Recoil from a 35 Rem Vs. the 30-30

[Rifleman1000]

The 35 and the 3030 recoil about the same , with the 35 having a bit more kick . However i still have a old box of Remington 220 grn bullets that are getting a little warm from age and they kick a bit more than normal. BTW remington nol onger makes the 220 grn bullets anymore and the box is about 30 years old .

[tman1965]

I have and shoot marlin 336's in both calibers and I cant tell any difference in recoil. I shoot 200 gr in the 35 and 150 in the 30-30.

[JPShelton]

My Question: In a 336C, is the recoil from a 35 Rem about the same as it is in the 30-30? My friend’s son stated he wished his Marlin had a little more “umph” to push through some of this southern brush. The tables state the 35 does have more power, it has a flatter trajectory, etc., but I fell for buying a gun on theory once; I don’t want to do it again. Deer season will be over before I can purchase a gun, which is a good thing since I need a lot of practice, but I’m really looking forward to shooting again. I’ve been reading Internet info since I came home, and this is the most non bias, member knowledgeable site I’ve found. Kudo’s to all.

In a Marlin 336, the felt recoil of the .35 and .30-30 is substantively similar.  No bullets "push through" brush -Southern or otherwise.  They all get deflected by it.  In practical terms, both rounds are substantively the same in terms of power.  The .30-30 MIGHT have a flatter trajectory, or it might not. Whether it does or doesn't depends on the ballistic coeffecient of the bullets used in a given load coupled with the velocity that they're launched at.

Mine is a .30-30 and I am glad for that for the following reasons:

1) Factory loads are commonly available
2) Some factory ammo in this caliber is about the cheapest centerfire ammo you can buy.  With careful shopping, I can feed my .30-30 factory ammo for about what .223 FMJ rounds sell for.
3) With the Hornady Leverevolution ammo, my .30-30 will kill a deer dead at distances greater than I would ever consider taking a shot at a live game animal
4) The round is easy to reload for and because the cases are rimmed, sizing die set up is less critical than it is for the .35 Remington, which of course is rimless and headspaces off the shoulder. I guess this is kind of moot to me, because I've generally always neck sized the cases that I shoot out of and through my 336.
5) With reduced power, cast bullet reloads, the .30-30 makes a dandy small game getter and plinker.

JP

[Halwg]

I read these questions on recoil all the time, especially on Marlin Owners where there are countless questions on the recoil of certain calibers vs another.  Look in the recoil tables and they'll show you that the 35 Remington has slightly more recoil than a 30-30.  Fine, what does that mean?

Actually nothing until YOU shoot the gun and see what it's recoil means for you.  I'm not particularly sensitive to recoil, but when I shoot from a bench, I always use a shoulder pad whether it's a 30-30 or a 338 magnum.  I don't like getting my shoulder bruised, and I don't want to develop a flinch.  In the field I can honestly say I never remember a gun "kicking" when I have been shooting at game.

As far as big game rifles go, both the 30-30 and 35 Remington are fairly mild recoiling cartridges, but a lot depends on the gun, as well.  I shot a short, little Marlin carbine with an 18" barrel and straight stock, and the recoil of the 30-30 in that gun was worse to me than a 30-06.  The gun simply didn't fit me.  The same load fires in a 336 C with pistol grip stock and 30" barrel was barely noticeable.

Bottom line...shoot the gun before you buy.

[jlchucker]

I grew up with 30-30's, and have owned a few 35 Remmies over the years.  Currently have guns in both calibers and handload for both.  The 35's have a little more "kick" but not much.  IMO recoil from either caliber is not bad, even when shooting rifles without recoil pads from a bench, wearing a t-shirt in summery weather.  I usually use bullets (or "boolets") in the 170 grain range, (30-30) or 200 grain (in my 35's).  I would think you'd get plenty of enjoyment from either caliber. 

