.223 pump vs .357 lever

[aus.templar]

Okay so I went shooting today with some friends, confirmed sights on a couple rifles then had a bit of fun shooting a few guns my mates own. Long story short I fell in love, twice. I've been looking for a lightweight gun that's both fun to shoot, has open sights, is relatively small and light to carry backpacking and could be used to hunt medium sized animals, think goats, and I think I've narrowed the search.

1. The Remington 7615 pump action .223. It's a fun little gun, feels a little flimsy and the mag release is in a retarded position but a fun gun.
I own a 7600 in .308win, but I don't have a .223 and the 7615 there today was in pretty much stock format and I really quite liked it. My 7600 has gotten a little heavy with all the changes I've done to it... and I've changed the optics and it's all screwed now until I get round to fixing it up.
Please note 30round magazines are against the regulations in my area, though can be bought for collecting-purposes if you don't own a rifle they fit.

2. .357mag lever action. The one I shot today was a Marlin. Lightweight, smooth action, great sights. Really enjoyed shooting it and I think it might make a nice backpacking gun but .357 doesn't seem very versatile to me. I couldn't legally take deer with it, and I'd destroy any game smaller than a goat. Not sure about on bush pigs but I'd say it'd go fine, should be good for protection against wild dogs and other predators though I'd think.

The lever would be cheaper and wouldn't require magazines however would be slower to reload once the 9-10 in the tube are gone.

The pump would be about 50% more expensive, plus whatever I get raped for to get spare mags. Probably slightly faster.

Not sure about the .223 vs .357/.38spl calibre comparison... anyone want to weigh in there?


Long story short. If you were presented with the choice to get one of the above two guns... which would you choose and why?

[Assault Life]

I like both setups, but I think the .223 would be a more versatile caliber and ammo is cheaper.

[Apathy]

That Remington 7615 seems like the best option for the land down under.


Then again, if you were in a pistol club, and legally had a .357 revolver. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to go for a lever gun. Cowboy like ammo commonality.

[Apathy]

Please note 30round magazines are against the regulations in my area, though can be bought for collecting-purposes if you don't own a rifle they fit.

You could do what the Canadians do and buy a nine round .458 socom mag from America. And when it is needed fill it full of .223 and you have a thirty round magazine.

[Stercutus]

.223 vs .357? Slow big bullet vs fast small bullet. .223 all day long.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

7615. You're already familiar with the action, and the .223 will have longer legs. Less drop.

[thrillbilly]

Lever rifle.

Step up to a 30/30 and call it a day. And you dont ''shoot them all out'' you shoot, and in lulls stick more in, same as running a 12G pump.


Thats just assuming you cant have semiautos. I'd take my AK any day over my lever guns and pumps.

[aus.templar]

7615 seems to have it, and I think that's the way I'm going to go. Have a mate who's interested in buying my 7600... so at least that'll "stay in the family" so to speak.

[procyon]

I like my LA .357/.38's. But here in Iowa USA our deer hunting seems backwards to your.
I can't hunt deer with a .223, but can with a .357 (min cal of .24). Really, we can hunt deer with a .38 spl out of a rifle, but I would slap any of my kids that tried that stunt...

With a .308 already in your collection, it pretty much boils down to what you liked most. The .223 will give you longer range with the same power, but I am guessing that the .308 already has hunting larger game at range covered. Getting a 'look under' scope and sighting the iron sights in for the .38 spls will let you use the LA to shoot smaller game without ruining meat with a bad shot while still using the .357's with the scope. But if goats and targets would be the main use, well, we are back to what is most fun.

Of course, simply adding both to the collection (if possible, I am unfamiliar with firearms regs where you live) would be my solution.

[aus.templar]

Picked up the 7615 from the shop today. Got 5 pmags but they have the rounds blocker inserts to limit them to 10 rounds and the base plates are glued and melted on. Chest rig for this set up should arrive in the mail tomorrow.

[Sworbeyegib]

I was going to chime in and say that both are going to be pretty damn fun, but you should get the .223 because you are accustomed to the platform already. Looks like you and everyone beat me to it. Good purchase.

Of course, nothing stopping you from getting the lever gun down the line.

What are your caliber restrictions for game over there?

[MaconCJ7]

I'm an auto guy that loves him some lever and pump action. That said, if I had to choose between a pump or a lever, I'd choose pump. The action makes for faster shots, all else equal.

.357 is a hard hitting round, but if you legally can't use it for all of the game you want, then it shouldn't really be your first option. Nothing wrong with picking one up later though. If .223 is game legal, then that is automatically my first choice. Being a pump, it gives you faster follow-ups for any super aggressive hogs that just wont die. I think the .357 would be a better hog cartridge, but, you want something more versatile, and the .223 is it.

[aus.templar]

Calibre restrictions for deer only. The centrefire rifle restrictions are as follows. Can also hunt them with muzzle loader, bow, crossbow or shotgun. For those interested... http://www.gma.vic.gov.au/hunting/deer/hunting-methods
Sambar, Rusa and Red are "A minimum calibre of .270" (6.85 mm) with a minimum projectile weight of 130 grains (8.45 grams)."
Hog, Fallow and Chital are "A minimum calibre of .243" (6.17 mm) with a minimum projectile weight of 80 grains (5.18 grams)"

That said, I've got 2 .308's that have deer covered.

[procyon]

.357mag lever action... I couldn't legally take deer with it,

Sambar, Rusa and Red are "A minimum calibre of .270" (6.85 mm) with a minimum projectile weight of 130 grains (8.45 grams)."
Hog, Fallow and Chital are "A minimum calibre of .243" (6.17 mm) with a minimum projectile weight of 80 grains (5.18 grams)"

Ok, I can't check the link because the hospital web filter shuts it down, but to me it looks like the .357 LA would be legal for deer.
Is there something at the link that changes that. It looks like .223 isn't going to be 'deer legal' either, not that it matters with a pair of .308's.

[aus.templar]

I thought I couldn't, looked into it and didn't correct my previous post.
Think I'd stick with .308 for deer though.

[jeremy1391]

For utility I'd say the pump because of the longer range of an actual rifle cartridge compared to a pistol caliber rifle.....


Now if you also have a .357 mag revolver pairing the two would go a long way into swinging the vote to the lever gun.