Heading out in 2 hrs

[Rowdy Rick]

I have had clients use a 45-70 to good effect on frontal shots here. One was a trapdoor rifle just a few weeks ago. The other was an old Armi 45-70 Sharps using a gov. bullet that I use to loan to clients. Both penetrated and exited the full length. One doing so after breaking some bones (a little richocheting inside) Bob's excellent, highly quartered shot was the closest to a frontal with another BPCR gun that I have seen personally, and although it didn't exit it did penetrate well up close to 3 feet through a stomach full of grass, and all the other insides, including the top of the heart. Some depends on the alloy of the bullets, also the time of the year and the thickness of the hair coat makes a difference. I do think and have always said the slower moving large mass bullets are more effective on buffalo than any modern centerfire and bullet combination, and I have seen a lot of them used. I do think there is a cal., bullet wt, alloy, that provides maximum penetration and the 45-70 has proven it belongs in that category. A heart shot is imo the best for most hunters, but it is not a give me. I have seen .416 rigbys have seemingly no effect on buffalo shot in the lungs with proven African loads.....really surprised the guy. The 45-110 still wins out imo over the 45-70 due to being a little flatter shooting for most hunters after buffalo. That 100 to 150 yard range increase makes a lot of hunters miss the heart with 45-70-s. Caliber wise I would recommend the 40-70-s and up for BPCR guns. I did put one down with my 40-65pp in the heart but would call it marginal. Hopefully I will get a chance to do a frontal with the 110 and see how the performance actually compares. As I always tell clients it is still all about where you hit them not what you hit them with.