Originally Posted by
10thmtn
Taking a look at ballisticsbytheinch, it seems the heavy 158 gr .357 Mag loads out of a Winchester 94 (16" barrel) are doing a bit over 1700 fps.
The 170 gr .30-30 are going over 2200 fps.
So, while the .357 Mag out of a lever gun is certainly no slouch, it is still a handgun cartridge. A .30-30 is a true rifle round.
The .357 Mag lever guns do hold more ammo in the tube (typically 10) versus six for the .30-30.
One more thing to bear in mind with .357 Mag out of a rifle - you can sometimes get under-penetration, as the increased velocity can cause the JHP to expand so quickly that it stops short. Select your load carefully - a good load out of a revolver might not be the best out of a rifle...and that can argue against ammo compatibility.
As you can see from my selection of the .30-30, I want my rifle to be a true rifle. If I need to bust through cover, I want the extra punch of the rifle caliber. That said, I can certainly see the logic of a revolver-caliber lever gun - they will also do the job quite handily.