Author Topic: 45-70 or 30-30  (Read 1299 times)

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Offline tapout812

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45-70 or 30-30
« on: April 27, 2005, 10:56:15 AM »
Just wanted a few opinions about what to choose.

I'm mainly going to be hunting deer and wild hogs here in East Texas. Thats one reason Im choosing a Marlin in the first place. I know that the 30-30 and 45-70 are both enough for deer but my main focus is on hogs. I want the gun to do good on both of em. I dont want to spend 100-150 more dollars on the 45-70 if the 30-30 is gonna be enough for the hogs. Also, I wouldnt use the 45-70 on anything bigger than hogs since deer and hogs is all I hunt. 30-30 has alot more ammo choices other than the 45-70 and 30-30 is alot cheaper.

Given my situation, what do you think will be "enough and right for my needs"?

Offline redd7

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2005, 01:06:26 PM »
The 30-30 should do just fine for what you described. Guns with large holes in the barrels are fun though. Have you concidered a marlin in 44 mag or 45 colt?

Offline victorcharlie

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2005, 02:30:52 PM »
How about a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington?  200 grain FP for deer at 2200 fps, and 220 grain for hogs.......I have a Marlin 1895 45.70 and it's quite a thumper........if you go for the .45.70 you'll probably want to add some sort of aftermarket recoil pad......I chose a Sims Research limbsaver for mine and it helped a lot!

By contrast, I just got a Marlin 336 in .35 remington.......and it has little recoil, at least compared to the 45.70......I didn't notice the recoil of the .35 remington at all........the .35 is an increase in power versus the .30.30 or 32 winchester special........as it pushes the 200 grain about the same speed the .30.30 pushes the 170 grain......or the way I figure it.....about 15% more umph.......also makes a little bigger hole........

30/30, .45.70. or .35.....I don't see how any of them would be a bad choice for what you want to do.........VC
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue."
Barry Goldwater

Offline mr.frosty

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2005, 02:41:18 PM »
I got both and still get the willies when I touch off the 45/70!
The 30/30 I have I sort of retired it, dont get me wrong aint nothing wrong with the old girl, she still shoots good just dont use her as much since I got the 45/70.
" People should say what they mean and mean what they say. Life is too short to be lead down the wrong path."

Offline tapout812

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2005, 03:57:23 PM »
VictorCharlie,

   From what I have seen the .35 is a little slower and has less energy than a 30-30. 200gr .35 vs. 170gr 30-30. The .35 has around 1700 in velocity versus the 30-30 with around 1900. In energy, .35 with 1280 and 30-30 with 1355. Those are rated at 100 yards, about what Im gonna be hunting with.

Offline victorcharlie

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2005, 02:30:52 AM »
Per Remingtons ballistic web page......

.35 Remington 200 grain Core-lokt,  Muzzle velocity 2080, energy 1921.

.30.30 170 gn Core-lokt, Muzzle velocity 2200, energy 1827.

Here's the suprise to me,

.32 Winchester Special 170 gn Core-Lokt

Muzzle velocity 2250, energy 1911.

Retained energy at 100 yard......1st .32 Winchester Special, 2nd 30.30 Winchester, 3rd .35 Remington.

However, if you handload........the .35 can do much better........the .35 has been very popular around here for many years and is one of those cartridges that kill better than it should.......

I haven't found any penetration test......but I would think the momentum from the .35 would be greater........

There is not much difference in the above 3, and your right, it would be much easier to find ammo for the 30.30........I read somewhere on the internet that the 30.30 outsold the .35 50 to 1.........

I think I'd rather have a .35 for hogs......that said, how many spirits can dance on the head of a pin?

This could be fun to play with:  http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/ballistics.htm
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue."
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Offline Mikey

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2005, 02:51:54 AM »
tapout812 - how large are your hogs in Texas???  That would or should determine your caliber choices.  If you're looking at hogs going to 200 lbs or slightly better then teh 30-30 will work just fine for you.  If, however, you are looking at some monster porkers down there I would go with the 45-70.  JMHO.  Mikey.

Offline tapout812

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2005, 06:35:47 AM »
The hogs that we hunt can get way over 200 pounds, but what we kill are the ones that are between 100-150. We dont really go for the big ones cuz the meat really isnt as good.

Offline 1895GG

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45-70 or 30-30
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2005, 01:58:22 PM »
TapOut, VC and others, VC mentioned about penetration tests--the following does not have penetration tests for the .35 or .30-30 as I remember, but it does have an amazing test for the .45-70.  I found it interesting and thought you might too.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/
Shoot That ThAng!