I apologize in advance for plagiarizing another posters photos.
I see the .45-70 has the big finger loop & the .30-30 has the standard.
I wonder if the finger loop size is an option or is that just a difference in the 2 models?
The .45-70 is apparently a lighter (5.8 pounds unloaded) gun than the .30-30 model (7.0 pounds unloaded) because metal has to be removed to bore the standard "barrel stock" (0.65" dia.) out to the larger .45 caliber.
My .30-30 came with a fairly decent set of factory iron sights .......a rather large semi buckhorn rear sight and a large "rhinoceros horn" brass beaded front sight that even I with my older eyes can discern quite clearly.
For that reason I chose to mount my Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4x40mm scope with Warne QD (Quick Detachable) rings that return to zero faithfully when the scope is dismounted & remounted.
I'm going to sight the gun to 100 yards both with & without the scope mounted.
I like to keep my options open & chose not to remove a perfectly usable set of iron sights.
In some circumstances where I'm "dogging" deer out of thick brush the iron sights are the best/fastest option.
Also, if I drop my gun & bust the scope when I'm way back in the boonies hunting many miles from a workshop I'm still in the hunt because I can remove the scope in seconds WITHOUT TOOLS & use the iron sights.
I hunted deep brush deer & moose successfully with iron sights for many years & still choose that option on occasion.
Most of the concerns I thought might be issues with the gun disappeared after a good cleaning with a grease dissolving spray-on solvent, lubrication & a week of working the action so now it is probably the slickest levergun I own & that's saying alot because my 3 Rossi 92s are very slick.
The issue of slight scratching of ejected cartridges has disappeared during the break-in.
I noticed that the eject spring is a little shy on my gun & some brands of 170 grain RN cartridges won't clear the ejection port unless I angle the gun.
Ejected fired/spent cases shouldn't be a problem cause they're a lot lighter.
This is not an issue with me because I intend to use the factory Hornady LeveRevolution FTX ammo in my gun and my Rio Grande cycles & ejects them just fine.
The pointed Hornady FTX bullet will add another 25-50 yards to the effective range of the reputably "short winded" .30-30 cartridge.
I have purchased several boxes of the 160 grain FTX bullets and a set of economical Lee dies. I find the Lee case length gauge & cutter + lock stud simplifies the job of case trimming & getting those cases the same length every time. This is essential if you crimp your bullets using the factory crimping cannelure. I like to crimp bullets in cartridges I'm using in revolvers and in rifles with tube magazines.
If I'm not satisfied with the factory ammo groupings I'll cook up a hand load with the fired cases & FTX bullets that will group to my satisfaction.
Hodgdon has released the till recently proprietary LeveRevolution powder as a purchasable canister powder.
Having said that I've never had any problem with Hornady factory ammunition giving me good hunting accuracy (
1 1/2 " or better 3-shot groups @ 100 yards).
I'm very, very lazy & would rather spend my time hunting & fishing rather than bent over a reloading press so if the factory ammo gives me the hunting accuracy I need that's what I'll use.
I don't expect bench rest accuracy from a $400 "straight off the rack" levergun but I'll take it if I can get it.
Some of my leverguns are surprisingly accurate & I hope this gun will be the same.
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