those big slow moving bullets like 45-70 just dont compare to the higher velocity rounds with bullets matched to the task like 270 or 243 for deer. ive shot a deer with a .458 win. mag. for gods sake and it still ran, does that mean it was inadequite ? i say NO! but a 270 with a 130 graincore lokt will almost always drop them in their tracks everytime. that deer bigcountry shot with the 45-70 would have soon expired soon as did the one i shot with the 458. yea i know theres a big energy difference between a 458 and a 45-70 but they reacte the same on deer. they are plenty of gun, but just dont deliver the energy effectivly. to answer everbodys question, yea a normal mortal can shoot a 458 and walk away without a broken arm, the ppl at the local gun club had a hard time thinking so . anyway a person just has to pick a cartridge that will deliver the energy more effectivly than a 45-70 or 458.