Yes. But if an axe handle were all I had to defend my home, I would use it, too. The point is that, in our non-Mad Max/socialist European civilization, we don't have to use whatever we can scrounge up. The .45/70 is a great cartridge--I own four rifles and one revolver chambered for it--but I would not use it in a defensive context except as a camp gun in the middle of the woods. Recoil, muzzle blast, low capacity and overpenetration make it far from perfect, even with light loads.
Greg Koziol said:
Get some of these and load down a bit.That is why you develop an appropriate "powderpuff" load for it. Light bullets (that are lightly constructed) are for lesser penetration, not to lessen recoil.
Expensive, but it looks like that would be the ticket.
Says 100gr., which is on the light side, but more than heavy enough for what you need and should promote explosive expansion. The only problem that I have seen with Al. bullets is the muzzle flash (and that was in a .458SOCOM so the loads were certainly somewhat on the light side for .45-70Govt.).
Problem is, you'll not find one that is well suited for both tasks, better to have one low recoil/penetration lightly constructed load for HD, one moderate weight load for deer, and a heavy thumper for bear (if applicable). The last two could be served by one load (relatively heavy bullet driven fast), but again it wouldn't be optimized for the quarry.
