The 45-70 is a cartridge that has been around for a very long time. Today it is used for many things, but one question that is often asked is whether or not it is a good deer hunting cartridge. So in this article, we will look in-depth at the 45-70 to see if it is a good deer hunting cartridge, and if there are better alternatives.
Here is the short answer:
The 45-70 is an excellent deer hunting cartridge at close range. As long as you are shooting within 200 yards, the 45-70 will have no trouble taking down any deer.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at the 45-70, what the 45-70 can be used for, and the details of using a 45-70 to take deer.
In-depth look and ballistics chart of the 45-70
As said earlier, the 45-70 has been around for a long time. It was first designed in 1873 as a black power cartridge. It was produced just in time to be used by the last of the hide hunters who hunted bison in the great plans. Today it is used for many things such as bear defense and big game hunting.
Compared to other cartridges, the 45-70 is a stout cartridge with some pretty heavy recoil and a lot of down range energy. The best way to think of the 45-70 is a powerhouse that carries a lot of energy and momentum downrange.
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 |
Can you use the 45-70 for deer?
Now that we have looked at the history of the use of the 45-70 we can look at how it does for deer hunting.
The 45-70 is an ideal deer hunting cartridge if you are hunting in thick or heavy brush where you have a partially obstructed and close range shot. Because of the large and heavy bullet the 45-70 shoots, it can hit a branch or two and not be thrown off course.
Under 300 yards, the 45-70 will do just fine on deer. However, you will run into the issue of excess drop. While you have the energy to take a deer at 300 yards, you will have 40+ inches of drop which is extremely hard to compensate for, especially in a hurry.
As long as you are shooting within 150-200 yards you will be able to adjust for drop easily and still have enough energy to effectively take any deer out there.
How the 45-70 compares to other deer hunting cartridges
Now that we know how the 45-70 does on deer, some history on the 45-70, and the ballistics of the 45-70, we can see how it compares to other rounds.
Other options are there such as the 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, 30-06, or 7mm-08 will carry around the same energy but with less drop at longer ranges. So if you will be shooting past 200 yards it is best to look for a cartridge besides the 45-70.
However, if you don’t plan on taking a shot past 100 yards, the 45-70 is a great option that will work just as good, if not better, than any other cartridge on the market.
Conclusion
If you are hunting deer within 100 yards, the 45-70 is a fantastic cartridge that will work just as well as any other cartridge on the market. However, past 150-200 yards, you will run into issues with drop, wind drift, and energy. In which case, it would be best to look for a different and flatter shooting cartridge.