Both will take deer , the effective range is the distance you can put a bullet into the vitals. Deer aren't that hard to bring down with a properly placed first shot
I use a 30-30 . I find that the rainbow trajectory and heavy recoil of the 45-70 makes it harder for me to shoot accurately. Now if I were hunting bears, the 45-70 for sure and as close as I could get ! Bears are big , tough and will eat you.
If at all possible, shoot both. I shot a 45-70 trap door carbine (replica) a few times and found it was more gun than I needed. That steel butt plate hurt !
Gary
I use a 30-30 . I find that the rainbow trajectory and heavy recoil of the 45-70 makes it harder for me to shoot accurately. Now if I were hunting bears, the 45-70 for sure and as close as I could get ! Bears are big , tough and will eat you.
If at all possible, shoot both. I shot a 45-70 trap door carbine (replica) a few times and found it was more gun than I needed. That steel butt plate hurt !
Gary