450 Bushmaster VS .45-70 Gov't: The Great Straight Wall Debate

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For those who hunt exclusively or reside in the West, the Deep South, or anywhere outside the Midwest, this article might be a revelation about how many hunters live. Why? Because, in the Midwest, including my home state of Ohio, we don’t enjoy the same cartridge freedoms for hunting that others do. Can I hunt coyotes with my 6.5 Creedmoor rifle? Sure! Can I hunt deer with that same rifle? Absolutely not! In states like Ohio, Michigan (excluding the UP), Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois, we primarily rely on straight-wall rifle cartridges for deer hunting.

However, it’s not just about that; there are also diameter restrictions and cartridge case length limits (like in TTUN). This can be incredibly frustrating and, as you can imagine, leads to confusion. Ultimately, the restrictions in these states have sparked a straight wall cartridge revolution, with popular new models such as the 350 Legend, 400 Legend, and 360 Buckhammer. But it’s cartridges like the .45-70 Gov’t and the 450 Bushmaster that were at the forefront of this new straight wall cartridge hunting age. With over a century of age difference, it’s hard to believe that .45-70 Gov’t and 450 BM are both popular. But it’s their differences and unique state legal language that keep them thriving. Let’s take an in-depth look at these two straight wall behemoths.

.45-70 Government Background

The Grandaddy of them all. What was once the standard chambering for service rifles during the black powder era, the .45-70 Gov’t has stood the test of time and remains a popular and powerful chambering today. Historically chambered for the 1873 Springfield Trapdoor, loaded with a 405-gr., 45-caliber projectile over 70 grains of black powder, it proved to be devastating in its era. But why has it endured? It’s not like 1873 Trapdoors are a common choice for sporting arms.

Part of that is the advancement in weapons and propellants. Over time, stronger actions, such as the Ruger No. 1 and the Marlin 1895, combined with advanced smokeless powder recipes, revitalized the .45-70 cartridge. Pick up any reloading manual and you'll often find multiple sections dedicated to the cartridge. For example, the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, vol. 11, includes three sections in rifle cartridges—Trapdoor, Marlin 1895, and Ruger No. 1. Additionally, there’s a section under handgun ammunition for the T/C line of single-shot pistols. The point is that the .45-70 Gov’t offers shooters and hunters excellent versatility. Even more so for reloaders, who have a wide range of bullet and powder options depending on their needs.

In Ohio, for example, .45-70 Gov’t gained popularity after the legalization of straight wall rifle cartridges for deer hunting in 2014. However, in the early years, there was a list of approved cartridges. Among that list, .45-70 was the most popular and widely available choice. It wasn’t until 2017 that Ohio adopted a criteria-based rule allowing any straight wall cartridge with a diameter of at least .357 inches and up to .50 inches to be used. By then, the .45-70 had established a strong presence.

.45-70 Gov’t Ballistics

Its limits are set by its cartridge design. Since the .45-70 was originally made for the 1873 Trapdoor and later adopted by the Winchester 1886, it has a rimmed case. Unlike modern bottleneck cartridges, where headspace is based on the shoulder, a rimmed case’s headspace is determined by the rim.

The .45-70 uses .458 diameter bullets, which boast a vast catalog of options for manufacturers and reloaders. Moreover, in lever-action rifles, it wasn’t until Hornady introduced the LEVERevolution line of ammo with flexible-polymer tip bullets (FTX) that lever-gun users could have a ballistically superior bullet (a shocking .230 G1 BC in the 325-gr FTX).

Today, the .45-70 is available in lever-action and single-shot rifles (and even an AR-15, but as the 45-70 Auto). It is known for its potency (on both ends) and energy on target. Its downfall is its recoil, pricey ammunition, and platform compatibility. As previously stated, shooters have a wide selection of ammo from nearly every manufacturer. My longtime go-to load recipe has been Hornady’s LEVERevolution powder with a 325-grain FTX projectile pushed between 2100 and 2150 fps. Compare that to a traditional load data, which pushes a 405-gr lead-cast bullet around 1600 fps with a max load of IMR 4895.

There are also exotic loads available, such as a 777-gr “Lucky Ram" from Steinel Ammunition. This load is designed for subsonic use out of an 18.5-inch barrel. With this load, it delivers 1,657 foot-pounds of energy. For comparison, this is more than double the energy of most 44 Remington Magnum loads at point blank—incredible numbers for a cartridge that’s over a century old. But be warned, loads like the Lucky Ram are meant for modern rifles only and are not “Trapdoor” safe.

.45-70 Gov’t Rifle Options

Lever-action and single-shot rifles are the main choices for hunters and shooters. Lever-actions include popular models like the Marlin 1895, Rossi R95, Henry H010G, and Smith & Wesson 1854. For single-shots, options include models from Henry, CVA, Traditions, and the newly revived T/C Encore. There are also historical reproductions, such as the Uberti 1885 High Wall featured in this article. 

