Lindcott Armory Compare / .50-70 Government vs .56-50 Spencer
Cartridge comparison
.50-70 Government vs .56-50 Spencer
.50-70 Government is faster (1,350 vs 1,100 fps); .50-70 Government carries more energy (1,820 vs 940 ft·lb); .56-50 Spencer recoils less.
.50-70 Government →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.56-50 Spencer →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .50-70 Government | .56-50 Spencer | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Rimfire |
| Introduced | 1866 | 1860 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.515″ | 0.512″ |
| Case length | 1.75″ | 1.01″ |
| Velocity | 1,200–1,350 fps | 950–1,100 fps |
| Energy | 1,440–1,820 ft·lb | 700–940 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 22,000 psi | 18,000 psi |
| Recoil | 18–28 ft·lb | 10–16 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 400 yd | 200 yd |
FAQs
- Is .50-70 Government faster than .56-50 Spencer?
- .50-70 Government is faster — up to 1,350 fps versus 1,100 fps.
- Does .50-70 Government hit harder than .56-50 Spencer?
- .50-70 Government carries more muzzle energy (1,820 vs 940 ft·lb).