“.45-70 government”

Both cartridges offer similar performance levels, but which is the smarter choice for the modern hunter? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

The .30-30 Winchester remains a top-seller, and new rifles are continually produced for the veteran cartridge. Why? It’s a simple design, easy on the shoulder and wallet, and very effective inside of 200 yards.

The new 350 Legend is designed specifically for hunters to deliver massive downrange energy transfer with improved penetration from a modern straight-walled cartridge, and boasts more muzzle energy than the .30-30 Win., .300 BLK and .223 Rem.

In the hands of a competent rifleman, the .260 Remington is just as effective as it was on the day it was released over two decades ago, and will continue to be for decades to come.

If you like to hunt North America’s biggest game, take a long look at the 33 Nosler; it puts an exclamation point at the end of the sentence.

Let’s take a look at the top five underrated deer cartridges; designs that work extremely well but just don’t get the recognition they should.

Quiet, lethal and suppressor-friendly, there’s a lot to love about Hornady’s new Subsonic .30-30 load. It’s great for game species of every size at close ranges and features a Sub-X bullet that delivers reliable expansion and solid bullet construction.

The .348 Winchester gives a good balance of striking energy and moderate recoil, and among the rimmed lever-gun cartridges, possesses impressive terminal ballistics.

Let's take a closer look at five of the best lever-action rifle cartridges.