.308 Winchester vs .45-70 Government Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart
- Caliber Ballistics Comparison
- 07 Dec, 2018
The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .308 Winchester vs .45-70 Government ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .308 Winchester or .45-70 Government rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say.
For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .308 Winchester and .45-70 Government ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance.
| Caliber | Type | Velocity (fps) |
Energy (ft-lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| .308 Winchester | Rifle | 2680 | 2620 |
| .45-70 Government | Rifle | 1680 | 2270 |
Velocity
As illustrated in the chart, .308 Winchester rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 2680 feet per second (fps) while .45-70 Government rounds travel at a velocity of 1680 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .308 Winchester bullets travel 3 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .45-70 Government bullets travel 1.9 times that same speed.
Various calibers
Energy
Furthermore, the muzzle energy of a .308 Winchester round averages out to 2620 ft-lb, while a .45-70 Government round averages out to about 2270 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .308 Winchester round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 2620 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .45-70 Government round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 2270 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power.
Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .308 Winchester or .45-70 Government cartridge you're looking at purchasing.
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4 Comments
i am debating on getting a .35 whelen or a 45-70. My dad has dropped plenty of deer with a 45-70 but neither of us has had a .35 whelen. Any suggestions?
Yes,
The 45-70 Standard vs the Trapdoor is night and day. The ballistics shown above are for black powder 45-70 not the Standard and there is also 45-70 Strong Ballistics which make 308 seem significantly weaker by comparison. The 45-70 is a diverse round that has many applications and can be reloaded with the same brass time and again. Offered by many companies as either a single shot or a fast handling lever
I am debating on getting a DiamondBack DB10/DPMS AR10 or a Henry 45-70
Looking for a hunting rifle/self defense firearm and trying to see which is better/more versatile.
Any suggestions? Thanks
I first purchased a AR10/.308 with hunting in mind. Not realizing the AR would weigh in at just over 13 lbs. To heavy to be carry in the woods. I’m now hunting with a 45-70, what a relief. Further more, in my opinion, the AR is not a good self defense weapon. It will not only go through the perpetrator, walls, and into a neighbors house. Of course I live in a neighborhood.. Out in the country would be a different story. Just something to think about.