30-30 or 45/70

[Rob96]

I want a lever action rifle for hunting. I will be hunting boar, Whitetail and possibly an occasional Mule deer hunt and a very remote chance at Elk. Which would you choose and why?

 

[huntershooter]

The .45/70 (with heavy cast bullets) would be preferable to the .30/30 on Elk.
The .30/30 having a "better"/flatter trajectory, good for the other game you mention.
My preference would be the .45/70. i would work up a load with a 400-430 gr. WFNGC @ 1800 fps+- and familiarize yourself by shooting to 150 yds. (know your/rifles limitations). The amount of "drop" from 100 to 150 yds. is substantial.

 

[pmeisel]

30/30 will shoot flatter, and punish you less so you practice more with it.

 

[woof]

Very remote means it won't happen and if it does you'll have a different rifle by then anyway. So obviously the .30-30.

 

[kragluver]

Do like I did -- get both. Seriously, I settled on the .45-70 first as I already had a .270 and .30-06 for longer range shooting. I still ended up buying a nice used .30-30 a year later. Leverguns are a hoot. Whichever rifle you get, buy yourself a receiver sight (I have Williams sights on both of mine but there are several good ones out there) and get rid of the rear tangent sight.

 

[wyocarp]

The 45-70 doesn't have to be punishing. With lighter loads, it is fun to shoot. The range of it is also more than adequate for any of the deer hunting I've seen. The range will be more of a problem for elk unless you call that big guy in and if that is possible, a sling shot would often work if you were good.

 

[W L Johnson]

30-30

Flatter shooting, hard hitting (not as hard as 45/70 at short range tho), cheaper to shoot, plus with the new flex tip ammo it's a whole new ballgame compare to the older design 30-30 ammo. IMHO

 

[medicine calf]

LeverEvo is a nice improvement. 308 class ballistics is a whole new ball game.

 

[fireman 9731]

The new LeverRevolution ammo applies to the 45-70 too though.

Personaly, I would go for the 45-70, I just like it more.

 

[Runningman]

Shot my 1st Elk when I was a teen with a Winchester 94 30-30. Dropped it at about 80 yards with one shot. Eventually I sold it. Years later I wanted another lever gun so I bought a Marlin 45-70 with a 22" barrel. After a few years I decided to sell the 45-70. I missed the 20" barrel of the 30-30 and the lighter weight of the 30-30. The 45-70 ammo was expensive to practice with compared to 30-30. Ammo for the 45-70 was hit and mis as far as availability in stores around here, 30-30 was everywhere.

Ended up buying a nice Marlin 30-30 and mounded a compact Leupold 2-7X scope on this set up. Had this set up for over 10 years now. It shoots well, I really enjoy hunting with it when I take a lever gun.

 

[gga357]

No better reason than I really like the 4570.

 

[darkknight]

Either caliber will serve you well. The only reason I said 45-70 was because of elk. The 45-70 will hit harder but if u can't shoot it accurately it really doesn't matter. 30 30 ammo is considerably cheaper around here. So both are great choices. Pick which one you like and be happy with your decision.

 

[Interceptor_Knight]

There is really no comparison. The .45-70 will out kill the .30-30 at ANY range. Even when you compare the Leverevolution rounds which is the hottest .30-30 you will find, the trajectory difference is not enough to give up the hitting "power" of the .45-70. The ft-lbs are within 60 or so at 300 yds, but once that bullet hits the animal, the .45-70 and its over double mass and 1.5x diameter will penetrate further and kill larger game more efficiently. Most guys will be taking shots under 200 yards with a lever anyway and the .45-70 has 500 more ft-lbs of energy at 100 yds and over 200 ft-lbs at 200 yds. There again, you are hitting it with a larger diameter and more massive bullet.
Ammunition is about 1.5x as costly for the .45-70 but most people are not doing mag dumps on a lever action anyway. A Marlin 1895 in .45-70 is giving up no accuracy to a 336 in .30-30 and the 1895 shoots like a dream. The recoil really isn't that noticeable unless you are sitting at a bench with your shoulder leaning into it.

 

[gvnwst]

30-30, shoots flatter, less recoil, and cheaper ammmo. The last two will help you to pratice more, and with leverevolution ammo, it will do everything you listed, but watch the range you try to take elk at.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

30/30 has been putting down deer for over 100 years. If the 45-70 was better then it would be the standard today instead of a 30/30.

When was the last time you saw a 45-70 in deer camp in a lever?

 

[grimjaw]

Nothing wrong with the .45/70 for the game you mentioned, but .30-30 is less expensive to shoot and usually available at more retail outlets (if that matters to you). Borrow a rifle the next time you go elk hunting, shoot the .30-30 in the meantime.

jm

 

[Deltaboy1984]

30/30 you can find the ammo anywhere you go.

 

[jmr40]

If you really "NEEDED" a 45-70 you would know and not have to ask. Get the 30-30

 

[Gewehr98]

Get both.

I did.

Tailor your loads for the application you have in mind. If you're recoil sensitive, punch paper and whitetails with the .30-30, or light .45-70 loads. If you need to go after black bear, run heavier .45-70 loads.

When was the last time you saw a 45-70 in deer camp in a lever?

Last fall. It was my "new" Marlin 1895G, 405gr cast bullet, and the venison is absolutely delicious!

 

[wyocarp]

If you really wanted the 30-30 you wouldn't have had to ask, so go ahead and get the real gun, the 45-70.

As much as most people will shoot either, neither of them will break the bank.

 

[Gunfighter123]

I like the 45/70 over the 30-30.

Either will do but there is just "that thing" about the 45/70 !!!



EDIT --- I reload the 45/70 and get over 35 reloads per case , bought 500 Starline brass new and have not had a single one split/crack etc. ---- I don't "hotrod" the 45/70 , with a 400+ grain bullet -- you don't really have to.

 

[Rob96]

The 30-30 is looking to be the pick.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've seen plenty of .45/70's in deer & elk camp. That trend started over 10 years ago.

Fact is plenty of people have hunted elk with a .30-30.

For a new shooter I'd say .30-30. For an experienced shooter and reloader I'd say .45/70.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I hate to throw a monkey wrench in the works, but whay not a .444 Marlin. Best of both worlds, flat shooting like the 30/30, big bullet like the 45/70... but you damn near HAVE to handload for it. Only two factory loads that you would have a prayer of getting at the local gunshop. Hornady 265 gr FP (great)and flex tip, and the Remington 240gr FP (garbage). Buffalo Bore, Grizzly, and CorBon also but good luck finding those on the shelf.

 

[mavracer]

either will work to start.you'll end up with both the lure of leverguns is nearly impossible to resist.