Recommend another rifle caliber for me please?

[offgrid_life]

I currently have a Handi Rifle in .30-30 and a Marlin GBL 1895 (.45-70).  I am thinking of getting another Handi Rifle and would like any advice on what calibre to fill in my collection.  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.

Any thought is appreciated.

Thanks,
Victor

[Ranger99]

can't hurt to have a 45/70
i don't
but i will


you likely need a .357 mag first

[gendoc]

late model 35 whelen...........

[mcwoodduck]

Preditor, and small to medium game?  I wouold say a 22 Hornet.  with a low power scope 2-7X33 or so.
More than enough power for preditors and varmints, heck if it is legal it can even take small deer if you place the 45 or 46 grain bullet into the boiler room.
Low recoil, easy to reload, and cheap to reload. 

[tobster]

I think a .223 would fill in the gap better than anything else.  Relatively low recoil and ammo cost, especially if you don't handload.  Another option I would consider because of the current ammo drought is the .270. It seems wherever I go , if they have any ammo at all , it's  the 270. When ammunition and reloading components loosen up ( or should I say if they loosen up) you could always add a .223 barrel.

[Swampman]

You need a .30-06......

[Oldshooter]

I think a .223 would fill in the gap better than anything else.  Relatively low recoil and ammo cost, especially if you don't handload.  Another option I would consider because of the current ammo drought is the .270. It seems wherever I go , if they have any ammo at all , it's  the 270. When ammunition and reloading components loosen up ( or should I say if they loosen up) you could always add a .223 barrel.

What I thought. only difference,  I was never able to get my 270 to shoot groups tight enough to trust it out to 200 hundred yards, it would shoot 2 1/2 inch groups at 100 and I never missed a shot with it. However the mental distrust for a shot at 200 or better was always there. so if i wouldn't take a 200 yard shot with it why have a 270. 

[peak98]

For hunting shots ~200yd and less, the 35 Whelen is a sledge hammer on mid size game. I have a 35 Whelen Handi that I will not hesitate to use at ~300yds and in. For pure fun, a 223 or 22-250.

[cbshtr]

A step up from the 223 is the 243. If you don't handload you can buy factory varmint and big game loads. A lot of guys in PA and elsewhere use it for deer using head and neck shots, something I personally have mixed opinions about. But if you search here there was a thread recently about the 243 Handi and had many pictures of deer taken with that style of hunting. I know I was impressed.

[mo_bio]

late model 35 whelen...........

yep, would be my choice. love mine.

[Dinny]

+1 for the .357 Mag......then ream it to Maximum.

Thanks, Dinny

[Couger]

You need a .30-06......

Yep,  or a .308 Winnie,  or both. 

[petemi]

Sorry guys, I agree with Dinny hands down.  .357 reamed to Max.  He already said he doesn't want shots over 200 yards & wants it for woods work and predator control.  The maxi gives him loads from 500 fps to 2500 fps...do with what you want.

Pete

[Dinny]

I have seen 110gr Rem JHP varmint loads for the .357 Maximum that are running just over 3000fps.

Thanks, Dinny

[Swampman]

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

[Dinny]

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

[twoshooter]

The 30/30 in a handi can be loaded with 125 gr pointed bullets that have a decent BC and shoot pretty flat to 200+ yards. I know because I do. A 45/70 cant be beat for close range power and you have one of the best. You say you prefer to get in close, and you want to "hunt" and for predator control, I assume coyotes, foxes, coons etc. There are 2 cartridges that come immediately to mind. A Hornet and the 357 mag. Both are accurate to 100 yards. Both will take predators at that distance without  problem. I use both a great deal. Both are cheap and easy to reload, the 357 has a wider range of factory loads and is easier to find ammo for. The Hornet is quieter and less danger of over penetration or ricochet . You do not "need" another high power. You will find that if you have a Hornet you will not hesitate to take a shot, while the 30/06 you will be worried what is behind it, the noise, the recoil etc, regardless of if it is even conscious.
     If handi ever makes a commercial run of the 300 AAC it is a great compromise, from 200+ grain subsonic that are very quiet to 110 gr  at over 2000 fps that is a credible hunting round. Many here questioned its utility originally, this is exactly the scenario it would fit perfectly.

[canon6]

Being the "odd man "that I am let me post one for the 6.5 BRM.Or the 30-30 necked to 6.5mm. A 140 gr bullert @ 2400, with a high sd and a high BC a real killer in a single shot.Doug

[hoytcanon]

I agree with someone above... EVERY shooter needs a .22 caliber centerfire... get a 1:9 .223, all of the late model Handi .223's are 9 twists. With the .30/30 a .357 Max doesn't make sense IMO... neither does the Whelen with your .45/70 already in the cabinet. Get a gun that does something different from what you currently have available. The .223 will handle your predators and varmints and will also provide inexpensive shooting fun.

