New Lever Gun: Marlin in 30-30 or 45-70?

[sesh]

I have a scoped Marlin 336 and a Winchester 94 with the flip up tang sight in 30-30, but also have a Marlin 1895 guide model in 45/70. I take them all hunting and do eenie meenie miney moe before heading into the woods. It's a tough choice if you're just choosing one. I think you have it right, buy the 45/70 first then wait and buy the 30-30 from someone after the season. Good Luck!

 

[Mitch Rapp]

If you already have other "deer rifles" then I say go with the 45-70. If not, and you need a good, all around gun, then the 30-30 is terrific for short to mid range hunting. The 45-70 is terrific as well, but will limit your range a bit more than the 30-30. You can make decent hits with a 30-30 out to almost 300, while the 45-70 is probably best kept under 200.

Do you plan to put a scope on it?

 

[Roadking Larry]

Either one can be extremely versitile if you reload and even more so if you cast your own bullets. I worked up a light load for my .30-30s that uses a 150gr cast bullet and 10grs of unique that you can shoot all day and will drive nails at 50yds. You can do about the same with the .45/70 on the light side but it does eclipse the .30-30 on full house stuff. Many buffalo were killed witht he .45/70 round for a reason.

 

[Old Fart]

When in doubt error on the huge side.
Better to have to much and not need it.
Than to need more and not have it.

 

[ldp4570]

When in doubt error on the huge side.
Better to have to much and not need it.
Than to need more and not have it.

^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said!!! Bigger is always better!!!

 

[DanB]

depends what do you want to do. Kill something dead or kill something deader than dead.

Make a hole or make a really large hole

have a grin or a S&^t eating grin when you pull the trigger.

I like the shorter setup of the 1895G. Then again I like the scout setup on my .30-30. I guess that is why I have both.

so my vote. BOTH>

 

[oilman36]

You can't go wrong with either one. I have a Win. 94 in 30-30 and a Win 86 light rifle in 45-70. The 30-30 is more fun to shoot unless you like your teeth rattled and that's just with mild loads in the 45-70. I have never shot the max loads in the 45-70 and don't particularly want to. A cartridge belt loaded with 45-70's sure looks impressive though.LOL

 

[Tampabucs]

I have both, but my favorite has to be the 45-70. The 45-70 is so versatile, because you can load it down to hunt deer, hogs and black bear. On the other hand, you can load it up to shoot the biggest baddest game on the planet.

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/products.asp

The guy above makes 500 grain bullets that can take out cape buffalo, elephant etc. I don't know about you, but that is a darn versatile round: deer to elephant. WOW!!

 

[sumoj275]

I will eventually put a scout rail setup on it with a Aimpoint. I got the 45-70, besides I have a few hundred pieces of brass and about 400 405 gr pills sitting in a box to be loaded.
Thanks

 

[Old Fart]

besides I have a few hundred pieces of brass and about 400 405 gr pills sitting in a box to be loaded.
Thanks

Used to be that was enough for me to just go out and buy a gun........