45-70 or 30-30

[BearBio]

The 45-70 is a fantastic heavy duty rifle for taking just about any 4 legged game in N. America. Recoil is not for the shy and unless you are going to reload, I'd stay away from it. Reloading the 45-70 can easily turn the cartridge into a pleasant shooting rifle and an accurate one as well but with Factory loadings I doubt you will want to shoot it much.

I load 300 grain lead Bullets rather than the standard 405 grain and use a reduced powder charge - I can shoot it about 20 - 30 rounds before re-casing the rifle. With the heavy loads it's a 7 round day!

One problem with advice on the web is that people vary greatly. One example is in the area of recoil tolerance. I could shoot several boxes from my Sharps repro and more from my 1895. My 45-90 was even more of a *****cat, especially the old 405 lead loads. It is true that the 45-70 is more of a handloaders cartridge, regardless of recoil tolerance.

 

[BigBill]

Fact, the 30-30 caliber has taken more deer and black bear that all the other calibers added up together even today it's that popular.

The choices I would look at for my first rifle.

30-30
35 Remington
444 marlin
45-70

Now at my age(67yo) if I had to do it over again I didn't look to the future were the stout calibers would be hard on my battered body. I don't shoot my belted magnum anymore. Nor the other bolt actions. Now I wish I purchased every rifle in semi auto. Browning makes magnum calibers in semi auto. Future thought. I'd buy a semi auto.

 

[tnhawk]

I enjoy my .357 and .44 Henry rifles. I recently acquired a 45-70, but until I have enough brass to reload, it won't get much use.