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@akrifleman: I would think that the softer recoil of the 9mm is a big benefit to most in LE that might need to actually use their firearm to defend themselves - at some point in their careers. My line of work was Not LE but I worked closely with many and had friends join Police Departments as...

@akrifleman - I thought the reason the FBI switched BACK to the 9mm was because the majority of Agents could Not handle the recoil of the .40 S&W - couldn’t shoot them accurately and especially female agents. My understanding is that Now FBI Agents have the “option” to use either the 9mm or .40...

@akrifleman: actually I would NOT be interested “in the math” - my head already hurts from reading all of the data, formulas, and equations posted so far (I barely passed Algebra II in high school)….Einstein was NOT a Hunter and I’m Not a mathematician….@michael458 provided All the info I need...

@michael458 - thanks for one of the Best posts I’ve ever read on AH, excellent information and more ballistic details then the FBI has on JFK !!

@JimP - Yep….I’m so use to having one and it’s gotten so bad that when I fly anywhere and Don’t check my luggage - first stop after landing is a Walmart and I buy a ‘cheap one’ to carry wherever I am.

@CZDiesel: at some point do you think we can find a “Math equation” that will kill buffalo —-without any gun needed? Just show the Buff the Sectional Density numbers on a smart phone and it will “surrender”. That might end this Harvard level academic debate.

@deewayne2003 - if the PH is paying the Trophy fee for my Elephant hunt - he can use his knife….otherwise the knife my Father gave me is cutting that tail off !

@OxfordTheCat - agree and have carried a pocket knife since 3rd grade - including to school (1960s) and on airplanes (until 9/11)….feel naked without one. My Father always said “a most useful tool and you’ll use it everyday”. When hunting - always have 2 knives: one on my belt and smaller one...

@coreydb: I’m also Not a fan of the .300 Windbag and it’s 25% more recoil for only 5% more power - at 300 yrds it’s 180 gr bullet drops only 2” less then the ‘06. If the .308 is known as the “most efficient” .30 cal round then the .300 wm must be the “least efficient”. It is a very fine...

@Letzhunt - is the standard “200 yrd zero” for a .30 cal really “antiquated”? I certainly am aware that newer scopes offer better technology for long range shooting but is that really needed for shots Under 300 yrds? I wouldn’t think so on a big game animal Deer size or larger. My .30-06...

@CZDiesel - I don’t recall reading any posts that the .45-70 was “better” but I will go back and see what I missed — My PH never said it was better, just that it was a “good round for Buffalo” and he had seen “many taken with it”. His Asst. PH carried a .45-70 Marlin lever Guide gun, and he...

@CZDiesel - i would not question your “math” or knowledge of sectional density (it exceeds my own) and even penetration tests in ballistic gel could support your point. The “could get someone killed!!!” Comment was a bit dramatic… we’re Not saving live here - just blogging and exchanging ideas...

@Brian: be careful bringing up “facts” - some people don’t like them !

@rookhawk - you are right on target here. I’m so “starved” to see a good hollywood movie (last good one was Top Gun Mavrick) that my Wife and I now watch Netflix at Home - with popcorn and a stiff drink ! 1883 was good - Not great - the Daughter turned from Virgin to banging everything on the...

@Doug Hamilton - if you like to read a lot then you could check ballistic charts. Most will show the 3600 ft lbs of energy from full power .45-70 loads far exceed .30-06 (by about 1000 ft lbs). Your comment about .45-70 “about equaI to .30-06” is not even close to accurate and makes me think...

@JimP: you’re right, I have No Idea how many guys I’ve hunted with that Never practice, sight in, or bother to double check anything before heading out to hunt —- but they enjoy themselves and maybe because they are so “care free”. When duck hunting a friend and I use to take turns on who’s...

@JimP: You gotta love guys like that - relaxed, they don’t sweat the little details (like worrying about a loose scope or checking zero etc..). An older guy in our PA deer Camp said the Night before Opening day “I think my scope is off about a foot to the Left”. I asked “why do you think...

@Wiley64: How long were you shooting and hunting with that model 70? Did the scope ‘Hold Zero’? Agree with getting the rings changed now because it “could” prevent a problem down the road but your old rings might have been adequate ——even if they don’t meet the NEW recommendations. I’m...

@Fatback - you might consider mounting an inexpensive scope ($50 Tasco) and selling your rifle “ready to Hunt”. Many guys don’t want to go through the trouble of mounting a scope (surprising how many don’t know how to mount a scope) and buying a rifle “all ready to Hunt” has an appeal to them….

@colorado - You might be the toughest Hunter on this forum or the most stubborn ? Your rifle should be charged with Felony Assault ! You said you fired 18 rounds - so after round 17 you thought “I need just One More”? If you didn’t have a Flinch before this - you must have one Now …plus PTSD...

@CoElkHunter I do like the idea of a .35 Whelen because it fits my general “anti magnum mentality” but I don’t own one yet. I’ve looked to buy a Remington 760 pump in .35 Whelen for a couple years (they are hard to find) and the very few I’ve seen in great condition are well over $2000+. -...

@Muskox - agree and since there is No such thing as a “Best rifle” for Buffalo the .45-70 is likely near the “middle” regarding capability even though it may not be commonly used. I put much more credibility in PH’s that have recommended .45-70 and seen it used and also in other Hunters that...

@Fatback - if you are not in a rush - you should get $1000-$1100 for the Ruger .25-06 LH. I sold mine last year on GB for $1275 plus shipping. It was a 2003 in excellent condition and had original box.