[Landngroove]

I have Marlin 336's in .30-30, and .35 Remington. I find the recoil between the two to be about the same. If a .35 is what you are interested in, you won't go wrong. As far as ammo availabilty, this is a non issue. Midsouth Shooter's, Grafs, Midway USA, all have ammo for a .35, and usually less money than you can buy locally.  I find Graf's to have the best prices, and the shipping is included in the posted price. I used to handload all my ammo for my .30-30, .35, and also my .32 Winchester Special, but now use Hornady Leverevolution Ammo in all three.  Good Stuff !   

[mcwoodduck]

I shoot both the .30-30 & the .35.  Neither has any recoil but then I don't even notice the .30-06.

As Swampy said I really can not tell the diff between a lot of calibers.
But that is when I am standing.  When I sit at the bench... I can tell when I am shooting larger stuff.
When standing recoil is absorbed by your whole body.  When at the bench -  Mostly by your shoulder.
Of the three, Flip a coin I would go with the 30-30 for deer (150 or 170 grain loaded bullets are abundant in any gun store) and you will find them cheaper per box so more bangs for the bucks.
If you still had the 30-06 I would say give the reduced recoil loads a try.

  

[WyoStillhunter]

I have both.  I notice the recoil more with the 35 but that's not to say it is drastically more.  As others have said, it's all relative and highly personal.  I believe it is important to acknowledge recoil and admit that for most shooters increased recoil results in decreased accuracy.  It's not macho to admit it but it's a fact.

A few years ago I bought a PAST shoulder pad for shooting my heavier recoiling rifles off the bench (35 Whelen and 444 Marlin).  It helped a bunch.  Now I wear it for all centerfire shooting at the range.  It pretty much takes recoil off the table.

I wish I had known this years ago.  It would have saved a bunch of flinching and made summer range sessions more fun when there was just a T-shirt between me and the buttplate.

[BUCKDUSTER]

go with the .35.  you wont be disappionted.  exellent deer cartridge and very fun to shoot. 200 grainers all the way.

[GTKF]

I have a 336 in 35 Rem and a Winchester 94 in 30-30. I have shot both in lever action silhouette. I can shoot 40 (165gr) rounds with the winchester, a lighter gun. After 25-30 shots I feel the 35 in my shoulder. That being said in a hunting situation with one shot, it doesn't make a difference

[gr8ful]

I can't tell the difference in recoil between my 30-30 with 170gr and my cousin's 35 rem with 200gr, my son thinks the 30-30 is louder but i can't tell there either. both kill deer within thier limitations, but neither is a long range gun (200 yds +)

[RIF]

Your really talking gnats butt here as far as recoil goes.  The 35 Rem is just a better all around woods rifle than the 30wcf.  So I would steer that way.  If recoil bothers you, try either of these in a 24 inch MXLR.  The heavier barrel and standard recoil pad will help to tame recoil.   

[ratdog]

when that animal is just standing there brod side i dont fill any recoil when i drop the hammer.

[ShooterSATX]

Sorry, wrong topic...BUMP!

I bought an XL7 in .270 and 30-06 a couple of years ago. The -06 still sits in my safe unfired. I put a Bushnell Elite 3200 on both however.

I bought a box of cheap ammo to break the barrel in on the .270 at Wally World. To my surprise, that ammo gave me less than 1-inch groups @ 100 yds. It is Federal Power Shock 130 gr SP bought for $11.99 (at the time). I was extremely impressed with that accuracy with such an inexpensive load! I bought several boxes at Midway for $17.99 and still feel that this rifle and ammo purchase was the best bang for my buck yet.

My brother-in-law (wife's step-brother) has been using borrowed guns for the past two years. While I was in Iraq, he really helped out my 68 y/o father-in-law at the ranch and stuff. So, I gave it to him (with a different scope though. I told him just how good of a gun he now has. Just a little show of gratitude for helping the Old Man out. I guess that was my way of paying it forward.

I guess now I need to work on blowing the dust off of the 30-06 and figuring out what she likes...I got lucky on the first try with the Federal Power Shock for the .270.

To back track a little, I bought these guns cheap and figured they would make great backups or loaners. Or just to leave one at the ranch. Boy, I am I a happy camper.

Cheers!

Shooter