I'm turning 21 next summer and I have decided to buy myself a birthday present. My question is: the Marlin .45-70 or a left hand .30-06 bolt? I live in Indiana which is shotgun only so it would be for varmint and just plain shooting for now. Supposedly there's a rumor going around that the Indiana DNR is thinking about opening up firearms season for the .45-70 and eventually I would like to go west for elk, etc. Being the poor college student that I am (taking donations, by the way...[&:]) my usual answer of "buy both" is not an option at this time. Suggestions as to which to buy first?

Personally I wouldn't recommend either for varmints or just shooting. I'd look more in the area of the 243, 25-06, 260 or 308.

Those rounds are not good choices for varmint and just plain shooting. The .223 is a cheap round to shoot for both you mentioned.

Depending on what you have and what you will truly use....I would go with the 45-70 even though I haven't heard any rumor myself and i hunt there every year at least once......Indiana is a slug state and will probably remain so...

For just playing around shooting there are a lot of better calibers available. The 45/70 is not one you want to shoot all the time. I have a .450 Marlin and it kicks as hard as my friends .375 H&H Magnum.

The .22 comes to mind, which I love shooting. I also have a .25 caliber rifle. I was looking for something a little bigger. I shot a .45-70 a few years ago and from what I remember, the recoil wasn't too bad. Don't think I've ever shot a .30/06 though.

If I were you there would only be one to choose, a .308.

As much as I love the 45/70, your best choice of those two would be 30.06. Maybe add that to your collection in afew years.

You obviously haven't looked atthe price of a box of .45-70 shells!!That will make your decision for you! It's a no brainer, if you really want one or the other go with the '06, or get a real varmint gun like a .223 or .22-.250.

Is there anything affordable with the possibility for future extra barrels in other calibers?