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My gut feeling is I would like to see some penetration testing of a 540 gr hammerhead at 1550 fps compared to African standard cartridges.

My feeling is Buff is on the light end of desired penetration?maybe,but a 45-70 definitely not an option on Ele for me.With numerous documented headshot failures of 500 gr 458 WM around 2000 fps *ain't no way* I'm going to try a head on shot at a charging Ele with any 45-70 if I have a choice.

I prefer to always be prepared for the worse scenario, not the perfect shot--Bet somewhere someone has even killed an Ele with a handgun.I know they have--SO WHAT!!Better to respect the animal to dispatch it quickly with the most potent rifle I can control and avoid nasty painful terminal complications like becoming instant toejam!!!

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SARG: Do you remember what loads you used? What gun?

HOPPDOC: Me, too. I would like to see the same testing you refer to. I have a feeling I know what might occur, but am not 100% sure.

PETER: I checked my records:

My .45-70 load using the Lee 402 grain Hollow Point {cast of wheelweights} and running 1640 fps exceeds the penetration of the 300 grain Hornady Round Nose and the 300 grain Norma Oryx and equalled the penetration of the 300 grain Swift A-Frame shot in the recent testing of the .375 H&H magnum {shot at +- 2450 fps}. Unlike some heavy sixgun bullets that frequently penetrate deeply but show little hydraulic effect, the Lee evaporates the first two jugs quite similarly to the the .375 and succeeded in knocking the 6th jug off the test table unlike the .375's.

I should add that I have never experienced any pressure signs or troubles with my load even when shot in hot weather, and it is NOT the highest velocity that can be obtained with a 402 grain bullet in the .45-70. This load obviously gives up lead in exchange for speed when compared to Sam's load. The Lee HP seems to perform like a Nosler Partition {when run at the velocity I shoot and cast of wheelweights} in test media and in game, blowing off the HP portion and leaving the shank to penetrate.

Having said that, would I consider it a backup load for elephant or buffalo? No, I would not. But I guess I would have to lump it in with the 9.3x62 and .375 H&H when used at close range. I would say my load would be the equal of the .375 at very close ranges, which is to say it lacks the performance of a real stopper like the .470, .458 WM, etc. I have never had the opportunity to test the .458 or .470, etc on my test media, so take that for what it is worth. I'm guessing there would be some recordable differences in performance.

To paraphrase Fox News: "I've reported, you decide".

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