” version in this case. Best wishes, Scrummy

February 21, 2021, 06:52 AM	#24
Scrumbag Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2012 Posts: 173	Any thoughts anyone has on a hunting bullet would be welcome here: https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=610772

February 21, 2021, 03:52 PM	#25
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	You may enjoy reading this article. And the whole site is devoted to lever actions and revolvers. https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/trapper2.htm That being said I don't know that in the real world you really gain anything from 4" less barrel. Brian Pearce wrote an article on the 30-30 and said you lose about 17fps from each inch of barrel cut off. JMR's post was spot on. I have two SKS rifles. The one with 20" barrel and the other the Paratrooper Carbine with 16" barrel. The 16" gun is cuter and has a cool look to it but I prefer to use and shoot the 20" gun. I like the longer sight radius and I like the blast a little further from my face. But if you just have to have a 16" gun I would get either the 357 (first choice for me) or the 44 mag. And the final choice would be based on what you want to do with it. My Marlin 357 with 18.5" barrel is my favorite gun all I own. Thats a good barrel length too.