It don't matter what the 45/70 can do its not legal for DG in any part of Africa I know of. ...
Hmmm, I beg to differ. A lot of African game has been harvested with the .45-70.
I’ve also seen what my handloaded 460g hardcast at 1812fps can do and I’ve shot Speer 500g African Grand Slam Tungsten Solids at velocities matching Garrett 500g Exiter ammo (no longer made with the Speer AGS TS).
Here’s a few links and quotes regarding Garrett ammo, with relevance to the capabilities of the .45-70 in general:
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/trophys_africa5.asp"Randy Garrett's heavy loads with his SuperHardCast bullets are legendary for penetration."
- Craig Boddington, Guns & Ammo, February 2009
One of Randy Garrett's customers, Vince Lupo, is one of the world's biggest fans of the 45-70 and the Marlin 1895, and has practically made a career out of hunting in Africa with a Marlin 45-70 loaded with Garrett's ammunition. He has taken everything, and I do mean everything from the smallest antelope to all of Africa's Big Six and done so very decisively.
- John Taffin, GUNS MAGAZINE – 2009 Special Edition
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/lupoindex.asp"The bear (coastal grizzly) had been hit once with a 375 H&H, but wound not go down. When he turn and started running in the opposite direction I hit him in the rump with the 45-70 at about 120 yards. He went only about 30 yards more before stopping. When we skinned him we found the 420 gr Hammerhead had entered on his right side rump, passing though and destroying the pelvis. I recovered the bullet under the skin beyond the right front shoulder (full length penetration). The bear squared 9'6'' and had a 25 5/8" skull. Amazing penetration!"
- Paul Lenmark, Boise, ID (coastal grizzly guide)
I had just fired a 458 Winchester 500-gr roundnose solid bullet into the same media. It made an impressive penetration channel. But the 458 bullet did not compromise the integrity of the test box. Meanwhile, a 540-gr Garrett Hammerhead exited the box, blowing out the sides."
- Sam Fadala, Guns & Ammo January 2008
"Your 540gr Hammerhead Cartridge hit my American Bison quartering towards me at about 115 yards. The cartridge entered his left front shoulder and exited his right rear ham and sped off into the sunset as my super trophy 2500lb American (Texas) Bison hit the ground dead where he stood!"
- Vince Lupo
"Hunting in Argentina, I hit my water buffalo at 70-yds behind the shoulder and it blew straight through exiting his left shoulder. He staggered and turned away from me, so I immediately popped him in the tush. As with my first shot, the Hammerhead passed lengthwise through his body and exited his chest,-- GAME OVER! (both 540-gr Hammerheads were last seen headed towards Patagonia in south Argentina). Next year I plan to use your Garrett Hammerheads in Africa for Cape buffalo and hippo."
- Bill Hackaday, Dunwoody, GA
"This grizzly was killed in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park in the Eagle Nest Mountain Range of Northern British Columbia. He squared over 8 feet and the skull measured 23 13/16'', which is very good size for an interior mountain grizzly bear. When I shot the bear, he had started a charge from about 70 yards away, and by the time I had a sight on him, he was 40 yards. The 540 Hammerhead hit him right between the front legs, and he did a complete front-wards flip after the bullet hit him. That bullet completely penetrated him lengthwise and exited."
- Tyler Serle, Albuquerque, British Columbia
"Randy Garrett's 45-70 Hammerhead 540-grain hard-cast at 1550-fps went 55-inches into wet newspaper." "The 500 Nitro Express with a solid weighing 570-grains penetrated 48-inches into wet newspaper, followed by the 458 Winchester Magnum with a 500-grain solid traveling at a muzzle velocity of 2260-fps and 47-inches of penetration." Penetration tests conducted at the 2001 Linebaugh seminar.
- John Taffin, American Handgunner, July / August 2002
"Just returned from the arctic. Shot a Boone & Crockett muskox with your 45-70 ammo. One shot, instant breakdown of animal. Broke front shoulder, penetrated through lungs, went entire length of body through opposite ham and lodged just under the skin at rear of animal."
- Lad Shunneson (Sportsmen On Video, Personal Letter)
