Henry Rifle Forums

New to the forum. Have pretty much decided to get the case color hardened version with octagon barrel. But I keep waffling back and forth whether to get the .30-30 or .45-70. I live in SW FL so i won't be hunting big game anytime soon. Our deer run smallish down here. Would also use rifle for pig hunting. But and the big BUT is I also plan to give this thing some serious range time. I spend a lot more time fun shooting at the range than hunting. I keep wondering if the .45-70 recoil will be somewhat of a derailment for that "range time" thought. I keep leaning towards the .30-30 but everyone keeps pushing the .45-70. I also reload. I'm a 1911 fanatic but also shoot CZ's and glocks. The only rifles I currently own are all AR's. Had a .30-30 marlin a few years back. I would really like to hear some of the pros and cons from people who actually own and shoot these 2 guns. Thanks in advance.

Welcome aboard, Bugs, from the Show-Me-State!

It has been cool lately with chats, just like yours, that folk are having a great time making the decision on which Henry to get. I'm sure the .45-70 owners will chime in; don't know how many Henry folk own the .30-30. I had a Henry .30-30, and from my perspective, recoil was not much more noticeable than my Henry .357 Big Boy. Since you said you'll spend a lot more time range shooting, I think the .30-30 would be fun to run. And since you reload, ammo cost is not a huge factor for either caliber. Just my thought on this caliber. BTW, the Henry .30-30 rifle I had was dressed in some of the best-looking wood I've had on a Henry!

Enjoy your search -- I know for sure you'll enjoy either Henry you choose.

The 30-30 will be cheaper to shoot but if you reload the 45-70 rounds will not be bad cost wise. Off the shelf Remington 45-70 ammo does not have bad recoil at all. The Buffalo Bore and Garrett ammo will thump you and at prices that are high per round.

I'm a 1911 guy myself. I have two 45-70 Henrys and I love em. I had a Henry 30-30 case hardened but let it go. Just loved the 45-70 round more. I don't smoke, drink or golf. All my play money is in guns and ammo so I don't think about 45-70 ammo costs too much. I usually only shoot 10 to 20 rounds at the range with mine but I'm also always shooting my 1911s or other guns too.

I do plan on starting to reload for the 45-70 just to have some fun and save some money. It's a fun round to shoot and even more fun out of a Henry lever action.

Have fun deciding. Either way shot placement is key.

we own and still shoot my grandfather's Winchester Model 94 30-30 .... we also own and shoot a Henry 45-70 .... for hunting, both are effective for roughly the same range .... in other words, neither is commonly used for long range hunting .... what I prefer means nothing, the only thing that really matters is what you prefer .... that said, I'd go with the 45-70 .... given, I don't know anyone who wants to spend all day firing dangerous game level 45-70 loads .... with you loading your own ammo, for paper punching, you have the ability to work up a Cowboy Action (or lighter) level load that is literally a pleasure to shoot .... you certainly can do the same with a 30-30 .... realizing you indicate no desire to do so but with a 45-70 you can literally take any game animal on the North American Continent as well as all of Africa's Big 6 .... that's an idea that appeals to me .... for me, there is nothing I know of a 30-30 can do that a 45-70 can't .... the reverse isn't true .... bottom line, when it comes to a Henry, you can't go wrong with either one

Im going to chime in on another vote for the 45-70. The CCH with the recoil pad is great to shoot even off the bench. IF you reload these with cast 405 bullets and Unique or 5744 there great to shoot. I use unique in mine and can shoot it all day. I have nothing against the 30-30 I just like the 45-70 better. I will throw in another thought. I dont know how big of hurry your in but Henry is coming out with a 38-55 next year also. I have one on my want list its a great caliber. Al

Welcome to the forum. You can't go wrong with either but I would say the 30-30 unless you really needed the 45-70 for bigger game. I've reloaded but not either caliber so can't say which would be easier. You mentioned you had a 30-30 in the past but never a 45-70. Might be fun to get a new caliber if you don't already have the dies for reloading.

Sir Henry wrote:I've reloaded but not either caliber so can't say which would be easier.

interesting point .... we reload both .... as a general rule we have found that its a bit easier to reload straight wall than it is bottleneck casings .... a 30-30 is most definitely a bottleneck design .... 45-70 casings aren't truly straight wall but they are awfully close ....

