45-70 for Africa?

It's the hunter that makes the difference.

You might look at the .45-90 or even the .50-110, if a powerful lever action is what you're looking for. The longer the barrel the better.

Either of those cartridges are zombie rated as well.

Of course what you really need is a 4 bore double rifle.
 
It's pretty simple. Pair the central nervous system of anything on the planet that grazes or growls with a bullet, and you get a kill.

Shot placement trumps bullet size or pedigree.

45-70 is plenty if you learn to shoot properly and use the right loading. A nitro express double fired at the wrong place will do far less.

Get serious about shooting your 45-70. Cultivate your hunting skills like tracking and stalking. Do that, and you won't have any issues in Africa.
 
The 45-70 would be more than enough for any of the plains game. The problem with the lever action, would be the range. I hunted plains game in South Africa last summer and most of our shots were 275 yards plus. Like someone else said, if your going to pay the money to go to Africa, take the right weapon with you.
 
I posted some brief comments on my Africa experience
with the Marlin .45/70 at:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315630&page=2&highlight=Africa

I've taken mine twice there, mainly for fun as I also had a Win 70 .30-06.
A Scouted .45/70 is a real joy for the <150yd stuff.

Missed an opportunity, however, on a 350yd baboon as I didn't want
to chance a lob shot and thus blow a great shooting hide for the next day.
My Shepherd scoped .30-06 would have bagged him!

So, kept within range and power limitations, the .45/70 is very enjoyable
in Africa, but I would take it alone, or for buff.

Boston

My new book Safari Dreams available from:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=25890&st=safari dreams&s
 
This is just being stupid.
phil mcwilliam said:
Even close up the 45-70 only delivers roughly half in foot/pounds energy that a 375 magnum delivers.
Click to expand...


357 bullet 180gr at 1200fps = 575.69
45/70 bullet 405gr at 2000fts = 3598.08 ft/lbs
 
This is just being stupid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phil mcwilliam
Even close up the 45-70 only delivers roughly half in foot/pounds energy that a 375 magnum delivers.
357 bullet 180gr at 1200fps = 575.69
45/70 bullet 405gr at 2000fts = 3598.08 ft/lbs
Click to expand...

I think you may have misunderstood Phil's post - I'm sure he was refering to the 375 H&H Magnum, which is a little different than what you're thinking of.
 
Any insight into magazine tube kabooms with such loads? I seem to recall issues with early version of Buffalo Bore ammo in Marlin tubes..... didn’t they tinker with primer choices as a result?

Marlin action is plenty strong, but the combination of hard ammo and heavy loads in a tube makes me wonder.
 
I believe the quote was a 375 magnum not a 357 magnum. The 375 H&H Magnum would look more like this.

300 grain bullet at 2500 feet per second = 4163 foot pounds of energy
 
I get so tired of statements that Garrett or Buffalo Bore bullets are needed for the 45/70. It just isnt the case. If you will read what the hunter used on his African Safari, maddog shot an intermediate load of the following.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315630&highlight=kudu

Quoted from the shooter:
300 gr. nosler partition
WW cases
51 gr. H4198
Fed. 210 primer
Lee factory crimp.

MV 1950 fps
ME 2500 aprox.

5 of the african animals were 1 shot DRT, no tracking. The zebra was very tough, and because I didn't hit it right the 1st. time, we had a real "fire fight". I uncorked 5 more shots on it, and the results were 2 hits, 1 miss, and 2 murdered african trees

I shoot the 300 and 350 grain bullets at 1400 fps, slightly less powerful than the one listed above, and don't worry about killing anything with it. I readily admit now that I haven't shot an animal with my hand loads yet, just to be clear. :) However, the loads listed by maddog, and used on plains game are not as stout as PMC standard loads for modern rifles. PMC's give 3051lbs of energy with a 350 grain bullet. Far below Garrett or Buffalo Bore or Corbon offerings.
 
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