Cartridge comparison
.50-70 Government vs .56-50 Spencer
.50-70 Government and .56-50 Spencer are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .50-70 Government | .56-50 Spencer | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Rimfire |
| Introduced | 1866 | 1860 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.515″ | 0.512″ |
| Case length | 1.772″ | 1.1559″ |
| Max pressure | 22,000 psi | 18,000 psi |
| Recoil | 18–28 ft·lb | 10–16 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 400 yd | 200 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.