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - I agree with getting rid of .338 win mag - if you need a real Magnum - jump to the .375 H&H. I don’t own any rifles “inbetween” my .30-06 & .375 H&H —— might get too confusing for my brain to handle

@Doug Hamilton and a lot of Hunters read too much and shoot too little

@JimP - you are correct - every Box of Buffalo Bore states a warning very clearly that ONLY newer rifles: Marlin 1895 etc… and they get a lot of phone calls from people “double checking” if the ammo is Safe in their rifle. Once you shoot a .45-70 Buffalo Bore load you will know “instantly” it...

@akrifleman - you are right about “choice of bullet…” being critical with .45-70 and also right that Hornady’s LeverEvolution “flex tip” 325 gr @2000 fps is NOT good for Dangerous Game….it will Not penetrate enough (although I’ve found it great on deer under 150 yards and the recoil is much less...

@PerH : I am a big fan of Buffalo Bore and use their ammo for big bore handguns & .45-70 rifles… they make great ammo !! But Nothing new here — Business is BUSINESS and Hornady did what businesses do, they fight to take market share, fight to eliminate competition, fight to make More money...

@pilar - any Marlin Lever Action made after 1990 handles Full Power .45-70 loads and they will handle any animal smaller then Elephant —-shooting full power loadings and hard cast bullets ie: Buffalo Bore ammo and some other brands. They make loadings with 350 - 405 gr hard cast delivering...

@hwr239 - looks like PH Craig Middleton is THE MAN we all want to be !

@akrifleman - lots of good stories and tall tales but I doubt it. I shoot over 200 squirrels each year with .22lr and on at least 25% of them the bullet does NOT Exit !! That’s on a 14oz soft skinned furry squirrel and shot at 15 to 35 yrds..

@Doug3006 - pay for your Safari all in $ singles??

@Camdog: if you invest VERY early & EXTRA wisely - maybe TWO Wives?

@Mark A Ouellette - I would Not doubt You - if YOU claimed to have killed elephant with a .22 (I know they’ve killed Grizz w/head shots) but I have doubts about that .22lr = 4 elephant stories. If true - I might need to buy some of that .22lr ammo he was using….guessing great handloads, a...

@deewayne2003 - yes that is a concern and would be with whatever caliber I choose ——- additional shots put into my Elephant if I fail to drop it quickly. I could accept the PH shooting AFTER Me - as long as my bullets struck the Vitals and would’ve killed the elephant - that scenario would Not...

@HookMeUpII - I have a ‘20 Ram Laramie and getting the leather seat upgrade was a Big Treat for me, I always went with base models for my pic up truck (F150 & Silverado) but as I’ve gotten older - started thinking “what am I saving it for?” My Wife recently reached my way of thinking and now we...

@YancyW - you’re a good guy to bump into at a bar (when I “forget” my wallet !)

@HookMeUpII - sounds like You have great Wealth - even if not a lot of $$$ money ! And you live well, have your priorities straight, value what’s important - Family, Health, etc.. I worked as an executive in retail clothing stores for 40 years - some selling very high end but my clothing...

@Russ16 - good point and I guess I do something similar with Deer racks —- when someone says they saw a buck and guesses a “score”—that gives me a rough “reference point” as to how big that rack will look….but I still take a buck based on How-it-looks-to-Me, also the Buck’s age & body size.

@RLD - Welcome to the site, I’m sure you will enjoy it —- a wealth of info and experience is now available to You. I lived in Ontario for 2 years 1991-1993 near Brampton and still keep in touch with a hunting friend I met there. Hope you enjoy and benefit from this site as much as I...

@mdwest - good term “Starter Wife” and you could print that on T-shirts ….future Grooms would buy them as gag-gifts and pass them out to Guests at their First Wedding (should go over big with Brides Father!)

@Hunter-Habib - a life well lived…very impressive & fortunate

@Philippe - or get Divorced EARLY, then MAKE $$$ and enjoy YOUR Life. That’s what my friend did and he’s living good now, hit it BIG after his divorce. I’m lucky to still be happily married to #1 but know guys that “endure” years of misery before pulling the plug and the last time they got...

@Rare Breed - AGREE, I want this hunt to be even more enjoyable for my Wife then Me - I’ll love the hunt regardless and don’t mind spending extra for some “Luxury” for her. What I’m still trying to decide: Is this the “right place & PH?” Are there other outfits that offer the same or better...

@Russ16 - if the Tusks “look Great” does it matter what they weigh? I know trophy fees can be based on tusk weight so obviously it matters from that standpoint - but as a Hunter, if I liked to “look” of those tusks, and it was an old mature Bull, AND the experience of the Elephant Hunt….tusk...

@Safari Dave - agree with some of your post - except the ridiculous “elephant…can be killed w/.22lr”. NO, it can’t and Never has been…(unless shot in the eye, dies of infection in a month?) but I get you’re attempted point. I do like that you think about “self reliance” in the event something...

@Safari Dave - I’m sure you have a better understanding of ballistics & reloading then I do, I really have limited technical knowledge and even Less interest in learning about reloading & ballistics (as long as I can still Buy ammo). You mentioned you would want to “have had at least 10 trips...

@Rare Breed - appreciate info received so far and I’m learning more each day - started from scratch just last week and was referred by a friend to: SANGO WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY in Zimbabwe. If I’m getting this info all correct, they just opened up 4 quota for Non exportable bull elephant up to...

@Boone66 - I am Not a reloader and only shoot factory ammo or some custom reloads I purchased from the makers of my few custom rifles. Therefore, I lack some knowledge you may have. My point ( or question) would be: It’s irrelevant how much more “pressure” a Ruger no 1 or bolt gun can take -...

@mark-hunter - your photos just convinced Me to take a camera….we’re planning an elephant hunt for 2026 and after it’s “over” the photos & memories will be all we have left —- so we want the best possible