Is there much value in buying a 30-30 if I already own a 45-70?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
Utterly ridiculous comment; continuing a trend.
I have a single .30-30 left, a nice little compact rolling block plinker that I keep because of the rifle itself, not the cartridge. For literally any hunting application, I can't imagine using the .30WCF when there's a .45-70 handy...and I always have at least one handy. They make me smile, whereas the .30's are just boring little guns.
OP, your question suggest you don't currently own a 30-30.
That suggests all the reasons you need to go buy one.
As for hunting, either caliber is more than enough for deer.
My grandfather got 52 moose with his 30-30. Me - I would prefer the 45-70.
That suggests all the reasons you need to go buy one.
As for hunting, either caliber is more than enough for deer.
My grandfather got 52 moose with his 30-30. Me - I would prefer the 45-70.
Correct, only .357 and 45-70 for me currently.
In the last 130 years how many 30WCF's were sold for Hunting? How many 45-70's have even been pointed at Game in that time? Probably 100:1.
Some evidence, Dominion 45-70 ammo is obscure and they made 43 Mauser long after they stopped making 45-70 and how many 30WCF loads did they make? One can read the old reports of the Game Warden in BC, no mention at all of the 45-70, while the 30WCF is mentioned and the various 32's seem to the the most common. And in old accounts, guys that wanted more punch went with the 45-90.
The 45-70 was outclassed as a Military Cartridge by both the 44 Rimfire and the 7mm Mauser, the 30WCF killed it for hunting and the 32-40 and 38-55 ate it's lunch as a target round.
The 450 Marlin was supposed to be the new “improved” 45-70, some call it the 45-70 magnum
Unfortunately it was not a popular round and it has become obsolete.
The 444 must have been a more popular round as I still see ammo for sale for it
+ 1 on this. That the way to go.
There is a ballistics advantage at the longer end of your range - at 200m the 30-30 doesn’t have near the bullet drop as the 45-70. But I guess as long as you know how to shoot your 45 and compensate for that, it won’t much matter. You might have less meat damage with the 30-30 if you hit the shoulder or neck. The rifle is typically lighter too. For instance the Winchester ‘94 is lighter and Carrie’s better than the ‘86. I use a 45-70 too with 300s for deer and 405s for moose. I’ve got a 30-30 that collects dust in the safe.
The 45-70 did almost vanish for good. It’s made a decent comeback. You’re right about the 30-30 outselling the 45-70, and you’re right about the reasons (it’s absolutely perfect for deer), but the 30-30 hasn’t got the following the 45-70 does. It’s great for hunters, but I think it’s boring for collectors and shooters. It’s like the Honda Civic of cartridges. Lol.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Given a choice between a .30-30 and a .45-70, on a hypothetical North American 29 hunt, I’d take the .30-30 every single time and twice on sunday. It was developed to replace the .45-70 era cartridges. Granted, .45-70’s modernized since, but it’s still nowhere near as much gun as people think it is. And the .30-30 is more gun than people think it is.
In Canada, it’s one of the three OG chamberings in my eyes. .22, .30-30, and .303 have been in all our hands growing up. Usually it was one or the other on the center fire, we were a .30-30 family.
In Canada, it’s one of the three OG chamberings in my eyes. .22, .30-30, and .303 have been in all our hands growing up. Usually it was one or the other on the center fire, we were a .30-30 family.
I grew up on the prairies and long distance shots were common. Flat shooting scoped bolt actions... For hunting I have never owned a 30-30 of any kind and don't miss it. Never had an attraction for any of the old cartridges/rifles for hunting. It's a personal choice, do what you want.
I was curious to what I'd choose so ran the numbers on how I prefer to see them.
30-30 - 160 gr FTX (.241 SD, .330 BC, 2400 fps)
1800 fps lands around 285 yards
Recoil Energy in an 8.5 lb rifle is about 9.7 ft/lbs
45-70 - 325 gr FTX (.221 SD, .230 BC, 2050 fps)
1800 fps lands around 85 yards
Recoil Energy in an 8.5 lb rifle is about 26 ft/lbs
If you like soup cans then 45-70 option is your thing. It makes me want to see what a 20 gauge slug gun does in comparison for a 100 yard hammer. I'd maybe look for a benelli m20 semi auto 20 gauge with irons launch similar size pills around 18-1900 fps.
If you want a far more useable rifle then that 30-30 option looks much better and will penetrate deeper at 285 yards than the 45-70 will at 85 yards.
I used 1800 fps impact as an indicator of range potential and bullets still do nice work at that impact velocity. You basically have a 200 yard range advantage with the 30-30 option. I see why you're looking at it.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
2005 is quite a while ago. Yet at that time I used my heirloom circa 1956 Winchester M94 carbine in 30-30 to take a nice big buck 260 paces of mine.
Note: I changed the rear sight to Williams FP and the factory bead for Williams Firesite, which is a full third smaller.
Lots of pre-season practice and I knew my estimated drop of 14-16ish inches would place that 150 grain Silvertip into its boiler room. 100 yard zero 3 inches high on paper. It was standing still looking right at me. Aiming point, white throat patch.
One shot only was required.
Winchester makes great deer rifles. Believe it or not, I did it.
These older eyes are incapable of a repeat.
Note: I changed the rear sight to Williams FP and the factory bead for Williams Firesite, which is a full third smaller.
Lots of pre-season practice and I knew my estimated drop of 14-16ish inches would place that 150 grain Silvertip into its boiler room. 100 yard zero 3 inches high on paper. It was standing still looking right at me. Aiming point, white throat patch.
One shot only was required.
Winchester makes great deer rifles. Believe it or not, I did it.
These older eyes are incapable of a repeat.
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
Exactly right . A 30-30 is much preferable over a 45-70 . It is tough to beat a 94 Winnie or 336 Marlin in 30-30 for a brush gun .
Is the .30-30 more popular? No doubt about that, although I question if the numbers are anywhere near what you present. But even if .45-70 rifle sales really are only 1% of those of .30-30's, the fact remains that you can still buy the .45-70 today, both rifles and factory ammo, and it's likely more popular now than ever before; that's a long way from being "killed and buried". For the guys hunting with a calculator and a spread-sheet, I would never say that on paper the .30-cal hasn't got significant advantages over the big .45.
And if I were to buy a .30 instead of a .45, simply because that's what most people do...I'd feel pretty silly because that's about the worst reason to do anything, IMHO. Most people...and by extension, most people's opinions...are often pretty silly...again, IMHO.
Maybe...but, in most cases, why would you choose either of them? Certainly not because either offers significant tangible, quantifiable advantages over a simple .30-06 bolt rifle; if a rifle today is chosen for hunting...almost any hunting...and if the only criterion is that it makes the slaying of the critter as easy as possible, then a lever-action, likely iron-sighted and shooting one of these old-timers, is a foolish choice.
But if the way you are hunting is as important as the simple fact that you are...and bless you, Angus, I think most of us know that for you this is the case...then a levergun has an undeniable advantage to some people. And if I were to carry a levergun...and I often do...then, IMHO, there is no earthly reason to choose a .30 over a .45...because the .45 adds far more of that intangible mystique to the hunt.
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