If you get one you won't regret it. You can hunt anything you want with it. I have a .450 Marlin and it is great. I got it for hog hunting and they don't move after being hit. The only problem is if you shoot hot loads in it they have a pretty good kick. I have some friends whowon't shoot it because of it.

what is the kick compared to in the centerfires?

It is like shooting a 3" magnum 12 gauge. The kick is not as sharp as a .375 but it had about the same recoil.

Before you crank out elephant loads, remember the old style rifles were killing bison (they are quite big if you have not seen one) and that load is frankly a cupcake. I have fired it both in the Marlin Guide Gun and Ruger #1. Subjectively, it felt like a 20 gauge to me. You can still buy the 45-70-405 off the shelf today, in smokeless powder. Or at least they have Remington ammo in stock at the Scheels in the capitol city in my state.

Matt, if you want to know what they feel like to shoot just grab a slug gun some newer sabot rounds and go fire them off. Pretty much the same thing. 45 caliber 400 grn bullet moving at near 2000 fps. Recoil will be simular unless there is a large difference in the weight of the rifle. More weight = less recoil ususally.

If you don't like firing slug guns or magnum shotgun loads I wouldn't run out and get a 45-70. Of course some of the slower loads probably don't kick nearly as bad.

Paul

I noticed someone stated that acuracy was o-k well mine will shoot sub moa when i use a scope. Thats when shooting the 400 gr Speer flat point. I've seen many bolt actions that can't equal that. As for the recoil, shooting off the bench is brutal, but when shooting offhand it isn't very bad, more of a heavy push than a jab

well recoil doesnt bother me, i shoot 3 1/2 mags out of a 12 gague soo i think ill be alright.

That's what you think, PIG!!

I was putting a 400 gr bullet at1989 fps, and getting extreme case swelling, there is no way you got 2270, you had the chrony too close.

Cougars, if you see this, don't believe it., eldeguello didn't get that bullet to go 2270 FPS.