45-70 vs 30-30: For the Love of a Lever Gun
There’s something deliciously nostalgic about lever-action rifles. They have an aura and mystique about them, especially when you use one as a hunting rifle. It’s as though you’ve been transported back to a simpler time when the big game freely roamed the forests and Great Plains of North America.
There are many rifle cartridges you can select if you want to pick up a lever gun. Two of the most popular are the 30-30 Winchester and the 45-70 Government.
The 45-70 is a big, beefy cartridge that hits hard and has the power to take down a grizzly. The 30-30 is lighter, more nimble, and a lot gentler on the shoulder.
Both cartridges have a long and impressive history of getting the job done when it comes to putting meat on the table. But which one is right for you?
In this article, we will analyze the rounds’ relative advantages and disadvantages so you can make the best decision on your next lever-action hunting rifle.
What’s the Difference Between 45-70 vs. 30-30?
The primary difference between 45-70 vs. 30-30 is that the 30-30 Win cartridge fires a 0.308” diameter bullet while the 45-70 Govt fires a 0.458” diameter bullet. Both cartridges can be used on medium game like whitetail, hogs, or black bear, but the 45-70 can take on big game animals like brown bear, bison, and moose.
Cartridge Specs
When comparing two rifle cartridges, it’s a good idea to gain more knowledge of each by analyzing the cartridges’ specs.
The first and most obvious difference between 45-70 and 30-30 is the size of the bullet each fires. The 45-70 fires a 0.458” diameter bullet, while the 30-30’s 0.308” diameter bullet makes it a true American .30 caliber. This means the 45-70 Govt fires larger, heavier bullets than the 30-30.
Another significant difference between the two cartridges is their size. The 45-70 is wider (albeit the same length). Their designs are different as well, as the 45-70 has a straight-walled case while the 30-30’s is bottle-necked (like the 223 Remington).
The larger 45-70 has almost double the case capacity of the 30-30 (81 vs. 45 grains, respectively). Its larger case capacity is needed for launching the 300+ grain weight boulders – or, rather, bullets – the 45-70 fires.
There’s no denying that the 45-70 is a monster of a round, but all that power comes at the cost of greater recoil.
There’s no denying that the 45-70 is a monster of a round, but all that power comes at the cost of felt reoil.
Recoil
Felt recoil varies depending on the shooter and rifle. A heavier rifle has less felt recoil than a lighter one, as its greater mass absorbs more recoil energy.
On average, the 30-30 has around 14 ft-lbs of recoil energy, whereas the 45-70 imparts around 33 ft-lbs of energy to a shooter’s shoulder. That’s over double!
Most shooters utilize these rounds for deer hunting and other big game. Recoil should therefore not be a huge issue, as most hunters take one or two shots tops during a trip into the woods. Even so, the 30-30 is the superior choice as far as recoil is concerned.
Trajectory
Trajectory is how we quantify a bullet’s flight path as it travels downrange, measured in inches of drop.
A flatter-shooting cartridge is preferable for shooting longer ranges, it requires the shooter to make fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. Having a flatter trajectory also means that a cartridge will be more forgiving of ranging mistakes.
Neither the 30-30 nor 45-70 are known for having exceptionally flat trajectories. As such, it is not advisable to use them for longer range shots. (For shots over 300 yards, the 300 Winchester Magnum or 6.5 Creedmoor would be a better option.
The steeper bullet drop rates seen in 30-30 Winchester and 45-70 Government are due to the bullet designs required for lever-action rifles; either round’s bullet is obligated to have a flat or round nose. As these bullet profiles are less aerodynamic than a spitzer alternative, they rapidly hemorrhage velocity in flight. As the bullets lose velocity, gravity has more time to pull them toward the ground.
Looking at the ballistics tables below, we can see that the 30-30 has a flatter trajectory than 45-70 for virtually every loading. This is thanks to its lighter bullets and higher muzzle velocities.
Ballistic Coefficient
The ballistic coefficient (BC) measures how well a bullet resists wind drift and air resistance. Put another way, it’s a numeric representation of how aerodynamic a bullet is. A high BC is preferable as it means the bullet will buck the wind more easily.
Ballistic coefficient varies from bullet to bullet based on design, weight, and other factors that are beyond the scope of this article. That said, heavier bullets generally have a higher BC, as it takes more force to disrupt their flight compared to lighter ones.
