45-70 or 30-30

[Hamster65]

I like both but for me, it's a matter of cost. 45-70 ammo is nearly double the cost of 30-30 and since I don't have the equipment to reload, 30-30 is my best bet.

I too am in the market for a lever gun and am looking at the Marlin 336w. I know some don't like the new Marlington/Remlin guns but from all the reviews I've read and watched, this one is a good one. While I'm not crazy about the laminate stock, I do like the matte blued finish and I can always upgrade the stock at a later date if I choose.
I found one locally for $345 and if I buy it between 11/19/2017 and 11/27/2017, I can get in on the $75 mail in rebate. I already have the money set aside and that will be my Christmas present to me.

 

[Kurusu]

The 30-30 has probably put more venison on the table than any other cartridge.
Great starting point for any hunter, very versatile.

You are forgetting the .44-40.

That did that and then some.

 

[Kurusu]

Two of the nicest elk I have ever seen were taken by a 92 year old rancher I know in North Dakota. Both shot with a .30-30 Winchester his father bought during the Roosevelt administration. TR once owned a ranch not far from him.

TR also had a .45-70.

 

[Kurusu]

I like Marlins but...

I mean the fish. It's delicious.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

I like the 30-30 round but find the Winchester 1894 action a little clunky compared to the 1886. Love my two Browning 86s in 45-70.

With paper patched ammo they are both very accurate.

3-shot group at 100 yards after adjusting the sights.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jessie]

30-30. You said it will be your first rifle and you'll build up later as funds allow.
The 30-30 is about as perfect of a first rifle as you'll find, and if you're like me, you'll also find yourself reaching for it more than others when you head out the door.
Save the 45-70 till you have the extra cash. It would be better for monster gators and Bigfoot, but not much else.

 

[Kurusu]

30-30. You said it will be your first rifle and you'll build up later as funds allow.
The 30-30 is about as perfect of a first rifle as you'll find, and if you're like me, you'll also find yourself reaching for it more than others when you head out the door.
Save the 45-70 till you have the extra cash. It would be better for monster gators and Bigfoot, but not much else.

Any wild hogs in the area? If so, what do you prefer. Tracking an angry wounded wild hog or picking it up where it fell.

That is what I mostly hunt around here. Don't care much about venisom.

Edit. Ammo price? I shoot about 50 rounds a year. Half of it for being sure where to aim at different distances.

 

[Dieseltech56]

Or a .44 Magnum for a little more punch.

Got a 24" Rossi rifle and like it.

That's funny. I have both a 357 and a 44 mag Rossi 92. I wouldn't give either of them up for a 30-30 or a 45-70. The 44 has plenty of knockdown power and the 357 is just an absolute joy to shoot. The problem right now seems to be availability. I had to pay full retail for my 357 or risk not seeing one for another year. They are really hard to find right now

 

[Kurusu]

That's funny. I have both a 357 and a 44 mag Rossi 92. I wouldn't give either of them up for a 30-30 or a 45-70. The 44 has plenty of knockdown power and the 357 is just an absolute joy to shoot. The problem right now seems to be availability. I had to pay full retail for my 357 or risk not seeing one for another year. They are really hard to find right now

I bought mine a long time ago. Don't know about present availabity.

Maybe it will be easier to find it in .45 Colt these days. And you can safely reload them for about the same power level. Just dont put them in a revolver.

 

[Inusuit]

I have both Winchester and Marlin rifles in .30-30. I recommend that caliber over the .45-70 for a first rifle, although the .22 recommended by another poster would be a good choice for learning to shoot a long gun.

As to the efficacy of the calibers, shot placement is critical. 250 yards is a long shot for either caliber by someone starting out. Yes, I know that the .45-70 is used by experts to 1000 yards, but we're talking a beginner here.

 

[Kurusu]

I have both Winchester and Marlin rifles in .30-30. I recommend that caliber over the .45-70 for a first rifle, although the .22 recommended by another poster would be a good choice for learning to shoot a long gun.

As to the efficacy of the calibers, shot placement is critical. 250 yards is a long shot for either caliber by someone starting out. Yes, I know that the .45-70 is used by experts to 1000 yards, but we're talking a beginner here.

My limit for a clean shot with the .45-70 is 300 yards. I use iron sights so the hog will have to be very still for me to even try the shot.

