I agree with 303. The guys that like to detach their retina's, separate their shoulders and give themselves headaches hot loading 45-70s are only doing it because they enjoy the pain. Those hot loads DO NOT KILL GAME any better than the lower speed loads. A 350 grain Horn RN will go through a bear or a Moose length ways doing 1400 FPS or 2200 FPS. The outcome from the bear's perspective is exactly the same "DEAD".
I shot 45-70 on bear control and used every load you can think of (we also tried every cartridge we owned or could borrow and the 38-55, 444 Marlin and 45-70 were among the most efficient bear killers for not having to track shot bears. Far better than 12 gauges, or the high speed magnums like the 7mm, 300 Win, 338 Win. Not until you got to the 375 H&H and 458 Win did you find equivalent dead right there performance.) From teeth rattlers to the very tame factory Remington 405 loads made to be safe in Trap Doors, we shot a tremendous number of bears over the years, The lower speed rounds killed just as well as the high speed rounds and your recovery time for a second shot on another bear was WAY faster with 1400- 1900 FPS loads.
Once you start getting over 1800 FPS recoil becomes REALLY noticeable. The 45-70 kills because they make a big hole, not as the result of hydro-static shock, which starts at 2500 FPS. Hot loaded 45-70s are a pure waste of time and self inflicted pain. Back the loads down, you will group way better and you will shoot them way more often.
Anyone that tells you a Marlin Lever isn't accurate doesn't know what he is talking about. See below.
