The 45-70 Government is older than the light bulb, and it still drops deer, hogs and bears every fall. But one name covers a huge range of loads. A soft cowboy load and a stout bear load share the same case and little else. This 45-70 ballistics guide lays out the published numbers for the loads we carry. It also shows you how to pick the right one for your rifle and your game.
What Is a 45-70?
The 45-70 is a rimmed, straight-walled rifle cartridge. The U.S. Army adopted it in 1873 for the Trapdoor Springfield. The name tells the story. It fired a .45 caliber bullet over 70 grains of black powder.
What caliber is a 45-70? The bullet is .45 caliber, and most jacketed rifle bullets for it measure .458 inch. Today it lives on in lever guns, single-shot rifles and a few bolt guns. It also has a big following in cowboy action shooting.
Black powder is long gone from factory ammo. Modern smokeless loads come in three broad pressure levels. That is the key to reading any 45-70 chart.
Three Pressure Levels You Need to Know
Standard and cowboy loads
These run at modest pressure. They are made to be safe in older designs and replicas. A slow 405-grain lead bullet is typical. Winchester Cowboy Action 405 grain lists 1,150 fps. Recoil is mild for such a big bullet.
Modern lever-gun loads
Most hunting ammo sits here. These loads suit modern lever actions in good shape. Hornady LEVERevolution 325 grain FTX lists 2,050 fps and 3,032 ft-lb. Its soft polymer tip is safe in a tube magazine.
+P and bear loads
These run at higher pressure. Use them only in strong, modern rifles that the ammo maker approves. Never fire them in a Trapdoor Springfield or a replica of one. Read the box and the maker’s guidance before you load a single round.
45-70 Ballistics Table: Standard Loads
Here are the published figures for standard-pressure loads we stock. They run from slow to fast.
| Load | Grain | Bullet | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Subsonic | 410 | FTX polymer tip | 1,075 | 1,052 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Cowboy Action | 405 | Lead flat nose | 1,150 | 1,189 | 20-round box |
| Buffalo Bore Blackpowder Equivalent | 500 | Flat nose | 1,250 | 1,734 | 20-round box |
| Remington Core-Lokt (reduced pressure) | 405 | Soft point | 1,330 | 1,590 | 20-round box |
| Remington Core-Lokt | 405 | Soft point | 1,600 | 2,302 | 20-round box |
| Barnes Pioneer | 400 | Jacketed flat nose | 1,715 | 2,612 | 20-round box |
| Federal HammerDown | 300 | Bonded soft point | 1,850 | 2,280 | 20-round box |
| Federal Power-Shok | 300 | Soft point | 1,880 | 2,354 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Ballistic Silvertip | 300 | Polymer tip | 1,880 | 2,354 | 20-round box |
| Barnes VOR-TX | 300 | TSX copper | 1,905 | 2,418 | 20-round box |
| Hornady LEVERevolution | 325 | FTX polymer tip | 2,050 | 3,032 | 20-round box |
Box numbers come from the maker’s test barrel. Hornady lists a 24-inch test barrel for several of these loads. A typical 18 to 22-inch lever gun will often run a bit slower.
45-70 +P Ballistics Table
These loads are for strong modern actions only. Check your rifle maker’s word before you buy.
| Load | Grain | Bullet | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underwood Xtreme Defense +P | 325 | Fluted copper | 2,275 | 3,735 | 20-round box |
| Grizzly +P | 300 | Bonded JHP | 2,300 | 3,525 | 20-round box |
| Grizzly Bear Load +P | 405 | Cast wide nose | 2,050 | 3,779 | 20-round box |
| HSM Bear Load +P | 430 | Flat nose | 1,801 | 3,098 | 20-round box |
| Grizzly Bear Load +P | 525 | Hard cast | 1,610 | 3,078 | 20-round box |
Look at the jump. Grizzly Bear Load 405 grain +P lists 2,050 fps and 3,779 ft-lb. A standard 405-grain Core-Lokt lists 1,600 fps. Same bullet weight, very different load.
How to Read 45-70 Ballistics: Velocity and Energy
Muzzle velocity is how fast the bullet leaves the barrel. Muzzle energy is the work it can do at that moment, in foot-pounds. Energy rises with the square of speed. So a small bump in velocity adds a lot of energy.
With the 45-70, energy alone can fool you. A heavy, wide bullet at modest speed still digs deep. The flat nose and the big frontal area do a lot of the work. Bullet build matters as much as the number on the box.
Keep in mind that these are muzzle figures. The fat, blunt bullets lose speed fast. That is why most hunters keep shots with a 45-70 fairly close. We don’t publish drop tables here. Zero your rifle and check your own drop at the range.
Is 45-70 Good for Deer?
Yes. It has taken deer for 150 years. For whitetails, a 300 to 325-grain expanding bullet at standard pressure is plenty. Good picks include Federal Power-Shok 300 grain soft point at 1,880 fps and Nosler Whitetail Country 300 grain at 1,950 fps.
Where lead is restricted, look at lead-free copper. Barnes VOR-TX 300 grain TSX lists 1,905 fps. Hunting rules vary, so check your state’s regulations before the season.
Matching Bullet Weight to the Job
- Plinking and cowboy matches: 405-grain lead flat nose loads at low speed. They are easy on you and on older guns.
- Deer and hogs: 300 to 325-grain soft points, bonded bullets or polymer tips.
- Elk, moose and big hogs: 350 to 405-grain bonded or copper bullets. Swift A-Frame 350 grain lists 1,734 fps.
- Bear country: heavy hard cast or bonded bullets. Many are +P, so confirm your rifle can take them.
- Suppressed shooting: subsonic loads such as Hornady Subsonic 410 grain FTX, which lists 1,075 fps.
Barrel Length and Altitude
A short lever gun gives up some speed. The loss varies by load and by rifle. Cold weather can slow some powders a bit too. High altitude does not change muzzle speed much, but thin air lets the bullet keep its speed longer. Chronograph your own rifle if you want real 45-70 ballistics from your own barrel.
If you like big-bore lever guns, compare this round with the 30-30 Winchester ballistic data guide. For a big-bore option in an AR, see the 458 SOCOM ballistic data guide.
Shop 45-70 Ammo
Browse every load above, from cowboy rounds to bear loads, in our 45-70 ammo collection. Sort by bullet weight and pick the pressure level that fits your rifle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 45-70 good for?
The 45-70 suits deer, hogs, black bear, elk and moose at modest range. It also shines in cowboy action matches with mild lead loads. Heavy +P loads add punch for big game in strong modern rifles. Pick the load by game size and by what your rifle is rated to handle.
What caliber is 45-70?
The 45-70 Government fires a .45 caliber bullet. Most jacketed rifle bullets for it measure .458 inch. The 70 in the name comes from the 70 grains of black powder in the original 1873 Army load.
Is 45-70 subsonic?
Most 45-70 loads are not subsonic. Standard hunting loads run well above the speed of sound. Some loads are built to be subsonic, such as Hornady Subsonic 410 grain FTX at 1,075 fps. Cowboy loads are slow but often still above the sound barrier.
Can I shoot 45-70 +P in any rifle?
No. +P loads run at higher pressure. Use them only in strong modern rifles the ammo maker approves. Never use them in a Trapdoor Springfield or a replica. Check both the rifle maker’s and the ammo maker’s guidance first.
What does 45-70 mean?
The name comes from the original military load. The 45 is the bullet caliber in hundredths of an inch. The 70 is the charge of black powder in grains. The Government part marks it as the U.S. Army service round of 1873.