 

[500SNW]

Yeah...what Bullzaye said. Why not make the most of what a lever gun offers and pair it up with a nice revolver in .357 or .44 magnum. That's what made them so useful in the Old West and still useful today for the same reasons. The .357, fired from a long barrel is plenty powerful...125 grain bullet at 1800 fps...with 110 grain bullets approaching 2000 fps. And the .44 magnum with a long barrel and heavy for caliber projectiles has enough power for any type of big game. JMHO but I'd rather have 10 or 12 rounds of .357, .44 or even .45 Colt as opposed to 5 or 6 rounds of .30-30.

 

[nachogrande]

MY TAKE AWAY

Sorry if I missed something but a few things are jumping out at me. 1 Gun owner? (a handgun/what caliber?) Don't own a shotgun & plan on hunting? Is that possible? $ Is an issue. In the area you posted "realistic/statistic ranges would be/ could be more in the 40- 80 yard range & VERY doable with a shotgun with slugs. SO IMO get a relatively inexpensive pump shotgun with a variety of barrels (slug, 28" bird, 20-24" for turkey/home defense. You could hunt doves to black bear with such a rig & SD with a pistol grip (or not) & a short barrel. All for less $ than a 30/30 (ammo included), for a lower end pump like a Maverick 88. Back to the OP between the 30-30 & 45-70 the 30-30 IMO (get the 45-70 later if you still have that itch). A first rifle IMO shouldn't beat you up, till you are ready.

 

[Iggy]

A 30-30 is a good first hunting rifle.. Unless you are hunting Elkaphant or Moosapottamus, a 30-30 will do just fine if you do your part.


A lever action 45-70 and smokeless powder is liable make you flinch like crazy.

 

[nicky4968]

Remember, the .30-30 knocked off all the old black powder rounds, .45-70, .40-82, etc.
Considered flat-shooting in its day (inside 300 yards), it was thought of (no pun intended) as a death ray.
If you use it to put meat on the table there will be no complaints from anyone in the family about the cost.
When you do get a few dollars, a single-stage press is more than adequate for the cartridge (or any other).
Good luck.

 

[BearBio]

IF you are restricting yourself to Georgia, the 30-30 would be the better choice: faster handling, better penetration with equal loads, more availability and choice. The 30-30 MIGHT give you a little more range.

If you might ever use it for bigger game (or stuff that bites back)==moose. elk, bigger black bear, grizzly=then the 45-70 hands down. If cover is really think, get the 45-70.

 

[Tyree1867]

30-30 gets a thumbs up from me. And make it a Marlin for sure. Ammo from Hornady has really improved the range of the caliber. Someone mentioned the .35 Remington. I have one & love the gun, but ammo can be hard to find.

 

[s&wchad]

I'll throw a different idea at you. If you want just one rifle, might have shots out to 250 yards and want to someday hunt out of State, consider a bolt action .30-06.

Ammo is inexpensive and available everywhere, it has a lot more power than a .30-30 and considerable more range than a .45-70. It may not have the "cool factor" you'd like, but it's one of the best choices for general North American hunting.

 

[clang444]

Recommending a 45-70 as a first rifle is like recommending a .44 Magnum as a first revolver. It's a great way to develop a flinch every time a gun goes off. I'm sure there are some manly men that went right to a big bore gun the first time they ever fired a gun and shot the eye out of a charging grizzle bear from 1,200 yards, but most people will benefit greatly from ramping up their caliber/recoil.

Of the 2, no brainer - get a 30-30, but the .22lr recommendation above is the best advise on here.

It sounds like you want a lever action, but if you are open to a bolt action gun, there are some very affordable guns in the .243 - .270 Win range of calibers that would work very well for anything you want to shoot in your area.

 

[Drm50]

I live in Ohio, we have just recently gotten rifle deer season with
limited cartridge choice. I have many center fire hunting rifles.
I only had one legal, a Marlin 45/70. I like the gun and cartridge
but see no reason that a guy would want one for his "main" or
only rifle. There is nothing in eastern US that a 30/30 won't kill.
I would love to be able to use a 30/30 class rifle in Ohio. I still
have my 45/70 but didn't waste much time finding a legal caliber
rifle that was more pleasant to carry and shoot. The 30/30 is a
far more versatile cartridge than the 45/70. Probably the most
popular deer gun in the country.