School me on 30/30 vs 45/70 - I’m shopping...

[Shootermick]

I’ve got a Marlin 30/30 and originally had a red dot on it with intentions of hunting with it. I’ve since got a 308 pump action with a low power scope which I use for the job that I thought I’d use the Marlin for. I put the open sights back on the Marlin and it’s now just a fun plinker, for me anyway. Nothing wrong with it for some closer range bone crunching hunting though.

[bigpete]

I have a marlin 30-30 and the only thing you need to know is 30 30 is $25 a box and 45 70 is $45 a box. I like big bore guns but I can't justify paying so much for the 45-70 unless I'm trying to take down elephants or grisly bears.

That's frigging cheap as hell lol

[bigrich]

up my way rebel gun works are selling 30-30 from $31-$54 , 45-70 $52 dollars for ppu ,up to $90 for hornady leverevolution stuff . prices have really gone up with this covid crap

[marksman]

once you have cases though it is just reloading although the bullets can be pretty exy and going up as you say BR with this covid crap

[SCJ429]

You can get plinking .458 bullets for less than 50c each. If you are using Trailboss then the cost per round is well under $1.

[bigrich]

once you have cases though it is just reloading although the bullets can be pretty exy and going up as you say BR with this covid crap

30-30 is cheap to load for . 170 speers and 32 gn ( i think ) of ar2208 was awesome in this rifle . i was shooting 1" - 3/4" inch groups at 100 out of the 64a winchester i had with peep sights with this load . at least for the first three shots . barrel heat would make poa move a bit . thin barrel , even though it was 24" the whole thing unloaded weighed just under 6 pounds . i liked it , but in low light the sights got too fuzzy

[cracker]

iv got a winchester 94 in 30-30 and its hands down one of the best pointing handling and fun guns you can own, however i love iron sights and dont use optics really.
given that, id love a 45/70 would be great fun in a such a small package.
the only real solution here is buy both.
100% will hunt down a marlin 1895 jurassic park spec

[in2anity]

https://youtu.be/Q8bPEPc3fnA

The long sight radius on the cowboy variants really help.

[JimTom]

I am going through the same dilemma at the moment too mate. Leaning towards 45/70 as I already have a few .30cal.
By the way you can reload 45/70 for under $2 with good projectiles so not that expensive to shoot.

[bigrich]

100% will hunt down a marlin 1895 jurassic park spec

just watch out for those bloody raptors............

[boingk]

Cheap plinking? 4570?

I use Black Widow 405 grain, they're 55 for 150 box. Trailboss powder at about 15c, primer at about 5c.

All up about 50c a round. Winning.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Go with the 45/70. I have both and love both, but looking at the comments it sounds like you want to both hunt and have fun with it so I'd go the 45 since your reloading and can take advantage of both really light and really heavy projectiles.

For some fun plinking buy a box of Spartan 500gr projectiles & 2207, I find the recoil amusing, it's like a big slow push compared to my 300wm

[TassieTiger]

Well...after weighing up advice, needs and budget - I’m pretty confident about that I’ve been convinced to concentrate of the 45/70.
I’m now waiting for my PTA - but might start shopping for dies, projectiles, etc - can’t change my mind then lol.

[targetshooter900]

As others said, 45-70 will be alot more expensive to run, and is pretty heavy on recoil. I'd go 30-30 personally

[TassieTiger]

I am something of a sadist and at this stage (will no doubt change) enjoy the challenge of managing recoil...I love shooting my 3kg 30-06 whilst others simply refuse.

[grumpy308]

TT. The 45/70 is a good deal of fun to play around with different loads and projectile weights. Loaded down with 300gn projectiles for lower recoil or cranked up with heavier 400/ 500 gn to do a bit of damage the choice is yours. Cast bullets make a heap of sense as they are cheap to use and if gas checked can be fired at similar velocity to full power jacketed loads. I had a great time the other weekend with a 458 x 2'' American( basically a belted 45/70) on a falling block Browning shooting gongs at 500 yards with cast gas checked 425 gn projectiles. The trajectory doesn't rival a 300 Win mag or anything, but it is fun holding over (in feet not inches) as well as the same for wind and getting hits at that distance. If you cast your own, projectile cost is pretty low so that equates to plenty of shooting for not too much outlay. I also have a SxS double in 45/70 which shoots very well with a moderate loading behind 300 gn cast bullets but if the need arises it can be stoked up with jacketed bullets for taking larger game. The old 45/70 has survived the test of time and these days in modern rifles can be loaded anywhere from mild to wild making it a very versatile old timer indeed. Regards Malcolm.

