When it comes to hunting big game, having a powerful and reliable rifle is essential. The 360 Buckhammer and the 45-70 are both cartridges that are popular among hunters for their power and effectiveness. In this article, we will compare the 360 Buckhammer to the 45-70, examining their histories, characteristics, and capabilities to help you decide which one is right for your hunting needs.
Here is the short answer:
The 45-70 has more energy so it is better for hunting big game such as elk, or moose. The 360 Buckhammer has less drop and about the same wind drift as the 45-70 so it is better for shooting at long range.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their history, their ballistics, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 360 Buckhammer
The 360 Buckhammer is a new cartridge that was released at the las vegas shot show of 2023. It is based off the 30-30 Winchester case blown out to a tapered straight wall cartridge that fits a .358-inch bullet. The 360 Buckhammer has a 1.800 inch long case and is .4195 inches wide so it is slightly shorter and slightly less wide than a 30-30.
The main purpose of the 360 Buckhammer is to meet the requirements of the straight wall restrictions of certain states and areas of states. However, because it is a straight wall with a small case and a big caliber bullet, it has a lot of close range energy but does not do well at long range.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 360 Buckhammer with a 200-grain Remington Core-Lokt bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2300 | 2349 |
| 50 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2078 | 1917 |
| 100 | 0 | 2.5 | 1867 | 1548 |
| 150 | -2.8 | 6 | 1673 | 1243 |
| 200 | -8.7 | 11.2 | 1495 | 993 |
| 250 | -18.5 | 18.4 | 1339 | 796 |
| 300 | -33.3 | 27.7 | 1207 | 647 |
| 350 | -54.1 | 39.2 | 1106 | 543 |
| 400 | -82.1 | 52.5 | 1031 | 472 |
| 450 | -118 | 67.3 | 974 | 421 |
| 500 | -162.6 | 83.7 | 927 | 382 |
In-Depth Look at the 45-70
The 45-70 is a cartridge that has been in use for over 150 years. It was originally developed for the Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor rifle and has since become a popular choice for hunters and shooters who need a powerful cartridge for big game hunting.
The 45-70 is a heavy-hitting cartridge that has been used to take animals from the size of antelope to cape buffalo. It is very popular among guides in Alaska as a bear stopping cartridge. Because of the heavy-hitting high bullet weight of the 45-70, it is popular for hunting in thick brush where you need a bullet that can hit a lot of branches and not be nocked of course.
the main downside to the 45-70 is that it has a lot of recoil and can therefore be hard to shoot for long periods of time or for those who are smaller framed shooters. The best way to mitigate this recoil would be to add a muzzle break to your gun.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 45-70 with a 300-grain jacketed soft point:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 1850 | 2280 |
| 50 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1728 | 1988 |
| 100 | 0 | 2.3 | 1612 | 1730 |
| 150 | -4 | 4.8 | 1501 | 1500 |
| 200 | -11.9 | 8.8 | 1400 | 1305 |
| 250 | -24.3 | 14.1 | 1308 | 1140 |
| 300 | -41.7 | 20.7 | 1226 | 1001 |
| 350 | -65 | 28.6 | 1156 | 890 |
| 400 | -94.8 | 37.8 | 1097 | 802 |
| 450 | -131.7 | 48.1 | 1050 | 734 |
| 500 | -176.5 | 59.5 | 1010 | 679 |
In-depth comparison
Ballisticly, the 45-70 has more energy, less wind drift, but more drop than the 360 Buckhammer. This means that if you are hunting big game animals like elk or moose at close range, the 45-70 is the better bet, but for long-range shooting, the 360 Buckhammer is slightly better if not on the same level as the 45-70.
Recoil-wise, the 45-70 kicks a lot harder than the 360 Buckhammer. So the 360 Buckhammer is more forgiving to shoot than the 45-70, especially after long periods of time.
As far as availability goes, the 45-70 is much more available as it has been around a lot longer, 150 years longer. So naturally there are more ammo producers and rifles chambered in it.
When it comes to cost, it is pretty tied. The 45-70, depending on what ammo you get, will cost between 1.50-2 a shot. The 360 Buckhammer, costs about 1.5 a shot. And rifles cost the same for each caliber.
Conclusion
If you are hunting deer at close range, it doesn’t really matter which cartridge you choose. If you are hunting big game such as elk or moose, the 45-70 is a better, more powerful cartridge. If you are shooting at long range the 360 Buckhammer is the better choice due to its higher BC and less drop.