All About .45-70 Government
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over the
.45-70 Government cartridge. The cartridge has remained in use with shooters since its inception over one hundred years ago and remains a favorite among big game hunters. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the
.45-70 Government cartridge while delving into some of its traits, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about
.45-70 Government.
What is .45-70 Government?
The
.45-70 Government cartridge, often called
.45-70, made its debut in 1873. The cartridge was developed in conjunction with the Springfield Armory 1873 rifle. The cartridge and rifle were intended to replace the .50-70 Government cartridge and Model 1866 Springfield rifles. The cartridge would remain in service until 1892 when the .30-40 Krag chambered Springfield Model 1892 was adopted. Throughout the cartridge’s military service, the cartridge was utilized in the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and Moro Rebellion.
The cartridge is well-known among shooters for its recoil, boasting a staggering recoil impulse and a loud report. The bark of the
.45-70 Government certainly is not worse than its bite as it is capable of delivering a considerable effect on target. Recoil is generally felt in its entirety by shooters due to the manual action nature of most firearms chambered in
.45-70 Government. Many factory lever action rifles in
.45-70 Government feature rubber recoil pads, aiding in soaking up stout recoil. Things such as suppressors, muzzle brakes, compensators, and light
ammunition loadings will help tame the felt recoil of the cartridge.
Projectiles will often range from 300 to 400 grains with heavier and lighter offerings existing for specialty loadings. The heavy projectiles associated with the
.45-70 Government aid in facilitating a considerable degree of kinetic energy transfer upon impact.
Purchase .45-70 Government Ammo
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name for the cartridge comes from the fact that the round features a .45 caliber projectile and 70 grains of black powder. While modern loadings utilize smokeless powder and no longer rely on smokeless powder, the cartridge’s name remains the same. The official name for the initial
.45-70 loading was “.45-70-405,” with the “.405” referring to the weight of the projectile. These days, due to the differences in projectiles, specifically in terms of weight, it is easier to use the simple
.45-70 designation of the cartridge.
How Available is .45-70 Government Ammunition?
At this point in time,
.45-70 ammunition is not as plentiful as other calibers are. For example, loadings for contemporary cartridges like
.30-30 Winchester,
.308 Winchester, and
.30-06 Springfield are more prevalent. That being said, one will still be able to find
.45-70 ammo, it just might be a bit tougher and sparse than some of the more common rounds on the market. The cartridge is currently supported by a variety of companies such as Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Grizzly, Precision One, and Remington to name a few. Some of the most popular loadings on the market are the hunting-oriented offerings which optimize the cartridge’s performance in the field. Traits such as lead-free projectiles, expanding projectiles, and higher velocity cartridges are common on the loadings optimized for hunting.
How Available are Firearms in .45-70 Government?
Firearms chambered in
.45-70 can be found in the form of modern production models and historic, vintage models. One will generally find
.45-70 chambered firearms in the form of lever action or single shot rifles. These rifles can typically be found with shorter barrels to make them more optimal as brush guns for hunting purposes. Companies such as Henry and Marlin are among the most notable producers of rifles in
.45-70 Government. In addition to traditional offerings, the companies also offer models with threaded barrels which allow for the attachment of suppressors and muzzle devices. Additionally, Henry and Marlin firearms can be outfitted with components from companies such as Midwest Industries and Ranger Point Precision to create tactical leverguns.
Purchase .45-70 Government Ammo
Is .45-70 Government Good for Hunting?
The
.45-70 is well-known for being an incredibly potent hunting cartridge. The cartridge is sufficient for dispatching a wide variety of game from small game up to some dangerous big game animals. The low velocity of the cartridge ensures that the meat on smaller sized game is not damaged and torn up. Large, heavy projectiles allow the cartridge to impart a staggering amount of kinetic energy upon impact, even with lower velocities. Hunters will benefit from a variety of modern loadings which are well-suited for hunting purposes. Additionally, the existence of lead-free
.45-70 ammo will allow hunters to continue to hunt while in areas that restrict lead
ammunition. Simply put, the
.45-70 is an incredibly viable cartridge for hunting.
Conclusion
All in all, the
.45-70 cartridge remains a popular round over one hundred years after its inception. The cartridge has stood the test of time and is still employed by hunters and shooters of all types. We here at True Shot Ammo carry
.45-70 ammunition in addition to the wide variety of
ammo and accessories we have for sale. Whether you are after some
.45-70 ammo or something else that we stock, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
View more posts about ammunition:
