ATV Gun: 30-06 or 45/70?

[GunNut]

I'm looking for a reasonably priced, quality gun to go with me on my Polaris Sportsman 500 during bear/deer/elk seasons.

I've narrowed my choices to either a Remington 700 BDL 30-06 w/open sights($200ish) or a Marlin 45/70 ($400ish). The remington is rough, but has a very good bore/chamber.

Which would you pick and why? I reload so heavier 45/70 loads are not a problem.

Steve

 

[W Turner]

Either will do the job, but I would go with the .45-70 in a Marlin Guide Gun. Shorter OAL, hard-hitting caliber, you can load .45-70 everywhere from relatively mild BP loads up to snotslingingmagnumbuttstomper if you are into masochism, plus I just like lever-guns more than bolt guns.


W

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For the price, get the Remington and buy a scope and a reloading kit for it.

The .30-06 will drive a 180 grain bullet to around 2800 fps, or about 3100 foot-pounds of kenetic energy. The .45-70 will drive a 405 grain bullet to around 1800 fps (that's a STIFF and hard-kicking load), which is slightly less kenetic energy.

Kenetic energy isn't everything, of course -- but the .30-06 will hold it's velocity (and kenetic energy) better as it goes downrange, and will shoot a lot flatter. With premium bullets (Nosler Partition Jacket, Barnes X-Bullet, and so on) it will do anything a .45-70 will do in terminal velocity.

With a scope, you can not only shoot better, you can see through holes in the brush and make shots that would be difficult with iron sights.

 

[Ole-sailor]

30-06

I own two pre-64 Winchester Mod. 70s both in 30-06

a. A good selection of 06 ammo off the shelf just about anywhere. Which means that you can change your hunting selection with out going home and reloading.

b. 45-70 drops a whole lot down range, and each bullet has a different balastic factor. 06 not only shoots flatter, different bullet sizes and weights do not have as much variance down range...to wit you place more accurate shots with the 06.

c. the 06 can and does take game at 500 and 600 yrds. The 45-70 can reach that distance from a bench rest!

d. A really hot load from an 06 can bite [recoil] a really hot load in a 45-70 is down right punishing.

 

[Art Eatman]

If your anticipated shots are to be within 200 yards, I don't think it really matters.

If you think you might have to shoot your only shot of the season out at 300 or maybe more, it's gonna take more time to think out all the various factors if you use a .45-70. You're gonna have to be more exact as to the range, and you're gonna have to remember the trajectory for various ranges. Nowhere is it written that Big Critter will give you the time...

One of the reasons I like the '06 is that if something isn't more than 300 yards out, it's just a case of "Point it and pull." I've learned range guesstimation and my own particular rifle well enough that I'm pretty confident out to around 400...

FWIW, Art

 

[artherd]

Neither will suck, but I'd go with the '06 for a little more flexability to take game.

 

[GunNut]

A couple of things that I forgot to mention.

I don't want a scope, to much bouncing around.

Also, I have the reloading stuff for a 45/70 but would just buy 30-06 ammo.

Steve

 

[CowboyEngr]

I own a Win 45-70 and love it, but a peep sighted 30-06 would probably get my nod, especially if you don't have a 30-06 of any type yet. Everyone should have at least one. If your purpose was a close range, butt stomping stopper, a heavy loaded 45-70 is hard to beat; but a 30-06 bolt action is much more versatile and a heavy hitter up close too.

 

[Langenator]

Seeing as you're in WA state, geography might have a big influence. If you're rolling around in the fir forests west of the Cascades, where the ranges are going to be much shorter, I'd go for the .45-70.

On the East side, in the open country, I'd go for the .30-06.

I don't think either of the rifles you mentioned comes stock with peep sights, but I'd find a good smith who can put them on the rifle.

OTOH, CMP was still selling M1903A3 Springfields with peep sights last I checked.