Logansdad,
That would depend on the purpose. But assuming all your targets are flesh and blood, and you can get to inside of about 150yds, or maybe 200, i dont see much advantage the .308 would have over the .44, other than flat trajectory. I have a Win 94 in .45 that i load a bit warm, about .44 mag velocities with a bigger bullet , for and have never felt undergunned with it as oppsed to another caliber. Then again, the deer woods around here oftentimes limit you to less than 150yds, with the most common shots for me and friends seem to be about 75-100yds. I dont limit myself to that one gun however, and do my fair share with a .308 too. Both good calibers. Either one should serve very well for most things.
Paul
The lever action Marlin Model 1894 . . . was a typical Marlin lever action design for the time with a square bolt, solid top action, and color case finish on the receiver. Rifle, musket, and carbine versions of the Model 1894 were produced . . . .
The Model 1894 was a short action chambered for the combination rifle/pistol cartridges of the day . . . By 1934 the demand for rifles shooting pistol cartridges had shrunk to the vanishing point, and the old Model 1894 was discontinued.
The advent of powerful magnum revolver cartridges, first the .357 Magnum and later the .44 Magnum, renewed interest in the concept . . . the folks at Marlin realized that there was once again money to be made selling rifles for pistol cartridges. Rather than design a new action, they wisely put their excellent Model 1894 back into production. The new rifles came with blued rather than color cased actions and were made of superior modern steel, but otherwise were similar to the original Model 1894 . . . .
. . . As I write these words in 2003, there are four variations of the standard Model 1894 centerfire rifles. These are the 1894PG (.44 Rem. Mag./.44 Spec.), 1894FG (.41 Rem. Mag.), 1894SS (.44 Rem. Mag/.44 Spec.), and 1894C (.357 Mag./.38 Spec.).
All of these standard Model 1894's are made with solid top receivers (drilled and tapped for scope mounts) and forged, machined steel parts. All come with genuine black walnut stocks that feature fluted combs, cut checkering and Marlin's satin Mar-Shield stock finish . . . .
. . . The Model 1894SS is similar to the 1894PG, but features a stainless steel barreled action and a straight grip stock . . . It is 37.5" long and weighs 6 pounds.
The 1894C is the carbine version, only available in .357 Magnum. It comes with blued steel metal parts, a straight grip stock, and an 18.5" barrel with a carbine type barrel band rather than a fore-end cap . . . .
In addition to the standard Model 1894 rifles and carbines there are also special "Cowboy" variations. These are designed, no surprises here, primarily for the sport of cowboy action shooting . . . All Cowboy models come with tapered octagon, rather than round, barrels . . . .
. . . The standard Model 1894 Cowboy . . . calibers are .45 Colt (24" barrel), .357 Mag./.38 Spec. (20" barrel), and .44 Mag./.44 Spec. (20" barrel). . . In the Magnum calibers and equipped with a low power scope these make perfectly adequate . . . short range hunting rifles.
Perhaps the biggest advantage possessed by all of the Marlin 1894 lever action rifles is their solid top receivers, which allows a telescopic sight to be mounted low and overbore using a conventional one piece base on top of the receiver. Other desirable features of the 1894 rifles include fast repeat shot capability, ambidextrous operation, and . . . the flat action without a bolt handle sticking out of the side makes them easy to carry . . . .
The specific Model 1894 reviewed for this article is a standard Model 1894C in .357 Magnum/.38 Special caliber. I equipped it with a used Weaver K1.5 fixed power scope in Weaver rings . . . Today I would probably select a new Weaver K2.5, the lowest fixed power scope remaining in the Weaver line . . . .
The .357 Magnum cartridge is extremely well known in both rifle and handgun circles. I have written an article about it, ("The Versatile .357 Magnum"), so there is little need to go into detail here . . . .
This particular Model 1894C was purchased new and has been exceptionally accurate right from the beginning. Typical 100 yard groups fired with the very low power 1.5x scope run about 2 MOA (2" at 100 yards) . . . .
. . . This rifle came with an acceptable trigger pull out of the box, but that is unusual for recently produced rifles . . . Marlin triggers are relatively easy for a competent gunsmith to lighten, and do tend to smooth as they wear-in . . . Function and feeding have been perfect, one of the advantages of using a true short action rifle for pistol cartridges.
The Marlin Model 1894 is a fine rifle, accurate and reliable. Its short action, designed for pistol cartridges form the beginning, makes it the best choice among the rifles so chambered today . . . .
My choice on a 308 levergun would be the Savage 99 or Winchester 88. BLR really doesn't suit me. Then again leverguns don't in general. That said, I prefer them in shorter actions, so 44 it would be.
__________________
Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
I don't really like the classic levergun feel and prefer leverguns shaped more like bolt, pump, or semis. I guess the real answer is that leverguns aren't my thing and the BLR is more of a typical levergun.
__________________
Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
I have never had a chance to handle a winchester 88, but a friend used to have a Savage 99 in .308. Great gun. Light, comfortable, accurate, and relaible. He sold it a few years back and has been kicking himself since. Rotating magazine. Felt a bit weird the first few minutes shooting it, but grew on both of us fast. Fast on target. Wish i'd had the money to buy it when he was selling it. Yall know how that goes.
Paul
As this is a matter of opinion................... I`ll go outside the box and say Savage 99
in .300. Suites me just fine. If you own one you know what i mean.
" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."
which of these two levers ? 
but not me :right:
