pro's and cons of each?? for hunting most big game in north america, particularly white tail, muley's hogs, elk, moose, bear ...

Both are capable game getters at modest ranges. The 35 Remington isn't as common as when I was younger but I've never seen a store that sold centerfire cartridges that didn't have 30/30 ammo. Neither would be my first pick for elk or moose but I'm sure they've been used successfully for that task. For my short range lever gun I chose the 45/70 which is probably a better choice than either especially for the larger animals you mention, at least within 150 yards. The 44 magnum is another cartridge to consider, if you don't really plan to hunt elk or moose with your levergun but want to practice at your local indoor range in the off season (the better indoor ranges will let you shoot pistol cartridge carbines indoors). Good hunting!

Both are wonderful cartridges and will be crossing my fingers that next year the Big Green will chamber their 700 classic in the dainty .35 Rem.

As a self proclaimed anti-magnum user, I would have to choose the 30-30 out of sheer availability. Ammo can be picked up anywhere (often for $10 or less) and premium ammo is also their to help for the tougher species. In new rifles you are limited to a Winchester or a Marlin, but both are proven designs that have worked for well over 100 years (there is also the NEF handi-rifle if you can handle a single shot). Neither really needs a scope, but both will take mounts and are as accurate as a responsible hunter needs them to be.

The .35 Remington is limited to one commercial loading and one lever action; the Marlin 336 and a remington 200 grain round nose. I know it will drop deer, pigs and a black bear in a pinch, and perhaps a moose if he's asleep and you can get him in a soft spot.

Who here hasn't ever shot a 30-30? As for the .35 that can be a bit more rare. I have a Rem model 8 semi-auto I picked up from a pawn shop for a super deal, chambered in .35 remington. It lets me use spitzer bullets, but i'm not sure the 150 grain is still around. It doesn't handle like a lever action, but it's just odd enough to be the only one in camp, and that counts for something!

79

I love loading the old 30/30. I use to hate it when I was younger because it was the rifle grandpa always stuck the youngest kid with.

However in adult hood I have learned to love it. You can do surprising things with it. It is a lot more competent than is given credit for any more. I sure wish that someone put them out in a bolt action or even a Ruger Number One in 30/30 and 35 Remington.

If you were not a handloader and Elk was on the hunting list, I would probably lean to the 35 Remington for Elk. Heavier bullet and wider frontal area. A 444 or a 45.70 would be a good step up. But 35 Rem vs 30/30 for Elk, I would lean the 35's way.

Just wish a lot of those older cartridges were still available in modern guns, or I wish New England arms would do a series available every year in the old classic cartridges, like 25/35, 32/40, 33 Winchester, 35 Winchester, 25/20, 32 Win Special, 40/65, 40/82 etc.

It would be good to have in some of the midwest states that only allow shot gun hunting, to be allowed to have a modest caliber single shot as being legal.

for whoever mentioned it, Remington's custom shop did put out a 35 Rem in bolt action Model 7 in a Mannlicher style stock in laminated wood for a while. Don't know if it is current. Minus the price, $1500.00 or so, I was looking at that with some desire in life.

I would rather have a Winchester Model 54 in 30/30 and 35 Rem that any Ultra Mag , long or short, any day of the week.
With the new 6.8 mm Remington military round, based off of the old 30 Remington, maybe some of those might show up in a Model 7 or similar model, or Ruger 77 Mk2. That would be a fun fad to see replace the Ultra mag and Short Mag Craze.

Cheers and good shooting.
Seafire

The 3030 will and has taken all North American big game.Most small town hardware stores carry 3030 ammo.Looking at all my rifles,I still think my Marlin 336A-DL in 3030 is the best rifle I own.Plus the 3030 doesn't kick the s--t out of me.

I never used one on elk, but on moose, whitetails, blackbear and caribou they work fine as long as the range isn't too far. My brother in law had the 35 Rem and I used the 30-30, the only difference I ever saw was a slightly larger hole. FWIW - Dan

Seafire,



I think that the .35 Remington's reputation was built on 200 gr. at 2000 fps. Winchester ammo I had from the 1950's actually achieved that. Current ammo only does 1836 fps (+/- a couple of fps) from either of my .35 Rem rifles. This is pretty anemic but you can easily do better with some very common powders and achieve 2000-2100 fps with the 200 gr. In a strong gun, you can do that with the 220 gr. Speer FP. If I had a Remington Model 7, I would load the 220 gr. Speer exclusively. The trajectory is certainly flat enough to take appropriately sized targets to 200 yards but I would want to be closer to use it on bigger game such as elk and moose. However, in factory loads, the .35 Rem and .30-30 seem to be pretty much equals with the .35's larger bullet diameter equaled by the .30-30's energy and trajectory.

Both are fun. I have used both. Neither is an elk cartridge IMO.