Recommend another rifle caliber for me please?

[mcwoodduck]

...if you are thinking of a 30-06 I would say spend the money on a reloader and start working up some pointed bullet loads for 125 grain out of your 30-30 and douplicate anything the 30-06 can do with the same size projectiles. 

A .30/30 cannot duplicate what a .30/06 can do with same sized projectiles... it can duplicate the trajectory of a 180/200 grain .30/06 by using 125 grain bullets... but at a much lower energy level... But I still think the .223 makes the most sense for the OP...

OK I agree you can not duplicate the 30-06 in the 30-30 case.  But on that same note for a 150 grain bullet out of the handi you can load a pointed bullet, and you can get a little more out of it as it is a strong action, I think they call the round loaded theis way 30 American.  Yes it will be faster  than the 30-30 and close ot or equal to the 308 win and just a few feeet per second under the 30-06 but you can reach 200 yards with it, it will kill deer and other animals with it the same as 30-06 will.
Speed of the bullet has more to do with the trajectory than anything else.  The longer the bullet is in flight the more effect and time gravity has to effect the bullet, at 200 to 300 feet per second slower with the same bullet the 30-30 will hit an inch to three lower than the 30-06. 

[Ol BW]

I live in dense woods although wide open pastures are also available not far from me. My primary needs are hunting and predator control.

Would it be beneficial to get a Handi Rifle in .45-70?  My dominant use is getting in close and shooting.  I do not prefer to shoot from over 200 yards away.

Getting a Handi-Rifle in any calibre will be beneficial! 

You need to be a little more specific about what role you want this rifle to fill.  As you can see you can probably do what you described with what you have.  But if your LOOKING for a reason to buy a gun you have come to the right place!

If you are looking for a rifle that you can hunt DEER with and varmints, you can make a list a mile long and more if you hand load.  Talking about off the shelf ammo I would recommend .243 Win.

Small game hunting and varmint hunting, any of the rimfires and centerfire 22's would do the job and centerfire may even work for deer where legal.  Handloading opens up numerous possibilities for several calibers, as there are folks who load round balls and a cap to shoot small game.  ("Hammond's game getter"?)

BW

[wganz]

Split 50/50 with dinny and hoyt. Both are very versatile but if it wasn't for the limited availability of .223 around here I'd have to lean towards .223

With .223 ammo now being made out of unobtainium, I'd suggest a .22-250 for a .224" centerfire. I'll be the contrarian here and suggest either a .270 or .25-06 since that ammo is still available on the shelf. They are easier on the shoulder, shoot flatter, and kill just as dead as a .30-06 plus you can still find ammo for them.

[OldSchoolRanger]

I don't know about the ammo situation where you are located, but the LGS around here are finally getting 223 ammo in.  Today my LGS had PMC, TULA, and Hornady TAP ammo in 223Rem.  He does have a two box limit on the number of boxes you can buy.  Personally, I think it's a good temporary policy, it stops the hoarders, and resellers.

If you can get 223 ammo easily, I would have to go with the 223, but otherwise, the .357 is the better choice.  You can shoot 38Spec/.357Mag out of it, this allows you to use either caliber, when the other one isn't available.  This versatility is something to consider with the ammo situation the way it is.  If you choose to ream it to 357Max, you have an additional caliber that you can use in your rifle.

[tobster]

'

The .30-30, the .45-70, and the .357 Max are redundant.  The .30-06 works great at 200 yards....

Narrow minded or wise? That one is about as easy to answer as the difference between being eccentric and being insane. 

Thanks, Dinny'

                Good one Dinny.   This strikes me as a win/win situation. Since you're on this forum the question really isn't which on to get, but which one to get FIRST.  The way the ammo situation is right now, you might be better off to secure the ammo before you get the gun. 

[8uck5nort]

I'll put another vote in the 357 max catagory. Fine cartridge and proven critter gitter up to deer size game in my neck of the woods. Plus it is multi cartridge capable if that has not come up yet.

[SHOOTALL]

Two rifles fill the nitch the OP noted . The 243 and the 2506. I would take the 2506 . The 2506 gives up nothing on varmits and has more for deer etc.

[petemi]

If the man does not want to shoot over 200 yards, he has no need of a .25-06, .30-06, .223, .22-250.  I voted for the Maxi because it is the one I grab first while owning all the others.  With the Maxi, you have four rifles in your hand at once.....38, .357 Mag., .360 DW and .357 Max.  You can do anything you want out to 300 yards.  Perhaps this is why we only own three of them.  We own twos of several other calibers, but the only threes we have are Maxis.  I might add it is easy and inexpensive to load for.

Pete

[SHOOTALL]

I have hunted with a 2506 for over 30 years and the longest shot , maybe 100 yards . For several years I use open sights because I could not afford a scope. The gun worked well. It will shoot lazer flat out to your self imposed 200 yard limit. It will be faster and less affected by win. And if the need ever arose will provide accuracy for longer shots. NEED ?

[sluggo]

 I stopped trying to debate and just started buying and shooting them. .223, .308, .270, .357, 20 & 12 gauge rifled. My .308 is a tried and true reach out and touch something go to gun. But, inside 150 yds nothing survives the Hammer of Thor 12 ga.

[tobster]

'

I stopped trying to debate and just started buying and shooting them. .223, .308, .270, .357, 20 & 12 gauge rifled. My .308 is a tried and true reach out and touch something go to gun. But, inside 150 yds nothing survives the Hammer of Thor 12 ga.

'                                                        Does that include your shoulder?

[offgrid_life]

You all are hilarious!!!       I love all the suggestions.   

Appreciate your responses,
Victor

[sluggo]

'

I stopped trying to debate and just started buying and shooting them. .223, .308, .270, .357, 20 & 12 gauge rifled. My .308 is a tried and true reach out and touch something go to gun. But, inside 150 yds nothing survives the Hammer of Thor 12 ga.

'                                                        Does that include your shoulder?

.....a box of slugs at the range with make you say the next day.......I will never ever do that  again!!! Just like after closing a bar. And it's the ultrlight not HB which makes for a more fun recoil. In the field you never notice it