Gun enthusiasts, history buffs, and even casual hunters have long had a passion for vintage U.S. Army guns and ammunition. While there are hundreds of different guns and rounds that have made their way into the history books, one of the most popular and unique is the 45-70 Government gun and cartridge.
This gun and round will actually celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023. But despite its age, the .45-70 Government cartridge, as well as the 1973 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield that it was developed alongside of, remain a popular option in the gun community today.
Unlike many types of vintage ammunition, the historic round is still used for hunting today. It’s also a popular choice for black-powder cartridge shooting events and for use in replica guns, including replicas of the 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield. Even the U.S. military continues to use the .45-70 cartridge today, now in the form of the “cartridge, caliber .45 line throwing, M32.”
This classic rifle brass is a popular choice among reloaders. If you’re thinking about getting started with reloading .45-70 Government cartridges or are simply interested in learning more about this unique round, keep reading. We’re taking a deep dive into the history of this cartridge and the gun that was released alongside it. Let’s get started.
History of the 45-70 Government Gun and Cartridge
The history of the 45-70 Government cartridge dates back to 1873. It was developed as the cartridge of choice for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars. At that time, it replaced the .50-70 cartridge, which had been the popular choice up until then.
While the .50-70 cartridge was a large round and known for hitting hard, it lacked the accuracy, penetration, and range that the Army needed. This new rifle cartridge was developed by the Springfield Armory, which was, at that time, the U.S. Army’s own armory.
When it was adopted for use by the U.S. Army, it was officially called the .45-70-405. This was usual for black powder cartridges at the time and named the caliber-powder charge-bullet weight.
Used in conjunction with the Model 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield rifle, the 45-70 was considered to be very accurate, and the two were a popular and effective combination.
The 45-70 Government gun, the ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield rifle, in addition to the .45-70 Government cartridge, remained in use by the U.S. Army until 1892. At that time, it was replaced by the .30-40 Krag as the primary cartridge.
The U.S. Military released that single-shot black powder rifles were becoming obsolete at an alarming pace. They adopted the Norweigan-designed .30 Army caliber, alongside the Springfield Model 1892 at that time/
However, the Army did continue to use the previous cartridge until the Spanish-American War, which lasted from April 21, 1898, to December 10, 1898. The gun and cartridge actually remained in limited use in the military into the 20th century. When the U.S. Military began to get rid of their surplus rifles, many were given to Native American reservations for use as subsistence hunting rifles. Many vintage rifles today carry Native American markings, making them even more unique.
The 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield Rifle
The Army’s newest rifle of choice had its origins almost a decade earlier. As the Civil War was coming to an end, the Army tasked its master armorer, Erskine S. Allin, with converting their current muzzle-loading rifles into breech loaders.
In 1865, the first model was released. The Model 1865 Springfield, also known as “Allin’s Alteration” or the “Needle Gun,” used a copper-cased cartridge and a .58 caliber bullet. Following a series of trials, this was lowered to a .50 caliber bullet.
The gun was quickly put into use in engagements with Indian warriors and was largely considered to be dependable. However, flaws were eventually identified in the design. Perhaps the worst was that, under pressure, the breech block could swing open.
To fix this flaw, a new gun was put under development. This would lead to the release of the 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield, which was first called the Springfield No. 99.
Despite being long out of production, this gun remains a popular choice among collectors and history enthusiasts. As a result, it’s possible to find replicas of this gun fairly easily.
Developing the .45-70 Government Cartridge
When the .45-70 Government cartridge was first released, it was used with a 405-grain round-nosed bullet. This round was able to launch at a muzzle velocity of around 1,400 fps. While this might not be anywhere near as fast as most modern rounds, at the time, it was a big improvement over the .50-70 cartridge that had previously been in use.
In the late 1870s, the cartridge saw a big improvement. It was revised to instead deliver a 500-grain bullet. This meant much better long-range terminal ballistics.
In addition to being used in the 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield, the .45-70 Government cartridge was also chambered in other popular rifles at the time. It was popular for use in the Model 1886 Winchester lever-action rifle.
Sportsmen Adopt the New Round
As with a lot of military ammunition, the .45-70 Government cartridge, as well as the ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield, became an instant hit among sports enthusiasts. The small size of the cartridge, as well as its accuracy and range, made it a popular choice for hunting.
While certainly no match for the range of a sniper rifle, the round is a good choice for hunting most short or mid-range game. It’s easily capable of taking down most big game found in Noth America. It’s known for not destroying edible meat, even on smaller animals such as deer.
The .45-70 cartridge has even been known to be good for hunting Africa’s “Big Five” game animals when loaded with the right bullet and the correct velocities.
At the time of its release, the .45-70 cartridge was perfect for hunting bison across the North American plains. At that time, while the animal’s numbers were dwindling, it remained an important source of meat for many settlers.
The 4570 Government Gun & Cartridge Today
Despite the round’s long history, the .45-70 Government Cartiride continues to be a popular choice among gun enthusiasts and hunters alike.
Many hunters and gun collectors alike love the connection to history when using an older gun like the 1873 ‘Trapdoor’ Springfield. Traditional muzzle-loaders. But unlike some cartridges and other types of ammo that haven’t stood the test of time, the .45-70 Government cartridge is more than just a collector’s item today. Instead, it remains a popular cartridge for use, both in vintage guns and muzzle-loaders, as well as in modern rifles.
The round is considered versatile for easy loads or serious loads and is also revered for the satisfying release of black powder smoke on the target range.
The .45-70 Government cartridge is also a popular choice among brass reloaders today.
Issues With the .45-70 Government Cartridge
As with most types of ammo, and especially historic ammo, there are some drawbacks to working with the .45-70 cartridge. The case of the 4570 Government cartridge is known for having a very thin wall. This means that pressures need to be kept low to avoid damaging the wall.
The cartridge does have a wide rim and headspace. The case is just over two inches in length, which means that the action does not need to be very long.
Adding modern loads to this vintage cartridge only makes for an even better round than our ancestors could have imagined. In a modern gun, such as the modern Winchester 1886 or the Marlin 1895, you can enjoy a higher velocity to release the full potential of this cartridge.
Some ammunition companies have also made stronger cases for the .45-70 Government cartridge. These feature thicker brass walls, as well as a small rifle primer. Both work together to reinforce the web of the case. With this design, 400-grain bullets can reach a speed of 2,00 fps. This drastically increases the versatility of this round.
If you are thinking about using .45-70 for the first time, it is important to note that it does have a strong recoil. If you plan to use lever-action rifles, which tend to be lightweight, you will really feel that recoil.
Working With the 45-70 Government Gun and Cartridge Today
The rich history of the 45-70 Government gun and cartridge makes it a popular choice among collectors and gun enthusiasts today. However, this historic cartridge is also popular for use by hunters and other gun users and continues to be a versatile round that rivals some modern ammunition.
If you’re looking to get your hands on this special rifle brass, we can help. Diamond K Brass specializes in providing a wide range of pistol brass, rifle brass, sniper rifle caliber brass, and specialty brass. This includes hard-to-find brass, such as the .45-70 Government.
Shop our selection of .45-70 GOVT rifle brass today to place your order and get your hands on this special vintage cartridge.
