which caliber for canada deer

[goblism]

I am looking to buy a levergun for deerhunting in Canada this fall. I will be hunting in thicker brush at times so figured a levergun is in order.

Here is what I am looking at
Marlin 30as 30-30- buddy has a boat load of brass for me, no molds, no sizing dies
Marlin 336 35 rem- already have sizing die, like the idea of a bigger bullet but probably a mute point
Marlin 1895g guide gun 45-70- have a couple molds and 50 pieces of brass, might be overkill for me but have itched for a 45-70 off and on. Costs about $150 more too.

Already have a 2x scout scope that will be put on it, most shots 25-75 yards

Looking for input, might be best to buy one of each

[M-Tecs]

Since you have brass and molds the 45-70 would be my first pick. I have shot deer with all three and they have all worked but of the three I like the 45-70 best.

[Bullshop Junior]

30/30

[BCRider]

Looking for input, might be best to buy one of each.....

PFFTH! Well YEAH! More is always gooder after all.... :D

Any of those calibers will be fine from the hunters I've talked with. Our deer aren't all THAT big.

Since you want to use the scope to ensure a well located shot and a quick and clean kill I'd suggest that the Marlin is the way to go. Although a Savage 99 in any of the chamberings that those came in would be another scope friendly option. As would a new Browning BLR for that matter.

[square butte]

I'm pretty sure those Canadian deer have been specially trained to respond well to the .303 Brit.. At the very least, a .303 would be culturally customary - And who would want to offend a Canadian ungulate. All jest aside - you have 3 awesome choices listed. If you like a bigger hole and smack down - Go with the 45-70 or .35 rem.. If cost is the deciding factor - Do it with any of your listed 3 as cheaply as you can.

[snapshot]

45-70 gets my vote its my favorite round ya just cant do any better.

[GhostHawk]

.35rem has killed a lot of deer down here. All three choices are workable so your down to the fine details.

Do you want the big bore advantage of the 45/70 which has a mystique all its own?

Or the smaller but easy to load, carry and shoot 30-30?

Or the midrange choice which while not as popular as the Dirty thirty, for those who own and hunt with it most often prefer to hunt with it and nothing else!

No matter how you lay it out its a tough call.

The way I was looking to get around this dilemma was to get a Handi Rifle in 45-70 then send it in to be fitted for .35 rem barrel.
Single shot but unless you hunt truly dangerous game single shot is all you really need. Make the first one count!

[shredder]

There seems to be some myth that our deer are somehow much different and tougher than the deer that live south of the boarder. Taint so! Your 35 Rem will drop the biggest whitetail that ever walked. The only thing I would say is that you may limit yourself to close range. I would hate to see ol' mossy horns out at 275 yards with my .35 rem in hand. For me that would be a shot I would not take.

Having said that, we all know that virtually all big game is taken within 200 yards and most often well within 100. I have a real soft spot for the.35 Rem with factory 200 grain Remington ammo.

[goblism]

A lot to take in, I know the deer are not overly tough, we have big Minnesota deer here and they die just the same as a smaller southern deer. A shot in the boiler will kill anything, but a little insurance can't hurt

[pietro]

.

My vote's for the .45-70, on the off chance that a nice fat Black Bear with suicidal tendencies will cross your path while deer hunting.


.

[Hardcast416taylor]

An Uncle of mine lived in B.C. for over 75 years and only owned 2 rifles, an old Model 94 .30 - 30 and a "sportered" .303 British. These rifles accounted for about any animal up to and including grizzly, elk and moose besides deer. He favored the .30 - 30 as ammo was cheaper and a little easier to buy.Robert

[DougGuy]

.

My vote's for the .45-70, on the off chance that a nice fat Black Bear with suicidal tendencies will cross your path while deer hunting.


.


^^^^ Exactly! Another vote for the 45-70.

[dnepr]

All three will work , ammo availability is a big advantage of the 30-30 . If you are traveling here there are some restrictions on how much ammo you can bring ( at least there used to be haven't checked recently ) and the limit is done by weight so you can bring more 30-30 or 35 rem than 45-70

[goblism]

I think the limit is 200 rounds total, if i go through 200 rounds of 45-70 (or 7mm mag the other rifle i am bringing) I have a bigger issue.

