fwiw; I have a 24"bbl Winchester M94 in .45lc.
I've really enjoyed it for the 12yrs I've owned it. I don't shoot it that much but when I do, it's a "hoot".
I've loaded it as "hot" as 20gr of #2400 with a 300gr RFN-GC (Lee; casts to ~315gr) for around 1,600fps. The 250gr Hornady XTP's over 2400 run about 1700fps and are ~1.5moa at 100yds. The rifle wears a Williams 5D reciever sight. My older brother called it the .45/70 "short"...
However, I don't run it that hard anymore. Several reasons...
1. I have a Marlin M1895 guide gun. If I want ".458 short-mag's", I'll run it... But with it, I still just use the RCBS 300gr FNGC (casts 322gr) over 30.0gr of #2400 for 1,650fps. Does anything you "need" a .45/70 to do in the lower 48.
2. I can't tell the difference between a 110lb deer shot with the 300gr FNGC at ~1,650fps and a 250gr RFN at ~1,100fps. Either blow a 1/2" hole through the deer and the deer dies quickly. The higher velocity shoots a bit flatter, but to ~125yds, it's not enough to justify the extra powder, blast, and recoil.
3. I can shoot the "regular" loads without hearing protection and not "ring" my ears. I'm already retired on disability due to 20+ years of Mercury "Black Max" outboard motors deafening me after 10-15hrs shifts on the water working boating enforcement for 20+years. They sound like a "bass .22lr". Often shooting an armadillo (my most common "target"), the impact of the bullet is louder than the gun blast!!!
I do load a bit warmer than "standard" .45lc loads for one, and only one reason. Below 8.0gr of Universal or Unique, or 7.8gr of #231, I get "blow-by" or "blow-back" through the action due to brass not completely obturating and maintaining seal till the bullet exits the bore. At 8.2gr of Universal or #231 I get much cleaner brass and no "whiff" of powder blast to the face, and gun action stays much cleaner.
MagTech brass is "thinner" or "softer" than Win. or R-P, and Hornady and Starline are somewhat thicker/harder and takes even more powder to prevent blow-by.
I use the MagTech brass in the Winchester, and "others" in the Ruger BlackHawk Flat-top.
No more "+P" .45colt for me... Even the .44mag (329PD) gets "mid-range" loads. 1,000fps with a 240gr-270gr SWC will do ANYTHING I need a "magnum" handgun to do.
My current "darling" handgun is a S&W "Shield" in .40s&w. With a 180gr TFN at ~800fps, it will still shoot through an average deer here and is remarkably accurate... I could have been "happy" with this my entire career in L/E if it had existed then...