[elovichjames]

If those are your 2 choices I would recommend that you use the rifle you shoot the best-most accurately, both calibers have taken plenty of elk as long as you watch your distance and use an appropriate bullet, a 170gr 30-30 round will take elk nicely with less than half the recoil of a 45-70. Remember the 30-30 was the king of the woods and killing everything from hogs to moose before other calibers came to try and kill them better.

 

[Mostly_Leverguns]

I have shot at least a dozen elk with the 45-70, more with many other calibers - .308, 358, 8x57, 300 Win Mag, 300 Savage AND 32 Special. For elk, AT ANY RANGE I will always pick a 45-70, or a .308, or a .300 Savage over a .30-30. On elk, a broadside rib shot might work under 100 yards, but the 45-70 will work out to 250 or better without needing that true 'Archery Broadside' like needed by a 30-30 on elk. Antelope, deer sure take a 30-30, I often use the .32 Special on them. Over kill is way under rated, mostly by guys with 30-30's.

 

[Officer29]

I have never had a problem with getting my elk with my 45-70. Love this caliber..

 

[captainjoe]

Hey new to this form, I've been on multiple forms but this is the first time I decided to ask.
I have a COW ELK hunt coming up in December in new Mexico and have been back and forth between a Winchester 94ae (20 inch barrel) and chambered in 30-30 or Marlin 1894 chambered in 45-70 (26 inch barrel). I have owned the Marlin for some years and just picked up the Winchester 94ae. Form what I understand bullet placement will be key for both guns. This will be my first elk, so I figured I'd ask someone with more experience.

I hunt a lot of elk and your hunting environment will be a factor. How open is the area where you are hunting? My area is heavily timbered so the vast majority of shots are under 100 yards. If I was hunting in a place where I was often in spots where 200-300 yards were not uncommon, I would take my 300 win mag because it shoots a lot flatter in long distance shooting.

The 30-30 is a great cartridge, but I would prefer a 45-70 for elk.

 

[trigunhappy]

Hey new to this form, I've been on multiple forms but this is the first time I decided to ask.
I have a COW ELK hunt coming up in December in new Mexico and have been back and forth between a Winchester 94ae (20 inch barrel) and chambered in 30-30 or Marlin 1894 chambered in 45-70 (26 inch barrel). I have owned the Marlin for some years and just picked up the Winchester 94ae. Form what I understand bullet placement will be key for both guns. This will be my first elk, so I figured I'd ask someone with more experience.

Both the 30-30 and 45-70 are solid choices for elk hunting, but each has its strengths. The 30-30 is great for closer range due to its flatter trajectory and lighter recoil, which might make it easier to place your shots accurately. On the other hand, the 45-70 packs more punch and can be very effective if you anticipate longer shots or need more stopping power.

 

[SargeMO]

I would zero that 30-30 at 200 yards with 170 grain Nosler Partitions and go fill a tag.

 

[Justinoldguy]

I have killed three elk, all moderately sized bulls, in my entire life. My Marlin .30-30 dispatched them without any fuss using standard 170 grain factory loads. Two were around 60 yards, the other about 140. Also got a few moose (bulls, have never knowingly shot girls of any species) and several black bears over the years, never felt undergunned with a .30-30. Those critters were all taken 30-50 years ago, perhaps animals have started wearing kevlar since then. Nowadays I am just a one buck a year deer hunter, almost exclusively using traditional muzzleloaders.

 

[SargeMO]

I have killed three elk, all moderately sized bulls, in my entire life. My Marlin .30-30 dispatched them without any fuss using standard 170 grain factory loads. Two were around 60 yards, the other about 140. Also got a few moose (bulls, have never knowingly shot girls of any species) and several black bears over the years, never felt undergunned with a .30-30. Those critters were all taken 30-50 years ago, perhaps animals have started wearing kevlar since then. Nowadays I am just a one buck a year deer hunter, almost exclusively using traditional muzzleloaders.

Great post-thank you.

 

[StumpHunter]

.30-30 is just fine. .45-70 works too.
Pick what you want your hunt memory to be with.