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45-70 Government

At Choice Ammunition, we take pride in offering the finest ammunition to meet the needs of discerning shooters and enthusiasts. Among our premium selection, we present the .45-70 Government Ammo— a powerful cartridge used in rifles. It was originally designed for military use but is now popular among hunters and sports shooters. It features a large caliber and heavy bullet, offering excellent stopping power and long-range accuracy.

Showing all 7 results


  • .45-70 Government 295 Grain Safari Raptor HP  (Lead Free) ~ 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 has taken our 100% hand-loading techniques and produce an extremely accurate, highly dependable round for the .45-70. Our loading tolerances are only matched by passionate hand-loaders in their own loading rooms. Consistent seating depths, powder charges and proprietary formulas of Choice Ammunition, make this 295 grain Lead-Free tipped hollow point round the best you can buy on the commercial market today for the .45-70. The expansion and weight retention of this round is remarkable. 

    The Bullet:

    .458 diameter 295 grain Safari Raptor brass solid hunting bullet designed for the Lever guns such as the 45-70, 450 Marlin, and Marlin Guide Guns. However, this bullet can also be safely used in double rifles and bolt guns as well. Design incorporates 3 + 1 band configuration for reduced barrel strain. Instead of mushrooming, six petals shear off starting at 3″ of penetration and gradually move in a star pattern away from the main wound channel while the base continues on for even deeper penetration.

    100-PERCENT COPPER BODY

    • Velocity 1,998 fps. 
    • 100% Hand Loaded
  • 1895 MARLIN (336 ACTION) AND 1972 & NEWER VERSIONS. 1886 WINCHESTERS SINCE 1915. T/C CONTENDER & ENCORE. HENRY LEVER ACTION. 1885 AND 1886 BROWNING VERSIONS. BOLT ACTION SIAMESE MAUSER.  N.E.F  HANDI RIFLE. ROSSI RIO GRANDE. MODERN STEEL FALLING BLOCK ACTIONS INCLUDING RUGER #1 AND #3. SHILOH, PEDERSOLI & C SHARPS.

    DO NOT USE IN TRAP DOOR FIREARMS, ORIG SHARPS RIFLES. ROLLING BLOCK ACTIONS!

    .45-70 Government 405 Grain Lead Cast Coated Bullet~ 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 has taken our 100% hand-loading techniques and produce an extremely accurate, highly dependable round for the .45-70. Our loading tolerances are only matched by passionate hand-loaders in their own loading rooms. Consistent seating depths, powder charges and proprietary formulas of Choice Ammunition, make this 300 grain Lead-Free Barnes TSX round the best you can buy on the commercial market today for the .45-70.

    The Bullet

    The Triple-Shock X Bullets (TSX) The Barnes TSX bullet is made of 100% copper and contains no lead. When the bullet expands, four razor-sharp cutting petals are created, allowing the bullet to penetrate farther through tough bone and tissue. These bullets usually retain 100% of their original weight. The Triple-Shock X bullet delivers the “three strikes you’re out” rule. Once as it strikes game, two as the bullet begins to open and a third impact when the cavity fully expands to deliver extra shock with maximum transferred energy.

    • Velocity 1,955 fps
    • 100% Hand-Loaded
    • G-1 BC  0.163
    Add to cart

    48 in stock

  • .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
    Add to cart

    23 in stock

  • .45-70 Government 400 grain Barnes Original loaded for RUGER #1 Rifles

    Not Designed for Lever Action or Trap Door Firearms!!

    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.

    Developed specifically for a RUGER #1 and NOT for lever action rifles, Choice Ammunition has taken our 100% hand-loading techniques and produce an extremely accurate, highly dependable round for the .45-70. Our loading tolerances are only matched by passionate hand-loaders in their own loading rooms. Consistent seating depths, powder charges and proprietary formulas of Choice Ammunition, make this 400 grain Barnes Original round the best you can buy on the commercial market today for the .45-70. 

    The Bullet:

     

    The Barnes Original was the bullet that started it all. Produced by pressure-forming pure copper tubing around a pure lead core, this highly reliable bullet was the first custom bullet available to American handloaders. Introduced in 1939, it was long the favorite of professional hunters who demanded performance they could depend on, each and every time. On impact, Barnes’s Original bullets typically expand to more than 200 percent of their original diameter and retain 70 to 90 percent of their original weight. The Barnes Original is a true hunting bullet generations of sportsmen have relied on. This is not loaded ammunition.

