When it comes to lever-action rifles, the 30-30 Winchester, 35 Remington, and 45-70 Government cartridges are some of the most iconic and popular options available. Each of these cartridges has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, making them well-suited for different hunting and shooting scenarios. In this article, we will compare and contrast the 30-30 Winchester, 35 Remington, and 45-70 Government cartridges, exploring their history, ballistics, and overall performance.

Here is the short answer:

The 30-30 is the most widely used of the three, and is a good choice for medium-sized game at short to medium range. The 35 Remington offers greater power and knockdown ability, making it a good choice for larger game. The 45-70 Government is the most powerful of the three, with heavy bullets that can take down even the largest of game at longer ranges.

Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at all these cartridges, each of their best uses and ballistics, and see how they all compare in-depth. 

In-Depth Look at the 30-30 Winchester

The 30-30 Winchester cartridge was first introduced in 1895, and has since become one of the most popular cartridges for lever-action rifles. It features a rimmed, bottlenecked design and fires a .308 inch bullet at velocities of up to 2,400 feet per second. The 30-30 is a great choice for hunting medium-sized game at short to medium range, with enough power to take down deer and similar animals with ease. It is also a popular choice for cowboy action shooting competitions, due to its historical significance and ease of use.

Here is a ballistics chart of the 30-30 Winchester with a 170-grain soft point bullet: 

range (YD)	drop (IN)	wind drift (IN)	velocity FPS	energy ft-lb
0	-1.5	0	2200	1827
50	0.3	0.4	2044	1577
100	0	1.8	1894	1354
150	-2.8	4.3	1753	1159
200	-8.4	8.1	1619	990
250	-17.2	13	1494	843
300	-30	19.4	1380	719
350	-47.5	27.3	1279	617
400	-70.3	36.7	1191	535
450	-99.3	47.6	1118	472
500	-135.4	59.9	1060	424

In-Depth Look at the 35 Remington

The 35 Remington cartridge was first introduced in 1906, and is designed to provide greater power and knockdown ability than the 30-30 Winchester. It features a rimless, bottlenecked design and fires a .358 inch bullet at velocities of up to 2,000 feet per second. The 35 Remington is a great choice for hunting larger game at medium range, with enough power to take down black bear, elk, and similar animals. It is also a popular choice for hunting in brushy areas, where a heavier bullet is needed to penetrate through thick vegetation.

Here is a ballistics chart of the 35 Remington with a 200-grain jacketed soft point bullet:

range (YD)	drop (IN)	wind drift (IN)	velocity FPS	energy ft-lb
0	-1.5	0	2080	1921
50	0.5	0.6	1881	1571
100	0	2.8	1697	1278
150	-3.5	6.4	1526	1034
200	-10.7	12	1374	838
250	-22.6	19.5	1243	686
300	-40.2	29.1	1138	575
350	-64.6	40.5	1059	498
400	-96.6	53.5	999	443
450	-136.8	67.9	951	402
500	-186	83.6	910	368

In-Depth Look at the 45-70 Government

The 45-70 Government cartridge has a long and storied history, dating back to its use in the US military during the late 1800s. It features a rimmed, straight-walled design and fires a .458 inch bullet at velocities of up to 2,000 feet per second. The 45-70 Government is the most powerful of the three cartridges discussed in this article, and is well-suited for taking down large game at longer ranges. It is a popular choice for hunting moose, elk, and similar animals in regions where shots may need to be taken at longer distances.

Here is a ballistics chart of the 45-70 with a 300-grain jacketed soft point:

Range (YD)	drop (IN)	wind drift (IN)	velocity FPS	energy ft-lb
0	-1.5	0	1850	2280
50	0.7	0.6	1728	1988
100	0	2.3	1612	1730
150	-4	4.8	1501	1500
200	-11.9	8.8	1400	1305
250	-24.3	14.1	1308	1140
300	-41.7	20.7	1226	1001
350	-65	28.6	1156	890
400	-94.8	37.8	1097	802
450	-131.7	48.1	1050	734
500	-176.5	59.5	1010	679

In-depth Comparison

When comparing these three cartridges, there are some clear differences in their performance and intended use. 

In terms of ballistics, the 30-30 Winchester shoots lighter bullets at lower velocities, typically in the 110-170 grain range. The 35 Remington shoots slightly heavier bullets at slightly higher velocities, typically in the 180-220 grain range. The 45-70 Government shoots the heaviest bullets at the lowest velocities, typically in the 300-500 grain range.

When it comes to recoil, the 30-30 Winchester is a mild recoiling cartridge that is easy to shoot for most people. The 35 Remington is a bit more powerful and has slightly more recoil, but is still manageable for most shooters. The 45-70 Government, however, is a very powerful cartridge that produces significant recoil, which can be challenging for some shooters.

All three cartridges have a long history and are popular among hunters and shooters. The 30-30 Winchester is a classic deer hunting cartridge that has been around for over a century, while the 35 Remington is a bit less well-known but still has a loyal following among hunters. The 45-70 Government is a big bore cartridge that has been around since the 1800s and is still popular among hunters who want to take on the largest game.

Conclusion

Overall, the 30-30 Winchester, 35 Remington, and 45-70 Government are all excellent cartridges that have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The 30-30 is great for hunting medium game at shorter ranges, the 35 Remington is more powerful and better suited for larger game at similar ranges, and the 45-70 is a big bore cartridge that is designed for hunting the largest game at moderate ranges. When choosing between these cartridges, it’s important to consider your intended use and the type of game you plan to hunt, as well as your personal preferences when it comes to recoil and other factors.