Few rounds are as iconic as the .45-70, which has withstood the test of time. Would you believe me if I told you there was another time-tested option with less kick?
The .38-55 Winchester is that option, but can it hang with its big-bore counterpart?
We’re pitting the 38 55 vs 45 70 to see which one you should consider for your next rifle purchase.
38 55 vs 45 70: The Battle Between Two Bores
The 38-55 is a medium-bore caliber, while the 45-70 is a big-bore rifle cartridge, so we should expect to see a considerable difference in cartridge specs and performance, but is that actually the case?
Cartridge Specs
The differences in cartridge specs between these calibers are not as drastic as we might first assume.
The .38-55 has a bullet diameter of 0.3775", which is most commonly 255 gr.
The .45-70 has a 0.458 bullet diameter, which is commonly a 300 gr or 405-grain bullet.
The case length for the 38-55 is 2.085 inches and an overall length of 2.51".
The .38-55 has a higher pressure of 35,000 psi, while the max pressure for the .45-70 is only 28,000 psi.
The .38.-55 rifling twist is 1-18", and the barrel twist rate for the .45-70 is 1-20".
Now that we know the slight differences in the cartridges let’s see how much this affects real-world applications.
38-55 vs 45-70: Recoil
If you’re basing your decision solely on recoil, go with the 38-55. It has less recoil than the 45-70.
Recoil varies depending on several factors. The gun weight, bullet size, and the shooter determine recoil.
Usually, the larger the bullet, the harder a gun kicks. If you have a heavier gun, it won’t kick as hard because the weight of the firearm absorbs some of the recoil.
How well the shooter shoulders the rifle will also determine how much free recoil they feel.
However, the .38-55 Winchester recoils less than the .45-70 Govt.
The .38-55 has 7.8 ft-lb of recoil, and the .45-70 has a shoulder whopping 33.5 ft-lbs of felt recoil.
If you think bigger is always better, then you’ll love the .45-90 vs .45-70. When it comes to recoil, the .45-70 seems manageable compared to the .45-90’s 42.5 foot-pounds of energy slamming into your shoulder.
The .38-55 wins this section by a landslide.
Trajectory
The trajectory is the measure of a bullet’s path to the target. It is an arch due to gravity.
By modern standards, these calibers are not your typical long-range choices. For ethical hunting purposes, they both max out between 300-400 yards.
For target shooting, it’s a different story.
The .38-55 can reach 500 yards; however, you have to compensate for an insane drop, so it’s best to shoot 300yds and closer.
The .45-70 doesn’t fair much better, considering at 300yds, it has 50 inches of drop, and the 45 70 max effective range is 1,000yds.
It’s good to keep in mind these are estimates and not hard facts because so many factors go into the bullet’s trajectory.
However, one thing is sure; the .45-70 outperforms the .38-55, which is the flattest shooting round.
45-70 vs 38-55: Accuracy
Accuracy is another fickle comparison that depends on several factors.
In general, the less recoil a firearm has, the more accurate anyone can be with it. However, to complicate matters, it also depends on the bullet you are firing, as some guns like specific bullets better than others, depending on sight and weight.
We can forget that it’s much easier to be consistently accurate with a flat shooting round, so with all this in mind, which one is the most accurate?
I still lean towards the 38-55 because recoil affects the average shooter more than anything else.
Considering that we use the ammo that is best suited for each rifle, the average shooter will find it’s much easier to be accurate with a 38-55 out to 300 yards.
The .38-55 is more accurate than the .45-70 in most instances.
Continue reading 38-55 vs. 45-70 Cartridge Comparison by Ammo.com
