The debate between the 45-70 Government and the 308 win is heated because they are two rounds with wildly different histories and ballistics.ย Both are extremely effective rifle cartridges, but there are some differences that you need to know before you choose one over the other.
Your shooting experience depends on not only finding the perfect rifle, but also the cartridge that is right for you.ย Ballistics and range will be most often the most important factor.ย We’ll take a closer look at the two rounds to see where they came from, what they do, and which uses they are most suitable for.
History of the 45-70 Government
The 45-60 was first created in 1873, and was originally designed to be used in early single shot rifles by Springfield.ย The “trapdoor” guns were designed to propel the 405 grain projectile when black powder was fired out of the straight-side cases.ย This round used 70 grains to propel the lead projectile at an average speed of 1325-1350 feet per second, resulting in about 1500-1600 foot-pounds of kinetic force.ย The 45-70 was one of the most powerful cartridges at the time, and it was widely used by the US Army in the late nineteenth century. It continued to be used in early twentieth century Gatling rifles.
After being used by the military for a short time, the 45-70 gained a good reputation. This eventually filtered down to the civilian market and the consumer sportsman.ย The 45-70 rifle quickly gained a reputation in the military, and this was eventually translated to the civilian and consumer sportsman markets.ย The average hunter was able to select from a variety of rifles, including the Sharps, Winchester 1885 and first Remington Repeaters.ย This latter rifle is best known today as the “Quigley Gun” or “buffalo gun” due to its appearance on the Tom Selleck film.
History of the 308 Winchester
The 308 was developed after the US dealt with the 7×57 Mauser cartridge during the Spanish-American War. This round defeated the 45-70 and the Army’s single-shot Springfield trapdoor models with relative ease.ย The US couldn’t allow this, so they quickly developed the 30-06 round, which was much more popular amongst the military and civilians.ย The 30-06 cartridge became the standard cartridge, until warfare requirements and fire rate increased, making it necessary to develop a cartridge more compatible with fast-action, semi-automatic rifles.
The 308 and its closely related 7.62 NATO were developed to address this increase in rate of fire.ย Even today, the 308 is used as a standard solution for many military applications.ย The 308 became the standard round in fully automatic rifles, just as the 4570 was in the early Gatling models.ย Winchester began commercial production of this round in 1952 due to its vastly improved ballistics.
45-70 vs. 308: Differences
Velocity
Winner: 308
This is because the muzzle velocity is the most significant difference between these two rounds. It is also a major factor in determining their individual kinetic energies, stopping power and ultimate range.ย The average 308 cartridge will leave the muzzle at almost 2700 fps. However, the 45-70 will clock in at just under 1700fps.ย This may not seem like much but it means that the 45-70 is about 63% slower than the 308.
If you’re looking for a rifle cartridge that will be more effective and easier to fire at longer distances than the 308 cartridges, they’ll fly flatter.ย The bullet will drop less and the energy it has when it hits the target is still significant.ย It can still travel a great distance, especially in open areas, with a solid rest and good ballistic sights. However, at some point the bullet will lose too much energy to be useful.
Range
Winner: 308
Due to its lower velocity and heavier bullets (generally between 200-500 grains), the 4570 has a significantly reduced range compared to the 308 round.ย The 308 bullet not only travels 1000 fps more quickly, but also weighs half as much as a 4570 round.
The ranges of these wildly different cartridges will be just as diverse.ย Remember that this is not the range at which the bullet can be fired, but rather the distance the cartridge could possibly send the bullet.ย A 308 can shoot a bullet up to 1,200 yards when shooting distance targets, while a 45-70 500 grain can go as far as 3,500 yards.
Stopping Power
Winner: 308
Another area of striking similarity between the 308 and 45-70 is their stopping power. However, there are also many differences.ย The 45-70 travels slower and is heavier. This results in a lower impact energy on the target.ย Standard 45-70 bullets with a 300-grain weight travel at a speed between 2,000 fps and 2,300 fps. This results in energy levels between 2,800 ft lbs and 3,400 ft lbs reaching the target.ย The energy is reduced over time and can only be used to kill a target within 150-200 yards.ย Depending on the bullet weight, energy can be as low as 600-800 ft lbs at 300 yards.
