45-70 in Africa.

[James B]

Some of you might have read this from the March issue of Rifle Magazine. For anyone has has any doubt about the 45-70's ability to take big tough critters. Brian Pearse took the Marlin 45-70 to Africa and took a couple of Cape Buffalo.

[Vapodog]

Given the choices in calibers for African plains game and dangerous game, is that the gun you would choose?

Seriously.....who would choose a .45-70 over a .375 H&H or a .416 Rem Mag?

[Buckshot]

Since Ive have one, yes Id take it with and use it on dangerous game. It penetrated both the shoulders on 2 buffalo, how much better can it get.

[Vapodog]

rigt now I'm building a .404 Jeffery on a MRC 1999 action and a .375 H&H on a magnum mauser action.....

meet you in Africa for Cape Buffalo...bring your .45-70 and put your money where your mouth is!!!

[Nomercy]

If I ever went back to africa, I'd take my .45-70, but I certainly wouldn't take it on my first trip acrossed the pond...I've got too many other "safari cartridge" rifles that I have no real need for that are waiting to go over, I'd at least have to take my .416Rigby once before taking a .45-70.

I'd definately trust a .45-70 to hunt cape buffalo, I don't think I'd take one on a rhino or Elephant hunt though, I'd probably take my Marlin Cowboy before I took my Marlin Guide gun, but I can see advantages of either, but probably take the Cowboy just for the increased long range accuracy and twice the capacity.

[James B]

I am sure I won't be going.

[Vapodog]

by those that have "been there and done that" the .458 Win Mag is considered insufficient...........

The .45-70 is a clear symptom of a "wannabe"

[Superpig]

A hunting club member I know shoots the 45-70 exclusively for Moose. He uses a Browning B78 and claims all shots are front shoulders only. He handloads 500 gr. hard cast bullets and over 10 years has only shot on Bull that the bullet didn't completely penetrate and exit.

[ELKampMaster]

Vapodog,

I say if they want to "play" with their 45-70's in Africa for DG --- let them. Either they won't ever go, or they'll take the cheapy Plains game trip and pop some antelope and now claim they've "done it", or they'll find the 45-70 is not a legal DG cartridge in most the countries (I wonder why?), or the PH's won't take them out for DG armed with a 45-70, or eventually the process of "natural selection" will eventually take care of matters.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
EKM

[mainehunt]

Elkamp,

Well said.

I am laughing over your remark, "natural selection process." What I imagined was a cape buffalo standing over a wet spot in the sand, with nothing left except a belt buckle, one boot heel, and a mangled 45-70.

MH