Lot's of good info. I'm trying to get a handle on the .45-70 recoil level using say store bought ammo for comparison sake. I used to do a lot of Milsurp stuff and did action jobs on Mosin Nagants to make a few bucks reselling them. The Mosin with milsurp 7.62 x 54R ammo just beat the crap out of me. I could shoot mebbee a couple dozen rounds before it was No Mas. Then it would take 2 weeks for the bruising to subside before I was dumb enough to go do it again . Where does the .45-70 stand in relation to a stock Mosin with Milsurp ammo. I was thinking the 8 lb weight and octagon barrel would soak up some recoil on the Henry and that the .30-30 in that variation would be a pussy cat. I like the idea of the .45-70 being almost straight walled although bottle neck cartridges are no big deal to load.

BigAl52 wrote: I will throw in another thought. I dont know how big of hurry your in but Henry is coming out with a 38-55 next year also. I have one on my want list its a great caliber. Al

Did not know that. It will just give me an excuse to get another one. Bob

Welcome to the forum. Kind of new, here, myself. Great folks. I'm sure you'll enjoy them and much as I do.

Haven't shot these cartridges in a Henry, but have in other lever guns - Marlins, Winchester and Brownings.

Take this for what it's worth. It may or may not apply for you. As a gal, I am recoil shy with rifles (just the opposite with handguns) and even a 30-30 can leave me black and blue in the shoulder if I get sloppy with my hold. The recoil with the 45-70 was very much a factor for me. Factory 325 grain 45-70 deer loads were distinctly uncomfortable. Even factory Remington 405 grain loads were a bit much. Had to drop down to cowboy loads to enjoy shooting the 45-70. Remember, low velocity notwithstanding, you are pushing bullets at least twice as heavy as the 30-30. Really a disappointment for me because I love the tradition and history of the 45-70.

By contrast, even the hottest 30-30 Buffalo Bore bear loads I could tolerate in a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 - not necessarily enjoy, mind you, but tolerate enough to shoot them at the bench. Standard 30-30 deer loads such as 150 Remington Core-lokts were quite manageable for me. Recoil pretty much a non-issue at this point. There are even some factory 30-30 125 grain varmint type factory loads that were downright pleasant to shoot. Can even go lighter if you reload with some 30-30 small game loads. Since you'll be range shooting, another factor in favor of the 30-30 is its distinctly flatter trajectory, especially if you decide to shoot the Hornady plastic tipped lever loads. Some of these will produce varmint the accuracy. Another plus for the 30-30, since you reload, is cheaper components and better availability. Nothing more common than 30 call bullets or 30-30 brass. Good 45-70 brass ain't cheap.

Also, for the sake of comparison, have shot the 30-30 and 45-70 in TC Contender/Encore pistols. As mentioned, I am not recoil shy with handguns, but, even, here, the 45-70 was just too much. On the other hand, spent many a long range session shooting the 30-30 in these guns.

As for occasional hunting, if there's anything down there that needs more than a 30-30, you are in trouble.

Hope this helps.

I have the 30-30, 45-70, and 45 colt in lever guns. 45 colt has virtually no recoil but will get the job done on almost anything on this continent. 30-30 tends to have moderate recoil and seems to shoot a little flatter, but the casings do require a a bit more prep. The 45-70 CAN be reloaded to match the 30-30 pretty easily or loaded up to where you want to increase your insurance. Virtually no difference in cost to re-load between the three. The 45-70 isn't much fun to shoot from a bench though. The straight back push it gives is a lot more fun standing up where your whole body can absorb it. Not to mention, the looks you get when you pull out those 45-70 cartridges Just my 3 cents worth (I adjust for inflation).

You can go mild to wild with the 45-70. You can reload your own super long range black powder loads, but you will probably have to load them from the ejection port one at a time. 45-70's are just cool and people love to see them hit gongs way out there. 30-30's are cool too, I have a 1950's era Marlin, but I think the 45-70 wins hands down in the fun factor. You must already know that you will own both someday..........

North Country Gal wrote:Welcome to the forum. Kind of new, here, myself. Great folks. I'm sure you'll enjoy them and much as I do.

Haven't shot these cartridges in a Henry, but have in other lever guns - Marlins, Winchester and Brownings.

