doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Another 45-70 question

If a 45-70 had 70 grains of powder, how many grains would a standard 45 Long Colt (pistol) round have?

40

So a 45 long Colt had more powder than a 30-30?

Yes but .30-30 have 30 grains of smokeless and the .45 Colt 40 grains of BP.
Martin

The 30-30 got it's name after Winchester developed the cartridge. Marlin came out with the 30-30; 30 caliber, 30 grains of smokeless powder in 1895. It has seen a wide variety of factory loads over the years.

The 45-70 (originally 45-70-405) and 45 Long Colt are different animals. Both have been US military rounds. (Technically the 45-70 is still a US military round. It is known as M32, 45 Caliber Line Throwing Cartridge.) The 30-30 may well be the 1st smokeless cartridge marketed in the US. It was intended for lever actions.

45-70
405 (Trapdoor) Lead FN 1,394 ft/s 1,748 ft·lb

45 Long Colt
250 gr 929 ft/s 479 ft·lb

30-30
150 gr FN 2,390 ft/s 1,903 ft·lb

Pete

Was the 70 in 45-70 smokeless or BP?

Does a 30-30 really do 2390ft/s wit ha 150 Grain bullet? That seems high.

GregSY,

The 70 in .45-70 refers to 70 grs of black powder.
The original arsenal load from 1873 had a 405gr hollow base bullet bullet with 70 grs of black powder compressed into a nearly solid mass. Carbine loads later used the same bullet with about 55grs of powder. About 1881 the rifle load was changed to a 500gr bullet, still with 70grs of black powder.

Jerry Liles