I won't flog the dead horse on the appropriateness of the .45-70 for hunting in Africa. But I do think an XLR in .45-70 with very good handloads would be a wonderful tool. My biggest issue with the XLR is that highly reflective stainless steel. Has anyone ever had an XLR matte-finished by bead-blasting or some other treatment?

I wacked two whitetails with my 308me version this fall at 63 yards and 18 yards--- they never saw it. I should note that I sit on a 5 gallon bucket on the ground not in a tree stand--- so, my bet is reflection is not too much of an issue.

I'll be picking up a 1895XLR within the next couple of months and i am sending it to spradlins in Co. they will tef-coat it in a black matte finish for $195.00 They did a great job on my leupold scope. This is the only company leupold allows you to send scopes for new finishing without voiding there warranty.$95 for the scope.You can check them out at www.spradlins.net. While i love stainless i dont like the color on my hunting rifles and the black matte is just the ticket for me and it gives extra protection for coastal hunts.

Guess you've visited www.garrettcartridges.com those would be my pick for Africa, or large bears in North America. I don't handload.

Tanoose: Thanks for the Spradlins info.
Nanook: I do handload, but the Garett line makes the Marlin a much more flexible platform for those who don't.

First, let me say that anyone who PLANS to use a 45/70 on cape buffalo is a nut, imo. On the other hand, I did some pentration test on a dead elephant using some 45/70 load level 458wm round with both hard cast and a softer byllet, both weighing about 525grs, and also using my 458wm ammo and 375H&H ammo.

Results were suprising. The 458wm far, far exceeded the 45/70 in penetration, which was as expected. But the 458wm also far exceeded the 375H&H solids, which are supposed to provide a ton of penetration. Not too far behind the 375H&H solids were the hard cast 45/70 level loads. The bullets fractured, but the even so the biggest remaining pieces weren't too far behind the 375 solids.

If a 45/70 was sitiing in camp and my rifles or ammo had gone missing on the trip over, I would definitely use a 45/70 with stiff hard cast loads on buff - BUT NEVER ON AN ELEPHANT!!!.

I don't think the shine would effect game too much, just think of all of the rust blued top end rifles that have been used successfully. The shine quite a bit.

FWIW,

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
I won't flog the dead horse on the appropriateness of the .45-70 for hunting in Africa. But I do think an XLR in .45-70 with very good handloads would be a wonderful tool. My biggest issue with the XLR is that highly reflective stainless steel. Has anyone ever had an XLR matte-finished by bead-blasting or some other treatment?

Just so we're in the loop... What animals are on your list?

Bill/Oregon, yes, depending on where you hunt, the .45-70 is an effective tool in Africa. My buddy took his .308 XLR on our plains game hunt in RSA, and did very well. He didn't have the SS bead blasted, but the stainless didn't seem to bother the animals.

JPK, he didn't say a damned thing about hunting cape buff or ele with the gun. Yet, you come on saying not to use it on blah, blah, blah. I normally stay out of the .45-70 thingy, but boy you nay sayers look for every chance to jump on it. Keep the BS up in the African hunting section. Matter a fact one of yer bretherin started anothe garret cartidge rant up there. Must be the winter doldrums.....

Mad Dog

Here are some pics of my buddy, and his plains game trophies taken in RSA last July. He used a XLR, but in .308 MX.













To me, the stainless doesn't look that reflective. JMHO.

Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Dog:
Bill/Oregon, yes, depending on where you hunt, the .45-70 is an effective tool in Africa. My buddy took his .308 XLR on our plains game hunt in RSA, and did very well. He didn't have the SS bead blasted, but the stainless didn't seem to bother the animals.

JPK, he didn't say a damned thing about hunting cape buff or ele with the gun. Yet, you come on saying not to use it on blah, blah, blah. I normally stay out of the .45-70 thingy, but boy you nay sayers look for every chance to jump on it. Keep the BS up in the African hunting section. Matter a fact one of yer bretherin started anothe garret cartidge rant up there. Must be the winter doldrums.....

Mad Dog

Hmmm, a bit irritable. Enduring a bout of PMS, eh?

JPK

A 45/70 400 @ 1800 would make a fun choice for hunting antelope (15-1500 lbs), zebra, and warthog in the bushveld where shots are usually short enough that trajectory is not a concern. I'd use something that shoots flatter out in the open though. As for reducing the glare how about you just cover the barrel, magazine, and left receiver flat with camouflage bow tape for the duration of the hunt? Still, for all around use State-side a matte sand-blast finish would be more practical and not unattractive. If you go that route a fella could take some rottenstone to the gloss finish on the laminate while he was at it.

