{"id":5993,"date":"2020-07-21T14:42:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T14:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=5993"},"modified":"2025-10-08T18:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:11:22","slug":"45-70-vs-30-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/45-70-vs-30-30\/","title":{"rendered":"45-70 vs 30-30"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s just something special about lever action rifles.<\/p>\n

They may not be as technologically-advanced as modern semi-automatic rifles, but loading, cocking, and discharging a lever gun just\u2026feels good. There\u2019s really no better way to describe it. Hunting and shooting with a lever action rifle often seems more satisfying than any other pursuit.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in a lever action, you have a lot of choices for ammo selection, but two of the most popular cartridges are the .45-70 Government and the .30-30 Winchester. Both are proven cartridges with over a century of use and both can deliver the performance you need from a lever action rifle. But if you only have the cash or the space in your safe for one of them, which should you choose in a 45-70 vs 30-30 contest?<\/p>\n

45-70 Govt vs 30-30 Win<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Trait<\/th>Caliber<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Velocity<\/td>30-30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Energy \"Stopping Power\"<\/td>45-70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trajectory<\/td>30-30 Shoots Flatter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price to Shoot<\/td>30-30 is Cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

45-70 tends to fire a much heavier cartridge than 30-30. It’s slower in terms of muzzle and downrange velocity but typically delivers more energy into a target. 45-70 has more “stopping power” than 30-30 and can typically be used on larger game than 30-30.<\/p>\n

About the .45-70 Government<\/h3>\n

\"45-70<\/p>\n

Today, cartridges made for lever action rifles are used for private sporting purposes only; they are found on hunting grounds and target ranges. But the .45-70 Government was made for the battlefield. Seeking a flat-shooting, powerful weapon, the U.S. Army\u2019s Springfield Armory<\/a> developed the cartridge, which quickly became popular among sportsmen. With the right load, it can be used for some of the largest game in North America, yet can also be an enjoyable target cartridge as well.<\/p>\n