45,

Regarding bison. I have shot a few of them and even watched a couple 45-70 (Sharps replica and a Marlin LA with the long barrel) both loaded with hard cast 400+ gr bullets. Neither of them get any respect from ol' bison bull unless of course your shooting him in the brains or spine (but hey, if that is where you are shooting them you don't need anything bigger than a monolithic solid in a 243 and 30-30s work splendidly and they are LA too).

With good body hits (lungs shoulder) the 45-70 took many shots, lets just say more than 5, and several minutes (like more than you got fingers and maybe toes) to kill ol' bison bull. A real deal elephant gun (500 Jeffery) shooting Soft Point Woodleighs kills then in about 2 seconds to 10 seconds with a double lung shot, no shit (and that is with only one shot taken). I agree that bison tend to be as tough or tougher (in my experience tougher) to bring down than the other bovines (but I haven't killed any Gaur).

For those that are all bent up on "charge stopping". Charges are only RELIABLY stopped ONE way, a CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM hit. In that case caliber isn't as important as projectile and shooter skill (put projectile in correct place, something that is often easier said than done during a real charge). One simply needs a bullet which will hold together and has sufficient momentum to penetrate the bone/structure opposing it. 45-70s with hot loaded hard cast bullets can easily reach the brains of all but perhaps elephants, IF the bullets don't explode on impact with said bones (skulls).

Like I said before the Marlin lever actions AIN'T got any "COOL FACTOR".

Now a Winchester M1886 in 50-110 loaded up with 535 gr Woodleigh PPSP at 2100 fps, that is a horse of a different color.

Scott