History of Federal 45-70 Ammo

Federal 45-70 ammo has made a name for itself as one of the top sporting rounds across the globe. Considered by many as the cartridge that won the West, Federal 45 70 pays homage to that legacy with its Federal Premium 45-70 ammunition.

Crafted with the finest components and charged with precision, Federal Premium 45-70 Trophy Bonded Bear Claw 45-70 Government ammo is the perfect choice for any big game hunt. The 45-70 Government has been a mainstay for hunting moose, bison, bear, and elk for well over a century, and Federal 45-70 has ensured their ammo is ready to take on any game animal that crosses your path.

Developed in 1873 by Springfield Armory and the US military, the 45-70 Government is one of the greatest sporting cartridges ever developed. Capable of firing bullets upwards of 405 grains at nearly 1,400 FPS, Federal 45-70 has proven to be extremely effective for large and dangerous game hunts since 1922. Although the 405 grain offerings are powerful, most hunters prefer the lighter and faster 300 grain Federal 45-70 ammo for deeper penetration.

Federal 45-70 comes in four different 300 grain bullet weight varieties:

  • Fusion
  • Power-Shok
  • Hammer Down
  • Trophy Bonded Bear Claw

Federal 45-70 Fusion was specifically designed for deer hunting while Power-Shok offers shooters an affordable jacketed soft point hunting round that won’t punch holes in your wallet. Federal Premium 45-70 Hammer Down and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw is the pinnacle of hunting accuracy, reliability, and stopping power.

Federal 45-70 Hammer Down was specifically designed to make your lever action hunting rifle cycle like greased lightning. Loaded with 300 grain bonded soft point bullets, Federal 45 70 Hammer Down is loaded with lever action barrel lengths in mind for peak performance.

But when you need to take down the big boys, like grizzly bear and moose, then you need only reach for Federal Premium 45-70 Trophy Bonded Bear Claw ammo. The bonded jacket, lead core bullet is designed to retain over 95% of its weight while penetrating deep to reach vial organs on the toughest game. From Alaksa to Africa, big game hunters have confidence that Federal 45-70 ammo will get the job done and put meat on the table and a trophy on their wall.

Here at Ammo.com, we strive to bring you all the Federal 45-70 ammo your hunting needs require. We ship fast and discretely to your door in an unmarked package, so your neighbors will have no idea that you’re loaded for bear with Federal 45-70.

And when you buy your Federal 45-70 ammo from us, you support not only your right to bear arms, but those of future generations. With every purchase of Federal 45-70, we donate 1% of your order to a pro-2A charity of your choice at zero cost to you.

Support your 2A rights and keep your ammo storage full of Federal 45-70 ammo when you shop at Ammo.com!

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I’d bet there’s a few users here that would like some of that ammo :+1:

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I really liked that review. Way to go @Ammodotcom Ammodotman

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I still have 30 .458 Hornady 300gr. Hollow points

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Thats 30 deer :deer: :wink:

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One of the issues with .45-70 is that it was the round many trap door Springfields were chambered in. As a result, it is not usually loaded to the hot levels that will take down a bear (easily). Still shoots a big bullet but the cartridge pressures are lower. So one needs to be careful just what one is buying. There is commercial ammo loaded ONLY for modern lever-action rifles - and some single-shot weapons. IF you are using a Trap Door, be mindful of the labeling on the box. It is possible you have ammo that will trash an old and cherished firearm.

The bonded bullet concept is relatively new. You find it in most high quality self–defense ammo, and higher performing hunting ammo. The idea is that while energy has a point, if the bullet shatters on impact, one doesn’t get “the desirable effect”. So when picking defensive ammo, or hunting ammo for larger game, just check that the bullet is a bonded one; it will perform far better.

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@Devereaux I was at the range a few weeks ago and that is exactly what I seen was a 45-70 trapdoor. And the owner had loaded it with blackpowder. It was malfunctioning and was starting to get scary . I took a look at it for him but couldnt see an obvious defect. Me and @albroswift had a pretty good discussion on here about it.

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You have to go back to how the Trap Door came into being. During the Civil War the Union made a ton of them as muzzle-loading rifles. Then along comes the new-fangled .45-70 round - AND the war is over and a bunch of Americans decide it was getting too crowded east of the Mississippi, so they launched off to points west with little more than a wagon with all their possessions, and maybe an extra horse, bull, or cow. The gummint decided to help the process by arming any who wanted it, with one of those Springfields. Trouble was, they were muzzle loaders, and the new cartridge was breech-loading. So they modified the Springfield by cutting the rear and making it hinged, so you could insert a cartridge into it. THAT was the “trap door”. But note it weakened the basic frame, cutting the chamber area as a convenience, not a design feature (so a bug, not a feature). Thus one has to respect the old black loading pressures if one is to be safe shooting it. And lots of people pay no attention - some from neglect, others from ignorance.

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