30-30 or 35 rem?

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mike t

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Which one would you choose? Shots are 100 yards or less, typically around 50 yards in thick brush for deer hunting.
 
Based on my personal results with both, I am going with the .35 Remington. It makes a big hole. If I am inside 200yards, the RCBS 200 FN will hit what I aim at. Nothing that has taken one of those slugs has ever got far enough to matter.
 
Both are fine for deer at that range, and have essentially the same energy. The 30-30 bullet will do it with a lighter bullet (like about 150 grain) and less recoil. The 30-30 cartridges are easy to find and likely cheaper to buy. I would pick the 30-30 over the 35 Remington for those reasons.
 
I would go with the 35 Rem if all other factors are equal... nothing wrong with a bigger hole and it is a cool little cartridge. I shoot the 200 FTX bullets over 42.0 grains of LVR (UAYOR)... it is a peppy load and a dandy deer thumper.

I also shoot the 200 FTX out of my M77 .358 Win Carbine... they are incredibly accurate from this rifle with 50.0 grains of Varget (UAYOR).
 
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It you like Winchesters go with the 30, if you like Marlins go with the 35.

Making the 30-30 go bang will be much easier and cheaper.
 
Mike Webb said:
No question, the .35. Muzzle energy doesn't tell the whole story. I have shot deer with both and the .35 is a noticeably better killer then the .30/30.
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I'm skeptical that there is any difference, they both are in the same class IMO, to get a more noticeable effect you need a cup and core bullet over 2500 fps.

I do think the 35 is a really neat cartridge.
 
MiG25 said:
I'm skeptical that there is any difference, they both are in the same class IMO, to get a more noticeable effect you need a cup and core bullet over 2500 fps.

I do think the 35 is a really neat cartridge.
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In my experience the .35 has more knockdown power and without doubt will wade more meat than the .30/30. I have skinned several deer shot with both and the .35 killed showed more bloodshot tissue and longer wound channels. Muzzle energy so often quoted by a lot of people is not the only indicator of effectiveness on game. Even the formula E=MV squared is slanted in favour of velocity not mass. My experience anyway.
 
30-30 ammo is cheaper to buy it reload. If you don't reload 30-30 ammo is much easier to get. When it comes to hunting 30-30 does as good of a job as the 35. It's all about shot placement.
 
I am a fan of the 35's. I have a Marlin in 35 Rem and a 700 in 350 Rem Mag.

I would always choose a 35 Rem over a 30-30. When I hike into my cousins cabin in remote Ontario, I carry my 35. It is the quintessential deer and blackbear rifle in the bush. Ammunition is sometimes hard to find, but I just bought 2 boxes @ Wholesale. I handload, but use factory new ammo in the field. Recently I've taken up casting my own bullets, and depending how my testing goes in spring, I may only shoot lead from now on.

Handloading for the 35 has it challenges, handloading for the 30-30 is pretty straight forward.
Ammunition for the 35 is difficult to find and cost more than 30-30 ammo, 30-30 ammo is the plentiful and inexpensive.
Both the 35 Rem and the 30-30 are range limited, however, when it comes to "smack-down", hard to beat a 35.
For reduced recoil, the 30-30 wins, 125 gr Federal Blue box, and it will smoke a Whitetail.
Another plus for the 30-30 is that just about any brand of 170 gr ammo will shoot accurately and to point of aim, as a rule.
The 30-30 case has a rim, a plus in a tube fed lever gun.

The 35 Rem doesn't deserve to die, I'll do my part to keep it alive, it has my vote.

I wish Marlin would neck up the 308 Marlin Express to 35.
 
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