doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Caliber comparison - .35 Rem vs. .30-30

I am looking to buy a deer rifle - the gun I am looking at comes chambered in .35 Remington or .30-30. I found some articles nostalgically extolling the virtues of the .35 Rem. I was about to bite but did a ballistics comparison and I am struggling to see how the .35 Rem is a better choice:

.35 Rem (Remington R35R2 - 200 grain @ 2080 muzzle fps):

Velocity at 100 yds - 1698 fps
Energy @ 100 yds - 1280 ft/lbs
Energy @ 200 yds - 841 ft/lbs
Trajectory @ 50 yds - +0.5"
Trajectory @ 100 yds - zero
Trajectory @ 150 yds - -3.5"
Recoil - 13.5 lbs

.30-30 (Remington R30303 hollow point Core-Lokt - 170 grain @ 2200 muzzle fps):

Velocity at 100 yds - 1895 fps
Energy @ 100 yds - 1355 ft/lbs
Energy @ 200 yds - 989 ft/lbs
Trajectory @ 50 yds - +0.3"
Trajectory @ 100 yds - zero
Trajectory @ 150 yds - -2.7"
Recoil - 11 lbs

The differences aren't dramatic but it looks to me like the .30-30 has a flatter trajectory, more energy and less recoil (plus it is easier to find) - am I missing something?

Thanks in advance, Doverham

Larger hole and 30gr more weight. The .35Rem will fling 180's out at around 2200 and still punch a bigger hole.

Admittedly, I am a HUGE 35 caliber fan, so FWIW.

Doverham,
Just buy one of each.
Mike

At low velocities I tend to like to make a big hole going in so I tend to favor the .35 Remington over the .30-30. That said either one is will do the job you want so just pick the one that suits you best.

Jerry Liles

For many years, I was a disciple of the Roy Weatherby school of lighter bullet and high velocity. Then I started easily killing my deer with a low velocity round ball fired from a flintlock. Given equal shot placement, the deer were dropping just as fast, if not faster than those I shot with high velocity cartridges.

I looked at the ballistics of my anemic .50 cal round ball. It just didn't make sense. There was no reason that something with less K.E. than the mild .30-30 should kill with such authority, but it did... over and over and over. With the .35 Rem, I don't know that a .050" increase in caliber means all that much to killing game, but the extra weight certainly gives better penetration. My current centerfire deer rifle is a .45-70, and the .50 cal. flintlock is still my favorite.

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like it comes down to a variation on the theme that Bigger is Generally Better.

Mike - I tried the one of each one approach with shotguns. It gets pricey in a hurry!

Are you picking between these two because it's a short range brush rifle. When it comes to ballistics, the .35 Rem may shed velocity and energy quicker than the .30-30, but if it's recoiling at around 20% more, then there may be more ballistic oompf at short range. On the other hand, either is plenty.

I like the .35 Remington for what it is. If it's new to you, it's not the worst thing to try out just for fun. I doubt most would notice much recoil problems. Lever gun?

Have not looked for .35 Remington ammo lately. Is it readily available? Certainly .30-30 is.
Chuck

I am looking for a shorter range brush rifle for New England whitetail primarily. My father had a Marlin 336 in .30-30, and shot his first deer with it. It was the first centerfire rifle I shot (back in the day and place when I could walk out the back door and shoot a centerfire rifle), so there is a bit of nostalgia involved in the choice.

.35 Rem ammo can be found, but is not as available or varied in offerings as .30-30.

Kittery Trading Post has a few used pre-safety 336s for sale - I am hoping to check them out next week. Yes, these are lever action.

For short range deer, I would prefer a .44 Magnum to either. Shorter package, at least in a Marlin or Ruger. Kills them DRT. Ammo very available in a wide variety of loads. Similar felt recoil. Plenty accurate. Just my opinion.