Description
.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
