One of the major selling points of the 45-70 is that it is highly reliable at the appropriate range.
Another is that it is affordable; here are the details.
The 45-70 cartridge has managed to remain popular and in regular use for nearly 150 years.
It originally was issued with a 405 grain bullet over a 70 grain black powder charge, but later versions included rounds with a lighter 55 grain powder charge for carbines, and a 500 grain bullet over 70 grains of powder. Any of these loads would be devastating on large game, and the full power loads suitable for even buffalo or large bear. These loads, developed with black powder pressures, are commonly referred to as “Trapdoor” loads, indicating their suitability for guns that cannot handle higher pressures.
However, stronger actions have been developed, and many modern .45-70s can take higher pressure loads made with smokeless powders — typically Marlin and Henry lever-action rifles, and .45-70 pistols.
After the .45-70 was invented, it didn’t take long for the Army to issue so-called “forager rounds.” These are .45-70 cases loaded with a shot-filled wooden bullet and issued for hunting game, and also where we start exploring the world of the .45-70 as an all-around survival cartridge. We are probably familiar with “snake shot” or “rat shot” rounds for the .22 and some common handguns, and the same concept can be scaled up for the .45-70, and will successfully take game out to a few yards. While it’s no long-range game-getter, it is suitable for taking small game at realistic ranges.
The well-equipped homesteader or prepper gains another advantage with the .45-70, in that it was originally a black powder cartridge. If you have a supply of lead and primers, you can make your own powder, and turn your big bore rifle into the ultimate off-the-grid shooting iron.
Nearly every .45-70 made falls into some sort of “traditional” looking form, be it single shots or lever-action rifles. These are commonly seen as “safe” in the eyes of anti-gunners, and are rarely targeted for increased regulation or confiscation.
The 45-70 packs a mammoth punch while not decimating meat upon impact; it is affordable and readily available.
It is perfect for most survival situations if you need to hunt for meat as well as for protection; it is hard to beat at point blank or close range.
To learn more about the 45-70 cartridge, please check out Off The Grid News.
Featured Image via Flickr
Great ideas
Or you could put a slug barrel on your mossberg like a normal person. A friend of mine hunts with a .375 H&H and swears by it, it’s a great gun and round, will drop anything right there and then too, but both of these rifles are a waste of powder and hard to find ammo for in an extended survival scenario
Depends on the load. Some of the Springfield-safe, cowboy, or black powder equivalent loads are powderpuffs. Garrett or Buffalo Bore, not so much!
The 45-70 to is a great caliber.. People can say what they want bout it but there is a reason it’s been around for so long.. I love my Henry. Its got the power you an take down anything with it. Max effective range 300yrds? For a Straight cartridge its the best in my book.
Love my BFR in .45/70 – I have loads from 250gr to 500gr.
I love mine
Yano, I wrote the article this piece is basically ripping off.
I guess no one knows how to write their own stuff anymore
It would appear to be that way
I suppose I should be somewhat flattered really but it’s a short article and they copied like half of it for their second page quote.
The .45-70 is a fantastic round. It will put down most creatures of any continent. In a survival situation though you have to consider size and weight constraints. If$#%&!@*ever actually hits the fan you have to accept you might have to travel on foot. How much .45-70 can you carry 20 miles with the rest of your gear? How much .308 could you take instead? Twice as much? How much 5.56 could you carry? 4 times as much?
Not to mention a box of 20 .375 H&H can run you $120.00!
Ken Townsend he’s a machinist and a master blacksmith with a shop and massive stockpile out on his homestead in rural Wisconsin so that’s prob less of an issue, but yeah I didn’t realize they were that pricey. I got to shoot it a few times, really cool gun, but waaay too big for me to own one, flat shooters are the way to go in rifles, in my opinion. If you have a giant round nose bullet that drops like that, I’d rather have the 12gauge.
I’ve seen those little guns Kyle that’s really cool rails all over it. Cool rifle!
