One of my favorite .45-70 loads is a 300-350g hardcast at 1167 fps and 1097 fps respectively, using only 13.5g HS-6. Recoil is about half that of a standard .30-30 load and they are very inexpensive. Cost of lead has gone up, but at one point I figured about $2.50 per box of 20. Very accurate with a trajectory similar to a .22. Great plinker for the kids and very destructive to whatever they hit. They consistently drill through 11-12 water jugs.
Wouldn't choose them for elk as I have many loads better suited for that, but they are a lot of fun. Softball-sized rocks shatter when they meet.
