Decisions Decisions.. 30-30 or 45/70

I'll confirm Slooshark's comments on the Marlin 45-70. My favourite gunshop has also quit handling the large bore Marlins. Ever since Remington bought them out and they moved production there has been nothing but problems with these rifles. The last time I was in the shop a lad brought in a nice looking stainless model. I asked him how he liked it and he replied it was the second time he'd brought it in and they were still having problems getting it to work. He showed me a cartridge that had been badly scraped and the rim chewed up. Not what I'd choose for a reliable bear gun.

Someone told me the ones made by Remington had an "R" stamped on the barrel. I don't know if the earlier Marlins had an "M". If this is what you decide to go with, I'd look for a used, earlier rifle manufactured by Marlin. They worked fine.
 
Most of us can think of cartridges out there that kill better than their paper ballistics would lead us to believe. The 30-30 is one of these. Back before cutlines and clearcuts opened up this country and resulted in longer shots the 30-30 was commonly used on moose with success. Of course in those good ol' days if the moose didn't present a good shot a lad could pass on it and find another moose tomorrow.

It is certainly quite adequate for any deer or black bear within its range.
 
I agree with Slooshark on the 1886 45-70, if you go with the 45-70 caliber. But the 30-30 is far chaeper to shoot and plenty of gun for any game you will hunt if you respect its limitations, and your own. 30-30 is of course plenty of gun for black bear, I have seen many a black bear shot on dog hunts with a 30-30 or less powerful cartriges. Unless you really need it to double as a deer and grizzly stopping gun, go with the 30-30. I am also very afraid of buying any new Marlin unless I check it out first, as I have seen thier quality go way down in the last few years, and thier warranty is all but useless.
 
If you don't handload, the 30-30 has a flatter trajectory than traditional factory loads of the 45-70.
I own both, and I think that's probably where you are headed.
I started with the 30-30, and it's been my go to cartridge for many years, for deer, bear, and moose, it's always done the job for me.
When I got the 45-70, I hunted with it heavily. But as I got older, I found that the 30-30, lighter, and handier, was the cartridge I found myself toting around to hunt with when I had a lot of walking to do. For me, that's most of the time.
Now if you are a stand hunter, that only packs his rifle from the truck to the stand every day, weight isn't an issue, in fact, it's an asset, the weight will steady your shot.

The 45-70 is an amazingly versatile cartridge if you handload, but, so is the 30-30.
Both can be shot at full power with home made cast bullets.
You can download them to rabbit/grouse hunting rounds, or use them at full power.

The 45-70 even at Black powder power levels, will take any game on the continent, if you can get over it's rainbow trajectory at those levels.

The 30-30 held the world record for Grizzly for a number of years, that's a good indication of what it can do. But it's decidedly NOT a recommendation to hunt griz with it.

Lots of folks will tell you that the 45-70 at factory levels is no good past a hundred yards or so. Ballistics speaking, looking at the tables, that's roughly true. However, in the real world, those of us who have hunted with it know that it kills out of all proportion to what you read on paper. Mastering the trajectory is the key with the BP power levels.

Brush busting, that's largely BS, everything deflects. Better to focus on having enough killing power left after your bullet is deflected to do the job, if the bullet still connects.
At bush ranges, both will do that.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
If you don't handload, the 30-30 has a flatter trajectory than traditional factory loads of the 45-70.
I own both, and I think that's probably where you are headed.
I started with the 30-30, and it's been my go to cartridge for many years, for deer, bear, and moose, it's always done the job for me.
When I got the 45-70, I hunted with it heavily. But as I got older, I found that the 30-30, lighter, and handier, was the cartridge I found myself toting around to hunt with when I had a lot of walking to do. For me, that's most of the time.
Now if you are a stand hunter, that only packs his rifle from the truck to the stand every day, weight isn't an issue, in fact, it's an asset, the weight will steady your shot.

The 45-70 is an amazingly versatile cartridge if you handload, but, so is the 30-30.
Both can be shot at full power with home made cast bullets.
You can download them to rabbit/grouse hunting rounds, or use them at full power.

The 45-70 even at Black powder power levels, will take any game on the continent, if you can get over it's rainbow trajectory at those levels.

The 30-30 held the world record for Grizzly for a number of years, that's a good indication of what it can do. But it's decidedly NOT a recommendation to hunt griz with it.

Lots of folks will tell you that the 45-70 at factory levels is no good past a hundred yards or so. Ballistics speaking, looking at the tables, that's roughly true. However, in the real world, those of us who have hunted with it know that it kills out of all proportion to what you read on paper. Mastering the trajectory is the key with the BP power levels.

Brush busting, that's largely BS, everything deflects. Better to focus on having enough killing power left after your bullet is deflected to do the job, if the bullet still connects.
At bush ranges, both will do that.
Click to expand...

I'm leaning more toward the 30-30, just finding the right one is key.
 
TransAm1991 said:
I've got a line on a 1998 Marlin Guide gun, I called Ellwood epps about the Marlins, if they had any troubles, the guy said this is the worst year to buy a new one, they're really having problems.
Click to expand...

Try Lebaron, i was in there and their marlins look good, at least better. Also .45-70, it'll drop a big black bear instead of it just bleeding out. When I started looking at .45-70, people said, "well, you're gunna do alot of droppin'." But it can also be loaded for deer and target so as not to bruise the hell out of your shoulder. thats what i would do.
 
I won't shoot further at game than 200 yards with either the 30-30 or the 45-70 difference is the 45-70 will do anything the 30-30 can and everything it can't.

30-30 I load from 110 gr - 170gr bullets

45-70 I load from 300gr to 550gr bullets

CC
 
For deer and black bear, there is nothing one cartridge can do, that the other can't.

On moose, elk, and other larger game the 45-70 has an advantage IMO. That being penetration of heavy bone. Avoid the bone, and the bad shots of course, and the 30-30 will take moose quite well.
 
I bought my Marlin 336 in late 2008 and haven't had a single complaint.

It isn't the prettiest wood I have seen on a gun but I am very happy with it for $450.

I do hand load for it and you can load em pretty hot and have em shooting well out to 200 yards with ease.

If you are looking for an older, but not too old vintage Marlin than I know there is a nice looking used one for sale at Lanz Shooting Supplies, but not sure what year or what price.
 
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