I am leaning strongly towards the 45-70. Now to decide if I want the 1895ss or the 1895G.....another decision. Like the idea of the shorter barrel with porting of the G but there is a SS locally for $450, so that is tempting as well. 3.5" of barrel would get me another probably 50-75 fps, so something worthwhile there.

[pkie44]

If you can pick a 45-70 up locally for $450.00, what are you waiting for? :mrgreen:

[waksupi]

Check the Canadian Firearms site. Last time I went up, limit was 1500 rounds, and then you began paying extra duties on it, that being to the discretion of the border agent.

[kopperl]

What ever you pick it must go "Eh!" when you pull the trigger.

[OverMax]

35 Rem. Canadian deer in some area's are as big as mule deer in the States. 45-70 to slow. 30-30 not enough. 35 Rem is just right.

[osteodoc08]

35 Rem. Canadian deer in some area's are as big as mule deer in the States. 45-70 to slow. 30-30 not enough. 35 Rem is just right.

If you think the 45/70 is too slow, you must be using old trapdoor loads. Load it up to modern pressures in that 1895 and you'll approach 2000fps with a 405gr hunk o lead. May not be the 3500fps whizz bang 150gr uber magnum, but I've never seen an African Hunter take on dangerous game with fast and light. Just sayin'.

[Petrol & Powder]

What ever you pick it must go "Eh!" when you pull the trigger.

/\ :wink: that made my day!

[Petrol & Powder]

As for the OP, those are all good choices but I would lean to the 45-70.
Inside of 100 yards (or for you Canadians, 91.44 meters) there is no advantage to any of those cartridges. The OP already has brass & molds for 45-70 and it's a great cartridge for deer.

[Petrol & Powder]

As for barrel porting, avoid it like the plague.

[OverMax]

If you think the 45/70 is too slow, you must be using old trapdoor loads. Nope! don't even own one.

Or for that matter a 35 Rem. Frankly I'm not a fan of either. Realistically speaking 45-70 has escaped obsolescence so many times. 30-30 has also. I'm one of those fellows that would advise some other to shoot something in-between in a lever gun. {On this occasion. If these (3) calibers are my only choice 45-70// 30-30 //35 rem.} Why not the 35.


but I've never seen an African Hunter take on dangerous game with fast and light. Just sayin'. Good point Sir. Neither have I on TV.
And I really have no intentions of going to Africa to see first hand anytime soon. (More like never now.)

FWIW: this is a not a dangerous game Hunt. Just a simple straight forward Canadian deer hunt with a simple straight forward lever rifle as suggested. But I have to give credit where credit is due. This OP is taking along a great back up rifle & caliber. (7mm Mag)
Frankly: The cat is out of the bag so to speak.
I am leaning strongly towards the 45-70. Now to decide if I want the 1895ss or the 1895G _So what I've commented is moot. But the main thing is I certainly hope this OP follows through with his plans of a Canadian trip. People up there are really nice folks and appreciate tourism from the States.

[Remiel]

If you have the molds and such, .45-70. Me I am more partial to the .30-30

[goblism]

I'm one of those fellows that would advise some other to shoot something in-between in a lever gun.

What would you advise, zero interest in a 450, 444, 308 marlin express but not aware of more choices.

I don't mind odd calibers but not as much in my rifles. I have a 475 linebaugh which is the most odd I dare go.

[fouronesix]

After reading all this, I now have no idea what to recommend for those "Canadian" deer. They must require a whole different rifle, cartridge and bullet than those south of the border. :confused:

[M-Tecs]

but have itched for a 45-70 off and on.

All three will get the job done. Life is to short not to get what you want.

[M-Tecs]

Why not the 35.


