On a list of top 5 guns that I intend to acquire in the next couple of years the 45-70 ranks about 3rd. A Hawkins m/l, a 44 mag revolver and then a 45-70. If you want pure knockdown power with the history behind it to boot, the 45-70 is tops. That is a helluva big bullet with a helluva lot of powder behind it.