Take this for what it's worth. It may or may not apply for you. As a gal, I am recoil shy with rifles (just the opposite with handguns) and even a 30-30 can leave me black and blue in the shoulder if I get sloppy with my hold. The recoil with the 45-70 was very much a factor for me. Factory 325 grain 45-70 deer loads were distinctly uncomfortable. Even factory Remington 405 grain loads were a bit much. Had to drop down to cowboy loads to enjoy shooting the 45-70. Remember, low velocity notwithstanding, you are pushing bullets at least twice as heavy as the 30-30. Really a disappointment for me because I love the tradition and history of the 45-70.

By contrast, even the hottest 30-30 Buffalo Bore bear loads I could tolerate in a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 - not necessarily enjoy, mind you, but tolerate enough to shoot them at the bench. Standard 30-30 deer loads such as 150 Remington Core-lokts were quite manageable for me. Recoil pretty much a non-issue at this point. There are even some factory 30-30 125 grain varmint type factory loads that were downright pleasant to shoot. Can even go lighter if you reload with some 30-30 small game loads. Since you'll be range shooting, another factor in favor of the 30-30 is its distinctly flatter trajectory, especially if you decide to shoot the Hornady plastic tipped lever loads. Some of these will produce varmint the accuracy. Another plus for the 30-30, since you reload, is cheaper components and better availability. Nothing more common than 30 call bullets or 30-30 brass. Good 45-70 brass ain't cheap.

Also, for the sake of comparison, have shot the 30-30 and 45-70 in TC Contender/Encore pistols. As mentioned, I am not recoil shy with handguns, but, even, here, the 45-70 was just too much. On the other hand, spent many a long range session shooting the 30-30 in these guns.

As for occasional hunting, if there's anything down there that needs more than a 30-30, you are in trouble.

Hope this helps.

After a lot of agonizing deliberation I do believe I'm going to grab a case color hardened .30-30 as my first Henry. I do believe I will get a lot more enjoyable use out the .30-30 here in SW FL with our smaller, deer, pigs and coyotes. Plus I have 30 cal bore snakes, cleaning rods already. Quite frankly if the 1911's, S&W revos, Glocks, Seecamps, etc that tend to collect at the house are any indication I doubt it will be my last Henry. Kind of odd but my wife and I were recently visiting my oldest daughter in RI and Henry had a show early in the morning discussing their rifles on cable TV. We were watching it and i told my wife I've always wanted a Henry. Her response was "well get one". The next will probably be a .22 Henry so I can teach my grandson to shoot when he gets a little older; he's only 8 right now. Now I need to gather some .30-30 brass.

Good for you. Like everyone said, can't make a bad choice on this one. Don't forget, we will expect a range report.

North Country Gal wrote:Don't forget, we will expect a range report.

Yup! With pictures. You're going to love that Henry.

CT_Shooter wrote:

North Country Gal wrote:Don't forget, we will expect a range report.

Yup! With pictures. You're going to love that Henry.

Of course. I'm waiting on some pricing from a dealer I do business with; should hear from him tomorrow. Meanwhile I'm heading out to test out some new loads I made for my S&W 686 with 3 inch barrel. I usually use Zero Bullets 158gr ( I have a dealer account with them and get good pricing) but their machine has been down for over a year now for the 38 special 158gn. I've had 4,000 on order now for 14 months. So i grabbed some Montana Gold 158gn JHP's to play around with. Loaded up a bunch to test out.

Bugs wrote:I usually use Zero Bullets 158gr ( I have a dealer account with them and get good pricing) but their machine has been down for over a year now for the 38 special 158gn. I've had 4,000 on order now for 14 months.

I don't have a dealer account, but I've had 2000 .38 158gr JSPs on order with them for 17 months. I write Roze every few months just to keep in touch. As soon as I get them, I'll place a followup order, maybe for more than 2K; I really like those bullets and wonder how a company can have a machine down for so long. In the meantime, I've been shooting their 130 FMJs, which I also like quite a bit. I also have their 125 JSPs and JHPs, which I'm still experimenting with, trying to find a good load.

Not sure about your dealer, but gun genie is one way to usually find a good local price. Enjoy your Henry. Nothing like a good lever gun.

We were watching it and i told my wife I've always wanted a Henry. Her response was "well get one". Its always easier when the wife tells you to get one. You will like the CCH version I love mine in 45-70. Al

My wife's would be more of a "Well, get out" kind of response...