.45-70 Government Ballistics Chart
Drop, wind drift, velocity and energy for the loads .45-70 Government actually shoots — solved by a real trajectory engine, not copied from a box.
| Range | Drop (in) | MOA | MRAD | Wind 10 mph (in) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | TOF (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 yd | 1.9 | 3.70 DOWN | 1.08 DOWN | -0.7 | 1243 | 1390 | 0.12 |
| 100 yd | 0.0 | 0.00 UP | 0.00 UP | -2.8 | 1168 | 1227 | 0.24 |
| 150 yd | -8.3 | 5.29 UP | 1.54 UP | -6.2 | 1105 | 1099 | 0.37 |
| 200 yd | -23.7 | 11.32 UP | 3.29 UP | -10.8 | 1054 | 1000 | 0.51 |
| 250 yd | -46.9 | 17.93 UP | 5.22 UP | -16.5 | 1012 | 922 | 0.66 |
| 300 yd | -78.6 | 25.03 UP | 7.28 UP | -23.2 | 976 | 857 | 0.81 |
| 350 yd | -119.5 | 32.59 UP | 9.48 UP | -30.9 | 945 | 803 | 0.96 |
| 400 yd | -170.0 | 40.59 UP | 11.81 UP | -39.4 | 917 | 756 | 1.13 |
| 450 yd | -230.9 | 49.00 UP | 14.25 UP | -48.8 | 891 | 714 | 1.29 |
| 500 yd | -302.7 | 57.82 UP | 16.82 UP | -59.0 | 868 | 677 | 1.46 |
Solved at standard sea-level atmosphere (59°F, 29.92 inHg) with a 100 yard zero, 1.75" sight height and a 10 mph full-value crosswind. Drop is relative to your zero.
Quick answer
With a 100 yd zero, a 405 gr standard .45-70 Government load (405 gr, 1330 fps) drops 8.3" at 150 yd, 46.9" at 250 yd and 302.7" at 500 yd. Change the load or zero above to see your own numbers.
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.45-70 Government trajectory
The .45-70 trajectory is a rainbow — a 405 grain bullet at 1,330 fps drops nearly four feet by 250 yards from a 100 yard zero — but the payload arrives with authority at any range you can hold for.
Modern high-pressure loads flatten the curve dramatically. Pick the load row that matches what your rifle actually shoots before reading holds off the chart.
Ballistics charts for other cartridges
6.5 Creedmoor
.308 Winchester
.270 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.243 Winchester
.223 Remington
.300 Winchester Magnum
7mm Remington Magnum
6.5 PRC
7mm PRC
.300 PRC
.338 Lapua Magnum
6mm Creedmoor
6mm ARC
6.5 Grendel
.22-250 Remington
.204 Ruger
.25 Creedmoor
.277 Fury
.30-30 Winchester
.350 Legend
Frequently asked questions
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