45/70 or 30-30?

[fiddler]

Its kinda like comparing a Moped to a Harley. One has huge power when the other doesn't. 30-30 in a 170gr bullet has got reasonable energy to 150 yards, but its not what I prefer to use on dangerous animals.

I help out a buddy every year with his Spring Bear hunt, don't kid yourself, these aren't puppy dogs you're shooting at. 45-70 is very good choice, despite the recoil. Sure ammo is pricey, but you don't need to shoot 50 rounds at a time.

Guns and ammo is expensive hobbies, try basket weaving or lawn bowling if you can't afford it.

 

[philthygeezer]

i use the 45/70 gs with hornady leverolution ammo and a bushnells 3200 elite scope.i primarily hunt black bears in the bc bush. gotta say i got a huge mancrush on the gun/ammo.
with just a laser boresighting i get 3-4 inch groups at 100 yards out of box and after making 2 adjustments on scope i got a 2-3inch group ant 100yards. let me be clear i have only been shooting casualy for 3 years, i am no william tell! it just feels like one of thos instincual point and shoot guns like the 1911 pistol.

as for the 45/70 ammo it may cost more but its gives you a stop/drop confidence i just dont get from 30/30. the 1895 in 45/70 was purpose built for buffalo back in the day,seems the ideal pic for bear.

and on a side note when using a hardcast round on smaller game like deer it has the potential to not expand, and have that not matter because of its sheer size resulting in much less bloodshot meat as with a faster smaller round like 7mm mag.
one of the reasons i now use 45/70 instead of 7mm mag


when it comes to hunting it is my "One Gun"

I understand the 'more power' thing, but the vaunted buffalo thing is kind of wrong. Jack O'Connor wrote a nice piece for Outdoor Life about the history of buffalo shooting. IIRC they aren't hard to drop. Buffalo would just stand there, get shot, have a bit of trouble and keel over nearly in place. Jack figured that shooting buffalo was unsportsmanlike to the point he wouldn't do it at all.

 

[Don Doucette]

I own a 30-30... bring a 45/70... Trust me!

 

[fiddler]

I understand the 'more power' thing, but the vaunted buffalo thing is kind of wrong. Buffalo would just stand there, get shot..

We've taken as many as 30 plus bears each spring bear season. Only a fool would assume they just stand there to get shot at. Sometimes they come at you until both front legs are broken. As much as I enjoy shooting my 30-30, its not a dangerous animal weapon.

Further to this, I shoot a buffalo every year for meat. A small one weighs over a thousand pounds. Standing there or not, a 30-30 doesn't cut it.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

I'd like to know how bears got so tough...or why folks think they are..?

they're no harder to kill than a deer and actually present an easier heart shot because they wear it farther back...

The same broad head that kills a deer will kill a bear...
Any centerfire round will kill a Black Bear
why anyone would think you need a bigger iron for bears than deer is beyond me...

 

[Slug870]

Thank you everyone for your opinions and thoughts on this topic, and for helping me make this decision. I have made up my mind, and I've decided to go with the 45-70 Marlin 1895 Guide Gun; ordered it today. "Quivers with excitement". Cheers!

 

[Woodsman]

I'd like to know how bears got so tough...or why folks think they are..?

they're no harder to kill than a deer and actually present an easier heart shot because they wear it farther back...

The same broad head that kills a deer will kill a bear...
Any centerfire round will kill a Black Bear
why anyone would think you need a bigger iron for bears than deer is beyond me...

That's because as soon as you say the word "bear" on here half the so-called hunters fill their pants.

 

[Huntsman]

Thank you everyone for your opinions and thoughts on this topic, and for helping me make this decision. I have made up my mind, and I've decided to go with the 45-70 Marlin 1895 Guide Gun; ordered it today. "Quivers with excitement". Cheers!

I'm sure you'll be quite happy with your 45-70 GG. I have both calibers but my 45-70 with a 405gr cast boolit will be surely be any animals "show stopper"
Have fun with your new gun, Cheers.

 

[oaktree]

Go Big or Go Home

aaa

 

[slowride]

everyone is complaining about price of the round, i mean common all you gotta do to even it out is buy and sks and a crate of surplus, then you can tell yourself its okay to buy the expensive ammo cause your other gun shoots 19cent rounds

 

[BCRider]

So you got the gun. Now it's time to pick up some cast boolits, a die set and get to reloading.

Cast boolit - 29 cents (405 gn from Bullet Barn)
primer - 5 cents
powder - depending on type and load 15 to 25 cents
Total - about 55 cents per round.

That's significantly cheaper than buying factory .30-30.

And please post a range report about your findings once you've got the gun.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I'm a big 45-70 fan - got 3 and always on the lookout for another. Very effective cartridge and, when handloaded, hits like a freight train.

 

[mikeystew]

im a guy who believes you should kill an animal with the least amount of suffering. i'd say carry one high powered rifle. if you think you need 2 guns then a 45/70 is the way to go. but lets be honest, you dont really need a "close in gun", you just want one because your friend is taking two. your reach out and touch gun will likely do whatever a 45/70 will and some... if you really just want a lever i'd suggest a marlin 336 in 35 rem.

 

[NavyCuda]

I had a winchester 1886 in .45-70 and a 1894 in .32 WS. The hitting power of the .45-70 at 100m puts .32ws, .308 180 grains from a bolt action and 150 grainers from my 14 to complete shame.

The .45-70 decimated the gong. The .308 would just leave a good crater but no penetration... but there was some nice .45" holes in the gong after I fed some of the hornady leverolution through the old girl. The gong was digging holes in the back stop it was bouncing so hard from being hit by the .45-70. I sure regret selling that rifle.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I own, and use both. I'm not afraid to use either on black bear.
If the 30-30 feels small to you, use the 45-70. The bear won't be any 'deader', but you might feel more comfortable.
no question the 45-70 is the better killer, but dead, is dead.