Tried and true, nobody can argue with the 45-70. But for survival or bug out situation you have to decide what is good to carry on foot. A hundred rounds of 5.56 is comparable to 20 rounds of 45-70. Or 12ga and 30-06 are common and a greater chance to stumble across extra rounds while scavenging a homesite. There are tons of choices
Ol Tom Horn liked his.
I am a fan of the .45-70 government. But that being said I think a good 12 gauge or 20 gauge shotgun would be a better choice. You would get about as much range with a slug, especially if you have a rifled barreled 20 gauge with sabots. On top of that you can get any shot size for a multitude of other game. Sure you could make a birdshot load for the .45-70 if you took the time to reload them. But when you compare the case of shotgun shells to manufactured .45-70, or even reloading supplies for it you see the shotgun owns it in affordability. Finally look at the firearms themselves. A Marlin or Winchester (or clone there of) or even a Henry steel model will all cost $700 and up. You could definitely spend as much or far more on a shotgun, but you can also get a Mossberg 500 for about $250. All in all the shotgun has a lot going for it in terms of survival weapon and food provider.
Lot of meat damage for small game. Good brush cutter. Out west in the open county, flat shooters with distance takes preference.
have a box of them
44mag lever action carbine. Just carry some 44spl rounds for smaller game.
my choice Marlin 1897 45-70 , 22 inch barrel, literally dropped 2 elk in CO. and I mean dropped not 1 step. MY next will be a 458 socom
The 45/70 has put more food on the table and put down more men then any other cartage
Nick Greer
Tom Horn mostly used the 30-30.
At 300 yards a 45-70 would be like a mortar.
For Pedophiles!
For ISIS.
And introducing…………..
45-70 hits so hard.. that it also kills any chance of an after life ….
Nope, too much powder required. Reloading it will drain your powder stash very quickly. Too heavy, carrying it in bulk will wear you down. Too much recoil, most of your women and young adults will not be able to handle it.
Nope, too much powder required. Reloading it will drain your powder stash very quickly. Too heavy, carrying it in bulk will wear you down. Too much recoil, most of your women and young adults will not be able to handle it. BC is very low and projectile weight is too high, range is limited since that pill will drop very fast over distance. Very uncommon, finding new ammo, or a replacement rifle if yours is damaged will be damn near impossible.
Yes!!!. Keep your firearm’s
Not even Allah would recognize both his (ISIS) body or soul when hit by a 45-70 =)
Where are you getting those…message me.
It is a great cartridge with out a doubt. But survival/prepper enthusiasts are likely more partial to something small and more affordable.. me personally I think I would opt for 308 or 30-06 close to the same performance in factory loads .. are typically cheaper, can buy in bulk, and are both way more common today than a 45-70.. thats just me lol
The problems with getting ammo makes it sensible to use what you have the most of and will work. It is a great cartridge but how many can you find and at what cost.
I think it is a good cartriage but you have to be very careful coz all good things come out with bad things more times
22
I’ll take thousands of the 22 shells, if things get so bad I need High power, rockets and missiles would be the caliber of choice. I do injoying the AR-308
easy to reload,a real brush buster
The 45-70 is a good round…a good mortar round.
In a survival situation you must assume that ammunition will be in short supply. My preference is a round capable of taking down small and large north American game, defeat light body armor, capable of 300 yard shots, is light and plentiful.
30-30, the most widely used hunting round in America, would be my choice if I could only have one.
Bobby Snow
What is that…700 nitro mag?
The best weapon is a Nitro Piston .22 cal pellet gun.
Yea if Dinosaurs make comeback .
But I thought you would like to be effective at 300 yards . Got to pick a different weapon for that sir
Don’t get me wrong I would love to have one . It’s actually on my list to buy .
Good choice!…………”Yes class, when I want to splatter a pedophile into an atomized spray of blood, and bone matter, this is my projectile of choice