Guys, I am not advocating the .45-70 for Cape buffalo. It just seems it would be useful for plains game to 175 yards or so with a good, stiff handload and a proper bullet. When I think of the distances at which my brother and I killed kudu, gemsbok, mountain zebra and warties in Namibia, we would have been well armed with XLRs. Lever guns are also very fast, which can be a factor when hunting in the scrub. After looking at those photos, I think I would want to have the receiver sandblasted, especially that big, flat left side, as Nordsreta points out.
Another option would be the blued Marlin Cowboy with its 26-inch barrel.

Bill/Oregon, I used my Marlin GG .45-70 last summer, for my plains game hunt in the limpopo. I harvested 7 animals with it, and 6 were DRT. The phs loved the gun, and you're right, it is quick. I had a load shooting 1950 fps., with 300 gr. nosler partitions, and they were awesome.

As far as cape buff is concerned, the only one that brought it up was JPK, and I let him know about it.

Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Dog:
I used my Marlin GG .45-70 last summer, for my plains game hunt in the limpopo. I harvested 7 animals with it, and 6 were DRT. The phs loved the gun, and you're right, it is quick.

Dang! Every time I'm about convinced I'll take my 9.3x62 and 376 back to Africa one of y'all reminds me that my Guide Gun, Mjolnir, deserves a crack at the spiral horns left on my dance card. Good problem to have I suppose, too many good rifles for stalking the bushveld. Good hunting all.

quote:

As far as cape buff is concerned, the only one that brought it up was JPK, and I let him know about it.

Mad Dog

Ohh, you da' woman, eh?

JPK

JPK I da women, you the dumbazz

Mad Dog

Mad Dog,

Your pussy hurtin'?

JPK

Explain to your kids why we "take it outside" or "get a room"?

My wife, 9 and 12 year old girls and malamute don't spend time on gun boards.

MD don't let him get yur dander up. It is just the SOS I've come to expect on this board. Facts is facts, and BS IS BS!

I don't know how many animals have to be taken or how many folks have to take them this BS will continus just to stir the pot.

You've been there and done it and have the proof. Enough said!

OK, I apologize, for falling in the trap with JPK, normally I don't do such things. BUT, this thread started out about using the .45-70 for plains game, then we get the cape buff blah blah, and I'd had enough! Sorry I offended anybody, but on this forum, you gotta defend yourself. Its one thing to do this sh** on the African forum, but not on the others. If JPK wants to post another piece of BS let him, I won't respond. But the rest of you SHOULD!!

Mad Dog

MD,
You don't need to apologize to anyone, and I certainly am not offended. But like you sometimes this crap just gets ya.

Mad Dog,

My first post was an actual, and I think pretty favorable, report of 45/70 performance, in Africa. You may not know it but there are a couple of "plains game" critters that can challenge many cartridges, an eland for example, a mature example of which is larger than a buff and tough to boot, with heavy bone structure and a strong will to live.

You felt obliged to give me a bunch of crap about my in-offensive post. And you did it again on, I think, the African board. Then you bragged about giving me crap, twice. If you can't stand the heat, shut up and stay out of the kitchen.

This from a guy who has posted on the inevitable flaming 45/70 for dangerous game threads actual results of shooting into dangerous game, usually totally absent from either side, in an attempt to give a fair report that happens to fall square in the middle what those on the pro and con sides blather.

I guess that makes you a no account, no experience friggin' cool aide drinker. Or just another fool.

JPK

Man, I love the Yankee versus Mid-Westerner battles - the extremes of wit simply amaze me.

quote:

Originally posted by Nanook 450:
Man, I love the Yankee versus Mid-Westerner battles - the extremes of wit simply amaze me.

I'm a redneck southerner. My dog's names are Bell and J.E.B., I chew tobbaco and can ring a spitoon. I drive a Texas Caddilac and loved to bird hunt with my long gone setter Nell. I could go on, but I'm no yankee.

JPK

If you live in Maryland . . . do the math.

Maryland is south of the Mason Dixon line, in fact it is much of our northern border. Also, if you were a native Marylander, you would know that Maryland is a tabacco growing state and though it did not succeed from the union most all Marylanders of the time wish it had, many still do I think.

Most of Maryland is a hell of a lot more southern than a good size 60 or 80 mile wide band of Virginia or all of Florida. But I'll say that when I'm in South Carolina or Georgia they think I'm a yankee and when I'm in Deleware or New York they think I'm a southerner.

JPK

JPK

Seems old buddy you are pretty well (messed up) in case of children on this thread. Go North you called a southerner--come to SC with me you are for sure a Yankee! Seems to me not much of a place for you? Do not despair, here in South Carolina if you come from North Carolina you are damn close to a yankee! Also take into account that Maddog is not much better off than you are! We would consider him a yankee too! Just that midwest yankees are a little more tolerable than east coast yankees! It is true, you are close to the border and could fall off on either side, but careful, you sure do lean heavy to the yankee side from where I sit!

Heh! Could not resist it!

Michael