Rifle options

G'day, folks. First time hunter, but I've been shooting for a few years. I'm down in SE Texas, a little bit west of Houston. A work college has a ranch that has feeders and blinds (~75-100 yards apart) set up and he's willing to let me get a deer and a hog. So here's the thing: I have two rifles that I'm looking at using.

Rifle #1: Good 'ol scoped Remington 700 in 308. Great shooter and its set up to run a suppressor. Kinda nice. Even full power loads are single shot hearing safe for me. The down side is that the stock I have on it is a bit heavy. It's not far of a walk (1/2 mile?), but lighter is always better for me. If used, I was planning on a 168gr soft-point as it'll knock on 1" groups with almost any type of bullet at that weight. I'd use this for both the deer and hog, or possibly the Hornady 168gr AMAX for the deer.

Rifle #2: Scoped Marlin lever gun in 45/70. Smaller and lighter than the bolt gun. If used, I'd probably just go with the standard 405gr LRN ammo for both the deer and hog. I'm pretty sure the "lighter" 325gr FTX round would work as well, though I'd have to re-zero for it. I am not set up for suppression of this one.

I was planning on a lung/heart shot as best I could, and not a head or neck shot as this is my first hunt. I've got high confidence with either rifle out to 100 yards, but I've only taken the 308 beyond that.

So knowing this, one of the guys I know put it forward that the 45/70 would probably be overkill and literally demolish the deer, possibly ruining a lot of meat. I found that kind of odd since it is a massive round, but the heavier one (405gr) is going about 1/2 the velocity of the 308. The hog is probably a non-issue with regards to the 45/70 round.

I'd rather use one rifle or the other, and I was leaning towards the 45/70 because it is so small and light. However, the comment about it probably ruining the deer has got me rethinking it.

I'd appreciate any input.

Hunt with the gun you have the most confidence in!!

Deer aren't particularly hard anumals to kill if you put the bullet where you should. Either one will do the job, I have been using 308 as long as I can remember, so I voted for it, but either one will work. Sounds like you have more experience behind the 308 as well.

At that distance either is fine, particularly for a heart/lung shot. Seems you're happier with the .45-70. Take both to the lease and hunt with the .45-70 but have the .308 for a backup or a stand with a longer shot.

45-70 will do less meat damage.

I'd carry that bolt action .308, and that load on any hunt, or any battle on this continent.

Mark:

I shoot both and either one is satisfactory for the distances and game you identified. If your are limited to the scenario you proposed, used the one your most comfortable with. Obviously the 308 has much more versatility if the hunting scenario changes.

^^^ This

And as someone else stated, that 45/70 won't tear up as much meat as you might think, especially with the 405's. The 325 FTX Leverevolution is what I shoot out of my Marlin, and I've killed numerous hogs and a doe with it. The hogs I've shot from 40~125yds. It punches a sizable hole in the hogs (plenty of resistance for that big bullet to expand), but you don't get a ton of blood shot meat due to lack of velocity vs a high speed lighter bullet. Just a bang/flop. I shot my doe at 135 yds, and she did a complete back flip at impact , then ran 125 yds straight toward the blind before collapsing 10 yds in front of me. She was running dead, as I had taken out the top of the heart and lungs, but not near the damage that I get on hogs. I've only recovered one of these bullets on the off shoulder of a really big boar, and it was a picture perfect mushroom.

What he said

+1 - Here is video I made a few years ago to answer this question which comes up regularly.

.308 until you get the deer on the ground. If you get some hog hunting in after that the 45/70 would be fun just because I think it's easier to make quick follow ups with a lever gun, and hogs may present that opportunity.

Btw....

Like others have said, take both and shoot the one you want or incase there is a longer shot opertunity at a stand in which case carry the 308. Punched through the lungs and very little meat famage with either. Hit the shoulder and there will be more meat damaged by the 308. I like both and have killed quite a few critters woth both.

308, more universal for future hunts and game variety.

308 any days of the week

I voted 45-70 because thats what you seem to prefer to shoot. It's all about the fun. Go for it. I have both and would take either one, depending on the days mood.

Thanks....I guess I'll go with the trusty suppressed 308 for the deer for sure. I was pretty sure either would do the trick. I was just worried about meat damage and having to track the things down.

.308 should take care of any game you come across in Texas. I shoot 180gr trophy bonded tips out of my aac-sd and it puts a hurting on everything it touches

My 308's never let me down