I used the .45-70 LE to harvest a med. sized black bear this year. I'm wondering if the bullet has enough sec. density, and B.C. to handle the larger african plains game. I really want to take my guide gun, in 08, and I don't want to use hard cast ammo. Would like to hear any stories on larger north american game, that this cartridge was used on. The ammo was very accurate, in my gun, and the performance on the bear was great. Still, that is only one isolated case. Any thoughts or experience from you guys, would be helpful. Thanks.

Mad Dog

Had a couple of clients use a .45-70 here in Zimbabwe, and several of my friends localy own and use one. I have no experience of Hornady's new ammo, but the old speer 405grn SP driven at attound 1500-1800fps work well on everything up to eland.(exclude giraffe & Lion)

The usual limmitation is range- but in most areas in Zim 100 yards is a fairly long shot so who cares? I use a Martini Henry in .577/450 very sucessfully (480grn at 1350fps) on kudu and wildebeest.

Mad Dog

I have done 3 Safaris to Zim.
Shots on plains game have averaged around 125 yards, with the longest at just over 300, the second longest @188 on a giraffe.
I like the 45/70, but I have not used the new Hornady load. I have shot some game in the States with the Hornady 350 RN with good results. However If I was to take a 45/70 to Zim on plains game I would use the 350gr North Fork bullet.

If you haven't read the info on the http://www.garrettcartridges.com site you need to as the article covers the use of a specially modified Marlin 45-70 used to take all of the African big game species.

The old 30-30 will do Eland nicely.....it's simply a matter of range.

Leverrevolution may add a bit to the range.....like 50 yards!

My brother and I are currently working on booking a trip to Namibia (Khalahari)-- hopefully late Sept. 07 -- we're taking along our 45-70s, and if I can get close enough, I'll use it, but otherwise, I'll use my 7MM Rem Mag.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
My brother and I are currently working on booking a trip to Namibia (Khalahari)-- hopefully late Sept. 07 -- we're taking along our 45-70s, and if I can get close enough, I'll use it, but otherwise, I'll use my 7MM Rem Mag.

what game???

We're trying to go on one of those management hunts -- so gemsbuck, spring buck, and some other stuff, I don't remember -- I want to get a warthog also.

aglifter...to address the range concern...

the 457 magum does 350's @ 2220 fps...(wild west guns)

that will give you more range...you dont need to use 457 brass you can just seat the bullet out more after smithing...if you want even more you can seat it out .2" more and that will be good for 250 yards i think but you would have to use dave clay to get the job done...he is the marlin king (in terms of smithing) the good thing is you can use factort ammo of reg loaded 45-70 ammo too just my 2 cents