30-30 or 45/70

Which would you choose and why

  • 30-30

    Votes: 98 50.0%

  • 45/70

    Votes: 98 50.0%
  • Total voters
    196
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Not open for further replies.
30-30 seems more realistic for me being in Florida. I'd like a 45-70 eventually but it would be too specialized for what I need.
 
wyocarp wrote
I am absolutely shocked that so many are voting for the 30-30 over the 45-70. The only thing I can figure is that there are more people with the 30-30 rifles and they are probably in areas where game is smaller.

(That ought to raise some feathers.)
Click to expand...

The OP is asking about hunting boar and whitetail primarily w/possible shots at mule deer and elk. I am guessing that since he is from Pa. he like me rarely sees a shot of more than 150 yds. all of which makes the 30-30 a better overall choice. If he were out west with you I would lean more toward 45/70 or maybe a BLR in a magnum chambering.
 
I have both. The .30-30 is all I need for most work but the .45-70 is a hoot to shoot. The .30-30 is a virgin in my hands while the .45-70 has taken a buck mulie at 197 yards and a 6x6 bull elk at 213 yards.

Wouldn’t want to give up either.
 
well, i have both. but since you mention a possibility of elk, i voted for the 45/70. the really nice thing about the 45/70 is you can shoot easy shooting low pressure rounds or hot rod hornady rounds right from the factory. and, if you want to reload, IF YOU BUY A MARLIN (or single shot modern rifle), you can even go up from there! in handloader magazine, they have a guy shooting cape buffalo with a 45/70 marlin. one of his shots went through a bull, and killed the bull and the cow standing next to it. a 2 for 1 shot on cape buffalo. it aught to make short work out of anything on this continent!
 
I own both. I rarely shoot the 30-30.

I don't even hunt big animals, and I'm not a recoil junkie or anything, I just prefer shooting the 45-70. So I voted for that one. Either will do for your stated purposes.
 
.35 Remington -

Gives a caliber betwixt the two aforementioned. A 200 grain .35 Remington is a true short-range brush-buster. A .45/70 is a shoulder buster, as is a poorly-stocked .30/30 without a proper recoil pad. A .243 Winchester actually performs as well as the aforementioned three. Get modern in selection and avoid the heavy recoil of the afformentioned three. Recoil does not benefit accuracy. Placing a proper bullet into the death zone supercedes all POWER benefits. cliffy
 
Over 10 years ago there was a video made of tests firing about every cartridge there is into a "twig box". A target was aligned at both ends of this box with twigs and small leafy branches in it but not packed tight. All calibers up to and including the 50BMG were deflected away from the rear target, some hit the paper but not the bullseye. So brush buster is just a legend.
 
The OP is asking about hunting boar and whitetail primarily w/possible shots at mule deer and elk. I am guessing that since he is from Pa. he like me rarely sees a shot of more than 150 yds. all of which makes the 30-30 a better overall choice. If he were out west with you I would lean more toward 45/70 or maybe a BLR in a magnum chambering.
Click to expand...

You got the distance correct. A lot of times you can end up in some really thick stuff. Also correct on the boar and whitetail as primary with the mule deer right behind it. The elk will be the long shot. Well I head out this Friday night to the shop where I saw the Guide Gun, supposedly they have a 30-30 in now too. We will see what is there.
 
I got excellent service from my .45-70 Ruger #1S when I lived in Florida.

It did quite a number on those wild pigs near Merritt Island and Kennedy Space Center. :D
 
depends on what else you have.

If you want ONE rifle (aside from say an AR-15 or other very specialty gun)

Then I'd say go for the 30-30 due to
1. more available ammo
2. less recoil
3. slightly flatter trajectory

if #3 isn't a big concern, I'd even suggest looking at a levergun in 44 magnum. (this will take elk off the table, but then, I think 30-30 for elk really limits you to really close ranges, and not a ton of elk are taken really close)

If you already have a second hunting rifle, something in say 308, or 30-06, or 270, or any of the common big magnums, then you can rely on that gun if ammo scarcity becomes an issue, or you want something less flat, etc.

In the case where you already have a good standard hunting rifle, and are looking for a fast handling brush gun, then I say go for the 45-70, it has all the fast handle, and twice the Wham!
 
I am actually going to be getting back into reloading. Tonight i am going up to the shop to more than likely buy the 45/70. They have it to the side with my name on it.

Before I called yesterday, my wife said if it was still there it ws meant to be mine. $429 NIB.
 
Good sign. Good wife. Was she sitting to the side with your name on her too?:)
Click to expand...

Actaully before we got married, there was a period when I left and she was there for me when I came to common sense.;)
 
Go with the 45/70 that is what Elmer Keith would have done.

I have had a couple of both 30/30 and 45/70. Both are good, both will kill elk easly if the bullet is put in the right spot in woodland ranges.
But the 45/70 is my first choice, 405 grains of lead is very comforting when the game has teeth.
I carried a H&R single shot in 45/70 in my truck for years. I should have kept that little gun.
 
Killed my first deer with a .30/30 and a couple more after that with this caliber.

I now own several .45-70 rifles, no .30/30s, and kill deer just as dead with them.

My choice is based on the fact I reload and the .30/30 is a pain in the patooty to reload for.

The question should actually be, 'which would you choose, .38-55 or .45-70?'

That would e a tougher decision, at least in my muddled brain!
 
My Vote is 45-70

I have 30-30, 38-55 and 45-70 (others too). I vote for the 45-70. It can be downloaded to lessen recoil or uploaded to take any North American game. The 30-30 does not have the same upper power as the 45-70.

Steve
 
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