Ammo and brass for the 35 Remington is currently very hard to find.

http://www.ammo-sale.com/products.asp?cat=9893

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=9804

Cabelas is the only online dealer showing stock http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornadyreg-LEVERevolution174-Rifle-Ammunition/740774.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3D searchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProduc ts%26Ntt%3D35%2Bremington%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSea rch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D21%26y%3D15&Ntt=35+remington&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

[OverMax]

One dealer having is better than no dealer having. It appears the enduring so many prefer 45-70 and 450 are both on back order. But all those others mentioned by this OP (35 Rem 444 Rem 308 Rem Exp are ) <-all available. So it just goes to show ammo availability is not always as one thinks.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornadyreg-LEVERevolution174-Rifle-Ammunition/740774.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3D searchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProduc ts%26Ntt%3D35%2Bremington%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSea rch-All%2BProducts%26x%3D21%26y%3D15&Ntt=35+remington&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products#productChart

[osteodoc08]

The OP already has molds and brass so loaded and available ammo is a moot point, IMHO.

I cant wait to get back out with my 45/70.

Small doe quartering away. At least 2-3 foot of penetration and out she went.

[M-Tecs]

It appears the enduring so many prefer 45-70 and 450 are both on back order.

The OP already has brass and molds and unlike 35 Rem. no shortage online .

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/45-70 151 found for 45/70

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/35-remington 1 found for 35
Rem.

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/30-30-winchester 282 found for 30-30

I see 30-30 & 45-70 one the shelf all the time. I have been looking for 35 Rem for a year with no luck.

[KirkD]

I've taken Canadian Whitetail Deer in Manitoba and Ontario with both calibers and up to 300 pounds with the guts still in. Both are good. Three deer with the 45-70 and two nice bucks with a 30-30. Live weights were I hunt tend to average around 150 to 200 pounds.

[W.R.Buchanan]

If I ever get to go hunting in Canada I will be taking my newly refurbished#4 Mk1. Hornaday makes really nice 174 gr Round Nose bullets and Woodleigh makes a 215 gr RN also.

The 314299's that I am casting for this gun would need HP treatment to be effective on game as otherwise I fear they would simply poke a 5/16" hole thru the critter and keep on going.

I think it is prudent to consider the origin of any game animal a pay special attention to what the proper traditional arm is to take said animal . Anything from a .243 up will do the job, and in some cases with smaller deer like Blacktail's even a .223 would be enough, however hunting in a Sportsman's context (as opposed to hunting for food) should include some local tradition as to the arm as well. Kind of like picking the right club from your golf bag.

When hunting the Queens Critters I feel a .303 is kind of mandatory for most of them. An Enfield is the obvious choice even though there are other guns which use this cartridge. In the US I feel the Traditional Hunter would use a Springfield or Levergun or a vintage M70 or Rem 700 or other earlier "obsolete" weapon.

Very few "new guns" interest me, and I'm sure others feel that way as well.

Just some things to ponder on your way to the grocery store.

Randy

[M-Tecs]

I think it is prudent to consider the origin of any game animal a pay special attention to what the proper traditional arm is to take said animal .

Agreed -- Never really thought about it but I normally hunt big game with Trapdoor Springfield's, a 1946 vintage model 94 or a 1949 Model 70. I do have a nice longbranch that would love to go hunting in Canada. I just picked up a Savage 99 from the late 70's that needs to go deer hunting also.

[zuke]

Just watch for this kinda deer, they like blueberry muffins.

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/Henry_today_zps4bc2912a.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/Henry_today2_zpsfca9c03f.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/henry_4_zpsa91dafca.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/henry_5_zps80d2ec4e.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy356/zuke_bucket/henry_6_zps411be510.jpg

[BruceB]

Over many years, I killed scores of Canadian animals. Most were done-in with a .30'06, but the .303 was well-represented in the list as well.

Virtually all of my hunting loads, once I became a handloader in the mid-'60s, used Nosler Partitions (with perfect success.... never lost an animal, out of well over 100.)

Many of my moose were taken with the .303, using Canadian Industries' factory loads. Again, perfect performance. These loads also worked on bears on a few rather-urgent occasions.

A GOOD thirty-caliber bullet in the right place will kill cleanly. The only applications in North America where I really prefer heavier horsepower is on the big bears and bison, and this pinion is based on experience. I did carry a .303 as defense against polar bears, but had perfect confidence in the rifle and the load for this use... again based on experience. Defense at close range is quite different from the demands imposed by shots taken when hunting, perhaps at several hundred yards. The .303 at extreme close range WITH GOOD BULLETS is very capable.

