Introduction to the .45-70 Government
The .45-70 Government cartridge, also known as .45-70-405 or simply .45-70, is a significant firearm cartridge that has shaped much of American history. Renowned for its high stopping power and long service life, the .45-70 has been in use for over a century and a half. By today's standards, it's still a rather large cartridge with heavy recoil -- but that's a feature, not a bug, for the people who love it.
Invention and Purpose
The .45-70 cartridge was developed in 1873 by the United States Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873, the first standard-issue breech-loading rifle adopted by the United States Armed Forces. The "45" refers to the caliber (.45 inches), the "70" refers to the grain weight of the black powder charge, and the third number often associated with the name (typically 405 or 500) refers to the weight in grains of the lead bullet.
The .45-70 was created to replace the .50-70 Government cartridge, which was considered too heavy and unwieldy for practical military use. The .45-70 had a smaller diameter and was significantly lighter, making it a more versatile cartridge. The Army needed a round that could be used effectively at engagement distances beyond 1,000 yards (this was volley fire for area suppression, not individual precision marksmanship at those distances), and the .45-70 delivered.
Military Service
Upon its introduction in 1873, the .45-70 was adopted as the standard U.S. military service cartridge. Soldiers carried Springfield Model 1873 rifles chambered in .45-70 during the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, and even early engagements in the Philippine-American War. The cartridge was renowned for its stopping power, but its rainbow-like trajectory at extended distances required skill to master.
The introduction of the 500-grain "government" load in 1881 helped improve long-range accuracy, particularly with the Buffington rear sight introduced on the Springfield Model 1884.
Weapons That Used It
The .45-70 was first used in the Springfield Model 1873, but this was far from the only firearm to use this cartridge. Historic rifles include the Sharps 1874 (a favorite among buffalo hunters), the Winchester Model 1886 (one of the first lever-actions strong enough to handle it), the Remington Rolling Block No. 1, and the Browning Model 1885 High Wall.
There are a whole host of modern lever guns that fire the .45-70 Government cartridge. These include guns in current production by Winchester, Henry, Marlin, Rossi, and Uberti, to name a few. The Marlin Model 1895 is probably the most widely used for big-game hunting. The Ruger No. 1 single-shot rifle is capable of handling hotter loads safely.
While the .45-70 was never designed for handguns, Magnum Research introduced the BFR (Biggest Finest Revolver), a single-action revolver chambered in .45-70 Government. It's capable of handling high-pressure loads, but its sheer size and recoil make it a niche firearm.
Performance
The original 1873 loading fired a .45 caliber, 405-grain bullet at 1,350 feet per second, resulting in a muzzle energy of about 1,640 foot-pounds. That was highly effective for both hunting and military use.
Modern .45-70 ammunition has far exceeded the capabilities of the original loading. Current factory loads can fire a similar 405-grain bullet at velocities over 2,000 feet per second, generating more than 3,000 foot-pounds of force. This makes the .45-70 still capable of taking down nearly any game in North America.
| Bullet Weight | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 405 gr (original) | 1,350 | ~1,640 | Military, hunting deer-sized game |
| 500 gr (Gov't load) | 1,250 | ~1,735 | Long-range shooting, military use |
| 325 gr (Hornady FTX) | 2,050 | ~3,032 | Modern high-velocity hunting |
| 430 gr (Buffalo Bore) | 2,100 | ~4,210 | High-power load for strong rifles only |
The .45-70 has a relatively steep trajectory compared to modern cartridges due to its large, heavy bullet and moderate velocity. However, this has not prevented it from being effective at reasonable ranges in the hands of an experienced shooter.
Predecessors and Successors
The immediate predecessor of the .45-70 was the .50-70 Government cartridge, in use by the U.S. Army from the 1860s until the .45-70's adoption in 1873. Despite being replaced as a military service cartridge by the .30-40 Krag in the 1890s, the .45-70 has managed to remain in production to this day. Its staying power is due to its effectiveness for hunting large game and its popularity among black powder shooting enthusiasts. There are no direct successors to the .45-70. Instead, it coexists with a wide variety of cartridges used for varying purposes.
Compared to Other Big-Bore Cartridges
The .444 Marlin was designed as a high-velocity, flatter-shooting alternative to the .45-70. The .45-70 has a larger bullet selection and more reloading versatility. The .450 Marlin is essentially a modernized .45-70 designed to prevent overpressure in lever-action rifles, but the .45-70 can be loaded to similar performance levels, making the .450 Marlin somewhat redundant. The .458 Winchester Magnum is a true big-game cartridge designed for African hunting; the .45-70 in strong rifles can approach its performance but is generally better suited to North American game.
The .45-70 Government cartridge is a historically significant and still practical firearm cartridge. Its development marked a major shift in U.S. military firearms, and its longevity testifies to its effectiveness and versatility. Despite being over 150 years old, it remains a powerhouse.
The Marlin Owners website has a forum dedicated to the discussion of Marlin .45-70 and can be found here.
If you know of any forums or sites that should be referenced on this listing, please let us know here.
If you know of any forums or sites that should be referenced on this listing, please let us know here.
