OK, I have: Martinis (7) trapdoors (4) Highwalls (2), Low walls (2) hepburns (2) Sharps (2), Stevens 44's (3) Ballards (3) Rolling Blocks (14) Hopkins and Allen (2) Sniders (2) Wesson rifle (1) Wurflein/NEF break opens (5)
I have 7 rifles in 45-70. It is by far the easiest case to reload. one of the easiest BPC's to find components for, and actually pretty easy to find tools for. I have three or fuor different Ideal nut cracker tools for loading 45-70, a set of Lyman tong tool with 45-70 dies and regular 45-70 dies, (Lee, Lyman and RCBS) and even a progressive press. I have 6 or 7 different 457 molds. from 195 grain bullets to 500 grain bullets. I even have the old Lee hand loader kit for 45-70. (useful but very slow)
A 45-70 can be loaded up for big game and loaded down for small game. Buffalo hunters made one shot kills at 400 yards with them. It may not be a long range proposition for hunting. It has been successfully used for dangerous game on the plains of africa and everywhere else. The older Lyman reloading manuals from about 1920, even had loads for shooting 45-70 indoors with roundballs as gallery guns for amory practice.
I like high walls. I like them even more with set triggers, but so far I just have one with a single set trigger. It is a simple action and easier to clean than a Martini or Snider. Reloading ammo for a highwall can be just slightly more finicky than say for a trapdoor. There's no cam action in a highwall to force the shell into the rifling. The shell has to fit so the block can raise past the chamber. Same as a Sharps, Hepburn or other dropping blocks.