Always, the great caveat is "with good bullets".

Randy, if I HAD to use a .303 with cast loads, you can bet your boots (or, your life?) that the bullets would be cast as softpoints. It's easy to do, and performance is far more consistent than hollowpoints.

Except for the previously-cited big bears and bison, I would happily hunt most of North America with a Lee Enfield .303..... or its near-twin cartridge, the .30-40 Krag.

[waksupi]

I have an old Indian buddy who is a guide in northern Canada. He has lots of guns, but always uses his old .303 with slow round nosed bullets.

[W.R.Buchanan]

While we're on the subject I guess you should be wearing a Stormy Kromer Hat as well. Just sayin'

Be gone for a few days guys. See Ya Monday.

Randy

[zuke]

While we're on the subject I guess you should be wearing a Stormy Kromer Hat as well. Just sayin'

Be gone for a few days guys. See Ya Monday.

Randy

Never seen one of those up here, it isn't orange.

[osteodoc08]

That hat is better than some brightly colored leotards. LOL

[M-Tecs]

Interesting history on the Stormy Kromer hats http://www.stormykromer.com/history and yes they come in blaze orange. I have both the original and the rancher. Ranchers is for colder weather. They seem expensive until you use them. Wool hats for hunting are great. I am not sure if Randy was joking or serious but either way Stormy Kromer hats are money well spent.

[robertbank]

White Tail and Colombian Black Tail Deer are pretty small animals on the West Coast so I would think a 45-70 would be hugely over kill. I never saw a deer on the Prairies or in Ontario that would not fall to a 30-30..quickly. The .303 is a great cartridge for anything on four legs that you would eat regularly that you would find with fir on it in N.A

Of the three you mentioned the 336 with a scope is pretty hard to beat for a deer gun.

Take Care

Bob

[jethunter]

45-70 would be my pick but any one of them will take any deer that walks.

Years ago I shot a mulie that was 220 pounds delivered to the butcher - that was without legs, hide, head, and guts. I expect live weight was in the 400 lb range. 30-30 from 70 yds killed it as dead as any uber magnum and wasted less meat. He was a big old smelly buck in the peak of the rut, all sweated up and stinky. He smelled so bad that i was gagging while i field dressed him, but that was some of the best deer meat I've ever had.

[TXGunNut]

I have all three, of the three in your situation I wouldn't advise buying the venerable 35 Rem. It's an excellent round but as M-Tecs has pointed out Remington has lost interest in selling component brass for it and loaded ammo is pretty scarce as well. In heavy brush I've become quite fond of the way my 45-70 puts a critter on the ground fast, generally without taking another step. My GG is ported and I have no issues with it, just make sure no one is standing beside you when you make it go boom. Only argument against the 30-30 is that you don't have dies or moulds for it, not a huge obstacle but a consideration. 30-30 brass isn't that hard to come by. I enjoy everything about the thutty-thutty but it seldom goes hunting with me. The 45-70 always comes along, either as a backup or primary rifle.

[BruceB]

[QUOTE=TXGunNut;2929878] Remington has lost interest in selling component brass for it and loaded ammo is pretty scarce as well.QUOTE

This is a HANDLOADERS' Board!

For a handloader, many things are possible, and many options exist, specifically including the .35 Remington.

The lack of factory ammunition often means that the firearms requiring that ammunition become available at reasonable prices, as well.

The availability of ammunition virtually NEVER crosses my mind when thinking about acquiring another gun.... except for .22 Long Rifle, of course. I can't fix THAT shortage at my bench without a lot more effort than I'm prepared to exert.

[TXGunNut]

This is a HANDLOADERS' Board!

For a handloader, many things are possible, and many options exist, specifically including the .35 Remington. -BruceB

Very true but I think most of us aren't the accomplished tinkerer you are, Bruce. I enjoy making stuff but prefer to use correct headstamp brass, have too many cartridges that look very much alike (32WS/30-30, 375Win/38-55) so I apply the KISS principle to headstamps. I'm lucky enough to have all the brass I'm likely to need for the 35 Rem but I fell in love with this cartridge over 25 years ago, not sure I'd start down that road today even tho Remlin is apparently still building rifles chambered for this cartridge. OTOH loaded ammo is pretty reasonable and this cartridge is pretty easy on brass, the few I've had split had 7-8 loadings behind them.
I just think OP's other choices make more sense given his situation, all things considered. I'm a big fan of the 35 Remington but it's not for everyone, at least that's what the folks at Remington have decided.

