45-70 Government

.45-70 Government 300 Grain Nosler Ballistic Silvertip ~ 100% Hand-Loaded~ The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as . 45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S Army’s Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873, which is known to collectors as the “trapdoor Springfield”. The new cartridge was a replacement for the stop-gap .50-70 Government cartridge which had been adopted in 1866, one year after the end of the Civil War. As is usual with U.S. military ammunition, the .45-70 was an immediate hit among American sportsmen, and the .45-70 has survived to the present day. Today, the traditional 405-grain (26.2 g) load is considered adequate for any North American big game within its range limitations, including the great bears, and it does not destroy edible meat on smaller animals such as deer due to the bullet’s low velocity. It is very good for big-game hunting in brush or heavy timber where the range is usually short. The .45-70, when loaded with the proper bullets at appropriate velocities, has been used to hunt the African “Big Five”. The .45-70 has been loaded and used to harvest everything from birds to elephant and the cartridge is still undergoing new development work well over a century after its introduction.

The .45-70 retains great popularity among American hunters for the niche it is suited for. In addition to its traditional use in rifles, Thompson Center Arms has offered a .45-70 barrel in both pistol and rifle lengths for their Contender single-shot pistol, arguably the most potent caliber offered in the Contender frame.

Choice Ammunition, and our 100% Hand-Loading techniques- produce a round of ammunition for the 45-70 Govt’ that is demanded in big game hunting. Accuracy, consistency and dependability are crucial at that final moments of your hunt. Choice Ammunition takes this responsibility seriously by meticulously weighing each powder charge with our proprietary formulas and temperature insensitive powders, seating the bullet at the exact length for optimal performance and test firing each and every lot of ammunition at an average of 500% over industry average. We have no high speed production machines- only passionate and dedicated load technicians pulling each and every handle, producing one round of ammunition at a time. 

The Bullet:

Enhanced by Winchester’s Lubalox® black oxide coating process, the Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip® Hunting Bullet features Nosler’s Ballistic Tip® technology for accuracy, penetration and controlled expansion while reducing fouling and extending barrel life. Lubalox® is a very thin oxide bullet coating that not only reduces pressure and friction between bullet and bore, but also protects the surface of the bullet jacket. The aerodynamic polymer Silvertip® initiates rapid and uniform expansion of the bullet upon impact while the fully-tapered jacket provides maximum energy transfer and optimum weight retention at all practical velocities. Equipped with a heavily jacketed base that acts as a platform for large-diameter mushrooms and a boat-tail design that enhances long-range accuracy, the Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip® is a favorable design for our shooters wanting to shoot more, clean less.

• Velocity 1,939 fps
• 100% Hand Loaded