Actually I'm for the big blunt bullet, but the example someone gave about the 45-70 shooting through a Cape Buffalo at killing a cow behind the bull was a broad side shot through the "RIBS", and just about anything from 30-06 up will penetrate like that through the rib-cage. A big blunt bullet that will penetrate from any angle through heavy bone of the shoulders, or get into the chest cavity from a shot through the hip, rangeing forward through the pounch is what is needed, the 375H&H will do that,even on a cape buffalo which is a lot tougher than a brown bearm, or moose. The 45-70 will not! The 375H&H is about minimum for anything very large or dangerous, and will penetrate far better, from all angles, than a 45-70 even hot loaded. Those classic heart/lung shots are not always offered, especially if he is advanceing on you.

In a strong single barreled rifle I have no problem with a load like was offered with the magic bullet,(unless it is made with the pressure rings like the North Fork) which is a mono-metal bullet if without the pressure rings, is not suitable for a double rifle, and this thread is about a double rifle,after all, and a weak one at that. The problem here is reccomending not only a hot load, but one useing a Monometal, solid shank, bullet in a thread concerning a double rifle without a caution, is irrsponsible. This is the problem with folks offering advice on loads for double rifles, when they don't know much about what is, and is not to be used in double rifles. IMO, the guy who buys the Baikal double is very new to double rifles, and will try anything some with seemingly expertise offers as a real MAGIC LOAD. People who have loaded thousands of rounds for every type of gun except double rifles, are always the ones these mistakes. This is the case here I fear. Because something works in another type rifle, and makes impressive paper numbers, is not always the best choice for another type rifle, or on a game animal.

The only mono-metal bullets that are safe to use in a double rifle are the North fork "NEW" mono-based soft, and the CPS, and FPS solids. The GS Custom is good as well but are hard to come by. If, however, the Lee bullet has proper pressure rings to avoid the barrels haveing to engrave a groove size solid shank, then to bullet may be OK. The mono-metal solid without the pressure rings is a NO-NO even on a very well made double rifle, and certainly not reccomended in the Baikal.

I simply do not understand this facination with folks trying to make the fine old 45-70 into something it was never meant to be! I happen to love the old war horse, and have a double rifle so chambered, and Ruger No1 as well, and an 1895 Marlin with the barrel cut down to a trapper 16 1/4" with a custom magazine tube that is full length to the muzzle, that I carry on a sling over the top post of my pack-frame while fishing in Alaska. The loads in it are hot even for the Ruger No1, and use the North fork CPS bullet. It is not the best cartridge for the purpose, but the rifle is handy, and much better than any handgun that everybody seems to carry for this purpose. There is a use for hot loaded 45-70, but not in a double rifle, or one that is as weak as the Baikal, and I wouldn't want to push a steady diet of my loads through the Marlin, but in a self defense sittuation I risk it.

Which do you think kills large dangerous animals better numbers from a bench, or bullets doing their job properly in the animals in question? I go with what works on the animals, not the numbers generated on paper targets. Others may do as it suits, so if the 45-70 floats your ddangerous game canoe, then load up , and paddle on down stream.