i have one ... what is not to love about it .
it weighs around 5 pounds , it's small compact and quick to point .
with a bit of polishing and trigger work it is one of the slickest lever actions i have every had in my hands .
it holds 10 rounds of 454 , 11 rounds of 45 colt .
anything chambered in 45-70 is slow heavy and clunky when compared to the rossi .
the 300 grain hornady's i use have been clocked in the 2200-2300 fps range .
the smaller sized case also lends it's self nicely for very very quiet reduced loads .
also look at the ammo it's self , 100 rounds of 454 or 45 colt take up hardly any room ...... compare that to 100 rounds of 45-70 .
100 rounds of 454 / 45 colt is roughly the size of 2 boxes of of 45-70 .
http://ww w.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm will give you some idea's for loading info and velocities .
there are 2 rifles i use for protection when i'm out in the bush working my placer claims , my rossi and a short barreled 303 lee enfield , because they are reliable and hold more than enough ammo , so i don't have to pack it seprately .
i also own a 45-70 ...... and it hasn't moved from it's spot in the safe in a long while .