I haven't looked in quite a while but a number of loading manuals had two sections for the 45-70. One for older trapdoor and lever actions and another one for the Ruger #1 and #3 rifles that were loaded to higher pressures.
Can’t bolts and ruger #1 take more pressure than a brake action dubble rifle?
yes, a lot more.
@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 - because the modern Marlin 1895 Lever action already handles as much as required and more-then-needed to fire a 400 gr 45 cal bullet at velocities delivering 3600 ft lbs of energy….more then enough for the game discussed. Yes other rifles can handle more pressure - so what? as does a Bazooka but that’s Not in the discussion (yet).
@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 of experience” before doing anything “marginal” — no idea what you mean by that but assume that You or anybody should have at least 10+ Safaris before trying something “marginal (.45-70?) on Buffalo? And somehow you determined “10” was the critical number (8 or 9 trips was NOT enough?). Also, you consider a .375 H&H “a little light” for Buffalo. SO my assumption from your Post is that you personally have made LESS then 10 Safari’s and have never killed an Elephant with a .375 H&H. It seems that those with the most experience - PH’s - are least likely to obsess over caliber, ballistics, etc… and rarely make declarations about specific calibers, rifles etc.. they focus most on shooting ability, bullet placement, and bullet construction (in that order). I’ve had 2 PHs this week tell me my .375 H&H was fine for Elephant - as long as I can shoot it well. I also recently read —- and interested if others agree - that the .375 H&H has killed more Elephants in Africa then any other caliber and mayber more then ALL other calibers combined. Don’t know if that is true but a similar article years ago said more deer have been killed by the .30-30 than any other caliber?? ….,gonna try and find the article again on line and will post later if I can. Either way, the .375 has killed a lot of elephants even though it is “a little light”.
Copper solids, 475 Caliber, 1570fps, 5 1/2 in barrel. Bullet construction matters a great deal. YMMV.
And a superb team ready if followups were needed, and all the work they do. Credit to them. I still wouldn't recommend it without being very dedicated to the proposition and practice time. But, the right bullet to match will do the job.
The 450-400 NE has a bullet diameter of .410
It is a wonderful thing that you don’t need to penetrate deeply
@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.
