HuntingNet.com Forums - View Single Post - Buying One Rifle 30-30 or 45-70 Please Help Me Decide/Handicapped Hunter
Old 08-22-2015, 08:41 PM
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Nomercy448
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
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I favor the 45-70, simply for the extra power. Mentioned that already.

I prefer the 44mag to the .30-30 largely because I can get about the same energy with more impact, more rounds in the rifle, and about 2/3 of the powder, or much lower factory ammo cost. Neither compare with the 45-70 for raw power, but in their class, I'd rather have the 44mag.

The 30-30 will be the easiest trajectory out of the 3 to manage for most folks. The 45-70 has the opportunity for the most raw power. The 44mag is the most economical for cost. I've killed deer over 200yrds with all 3 of them, so any of them will work.

The 35 Remington is still produced (although hard to find) in the Marlin 336, and it's a powerful deer hammer that I'd throw in the mix as well.

You may consider the 450Marlin also. As was mentioned, the factory ammo for the 45-70 is loaded rather mildly to accommodate the remaining old trapdoor rifles out there. Reloaders in the strong Marlin action can get a lot more power out of the 45-70 cartridge, but for non-reloaders, that same performance is available out of the 450Marlin.

Make mine a Marlin, and make it a 45-70.
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