Howdahs have become something of a passion or maybe an obsession for me....and while I may never actually hunt a Tiger from an Elephant, it IS the stuff of fantasies.

Soooo in this case are we talking a strictly modern cartridge OR one that "looks" historically correct? The 45-70 is like pushing the EASY Button. It has both a historical loads (405 gr) and modern almost magnum level loads. The historical load meets the power level we desire and will work in the traditional type of gun we want. Honestly the modern loads may be too much. So 45-70 works; but does it look right? Maybe??? 45-70 is the EASY Button; but theres are certain height/width proportions that the 577 Snider screams and the 45-70 looks a little slim.

500 S&W certainly has the power and it mostly fits the height/width look; but its maybe too much in the factory loadings. Ive fired a 500 S&W out of a 10" Encore, trust me its more than a handful. A Heavier double barrel may help; but a slightly down loaded, maybe 500 Special would work AND it looks right.

Ive heard talk about using 50-70. It has the power and looks; just not the easily availability. A 20 or better yet 28 gauge slug loaded in a full length brass shell with the lead exposed works from the historical and mostly modern perspective.

Now theres the question of the gun...