Author Topic: Lever action big bore or a bolt action .30-06? (Read 1154 times)

KodiakHunter · « **on:** August 06, 2004, 05:46:27 PM »

I'm having a hard time deciding between a Marlin .45/70 Guide Gun, or the Savage 110 (actually a 116 all weather?) .30-06 bolt action gun.

I don't shoot past 150 yards, and I'll mainly be hunting moose, black bear, brown/grizzly bear, and blacktail and whitetail deer (I'm in the Coast Guard so I move a lot!). I already have a trusty old .30-30 lever gun.

I'm not sure if I should go for the lever action or for the bolt action. The lever action is stainless/wood, the bolt is stainless/synthetic.

Keep in mind that I don't shoot past 150 yards.

I'm open to any and all suggestions and thoughts.

Thank you!
Andy
Kodiak, Alaska

dawei · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2004, 06:17:00 PM »

Quote from: KodiakHunter

I'm having a hard time deciding between a Marlin .45/70 Guide Gun, or the Savage 110 (actually a 116 all weather?) .30-06 bolt action gun.

I don't shoot past 150 yards, and I'll mainly be hunting moose, black bear, brown/grizzly bear, and blacktail and whitetail deer (I'm in the Coast Guard so I move a lot!). I already have a trusty old .30-30 lever gun.

I'm not sure if I should go for the lever action or for the bolt action. The lever action is stainless/wood, the bolt is stainless/synthetic.

Keep in mind that I don't shoot past 150 yards.

I'm open to any and all suggestions and thoughts.

Thank you!
Andy
Kodiak, Alaska

It's often said if you can have only one rifle a 30/06 is the way to go. There are better deer (270), bear (338/35), moose (375/416) rifles & calibers. For a DO IT ALL/ONE SIZE FITS ALL it's hard to beat the ol 06. Having said all that; & your being in Alaska with the BIG CRITTERS THAT WILL HUNT YOU; go with the 45/70. There is no such thing as OVERKILL; ESPECIALLY A KODIAK BEAR.

BTW........ Thanks for what you do; keeping this old soldier, and OUR COUNTRY, safe!

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2004, 10:10:52 PM »

I agree with the .45/70."Better to have it and not need it,than to need it and not have it." :lol: ............Rick

leverfan · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2004, 08:06:33 PM »

The Marlin sounds ideal for your current hunting situation, so I'd start with that, if it was me. I once sold off a Marlin 444 to get the money for a bolt action 30-06, and I've been regretting it ever since. Get the lever gun, put a good peep sight on it, and save your money for a bolt gun later on.

Thank you for all that you and your co-workers in the Coast Guard do every day. I've been over the Columbia River bar enough to understand just how valuable you folks are, and I've got relatives fishing off Alaska's coast. You guys take on the biggest national threat of all, mother nature (and human nature is a close second)! If you're ever stationed at the mouth of the Columbia, a 45-70 will make a dandy hunting rifle around these parts, too.

KodiakHunter · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2004, 08:13:20 PM »

First off, thanks to everyone that replied. Also, thank you to those who thanked me for serving. For me, it's a career and a lifestyle. Trying to do more with less gets pretty tiring sometimes, but it's all worth it. I can retire at 42 years of age!

OK - about the guns. I bought both. Savage .30-06 and Marlin .45/70 Guide Gun. Pissed the wife off a bit - but it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!

Thanks again!
Andy

leverfan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2004, 08:20:11 PM »

Quote from: KodiakHunter

OK - about the guns. I bought both. Savage .30-06 and Marlin .45/70 Guide Gun. Pissed the wife off a bit - but it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!

Thanks again!
Andy

That's the perfect solution, but I didn't know enough about your finances to suggest it!

Be sure to get your wife a nice present, or get her interested in shooting, at least

. My wife wants to try cowboy action shooting, and the expense of that makes my purchases look like chicken feed.

KodiakHunter · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2004, 09:24:09 PM »

Quote from: leverfan

That's the perfect solution, but I didn't know enough about your finances to suggest it!

Be sure to get your wife a nice present, or get her interested in shooting, at least . My wife wants to try cowboy action shooting, and the expense of that makes my purchases look like chicken feed.

My wife, fortunately, loves the outdoors. She duck hunts with us each year, and has been deer hunting for us every now and then. She just went on one of my "training hikes" in the mountains tonight. She's a trooper - I love her to death! Of course, I should expect that seeing as how she's a Northern Michigan girl!

mountainview · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2004, 05:12:58 AM »

K-Hunter, when in doubt getting both is my preferred solution if the finances are up to it. It is always nice to have a selection of tools for the job at hand and with 2, you also double your enjoyment at the range. The Savage is a nice firearm though I only have 3. If you got the Accutrigger model, you will probably grow quite attached to it.

Safe shooting.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2004, 06:08:05 AM »

I own both a 30-06 and a 45-70. Based on the circumstances you outlined, I would take my 45-70.

I would not hesitate to us the 30-06 on the largest brown bear with the right bullet, but the 45-70 will just do it better within the yardage you mentioned.

300gr bullet for deer, elk, moose, caribou, black bear and a 400gr or larger for griz/ brown.

mogwai · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2004, 04:43:33 PM »

There is an option in between. A lever action 30-06!!! BLR and Winchester 1895 are two options for the above. The BLR offers the options of scoping, as well.

leverfan · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2004, 07:49:16 PM »

mogwai-

Thanks for picking lever actions for your first post. I'd say welcome to Graybeard, too, but I noticed how long you've already been a member.

The 1895 certainly has a lot of class, but for the price, a guy could buy a few used guns. I don't know what the Coast Guard is paying Andy, but it's hard for me to pay that much for just one gun. The BLR can be a good choice, and I've had fun shooting a few, but they've just never convinced me that I really needed one. The .358 version is very tempting, though.

Have a good one, and I hope you come back soon and often.

pc · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:55:08 PM »

I love the 45/70 and the 30/06 and have 2 45/70's and a bolt ruger 30/06.

On this topic I reckon if you want the Ultimate cross over caliber which will do the roles of both the 45/70 and the 30/06 in that you get some smashing power of the 45/70 and also get some flatter shooting characterristics of the 30/06 buy a Rifle in .375 H&H and mount a 1-4 leupold or 2-7 leupold. You can load from 235 gr speers right through to 350 gr woodleigh's recoil is on a par with the 45/70 probably less as it will have better stock design.

Just my thoughts....