Two of the most popular cartridges are among the most popular straight-walled cartridges out there. However, they are two different cartridges with their own specific uses. So in this article, we will compare these two cartridges to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 9mm and 45-70 are two completely different calibers, each designed for a specific purpose. The 9mm is a handgun cartridge designed for self-defense and target shooting, while the 45-70 is a rifle cartridge designed for big game hunting. Choosing one over the other depends on the intended use of the firearm.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge their ballistics, their uses, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-depth look at the 9mm
The 9mm cartridge was developed by Georg Luger in 1901 and has become one of the most popular handgun cartridges in the world. It is used in many firearms, including semi-automatic pistols, submachine guns, and some revolvers.
The 9mm cartridge is widely used for self-defense due to its manageable recoil, high magazine capacity, and good accuracy. It is also commonly used for target shooting and competition shooting due to its low cost and availability. The 9mm cartridge is available in bullet weights, ranging from 90 grains to 147 grains.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 9mm 124-grain jacketed hollow point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -0.9 | 0 | 1150 | 364 |
| 25 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1095 | 330 |
| 50 | 0 | 1.1 | 1049 | 303 |
| 75 | -2.4 | 2.5 | 1010 | 281 |
| 100 | -7 | 4.3 | 977 | 263 |
| 125 | -13.8 | 6.6 | 948 | 247 |
| 150 | -23 | 9.2 | 921 | 234 |
| 175 | -34.8 | 12.3 | 897 | 221 |
| 200 | -49.1 | 15.6 | 874 | 210 |
In-depth look at the 45-70
The 45-70 cartridge was originally designed by the U.S. Army in 1873 for use in the Springfield Model 1873 rifle. It is a rimmed, straight-walled cartridge with a bullet diameter of .458 inches. The 45-70 is still used today for big game hunting.
The 45-70 cartridge is known for its stopping power and is an effective round against charging bears. The 45-70 cartridge is available in many different bullet weights, ranging from 300 grains to 500 grains. The downside to the 45-70 is that it has a lot of kick and can be hard to manage for some shooters.
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
The 9mm and 45-70 are two completely different calibers, each designed for a specific purpose. The 9mm is a handgun cartridge designed for self-defense and target shooting. The vastly different 45-70 is a rifle cartridge best used for big game hunting and has nearly 2000 more foot pounds of energy when compared the the 9mm.
The 9mm cartridge is small and compact, and, when used in pistol caliber carbines, has little to no recoil. The 45-70, on the other hand, has a lot of recoil which can be difficult for even some experienced shooters to handle.
Due to the smaller size of the 9mm, and the fact that it is the most popular pistol cartridge in the world, it is cheaper than the 45-70 by about 2 dollars per round. The 9mm is also much more popular than the 45-70, making it easier to find, especially in a time of ammo scarcity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 9mm and 45-70 are two completely different calibers, each designed for a specific purpose. The 9mm is a pistol cartridge that is best for self-defense and target shooting. While the 45-70 is a much larger cartridge better for big game hunting and stopping charging animals.