[M-Tecs]

This is a HANDLOADERS' Board!


You still need brass. Currently no new 35 Rem brass is available. GunBrokers is getting $0.75 to $1.10 for range pickup 35 Rem brass. This spring loaded 35 factory was on sale for $1.20 a round. Currently about $1.60 at Cabelas which appears to be the only online source. Currently buying loaded 35 Rem is about the same cost as brass and components if you can find them.

If you can't find loaded ammo or brass you will have to form. Not a problem for an advanced reloader but not something I am going to recommend to the average reloader. Like TXGunNut I prefer to use the correct headstamp and I never recommend others to use non-correct headstamp brass.

[BruceB]

Of course we still need brass. No brass, no shoot!

The "tinkering" referred to above gave me perfectly-useful .35 brass from my own minor efforts, but more to the point, "GRUMPA" , right here on this Board, is selling fine .35 cases which he makes from other calibers.

I think he also sells cases for the .30 (and maybe .32?) Remington calibers as well.

It's just that I believe it's shortsighted to rule out any cartridge, when "the tools of our salvation" are right in our own workshops.

[TXGunNut]

BTW Bruce, I'm not putting you or Grumpa down for your "tinkering". I admire folks that have the patience, equipment and ability to form cases for unpopular cartridges.

[BruceB]

Not to worry, amigo; I didn't take it that way at all.

For them that likes messing about with such stuff, it's OK.... different strokes, etc.!

[TXGunNut]

Thanks, Bruce. Glad to hear it. We may disagree about some stuff but I know we're both big fans of the 35 Rem. If I thought it would do any good I'd try to start a movement to revive interest in this cartridge. It hits hard, it penetrates, it's chambered in handy leverguns and it won't beat you up on the bench or in the field. In my experience it kills as well as, maybe a bit better than the 45-70. It's really a shame that more folks, including the folks at Remington, don't share our passion for this round.

[KirkD]

Once difference between the 30-30 and the 45-70 in the field is that the 30-30 may or may not completely penetrate the animal. In my experience, at least, the 45-70 always goes in one side and comes out the other.

[starmac]

Me thinks anything will do, but if you have been itching for a 45/70, there is only one way to scratch it, and I have never heard of one killing anything too dead.

[10x]

35 Rem. Canadian deer in some area's are as big as mule deer in the States. 45-70 to slow. 30-30 not enough. 35 Rem is just right.

I have harvested a fair number of Canadian mule deer (Alberta WMU 526) using all 3 of the calibers listed.
Under 200 yards all calibers resulted in one shot kills. and a 20 to 50 yard dash by the deer before it piled up.
My hunting partner, Brian of Hammond Game Getter fame

116375

[OverMax]

For those who think the 35 Rem is on the cusp of obsoletism. Not to worry there will always be brass & cartridges made for the 35. Perhaps not by Rem but more likely by some independent brass and ammo maker. There is, and always will be a market for both. What Rem & Win both know that many of us (their customers) forgot. {There is always some other willing to fill the nitch those two big company's create occasionally.} As 10X has stated (it's meaning I think) It's not the caliber or cartridge that makes a good deer rifle. Its the shooters marksmanship in different field situations. That does.__ All nice white tails hung 10X. All Doe I see. So I can imagine the size of a 8-10 point up there. Got to be huge animals.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I always get a kick out of the term "Obsolete" when it is applied to firearms. Obsolete in literal terms means either unusable due to unavailability, or ineffective compared to newer items.

When you talk about Obsolete cartridges generally it means no new guns being made in that caliber,,, Usually until some outfit realizes that if they chambered a gun in that obsolete caliber, which had some pretty desirable characteristics, that they would sell a bunch of them.

