Best .45-70 Government Ammo
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The .45-70 Government dates to 1873, originally designed for the Springfield "Trapdoor" single-shot rifle. The cartridge survived the transition from black powder to smokeless and remains popular today in lever-action rifles from Marlin, Henry, and Winchester. Standard loads push a 300 to 405-grain bullet between 1,300 and 2,100 fps depending on the rifle's strength rating.
Modern ammunition comes in three pressure levels: light loads safe for antique trapdoor rifles, standard loads for lever actions like the Marlin 1895, and hot loads rated only for modern single-shots and bolt actions like the Ruger No. 1. The big, slow bullets hit hard at woods distances and create large wound channels on game. Hunters use the .45-70 on everything from black bear to bison, though the rainbow trajectory limits practical range to about 200 yards for most shooters.
All .45-70 Government Loads
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.45-70 Government Trajectory Calculator
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Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Heavy bullets create large wound channels on game
- Works in lever-action rifles for quick follow-up shots
- Effective on large game including bear, elk, and moose
- Multiple pressure levels for different rifle types
- Low ricochet risk in brush and timber
Cons
- Rainbow trajectory limits effective range to 200 yards
- Noticeable recoil, especially with hot loads
- Ammunition costs more than common rifle calibers
- Heavy bullet drop requires careful holdover estimation
- Not suitable for long-range shooting