Wrong forum for an unbiased answer to your question.

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What does he want to do with a new rifle? Does he load his own ammo and cast his own bullets?

 

It all depends on what type of hunting he plans on doing. The 338 ME cartridge is a longer range thumper than the 45-70 but will work in close quarters too. If one doesn't reload and will be hunting at closer ranges only--I would go for the 45-70. I have a 338MX and love the rifle and cartridge but I reload for it. There isn't much that the 338 ME ammo can't do--I got rid of a bolt 30-06 due to that fact.

 

Well, I never owned the 338MX, I will say that the cartridge definitely intrigues me, but....unless you are a reloader I'd go with the 45-70 for ammo availability. For me....welll all of these are 45-70's, so you can guess which way I'd vote! Something for every way you could think of shooting!!!! From mild to wild! Short to long range. :biggrin:

 

Oh boy! That's a tough one:vollkommenauf:
Honestly it depends on what he wants to do with the rifle. Distance of shots, how much does he want to shoot it extra.
This is like comparing apples to oranges IMO. Both rifles are grate hunting rifles and will serve very well up north. 45-70 is 100 times more versatile than the 338 but there's things a 338 will do that 45-70 will never do like longer range well retaining energy. And there's things that a 45-70 will do that a 338 can't do. Bullet selection for the 45-70 is vertuly endless where's for the 338 we're very limited.
For a one gun hunting rifle (not in big bear country) to be shot at game and a few times to check zero I'd go with the 338 simple because of its easier longer range advantage. Not saying you can't stretch the distance with a 45-70 just that the 338 doses it easier. I can consistently hit targets with my 45-70 at 200+ yards with a 430gr hard cast bolder moving along at 1600fps with a 2.5 power scout scope. But would stay away from shots like that on game. With my 338MXLR hitting targets at 200+ isn't even much of a challenge.
The look on people's faces when you hit targets out there with a 45-70 priceless especially when there shooting some little 55gr bullets at warp speed.:biggrin:
who am I kidding trying to answer this question? I simply can't justify one over the other. I own both and reload for both. Both are grate cartridge and in the amazing platform that is a marlin lever gun.

MY VOTE GO'S TO THE MIGHT 35REM
it's the one in the middle:biggrin:

 

Easier to get ammo for the 45-70 in most towns or cities not so much 338me unless you stock up on it and or reload...I would never buy a odd caliber for my 1st long gun but that's just me.

 

I don't consider a .338 to be a "big bore." At .338" I would put it on the lower fringes of being considered "medium bore." Nothing wrong with it though. They have their place.

 

I've never shot a 338me but to me it's in the same field as a 30-06 or around there however I do shoot a 338 win mag.

 

if he gets the 338 ,just buy enough ammo to do him a few years and he is set .

 

Same thing I did with my 308MX,bought 2.5 cases of factory Rem 150grn and then also bought a die set,Lee case length gauge,100 brass cases and bullets,good to go for a long time. Would like to get a crimp die and FTX stem for the LeverEvolution ammo.
I will do the same when I find a 338MX......

 

I'd take a .356 over the other if it were me, I load mine with 250 gr. cast fl. pt. gc bullets that my outfit makes and sells, having said all that, I'd take a 45/70 over either(and quickly) if I could only have one lever gun.

 

According to Chuck Hawks big bore starts at .400 (fun fact).. I wouldn't mind owning a 338 if it came in a straight case and had a flatter metplate. :flute:

1895gunner

 

Them boys with the 375H&H just might disagree with Ole Chuck

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.375_Holland_&_Holland_Magnum

My odd sixes will out do the 338mx and the 338-06, heck I give win mags a run.
On the other hand, 45/70 is a lot of carnage out to medium ranges, and a hoot to shoot

 

I've grown quite partial to my 45-70! Nuf said!

 

I own both the 45-70 Gov and 338 ME in Marlin rifles. I love both, but each caliber has clearly different applications. If I'm hunting timber, the 45-70 king. If hunting fields and power lines, where shots regularly can well be in access of 150 yards then the 338 ME rules.

 

I'm more of a both and type than a either or... but I will never sell my 338MX. And +1 to 1895Gunner, the 338 is a mid bore and I really like it!

Jack

 

I will have to go along with the wrench in the gear works. As even if one does reload how hard will it be to find brass for the 338 and at what cost now and into the future. And as others have mentioned due to the ballistics of the 338 MX I do not believe there are many bullet designs out there designed for its speed range but I could be wrong in that respect.

If I wished to have a bit more range than say the 45-70 Government and an easy to load cartridge along with a Big Bore the 444 Marlin would be a heck of a round. As one can use many .44 Caliber bullets both cast and jacketed to good effect.

Also as mentioned if one is going to take the time to learn the trajectory capabilities of the 45-70 Government then 200 yard shots should be no problem. But I keep mine in the 100-150 yard range in my 95 Marlin GS 45-70.

 

Thats why I got my 416RemMag, I NEVER want to be accused of using "MID" anything!!! Go BIG or go home! Of course, this doesn't count if you have BOTH!!!!! :biggrin: Then you are GOOD TO GO!

 

As has already been said, what is the intended use?

Also as has been said, the .338 is not a big bore.

Then, there has been the recommendation to go with the .356, and while that is a very fine cartridge, it shares the same problem as a growing number of other also fine cartridges, Brass availability.

I realize the .338 Winchester is seen in few if any lever actions, but I believe it is chambered in a Semi-auto or two and the brass availability will always GREATLY exceed the availability of the .338 Marlin brass.

I have come down in the same place on a number of different threads. If you want to buy one of the less popular cartridges, fine, but first make sure brass is available and then buy/stash away a life time supply at or before the time of the rifle purchase.

MANY!!!!!!!!!! fine cartridges are based on the 30/06 case, including the 35 Whelan and if push comes to shove those cartridges can be formed from the much easier to find "06" brass while many of the Winchester/Remington short cartridges, cartridges baring the RUGER and Marlin names are and will continue to be much harder to find brass for.

The 45/70, because of the rather dramatic surge in popularity now enjoys good brass availability, but even with that, the smart folk will have a stash of that and other brass laid back.

So, I'd vote for the 45/70 and personally no matter how fine the cartridge looks on paper, avoid many of the new offerings unless I could buy, up front, a life time supply of brass.

No matter how fine the cartridge, the rifle is just a long club without ammo.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

 

I too own both rifles. Have had the 1895 since the late 70's and do love it. However, the new 338mx delivers impressive performance down range. I killed a nice Alaska Moose this year with the 200 grain factory load and it put it down with good authority. It would not be my first choice for big bears but I would shoot one with it if I had too and not look back. Jim

 

My 338mx has never made it to the woods my 45/70 always wins out I wish I knew why :questionmark: