45-70 for Africa?

W

Wayward_Son

New member
Straightforward question.

I'm not about to take a trip to Africa, but I'm just wondering, theoretically, would a Marlin lever 45-70 with proper bullet selection be "enough" for most, if not all, of African game?
 
The .45-70 can kill, and kill cleanly--if all goes well. What's said by those here who have hunted extensively in Africa for such as the Cape Buffalo is that if the world turns to garbage, the .45-70 is not enough to stop a charge. Losing an argument with Nyati is a one-time event.

The thing about dangerous game is not whether or not some particular cartridge will kill. The deal is about how long it takes, and what the critter does in its final moments.
 
most but not all!!!. not the big 5. in africa medium calibre are 308,30-06, and 300.medium large are 338 and 375 and large are 375 and up. as i have said in the past: it is not about which calibre will be just about enough it is more about which calibre will deliver a one shot kill.and there is no such calibre in africa, so why take a chance. while tiping this reply i phoned a expert on african game and rifles and he strongly sugest that the 45-70 is not recomended for africa. rather get a 243 and a 375h&h and you can hunt allmost anything. this is not to say that the 45-70 will not hunt medium game such as the eland, but again avoid the big 5. for buffalo and olifant go 416 rigby or 505 gibbs. what is more becuase the 45-70 is not well known in africa a ph may not allow it due to fear of the unknown.
 
For the thick skinned, dangerous beasts I would say no. It is no secret that a 45/70 can be loaded as hot as a 458, but these lever action won't handle those pressures. My buddy has a Ruger #1 45/70 that will safely handle handloads much more powerfull than I think is pleasant to shoot. That would work for buff and elephants, if you want a single shot. So you either choose low powered factory loads in a lever or shoulder bruiser hadloads in a single shot. Neither seem good for the big 5 IMO.
 
Okay, let me ask this in another way.

So in a post-apocalyptic, societal breakdown, zombies-walking-the-earth, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria situation where you have only one repeating rifle at your disposal to defend and feed you and yours against anything walking or crawling on land, would a lever 45-70 be a viable candidate?
 
I suggest anyone who questions the capabilities of a 45-70 in a levergun to read the story on page 578 of Noslers' Reloading Guide #6. To sum it up, Brian Pearce was hunting Cape Buffalo in Africa with a 1895 Marlin in 45-70. At 100 yds, the first shot went through both shoulders of the bull, and both shoulders of the cow behind it (dropping and killing the cow). The next shot went through the rump, through the stomach, tore off the top of the heart and was recovered in the brisket. The third shot (which dropped the animal) went through both hindquarters and exited. His PH was very impressed and became a 45-70 believer that day.
 
There are better choices than a 45-70 for Africa

Game comes in all shapes and sizes in Africa from antelope the size of jack rabbit to elephant. The hunting terrain also varies from desert to jungle. Whilst your 45-70 will drop most African game at close quarters, I think you would be disadvantaged in shooting plains game, where 200 yard plus shots can be common.A lot of the plains game are lightly built & better suited to a flat shooting calibre with tolerable recoil(243,25-06,270,308,30-06). Even close up the 45-70 only delivers roughly half in foot/pounds energy that a 375 magnum delivers. You will find most guides will insist(by law) that a 375 magnum is the minimum for dangerous game in Africa, & there is a reason for this.
 
45-70 is not enough to stop a charge. Losing an argument with Nyati is a one-time event.
Click to expand...

A hot loaded 45-70 is certainly a round to contend with. Would I take it after a Cape or an elephant? I could certainly see taking it after a Cape but I might pass on the elephant until I had something bigger. While 99% of the time a Cape isn't going to charge you (despite what those cool TV shows say)I have my doubts that a hot 45-70 could stop a pissed off Cape. Either way though, I would expect a PH to back me up with some thing a tad bit nastier than that 45-70. Long and short, I hope to make it to Africa one day and plan on taking my 45-70. Cape yes, elephant (not that I could afford to anyway) no.

As mentioned, Garrett makes some great rounds that would be suitable for use in Africa and the website pictures prove it is a capable round.

Buffalo Bore also make some interesting rounds.

Now, would I pick a lever action? I'm not sure that a lever action Marlin is actually designed to handle those 45-70 +P loads. I own a Ruger No. 1 that can handle them but I'm not sure it would be my choice for all dangerous game. It's a single shot you know.

As far as zombies or other strange goings on, I'd certainly feel comfortable shooting them with a 45-70. After all, the 45-70 did a hell of a number on the bison. Of course, bison weren't after your brains either so I'd make sure I had some silver bullets on hand just in case any of those zombies were part werewolf.
 
So far, our custom Marlins have been used on all plains game in Africa plus, elephant, Buffalo and lion, albiet the lions were shot with 50 Alaskan

WildtherealongexplanationAlaska TM
 
So far, our custom Marlins have been used on all plains game in Africa plus, elephant, Buffalo and lion,
Click to expand...

Wild - I'm not doubting you in the slightest on the elephant with the 45-70 but I am curious if you have a picture of said elephant. If you do, please post!

I hope to one day hunt in Africa and I think its cool that someone actually took an elephant with the venerable 45-70 gov't.
 
the question is the answer

the fact that there is a question about the african ability of the 45-70 is the answer .thus when in doubt leave out. you dont see a question about the 505gibbs or the 416rigby.there is no need to ask that question.

i bet you that same very good 45-70 that when the dagga boy(cape buff)charges you, you will trade your dog to have a 505 gibbs.

in that is the answer, not what the 45 cant do ,but rather the state of mind you are in when you are charged. the last thing on the big game hunters mind should be his rifles capacity.

the 45-70 is not a double that alone is not acceptable
 
Dan, I know at least one PH that uses the 45-70 (now its been opened out to 457) as a culling rifle on Cape Buffalo and as his back up...

I know a Geramn hunter that uses 6.5x55 on Cape Buff...

Personally....me? Blaser S2 Safari in 500 if I could afford the gun or an Africa trip :)

WildbutitsallacademicAlaska TM
 
Yes, a hot loaded 45-70 will kill most of them cleanly. Even zombies and cohabiting cats n' dogs in East Texas. However, last I read, most game commissions in Africa do not allow its use due to anemic factory loadings. But from my understanding, hunting on private game preserves you can shoot whatever the owner will let you shoot. Why not ask someone who lives in Africa?
 
stevelyn said it. You need to go to garretcartridges and check out the info on recent african safari using marlin lever 45-70 with garret hard cast ammo.
 
No...

If you can afford to go to Africa, get a REAL gun. The owner of this place went to Africa with a .50 Alaskan. MUCH better then a 45-70. He had cape buffalo problems, I think would have been solved with a REAL dangerous game rifle...The 4570 just doesn't work real well in Africa.

I will say the guy that recently took the big 5 with one had more charges then most guys do in 100 trips to Africa, and, he wrote about them...

Heck, Phil Shoemaker SWEARS by the 458 Win Mag, and, he's only hunting brown bear in Alaska...;)

There is a serious, and very real difference between hitting an animal bigger then most cars with a 458, or Lott, at over 2150 fps, and a 45-70. It's been written about, described, filmed, over and over. It's real, and huge.

On the other hand, you'd probably be better off with a 375
H*H you can shoot accurately then any of the above, you can't...

By the way, try calling a guide, and asking him about taking the 45-70, and, what it's approved of, depending on where you are going...
 
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