Calibre choice really depends on what you want to shoot with it and what side of the Scottish Border you are on. North of the Border we have a min muzzle velocity of 2450 fps and 1750 ft lbs of energy. Up here if you want a deer legal lever action you choices are very limited. Sako Finnwolf in 243 or 308, Savage Mod 99 in 308 or 243 or Winchester Mod 88 in 284 Win. The Savage was last made in the mid 90’s the other two in the 70’s. They are like chickens teeth in the UK. Henry repeating arms are now making a lever action in 223, 243 and 308. These may or may not be available in the UK.
The 30-30 is a very good deer cartridge and many many whitetails and mule deer wish it had never been invented. Mostly it is throwing a 140 to 150 grain bullet at 2200, 2300 ish sorts of velocities. Plenty enough to be deadly on deer, but does not meet the Scottish min.
I suspect with a bit of careful handloading you could get a spitzer type bullet of 100 to 110 grains to get above the 2450 threshold. Whether it gets over the 1750 ft lbs is another matter, but should be well over the 1,000 for Roe.
Spitzer in a tube fed lever action is not ideal as potentially the bullet tip resting on the primer of the next cartridge could set off a chain reaction and get a bit too exciting.
I have seen that you can use such sleek long pointy bullets in the 30/30 but must load just one round into magazine, chamber it and load a follow up in the magazine. Two quick shots should be enough for most deer.
With the 45/70 can you get it throwing a short 200 ish grain bullet at 2450 fps?