     

    • Pure copper tubing jacket
    • Pure lead core
    • Controlled expansion
    • Deep penetration
    • Proven performance
    • Velocity 1,718 fps
    • 100% Hand Loaded
    Add to cart

    25 in stock

    1. .45-70 Government 405 Grain Lead Cast Coated Bullet~ 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.

    Our 100% Hand-Loaded 405 grain Lead Cast rounds are loaded with extremely tight tolerances, producing highly accurate, consistent and reliable performance with each and every shot! Our proprietary load formulas and loading process create the finest round of ammunition available on the commercial market today we feel. If you don’t load your own ammunition- let us do it for you!

    We use a unique heat-set “HI-TEK Supercoat” manufactured in Australia, where it has been used for more than 20 years. The Hi-Tek Supercoat Bullet Coating totally encapsulates the lead projectiles. Hi-Tek Supercoat bullets are safe to shoot indoors.  The coating gives off no toxic out-gassing or particulate matter when fired. The coating is absolutely nonabrasive and contains no PTFE or MOLY. There is no wax lube and it minimizes your exposure to lead. The end result is cleaner air, cleaner hands, cleaner equipment and cleaner guns!

    • 100% Hand-Loaded
    • Velocity 1,413 fps
    • OAL: 2.510
    • BHN 12-15
    • Federal Primers!
    • 100% Hand-Loaded
    Add to cart

    37 in stock

  • 1895 MARLIN (336 ACTION) AND 1972 & NEWER VERSIONS. 1886 WINCHESTERS SINCE 1915. T/C CONTENDER & ENCORE. HENRY LEVER ACTION. 1885 AND 1886 BROWNING VERSIONS. BOLT ACTION SIAMESE MAUSER.  N.E.F  HANDI RIFLE. ROSSI RIO GRANDE. MODERN STEEL FALLING BLOCK ACTIONS INCLUDING RUGER #1 AND #3. SHILOH, PEDERSOLI & C SHARPS.
    DO NOT USE IN TRAP DOOR FIREARMS, ORIG SHARPS RIFLES. ROLLING BLOCK ACTIONS!

    .45-70 Government 405 Grain Lead Cast Coated Bullet~ 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.

    Our 100% Hand-Loaded 405 grain Lead Cast rounds are loaded with extremely tight tolerances, producing highly accurate, consistent and reliable performance with each and every shot! Our proprietary load formulas and loading process create the finest round of ammunition available on the commercial market today we feel. If you don’t load your own ammunition- let us do it for you!

    We use a unique heat-set “HI-TEK Supercoat” manufactured in Australia, where it has been used for more than 20 years. The Hi-Tek Supercoat Bullet Coating totally encapsulates the lead projectiles. Hi-Tek Supercoat bullets are safe to shoot indoors.  The coating gives off no toxic out-gassing or particulate matter when fired. The coating is absolutely nonabrasive and contains no PTFE or MOLY. There is no wax lube and it minimizes your exposure to lead. The end result is cleaner air, cleaner hands, cleaner equipment and cleaner guns!

    • 100% Hand-Loaded
    • Velocity 1,890 fps
    • BHN 12-15
    Sale!
    Add to cart

    306 in stock

  • .45-70 Government 410 Grain Sub-X (Subsonic Ammunition)~ 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 loads the .45-70 Government round in the 410 grain Hornady Sub-X bullet with the same 100% hand-loading techniques as our other calibers. Our loading techniques and extremely tight tolerances are only matched by passionate hand-loaders in their own loading rooms. Our consistencies box to box and lot to lot, are created by continuous testing at the range- adjusting varied powder and brass lot formulas to match exact velocities and points of impact as the last time we loaded this caliber. Exact seating depths and our proprietary load formulas produce a round of ammunition you can count on for accuracy and dependability each and every time- and at that critical moment in the field when it all comes down to the shot!

    The Bullet:

    Sub-X® (Subsonic — eXpanding) bullets deliver big results without a big bang! Designed to provide deep penetration below the speed of sound, Sub-X® features a lead core. Long grooves in its gilding metal jacket combine with its flat profile and the patented Flex Tip® insert within the bullet’s hollow point cavity to help it expand reliably at low velocities.

    • Velocity 1,080
    • 100% Hand Loaded
    Sale!
    Add to cart

    75 in stock


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