..If I were to use the 45-70 today it would be in a Ruger no. 1 and I would load it to 2000 plus FPS in that strong action, but why, when I can get the same gun in a .458 Win.
The Ruger #1-H in 458 is not the same gun as the Ruger #1-S in 45-70. I rather think you might reconsider that statement if you ever carried and used the #1-S. That caliber is perhaps the most perfectly balanced of the entire #1 series. It makes these single shots an easy love affair. (It's a livelier rifle even than the very similar 9.3x74R due to the latter's extra barrel weight.)