[ironglow]

  Put me on with Dinny..and a bit more..357. 357 Maxi or .44 mag..  The .44 mag is great in the deep woods..and with 200 gr bullets, it can hit around 2100 fps..and reach out pretty good.  I must admit though...I have a "thing" for 44 mag rifles.
 
  My current .44 mag

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Sorry guys, I agree with Dinny hands down.  .357 reamed to Max.  He already said he doesn't want shots over 200 yards & wants it for woods work and predator control.  The maxi gives him loads from 500 fps to 2500 fps...do with what you want.

Pete

a Whelen will do that and then some....

[ironglow]

But can you get the 35 Whelen cartridges in the hardware in the village of Lower Podunk..if you need them?

[YRUpunting?]

I agree with someone above... EVERY shooter needs a .22 caliber centerfire... get a 1:9 .223, all of the late model Handi .223's are 9 twists. With the .30/30 a .357 Max doesn't make sense IMO... neither does the Whelen with your .45/70 already in the cabinet. Get a gun that does something different from what you currently have available. The .223 will handle your predators and varmints and will also provide inexpensive shooting fun.

I'm a huge fan of the 357 Maxi but looking at your long gun list Hoyt is correct, you need a 223.  Get a Superlight and an adult stock and you have a great everyday walk around rifle.  Keep the open sights or scope it.

If you're not hand loading spend the funds on reloading equipment and wait on the rifle.  I waited 20 years too long before I started reloading.

[ironglow]

I agree with someone above... EVERY shooter needs a .22 caliber centerfire... get a 1:9 .223, all of the late model Handi .223's are 9 twists. With the .30/30 a .357 Max doesn't make sense IMO... neither does the Whelen with your .45/70 already in the cabinet. Get a gun that does something different from what you currently have available. The .223 will handle your predators and varmints and will also provide inexpensive shooting fun.

I'm a huge fan of the 357 Maxi but looking at your long gun list Hoyt is correct, you need a 223.  Get a Superlight and an adult stock and you have a great everyday walk around rifle.  Keep the open sights or scope it.

If you're not hand loading spend the funds on reloading equipment and wait on the rifle.  I waited 20 years too long before I started reloading.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  The .223 is a good choice also... but I will add a resounding DITTO as to the reloading experience.  I introduced two grandsons to reloading, and I think they enjoy it nearly as much as hunting.

[bucco921]

A step up from the 223 is the 243. If you don't handload you can buy factory varmint and big game loads. A lot of guys in PA and elsewhere use it for deer using head and neck shots, something I personally have mixed opinions about. But if you search here there was a thread recently about the 243 Handi and had many pictures of deer taken with that style of hunting. I know I was impressed.

243 works quite fine with "normal" kill shots into the lung\heart area also. That being said I have to agree with 223, especially in the superlight platform.

[mcwoodduck]

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

Wait all three are big game rounds, yes the 30-06 does better at 200 yards but so what.  the 30-06 would be redundant to the other two.
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. 
Years ago I walked into a gun shop looking for a 9mm and the guy behind the counter asked me if I owned a 22LR pistol, I said yes I had a 22 Pistol and a 44 Revolver, He said to spend th money I was going to spend on a new pistol and gear on a reloader and 22 ammo and get better with both of them that 44 Special does what a 45 ACP does and the mag does a whole lot more.  Had I only listened to him I would have been a lot better shot and not have had the thousands of $ tied up in multiple versions of the same ballistics. 
In normal times I wuld have suggested 223 but with the ammo shortage and 223 being hard to find I have found multiple boxes of 22 Hornet on the shelves, that leter cna be reamed or traded for a 223. 

[hoytcanon]

...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...

[redleg11b]

I have a .223 as my only current cf rifle cartridge.  Factory rounds can be found from LR level to sizzling.  I too would recommend that caliber, but only if you have a source for ammo.  I have seen Hornet and 22-250 on shelves though.  Both will work for your intended use, and then some.  30-30 is good for medium game to 200 and the 45-70 will do well beyond that if accurate enough and the trajectory is learned.  Have you thought about a rimfire rifle?  The HMR or WMR fit into the get closer part of hunting you describe, and can work on smaller to medium vermin out to 200.  I wouldn't try either on yotes unless there were within rock distance or they were set up for that elusive perfect shot.  JMHO

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably opt for the Hornet though.

[offgrid_life]

Thank you everyone for your superb replies and suggestions.  Looks like I have some studying to do.


With appreciation,
Victor

[squirrelslayer]

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