45-70 govt vs 500 smith and wesson

[Wanta B]

Tamlin---I agree with you that the 45-70 in not the be all end all cartridge of all time.IMO it is one of the very best and versitile.Definately one of my alltime favorites.Given todays powders and projectiles it can,will and does everything that the "african" or "safari" rounds will with less punishment to the shooter.However,again,that is with todays tech.! Much like the 30-06-another of my alltime favorites- with todays tech. can and does everything,even slightly surpases the "original" .300H&H.

Please keep in mind that almost every cartridge out there performs better than it did originaly...The cool thing about the 45-70 is the penetration factor.This NOT saying that it is "better" than the others,just a unique quality to the 45-70...in certain aplications the .460 Weatherby,tho' not having the penetration of the 45-70,still has more than enough AND has the shock value,scaled up of coarse,of a "varmint" round,ie. TREMENDOUS hydrostatic damage to surounding tissue.

So it is a trade-off of sorts.What do you want/need most?

In the end I can,will and do find all manner of reasons to get any number of weapons and chamberings.I have my favorites and "pets",if you will,that I have gained fondnesses for through decades and uncountable down range sendings.Many of those "pets" are often outdone by others.Take the .416 Rigby but there it is nastalgia...it just so happens that it also works very well .

With todays tech.,to hunt everything on the face of the planet...rifles only....22LR,30-06 and 45-70.(you could even dispense with the -06) Now were the clock turned back to say 1919, I would go 22LR,35-06(now the 35 Whelen and I could easily go with a slightly larger cartridge here),and .416 Rigby. Tho' even then the 45-70 was planting the big 5 on their butts...Of coarse this could change depending on my mood but you get my drift on power levels and versitility.

And again I have to clearify that I know there are MANY cartridges that are as versitile as the 45-70 and I have stated their advantages many times thru' the years...The OP asked about 45-70 or 500S&W,after all.