The .45/70 Marlin in Africa is a hoot. I've twice been to the RSA
with mine, this past summer in Scout form. It's dropped an eland bull,
zebra, wildebeest, kudu, and impala.
___________
I've used two different loads with 4198 powder:
300gr TSX at 2000fps
350gr Swift A-Frame at 1800fps
Both are upper average loads, but could be increased in
from my 17" barrel by about 100fps. Performance was
superb, and I've really no preference. (Perhaps the 300gr
TSX for its slightly flatter trajectory?)
This is a 150yd gun, IMO.
No worries, as it's a blast to stalk w/i 100yds of those critters!
Although the KE is not great, that .458 heavy bullet really knocks 'em down.
I love the Scout scope setup (www.xssights.com), but may try a few
animals from the irons. All the fun of muzzleload hunting, but with
more power and a 4-rd mag.
I've been on sight seeing safari tours and the trucks could get within yards of HUGE animals, or even closer than we cared to be with only a camera.
Thanks to some loud mouth Brits in our group a matriarch elephant charged the jeep we were in several times, as well as a couple lions could've jumped in amongst us. SCARY **** at the time. We were in Zambia or Botswana??... hell it all looked the same to me. I think it was the Mashatu Game Reserve?