The 308 cartridge retains more energy, resulting in greater stopping power, even over relatively long distances.ย A 150 grain 308 round leaves the muzzle at 2,800 fps with more than 2,600 foot-pounds of energy. This only drops down to 1,200 feet-pounds at 500 yards.ย The 308 round has a lot of energy, which is why it is preferred by shooters who are going to send their rounds more than 200 yards while still needing to kill cleanly and humanely.
These differences are not important if you’re looking for a new cartridge and will be shooting long-range target shots at leisure or for competitions.ย If you are hunting, these differences will be very important.ย The 308 is a great caliber for hunters who need to shoot out 300, 400 or even more than 500 yards.ย The 45-70 is a good choice for those who will be hunting large game, and are aiming to get as close to the target as possible, within 150 yards.ย It is even more important when hunting large prey, like grizzlies and moose.
Pricing & Availability
Winner: 308
Many people choose a caliber without considering the cost and availability of their platform.ย This is not a big deal when choosing between common and smaller rounds such as 9mm or.45. However, the challenge increases when it comes to large hunting rifle cartridges.
Despite the fact that there is still a significant demand for 45-70 and that some manufacturers are still developing loads and new rounds, it will still be more expensive than 308 because of its rarity.ย Many of the 300-grain 45-70 rounds are available from major manufacturers such as Winchester and Remington at a cost of $3 to $3.25 per round, in 20-round boxes.ย Prices also increase with bullet weight, reaching more than $4 for 405 grain projectiles.
Cartridges in 308 will be more readily available on the shelves of stores than cartridges in 45-70. They’ll also have a price advantage.ย The reason 308 is cheaper is because it’s in such high demand and so many manufacturers are creating new versions and loads for all the different applications that it can be used for.ย 308 ammunitionย will cost between $0.70 to $0.95 a round when purchased in bulk.
Best Uses of 45-70 vs. 308
In the US, the 308 is one of the most common rifle cartridges used for hunting. It’s also popular in many other countries for those who are looking for large or medium-sized cartridges.ย The 308 is often regarded as the best round for hunting deer. However, this cartridge has much more potential than most people realize.ย The 308 cartridge is preferred for hunting moose, caribou and black bears at distance.ย The 308 is also the round of choice for the Artic Rangers who use it to defend against polar bears while operating on their territory.
This 45-70 round is popular among hunters of big game who like to use heavier bullets. It’s also a good choice for those hunting in densely wooded areas or in other environments with a lot of timber.ย The 45-70 is a better choice than a 308 because the 45-70’s slower velocity allows for smaller game such as whitetail deer to be taken down without losing a large portion of their edible meat.ย The 45-70 rounds are the best choice if you want to take down the “Big Five” Safari prey. A 308 will not do.
The conclusion of the article is:
The 45-70 is an incredibly important round in history. When you take a rifle that’s chambered for this round on the trail, you bring a little bit of its significance with you.ย It is still one of the most popular large-caliber rounds, even after switching from black to smokeless powder.ย It is a powerful short-range round, but it has some drawbacks.ย It’s important to make up for its distance and speed when you shoot it over 100 yards.
Because the 308 has a longer range and less drop, it is often the best choice for those who are not going to get close to their target.ย The 308 is a good alternative to the 45-70 for those who want a lighter rifle. However, the 308 will still kick hard, so you’ll need to ensure that your rifle has sufficient mass to add inertia.
The 45-70 and 308 debate is not going to be resolved here and now. But we hope that this article has helped you to make a decision.ย The 45-70 and 308 both have a place in hunting. However, they are used for different purposes. While the 45-70 is nostalgic, it’s not the best cartridge to use when hunting big game.