A good example is the obsolete .45-70 Govt. round that was considered "Obsolete" until Marlin decided to make a Levergun in that caliber around 1980 ish or when ever they brought out the new model 1895. Now that caliber is more popular than it ever was simply because there is a lot of attention paid to it by both manufacturers and ammo companies. To say it is a Handloader's dream is an understatement.

I don't feel that any "Mainstream Military Cartridge" IE; Many Millions of guns made for war, type of gun, should ever be classified as Obsolete simply because there are too many guns out in the public domain and there will always be a market for parts, ammo and loading components for those things. If they were so ineffective then why did they kill millions of people and animals with them?

I personally see no reason whatsoever for new cartridge development,,, Simply because every possible usage for a firearm is already covered by many cartridges already in existence, and most of them are pushing 100 years old. The latest joke I have seen is the 26 Nosler, which was made specifically for Nosler to sell more 6.5 MM bullets I see no advantage over the .264 Winchester which died on the vine 50 years ago, and yet the 100+ year old 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser which uses the same bullets is more popular now than ever before and will easily outlive the 26 Nosler no matter how good it appears to be on paper. Also add in the other 20 or so 6.5 cartridges already established and you've got a guaranteed loser. My .02?

Unfortunately most people consider Obsolete to mean Unusable. Interesting how a 1950's made DeHaviland Beaver or Otter can be considered obsolete when the bulk of bush planes are these exact planes. They are rebuilt again and again simply because there are no new airplanes that will do the job that these planes will do, and you can add the Piper Cub and Super Cub, and DC3 to that list as well and they will be rebuilt both at local shops and the big IRAN Facility at Oshkosh WI until all available parts are exhausted,,, and then people will make the parts needed themselves. I have a friend who makes sheet metal parts for various Obsolete Helicopters and even A,B and C model C130's. Sikorski and Lockheed stopped producing these parts long ago but there is still a demand so others now make them. The USAF and the Marines are his biggest customers! Go figure?

C130's and B52's will be the first airplanes to make 100 years in service simply because there is nothing else that will do their jobs the way they can,,, and no reason to try to build something else that does. You simply upgrade the existing planes with newer electronics and engines and they just keep on plodding along.

I just bet them ISIS dudes will Ship themselves the first time they see B52's Carpet Bombing them with airplanes made before 1962. Tail#1040 is the newest one and it was made in 1962! Probably been completely rebuilt (IRAN, Inspect and Repair As Needed) Twice.

They are still making new C130's! So it's going to be around for along time.

You can currently buy virtually every body part for just about any classic car ever made. Demand equals $Money to be made. It's called the "Aftermarket." And it exists for anything that there is a need for. If it is a custom type of part, there are guys who can make it. I recently saw a car show where there was a shop in Argentina that was making EXACT Replicas of Bugatti Racers from the 1930's and were so close to original that it took a serious Bugatti expert to figure out they were replicas and not restored cars!

There are several outfits that will make you any cartridge you can imagine and probably have stock on many of the more popular Obsolete Cartridge cases since it makes no sense to make a run of 100 parts for one guy when someone else will probably need them down the road. It is called "amortizing the setup" over a larger quantity of parts to reduce the price per part.

When it comes to manufacturing we are living in the "Best of Times!"

When it comes to obsolete guns, the question that always stops the "obsolete gun conversation" is,,, "Would you volunteer to be shot at by said Obsolete Gun?". The answer is usually NO! And you can always extend that to 600 year old Muzzleloaders versus new ones still made today and used my millions of hunters every season. Sure the new ones are easier to clean but the old ones still are just as effective caliber for caliber.

How could something as obsolete as a Muzzleloader be used that much?

Simple answer to that is ,,, it is fun to use it.

There was a saying in a movie once,,, If you build it they will come.

With respect to classic firearms nothing could be more true.

Randy

[smkummer]

30-30 for me. Any place that sells ammo, will probably have it. 30-30 with a 150 has stopped any deer I have seen shot with it and that was in N. Dakota. I can't imagine a deer big enough that a 170 grain 30-30 would be not enough.

[starmac]

While I do like the 35, if I am going to have only one deer rifle, it would be a long ways down the priority list. My old 300 savage is considered obsolete by many, but I can pretty much any day walk into sportsmans and buy ammo even during our major shortage, I don't know when the last time I saw 35 rem there. I know we all reload, but for a one gun guy, I just would not recommend it.

