Author Topic: 30-30 or 45-70 (Read 979 times)

Gallahad · « **on:** January 14, 2006, 03:34:43 PM »

I want to get a nice factory 14" bbl. for deer. I know the 30-30 would be just fine, but I really like the 45-70 cartridge.
I like loading straight wall cases better, thats for sure. Just concerned
about recoil in 45-70. I handle 44 mag & 41 mag & 357 mag loads
no problem out of blackhawks, & raging bulls. but I tried a redhawk in
480 ruger with factory 325 gr. hornady loads, and that was too much
for my small wrists. actually put some pain in my palm too. I guess id
really like the ol' 45-70 but I don't know how manegable it is in a contender
pistol. shooting the same weight bullet, at the same speed, the 45-70 produces less than half the pressure of the 480. How this would relate to recoil I do not know. I'd obviously get one with a tamer on the muzzle. If I don't think I could take the recoil id be looking at a 30-30. What kind of range would the 45-70 have out of a 14" bbl? And whats the max pressure for this round in contender? sorry if this topic was worn out long ago, I did search the
forum, but I'd really appreciate some good points of veiw on the matter. Thanks!

swampthing · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2006, 04:13:53 PM »

If you were planning on most of your shots being inside 100yds I'd say pick your favorite. Adjustment can be made to custom tailor a load to you liking.
I look at what range I expect to encounter game at, for me its less than 100 yds and most of the time it is less than 50yds. For me a .44mag does this with power to spare. Plus I reload, so a light charge of fast pistol powder, which clocks in at 1200fps out of my 7.5" revolver and doing around 1300fps in a fixed chamber gun, recoil is pretty.
If I planed on shooting game past 150 yds routinely I would just practice more. It's amazing what a good hard cast bullet will do even at this velocity. A 45-70 seems a little excessive. As far as a 30-30 I'm pretty sure the bullets designed for it's velocities would limit the effective range of the cartridge, as velocities would be too low at the farther distances to expand them reliably, leaving you to tinker with lead alloys to get proper terminal performance, or, shoot only light weight .30cal jacketed bullets.

Gregory · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2006, 04:23:29 PM »

I've shot just enough rounds out of a 45-70 Contender to know I don't want one. My upper limit for recoil tolerance is a 10" 44 Mag, or a 14" 35 Remington.

I'm currently shooting a 357 Max 10" and I find it well within my comfort level and very effective on deer.

Some like the hard kickers...I don't.

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:00:19 PM »

Gallahad:

I have a 45-70 barrel (non ported and no tamer), I also have a couple of rifles in 45-70. It is a great caliber for bear and moose, but the recoil can be rough using bullets over 350 grains. Recoil is pretty stout for anything other than factory 300 grain loads. But then again if deer is all your after the factory 300 grain hp will do just fine. I have taken bear with the 45-70 and it is effective! I always get a good exit wound and they never go far. It hits like a sledge hammer, knocking most to the ground. I keep my shots within 100 yards and never have a problem. If I were hunting deer with a 45-70, I would go with a moderate load in a 300 or 350 grain Hornady bullet.

Just a thought, but have you ever considered the 7-30 waters?

The 7-30 waters has all the power you need for deer and the recoil is easy to handle. I use mine for all around use on the farm. It does great on deer, coyote's, fox and the occassional wood chuck. I used to use a 223 barrel for coyote's, fox and ect., but anymore I just leave the 7-30 barrel on, I like it better. I have not used it on bear and would choose a different caliber for that, but in a pinch it would probably due just fine, with good bullet placement. Accuracy in my 14 inch barrel is great, it shoots as good as most of my rifles. Brass is easy to get and you can always neck down 30-30's.

Just my two cents worth!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:57:13 PM »

Gallahad, if the 480 gave you problems, you might want to go with the 30-30. The 45-70 has a heavy recoil.

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2006, 06:17:56 PM »

I shoot a 14" 45-70 without a brake, tamer or scope (means it is a light gun) and personally like it. Recoil is heavy but not that bad using trapdoor loads. I have shot 40 rounds at a time before without problems, but I have also shot 10 rounds and said enough, just depends on my mood I guess.

I also have a 30-30. Recoil is not bad at all with it.

I like shooting them both, but I think the 45-70 would be more my favorite, even though it kicks more. I have shot a 45-70 with a brake and I did not think it kicked bad at all, probably less than my 44Mag, but no guns of mine will ever have a break.

handcanon · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2006, 03:58:07 AM »

I have the 45-70 and love it. But if recoil is your worry try loading with Black power. Recoil is low and with time 100 m. is not out of the question, that is with a good heavy bullet.

jeff223 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:51:26 AM »

you might give a 445super mag some thought.i rechambered a 44mag barrel to 445 and love it.with max loads and a 240gr bullet the recoil is stout but to bad.when you jump to 300 grainers the recoil hurts your hand

Zcarp2 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:40:22 AM »

Do you reload? What range do you usually take deer?

I shoot 405gr cast out of a Trapdoor. Moderate recoil with Trapdoor loadings. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot the same in my buddy's 16" TC.

He shoots 350 gr jacketed. With a tamer, moderate recoil. Pleasant compared to my 30-06.

Even loaded down, either will zip right through a deer. I don't shoot factory rounds. They are a little zippier than I like. The longer ranges, more than 150 yards will be a challenge due to the trajectory of a slow moving round. If you know your load, you can shoot that far.

People still target shoot with 45-70's at 1000 yards. It can be done. <smile>

Lone Star · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:53:37 AM »

A softly-recoiling load for my T/C is a 300-grain cast or jacketed bullet ahead of 21 grains of BlueDot. Expect around 1300 fps or so, but recoil will be below any factory load. Work up slowly, this is not a "low pressure" load but approaches trapdoor pressures at low velocities.

n8ghz · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2006, 10:30:12 AM »

45-70 Contender:

This is the only caliber barrel that I have 2 of.
I have the 12" TC muzzle-tamer braked version & a 14" SSK full-rib with brake.
I cast, and use alot of 405 hollow-points in pure-lead.
Definitely a 100 yd sledge-hammer.

I must admit that I am from the 'If big is better,then too much...is just enough' crowd...along with the 309JDJ & 375JDJ...even a heavy-bullet 357 Herrett is a bloody-elbow deal, but I heal fast.

Gavinator · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:27:25 PM »

The 45-70 from T/C is most likely set-up for 18,000 psi, and a 300gr bullet factory load, because it's throated so short a heavier bullet won't allow the action to close.
I still have my 45-70 barrel but haven't shot it in over a year & a half, a
Super 14 Hunter, I was down to only 10 rounds at a time. The recoil was effecting my trigger pull & made it feel like I had arthritis in my wrist. It does do a number on bowling pins!
The Super 14 30-30 (no brake) was a docile, easy to deal with nice shooter. I rechambered it to an improved and was really impressed, now the only caliber in Contenders that I have two of is 30-30 improved.
My suggestion is that since you really want a 45-70, you should go ahead and get one, if it's a mistake sell it, you won't come out bad.

myronman3 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2006, 12:46:57 AM »

you did the right thing by being honest about recoil. too many try to kid everyone including themselves.

put some pachmayer grips on that contender, and get yourself a nice 30-30 barrel. you will never regret it.