45-70 Government Ammo
Shop in-stock 45-70 Government ammunition with next-business-day shipping. Hornady FTX and MonoFlex, Federal Power-Shok, Remington 300gr and 405gr, Winchester, and Black Hills cowboy loads for lever guns and single-shots. Read more about 45-70 ammo.
Overview of 45-70 Government Ammo
45-70 Government is one of America's oldest and hardest-hitting big-bore rifle cartridges. It fires a .458-inch bullet, usually 250 to 405 grains, at around 1,300 to 2,000 fps in standard factory loads. Heavy bullets deliver deep penetration and real stopping power on deer, hogs, black bear, elk, and moose at woods-hunting distances.
45-70 runs in lever-action rifles like the Marlin 1895 and Henry, single-shot rifles like the Ruger No. 1 and Sharps reproductions, and trapdoor Springfields. Standard factory ammunition is loaded to pressures safe in all of them. For a modern AR-15 big-bore, see our 450 Bushmaster ammo.
45-70 Brands We Carry
- Remington 45-70 Ammo: 300gr semi-jacketed hollow point and 405gr Core-Lokt soft points.
- Hornady 45-70 Ammo: LEVERevolution 325gr FTX and 250gr MonoFlex copper.
- Federal 45-70 Ammo: Power-Shok 300gr JSP.
- Winchester 45-70 Ammo: Super-X 300gr JHP.
- Black Hills 45-70 Ammo: Cowboy Action 405gr flat point lead.
Best 45-70 Ammo for Specific Uses
| Use Case | Top Pick | Also Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Deer / Hogs in the Woods | Hornady LEVERevolution 325gr FTX | Federal Power-Shok 300gr JSP, Winchester 300gr JHP |
| Elk / Moose / Bear | Remington Core-Lokt 405gr SP | Remington 405gr SP |
| Lead-Free Hunting | Hornady 250gr MonoFlex | None in stock |
| Cowboy Action / Single-Shot | Black Hills Cowboy Action 405gr FPL | Remington 405gr SP |
| Flatter-Shooting Lever Gun Load | Remington 300gr SJHP | Hornady LEVERevolution 325gr FTX |
Why Buy 45-70 Ammo from BulkMunitions?
- In stock and ready to ship. We only list ammunition that is physically in our warehouse. No backorders.
- Next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse on orders placed before our daily cutoff.
- Case pricing on a pricey cartridge. 200-round cases bring 45-70 well below the per-round cost of 20-round boxes.
- We tithe 10% of profits to Christian-based, 2A-supporting organizations every quarter, and our customers vote on where it goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 45-70 good for deer hunting?
Yes. 45-70 is an excellent deer cartridge for woods and brush hunting out to about 200 yards. Loads like Hornady LEVERevolution 325gr FTX shoot flatter than traditional flat-nose loads. Check your state's hunting regulations, since some states classify 45-70 as a straight-wall cartridge.
Is factory 45-70 ammo safe in a trapdoor Springfield?
Standard factory 45-70 is loaded to low pressures intended to be safe in trapdoor Springfields and other older rifles. Avoid any ammunition labeled for modern lever actions only or +P. Have an antique rifle inspected by a qualified gunsmith before firing.
Is 45-70 good for bear defense?
Yes. Heavy 45-70 loads like Remington 405gr soft points penetrate deeply and are a popular choice for guides and hunters in bear country. A fast-handling lever gun in 45-70 is a classic backup rifle for dangerous game.
More About 45-70 Government Ammo
The U.S. Army adopted 45-70 Government in 1873 for the Springfield trapdoor rifle. The name describes the original load: a .45-caliber bullet over 70 grains of black powder. It served as the Army's rifle cartridge until 1892 and was widely used by buffalo hunters on the Great Plains.
Rather than fading away, 45-70 found new life in modern lever-action rifles from Marlin, Henry, and others. More than 150 years after its introduction, it remains one of the most popular big-bore hunting cartridges in North America.