Take the Remington Core-Lokt round, for example: an effective and inexpensive soft point hunting load that can be found in almost all sporting goods stores across North America. A 30-30 Core-Lokt round with a 170 grain bullet has a BC of 0.254, whereas a 405 grain 45-70 Core-Lokt load has a BC of 0.281.
It would be easy to surmise that the 45-70’s characteristically heavier bullets have higher BCs than the 30-30. However, doing so would completely ignore bullet design, which also plays a sizable role in the ballistic coefficient equation.
Hornady LEVERevolution 30-30 160 grain FTX has a BC of 0.330, while the same label’s 45-70 325 grain FTX has a lower BC of 0.230.
This exception notwithstanding, the 45-70 typically has a slight edge over the 30-30 in terms of ballistic coefficient due to the heavier bullets it fires.
Sectional Density
Sectional Density (SD) is a measure of how well a bullet penetrates a target. This is extremely important when hunting big and medium game, as you need a bullet that can punch through thick hide, bone, and sinew.
A bullet’s SD is a product of its weight and diameter. The higher its SD, the deeper the bullet will penetrate into the target. (This is a simplified view of penetration, as there are other factors to consider such as bullet expansion and velocity, though SD is illustrative all the same).
The 45-70 is well known for its penetration as it is routinely used to hunt big game like elk, moose, and brown bear with excellent results.
However, the 30-30 is no slouch when it comes to penetration, as it has remained one of the top rounds for deer hunting since its release.
Shooters might surmise that the 45-70 has a higher SD as it fires heavier and wider bullets. Doing so would overlook the 30-30’s tendency to localize its force into a smaller area, which also aids with deeper penetration.
Although every factory load is different, on average, the 45-70 and 30-30 have similar sectional densities.
Hunting
The 30-30 and 45-70 are both excellent choices for harvesting medium and large game.
The 30-30 Winchester is best for:
- Deer
- Hogs
- Black bear
The 45-70 Govt is best for:
- Elk
- Grizzly bear
- Moose
As a rule of thumb, it takes 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to ethically harvest a whitetail deer. The 30-30 Winchester starts to dip below this level at around 200 yards; the 45-70 Govt, around 300 yards (for hotter loads). Its arching trajectory to 300 yards makes shooting long distances with the 45-70 difficult, and something that must be practiced before setting foot into the woods.
As responsible hunters, it’s our duty to make sure that we limit the suffering of any game animal we take aim at.
For smaller game, you want something with a flatter trajectory and smaller bullet, such as a 223 Remington or 22-250 Rem. A 30-30 would be effective against a coyote or groundhog, although it’s a bit too much for pest control (if you want to preserve pelts, at least).
Speaking of overkill, some hunters claim that the 45-70 is too much for whitetail, suggesting that using a larger round will destroy the meat and “there’ll be nothing left.” These claims are wildly exaggerated, as the 45-70 has been used to harvest deer for over a century without issue. It leaves plenty left to eat, I assure you. If you like your 45-70 lever gun or single-shot rifle and want to go hunting with it, then go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
To summarize, 30-30 is an excellent choice for deer and black bear. The 45-70 can also handle these, as well as big game like moose and brown bear.
Reloading
Handloaders have created their own custom ammo for both of these rifle cartridges for decades. There has been extensive load development for both rounds, and there are now plenty of powders and bullets to choose from.
Handloading 30-30 allows you to stockpile more common 0.308” diameter bullets. These are extremely popular among North American hunters who characteristically favor cartridges like 308 Winchester, 300 Win Mag, and 30-06 Springfield. Having a commonality between the cartridges you handload for makes it easier to source components, as you can buy in bulk.
The 0.458” diameter bullet is somewhat less common, although there are still plenty of options available to help you tailor the perfect 45-70 handload for your rifle.
Reloading helps reduce your overall ammo cost. And if you enjoy plinking or going to the range frequently, it can be a real windfall for your wallet. Furthermore, there’s something satisfying about creating and shooting your own handloads that you don’t get when you shoot factory ammo.
Dive into the showdown with 45-70 vs 30-30 guide and pick your perfect match! 
Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/03/27/45-70-vs-30-30/
