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Hey Greg, sounds like you were on MadDog's side when he was begging R Luci not to go try his stunt on (three) cape buff with a shorty .45-70!
Question: would a .375 have been enough, in your opinion? (I think I know what your preferred caliber would be.)
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Ok guys lets not take this out of context.
I have shot buffalo with a .458Lott and a .470NE I've seen them killed with a .500 Jeff and a .375.
I NEVER said the .45-70 wasn't "enough" for buffalo.
Here is my own quote from above.
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A .45-70 is capable of taking thick skined dangerous game. It is not however a caliber that I would chose to hunt DG with.
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What I said was the .45-70 CAN NOT push a bullet of similar weight anywhere near what a .458Win mag can. THAT is the cold hard truth period end of story.
And yes I do consider the .375H&H adequate for buffalo hunting. It is not however and neither is the .45-70 to be considered a good stopping rifle.
A few examples of what I'm talking about.
A maxed out high pressure Ruger #1 load in a .45-70 starts a 400gr bullet with a S.D. of 272 at just about 1900FPS
The .458 Win mag starts that same 400 gr bullet at just under 2400FPS for a difference of 500FPS
And the .458 Win will start a 500 gr bullet S.D. of .306 at just over 2200FPS still 300 FPS faster than a .45-70's 400 grain load.
And those are maxed out Ruger #1 loads they are somewhat less in a short barreled 1895.
So lets break it down
.45-70 400gr bullet @ 1906FPS S.D. 272/FtLbs =3210
.375H&H 300GR Bullet @ 2550FPS S.D. 305/FtLbs energy =4250
.458 Win 500Gr Bullet @ 2208FPS S.D. .308/ FtLbs energy=5373
The .45-70 with hard cast bullets does have impressive penetration from what I've read. What it doesn't have is the bone crushing smash of a 5000Ft lb + heavy rifle round.
Having been in thick jesse amongst a herd of agitated elephants and having been in the thick stuff with a pissed off wounded buffalo bull I've developed some opinions based on personal experience about what rifle I like to carry during a DG hunt.
there is a HUGE noticable difference in reaction when a buff taskes a hit from a .375 VS a true heavy such as a .458Lott or a 470NE or a .500Jeff. these big rounds actually stun a buff with all that smash. A .375 generally is much less dramatic.
It all really boils down to what you want from your rifle, what you shoot best and personal experience. If you want to shoot a .45-70 on DG I'm not going to try and stop you. I just don't feel warm and fuzzy with that round as a life saver.
In my opinon the .375H&H is a better choice for buffalo hunting than a .45-70
The .45-70 is to the .458Win as the .30-30 is to the .30-06. Both are capable of taking the same types of game. One just gives you more than the other.