[mickb]

Tas I think you will have fun with it. Your choice didnt seem so much calibre specific to me as a class choice since you were comparing a medium all rounder to an outright big bore. Having a big gun will have some appeal. lots of versatilty as mentioned. Check out lymans cast bullet handbook if you can and 'cast boolits forums'( not a spelling error) if you want more plinking or cast loads. There are a large array of powders like red dot, bullseye, unique etc you can run at powder levels similar to trailboss for versatility.

[Kraken tactical]

I'd go with a 30-30 ive got a 45-70 that ive shot a box of ammo through it and its ok for anything within say 150m at best alot of bullet drop so i sits in the safe and its now my hobby rifle that I disassemble and cerakote when I get bored of the colours ive engraved it, ive mounted a handguard so I can mount a light but always ends up staying home whilst hunting.
30-30 is more manageable any you will use it more.

[TassieTiger]

^ true - I’m happy with my current collection.
This more of an fun all rounder that’s different and I’m hearing what ppl are saying - ideally, get both lol but for now - I need to handle a few marlins

[boingk]

Happy shopping mate. I managed to find my 1850GBL (big loop lever, laminated stock, full length tube mag) for about $500 under retail brand new in the box so there is plenty of room for negotiation.

If you wish to mount a sight I'd highly recommend the Leupold 336 mount, it is relatively inexpensive (about $40) and of good quality. Comes with all fitting screws etc so makes it easy for you, and matches the blued action on my gun pretty well.

The flashy SBL is effectively a stainless version but is pretty expensive. You may have seen it in the Jurassic World film in the last few years.

[Blr243]

Now I think I need a 4570 too. Bugger you all

[bigrich]

Now I think I need a 4570 too. Bugger you all

it's contagious . 45-70-itis in the meantime just get someone to punch you in the shoulder after you pull the trigger on a 223

[Blr243]

Last time I had my smle at the range without a recoil pad it belted me bad 50 yr old shoulder muscle is not the same as 25 yr old shoulder muscle

[boingk]

Now I think I need a 4570 too. Bugger you all

it's contagious . 45-70-itis in the meantime just get someone to punch you in the shoulder after you pull the trigger on a 223

I'd highly recommend a box of PPU ammo as its loaded to original yank Trapdoor rifle specs, so 400 grain @ 1400fps or so. Its a nice 'mild' load and is a good entry level load to the calibre IMO.

To step it up go to the Federal stuff, its 350 grain @ 1800fps and gives out a decent kick. These things are what I emulated as a hunting load as they laser out to 200m pretty well and take teacup sized chunks out of the sandstone boulders at the rear of my range. Yet to use it on a critter but I expect it'll have similar results on the rear side of it.

- boingk

[in2anity]

At the risk of stating the obvious, with a recoiler, you have to pocket it tight. If you so feel the desire to bench it, give it some sling tension to drive it into the pocket. None of this rear bag silliness, that’s only gonna hurt you.

Better still, shoot it without a front rest at all, tight in the pocket, best done with a stabilizing sling. If you shoot it from sitting or better yet, standing, pocketed tight, the recoil is just fine, because your torso just flexes backward. That’s actually where the blob guy comes off second best

Guess my point is, if you go down the light gun 45/70 route (with a decent amount of powder behind it), shoot it right, then it’ll be fun, and addictive.

[TassieTiger]

^ now whilst I agree with the actual facts as above, is there anything better in this sport, than telling your loud mouth friend, that this gun is simply too much for him - whilst he then quickly yells to the world that no gun is beyond his ability - He grabs said gun, sits at the table, pulls the trigger and ends up on his bum ? No...I think that is as Australian as it gets !

[bigrich]

that’s it taz. I’ve seen some funny stuff at the range in regards to that sort of stuff. One time I gave a mate a crack at my old 8x57 with it’s light stock and 20” barrel, shooting 200gn Speer handloads . He’d talked his abilities up and the look on his face after pulling the trigger was priceless

[in2anity]

Many guns are just not designed to be shot from a seated benchrest position, or even the modern-era, lazy prone position. You tend to hunch over the top of the butt plate, and when the rifle boots, it drives down, and away from the pocket, "slapping" the energy into an area it's not supposed to. I cringe when I see new shooters subjecting themselves to this - fastest route to prematurely hate on a gun/caliber.

[in2anity]

Don't worry, the venerable 1894 30/30 can also still hurt you. It is light, and not a design intended for the lazy-prone or benchrest position. I know lots of shooters who cringe at the 30/30 because that's their experience with one - shooting one at the range, incorrectly.

[Gamerancher]

1892????, never chambered in .30-30, obviously a typo ol'mate? I gather you meant Model 1894 rifles.
The cartridge was actually introduced by Winchester in 1895 as the first smokeless sporting cartridge.