Cartridge comparison
.45-70 Government vs .50-70 Government
.45-70 Government and .50-70 Government are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .45-70 Government | .50-70 Government | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Rifle |
| Introduced | 1873 | 1866 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.458″ | 0.515″ |
| Case length | 2.1051″ | 1.772″ |
| Max pressure | 28,000 psi | 22,000 psi |
| Recoil | 25–70 ft·lb | 18–28 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 200 yd | 400 yd |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.