[MT Chambers]

I'm in the middle of big deer country (Saskatchewan, Canada), and have harvested quite a few big deer, I choose to hunt the wooded areas where ranges are closer, If I hunted the open areas I'd need a much flatter shooting gun. My favorites are the Win '94 ae in .356 Win. and the Marlin .45/70, all the others mentioned will work but those 2 really lay the smack down.

[TXGunNut]

I always get a kick out of the term "Obsolete" when it is applied to firearms. Obsolete in literal terms means either unusable due to unavailability, or ineffective compared to newer items.-W.R.Buchanan


I don't think the 35 Rem will ever be obsolete but it appears to me it's commercial viability is in serious trouble. It's just not flashy enough to attract the average gun buyer. It's a short, dumpy-looking cartridge that doesn't shoot especially fast or flat. Last time I checked it's only chambered in a few rifle's whose own commercial viablity is in question. None of the above matters much to people who understand the 35 Rem but it matters to folks who answer to corporate HQ types who in turn answer to investors.

[KirkD]

I personally see no reason whatsoever for new cartridge development,,, Simply because every possible usage for a firearm is already covered by many cartridges already in existence,
I tend to agree. Just forward of the muzzle, all the rifles in the world boil down to a bullet of a particular weight and caliber doing a particular velocity. Inventing a new cartridge when there is already a bullet of that diameter and weight going that velocity just seems a little redundant to me. I like the old cartridges, especially the 'obsolete' ones.

[bob208]

.45-70 for deer! i have not been hunting for a few years but have the deer gotten that tough? did they get mean too? i killed deer with a .303 brit. a .30-40 krag with a cast bullet .38-40. and a few with a .30-30. i have settled on the .30-30. that is what i will be using this year.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I wonder if the Deer would like a say in this? :brokenima

Randy

[John Boy]

I will be hunting in thicker brush300 H&H Magnum

[goblism]

picked up the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 not because i feel that this much power is needed for the deer but because the extra energy can only help, might be a little more than my shoulder likes but once i get around to shooting it I will know.

Eying out some 35 rems still, something about the odd caliber seems pretty tempting, it looks like it can do everything the 30-30 can do with more put down power, what's not to like with that!

[TXGunNut]

I wonder if the Deer would like a say in this? :brokenima

Randy

Every now and then they boycott one of my hunts but I can't say I've heard any objections. I think they probably support my efforts to fill my freezer with wild pork.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here's my solution as stated earlier now in the real world. More pics in Military Rifles.

Now I just need the Hat,,, and the ticket to Quebec for the Caribou Hunt.

Randy

[robertbank]

Bye gauleee dat is da hat for sure. Da #4, she be a good gun for the Cariboo too. Da hat is good to drink wit the boys the Molson n'est pas.

Bon Chance

Bob

[rjathon]

If you want smack down with reasonable recoil the 35 Rem is a sweet one. The 45/70 is superb but the recoil with a light rifle is horrendous. Porting a barrel helps a little but then the muzzle blast is unbearable. I don't like to hunt with a gun that is punishing to shoot.

[leveraction 45 colt]

i say go for the 30-30 I been using a Winchester 30-30 for years and I load 170gr bullets for my hunting loads! works everytime! lets keep the 30-30 tradition alive! :)

[10x]

If you want smack down with reasonable recoil the 35 Rem is a sweet one. The 45/70 is superb but the recoil with a light rifle is horrendous. Porting a barrel helps a little but then the muzzle blast is unbearable. I don't like to hunt with a gun that is punishing to shoot.

The 35 Remington is a great cast boolit gun. I just inadvertently bought a second one - it happened to be included in a lot of firearms at a sweet price.
Once I get it cleaned up I will be breaking out an RCBS 200 grain mold I bought 35 years ago for handgun silhouette shooting and never got around to casting a boolit with it.

Since the demise of the lead wheel weight I regard 200 grain bullets as somewhat extravagant - 35 bullets to the pound does not have the same appeal as a 37 grain 22 hornet boolit that allows me 189 bullets per pound of pb.