Of all of them I have had in .45-70 my favorite is the 1885 Browning. It shoots 405 gr. with open sights quite well. I don't shoot heavy loads often but if I do the Browning is heavy enough to be okay to shoot.
Had a B78, with the death-dealing buttplate back in the 80s. My shoulder still hurts (I began my hunting with 12ga slugs without issues, so wasn't always a candyass). Wish I had the little Sako Vixen I traded for it back.
Currently, I have the little Low Wall Traditional Hunter in .44 with the same buttplate and it's a pussycat. They have made some 1885s with a regular butt and pad. One of those would be okay, I think, but really there's no real need for such a minor cannon here unless it's just for fun, so I'll never know. I do ogle the .38/55s once in a while.
