For small game hunting, home defense, survival, truck gun, and just plain fun.....which would you choose???

44 Mag lever action
or
223 semi-auto

Why?

If your list had been limited to small game and home defense (and fun) for me the semi-auto would have been the no brainer. When you throw survival and truck gun into the mix I start leaning towards the lever gun for nothing more than durability, ease of maintenance and reliability. I go for the .44 lever.

IMO the largest problem most lever actions have is that for a truck gun they have a tube magazine. A removable magazine is a great feature for a truck gun. It allows for fast loading, and it allows you to keep all your shells in one place and organized. Other than that my vote goes to the Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum. Tom.

AzGuy

Wow, you present some difficulties here, however over the years I have done both 223 semi-auto and Win M94 in 45 Colt and a Marlin Guide in 45/70 to do what you say, truck gun, fun gun, and so forth.

For many years I stuffed a Ruger Mini 14 behind the truck seat along with plenty of emergency ammo. Did a few things with it, but mostly just there for emergency use. Later I become a great fan of the Guide Gun and did the same, but found it too much cartridge for the small things, but it was great for most applications.

A few years ago South Africa pretty much banned traveling hunters from bringing a self defense handgun in country. Normally my wife and I would spend a good bit of time in RSA as she is South African, visiting family, get a little shooting and hunting in while there, but now no handgun. So I rigged up my little Win M94 in 45 Colt as my "Lever Action Assault Rifle" and have carried it many times as the truck gun, fun gun, impala shooter, and so forth. I really think for overall use I have enjoyed it more than most anything for the particular applications you are looking for. The 44 would not be that much different than the 45 Colt, one can load some rather hot stuff for serious applications, light loads for plinking and small game, general all around use. For the serious work my 16 inch Win holds 8 rounds in the tube, if I can't get myself out of trouble in 8 rounds I have a big problem!

Today my vote would be for the little lever gun!
Michael

No Contest. . . . the .44 lever gun! My do all Jeep gun would have to be my Marlin CB .45 Colt. It will take from squirrels to Elk. The exposed hammers also make them a lot safer for transporting in a vehicle. JMO

quote:

Originally posted by Pig Farmer:
Brockman's Beast

Pig Farmer,

Thanks for the Brockman link....his rifles are pretty pricey. For that kind of money ($2500) I could buy a 44 mag lever action and a 223 semi-auto, and a lifetime supply of factory ammo!

Off topic: Are you really a "Pig Farmer"?
Didn't think they would allow that in the SanFran area

Truck gun?

and the debate is 44Mag Vs 223?

I split the difference and carry a 30-30

My 223 bolt gun (the only 223 I have) is fine for jackrabbits and such, but as a defensive weapon it leaves much to be desired.

And though I generally prefer Marlin's my 30-30 is a winchester.

AD

AzGuy

Heck, yes, I'm a pig farmer. Been a pig farmer all my life. Course, the breed of pigs has changed.

Regarding Brockman, you didn't say you were on a budget. You've never mentioned budget with my money.

And the choice is 44 Mag Vs 223?


Having studied on the question for a while, I am unable to vote for either. When you talk about small game AZ guy, I automatically think of eating same. I would not care to eat anything small (squirrels, birds, cottontails) shot with either one in most instances.

I think I'd likely work out some kind of repeating .22 WMR, but use .22 WRF RN solid ammo instead. Maybe a Winchester pump? Or an H&K Model 300 autoloader if it would feed the WRF rounds for at least two shots (one in chamber, one from mag). I know from my youth that will kill deer, and most people wouldn't care to take one in the torso or head either.

Without doubt the .223 in a good AR clone. It will easily kill deer sized critters, including 2 legged ones with factory Winchester 64 gr Powerpoints if you don't reload and is just more fun to play around with, while being able to make the longer range shots that are nearly impossible for a .44 mag. I doubt that real survival, meaning subsistence living, will come into play.

my choice would be the ruger 96/44 easy to load (clips) accurate and fast reload time

I don't shoot either caliber.
In my humble opinion it's like asking for a camparison between a morter and a lazer guided missle.
I do, how ever, shoot a Winchester 92 in 45 Colt and an AR10 in 7.62 Nato. I'd opt for the AR10.

Jim

At short range, on any target, the 44 will do anything the 223 will do. In a 444 Marlin even more so plus it'll take 44 Magnum and, in a pinch, you can reload those Marlin cases with blackpowder. Or even a wad and shot to make a crude 410 shot gun for use on winged game.

The other advantage of a tube magazine rifle is that, like a revolver, if you have any of it you have all of it. No magazine to get lost. And if the tube gets damaged it is a lot easier to knock it back into shape than a damaged AR15 magazine!

The 44 Mag in a Marlin....

Small game head shots, big game the same. All around gun a lever is hard to beat.

I could not imagine being confined to only one gun....................

AZGuy

Having used both the 223 and a 44 Mag Lever rifle as a "road gun", I offer the following opinion.

If I thought I would be in a serious gunfight with multiple bad guys I would prefer the semi-auto 223.

However,for most across the country road travel I do I am going on some kind of hunt.

I usually carry my Winchester 44 Mag Trapper, with a peep sight, and a Surefire flashlight taped to the end of the rifle.

I always carry a 4" S&W 44 Mag revolver also so I have plenty of 44 Mag ammo.

The 44 Lever should handle most normal "social problems", and I find it much more useful
once I get to the hunting camp than a 223 semi-auto.

It is also legal in most every state.

If I want most all the advantages of the 223 semi-auto, and most all the advantages of the 44 Mag Lever then I carry a semi-auto 308.

A 18" M1-A, especially with a Choat folding stock, or a H&K 91 with the retractable stock, will work fine. When going to Calif. a M1 Tanker Garand would be a good choice as well.

All in all IT IS hard to beat a Lever 44 Mag.
They are very handy.

Find a Winchester Trapper in either .44 mag or .30-.30 Winchester.

Given your criteria, I would go with the 30-30 or 35 Rem. The 44 is too expensive and you don't need the bullet weight. The 223 wouldn't make a good home defense gun unless you shoot fragible ammo, and even then it's not at the top of my list for home defense. Lou

As a bullet caster who lives in bear and wolf country there is no question that the 44 would go with me. The AR might get a consideration in the 6.8 but not in a 223/5.56.

BTW, I can't think of anything bouncing around behind the seat of ky pickup truck that could dent the tube mag of any lever rifle I've ever seen.

And if there WERE something that could dent/bend the rifle's tube mag it would REALLY belong in the BED f the truck, not behind the seat in the cab.

AD

44 mag. I have no use for a .223

Since we're not talking scopes I have to agree with Gato. Just can't envision anything over a 100 yard shot with a 44. Too limiting for me. Plus 223 ammo is dirt cheap and I like to shoot lots.

I would take a 44 Magnum anyday!!!!