450 Bushmaster Background

The .450 Bushmaster was introduced in 2007 by Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms, who initially licensed it to Bushmaster Firearms International. Originally called the .45 Professional, this cartridge is based on the .284 Winchester, a rebated-rim design that was shortened to 1.700 inches and uses a small rifle primer instead of the large primer used in the .284. It is a straight-walled cartridge featuring a .473-inch rim, making it fully compatible with the AR-15 platform.

More than an odd AR cartridge, the 450 Bushmaster was at the forefront of the straight wall revolution. Like Ohio, Michigan approved straight wall cartridges for deer hunting. However, instead of a list, Michigan imposed an overall cartridge length limit of 1.80 inches. This decision excluded many classic cartridges, such as the 45-70 Government, whose elongated case was designed for black powder. Fortunately, a few Michiganders took the initiative to offer their fellow hunters a better solution. Through a joint effort between Randy’s Hunting Center in Bad Axe, Michigan, and Ruger Firearms, the ubiquitous Ruger American was introduced in 450 Bushmaster. That success spread to other straight wall states, where the Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster remains one of the most popular options.

450 Bushmaster Ballistics

The cartridge uses 0.452-inch diameter bullets, which are compatible with the .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .454 Casull calibers. Unlike the .45-70 Gov’t, this limits reloaders, who have a significantly smaller selection of bullets compared to those for the .45-70. Even with a smaller case than the .45-70, the 450 Bushmaster still pushes a 250-gr Hornady FTX bullet between 2,100 and 2,200 fps. And with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .210, the 450 Bushmaster gives hunters confidence out to about 200 yards (yes, some people take further shots, but that’s more about confidence in your skillset).  

Unlike the .45-70 Gov’t, the 450 Bushmaster has fewer factory ammunition options. Looking at Steinel Ammunition, they currently offer twenty-one SKUs for the .45-70 Gov’t, but only four for the 450 Bushmaster. It all comes down to bullet diameter; there are just fewer choices in .452” compared to .458”.

However, a unique offering in the 450 Bushmaster lineup from Steinel is a 280-gr Brass Solid Spire Point designed for maximum penetration. It propels a 280-gr projectile at speeds of around 1,900 feet-per-second with 2,244 foot-pounds of energy. Comparing that to the Hornady Black mentioned above, which has a muzzle energy of 2,687. Of course, the numbers don’t paint the whole picture. Whereas the 250-gr FTX has great energy, the bullet is designed to expand upon impact. From Hornady, “Upon impact, the soft tip compresses into the bullet, initiating immediate expansion across a wide range of velocities.” The 280-gr Solid Spire Point from Steiner, on the other hand, is about penetration. From Steinel, “This 450 Bushmaster load features a 280-grain lead-free, monolithic brass spire point. These CNC-machined bullets were designed in-house and offer unparalleled penetration.” Of course, penetration depends on the species, but this round is meant to tackle the largest game roaming North America.

450 Bushmaster Rifle Options

Unlike the .45-70 Gov’t, there are many rifle options available in the 450 Bushmaster chambering. Nearly all popular rifle manufacturers produce options in 450 Bushmaster. This includes the Ruger American Gen 2, Savage 110, CVA Cascade, and the Mossberg Patriot, which is featured in this article and is equipped with the new Vortex Crossfire HD 2-7x32. 

In the single-shot world, the main options include models from Traditions, Henry, CVA, and T/C. Of course, there's also the AR-15 platform, where a user can buy a complete rifle, build one, or purchase a complete upper. My choice was the latter. The rifle shown in this article is a Bear Creek Arsenal upper. The lower was from an existing rifle I swapped over for dual purposes. On top is the Vortex Crossfire HD 3-9x40. Both the Mossberg Patriot and the Bear Creek upper will be taken into the deer woods by my dad and me this December.  

Pros & Cons

After thirteen years working the counter at a high-volume dealer in Ohio, I’ve sold more 450 Bushmaster, and .45-70 Gov’t chambered rifles than you can imagine. With that experience, I’ve been asked about the pros and cons of the two, since really, they do pretty much the same thing, right? Over that span, this is what I came up with.

.45-70 Gov't

Pros:

• Wide range of bullets and loads.
• Proven track record
• Available in Lever Action Rifles
• Capable of taking down the largest North American Game
• .458 bullet diameter coupled with lots of powder and brass options.
• Almost every manufacturer produces it.

Cons:

• Stout Recoil
• Limited to only Lever Action and Single-Shot Rifles
• Not legal in all straight-wall states
• Expensive Ammo

450 Bushmaster

Pros:

• Legal in all straight wall states
• Moderate recoil compared to 45-70
• Available in AR, bolt-action rifle, and single-shot rifle platforms
• Affordable rifle options like the Mossberg Patriot and Ruger American.
• Perfect for hunting a variety of game, including deer, black bear, and wild hog

Cons

• .452 bullet diameter limits options
• Expensive ammo (but not as high as .45-70)
• Less ammo variety compared to .45-70.
• Not available in lever-action rifles

When it comes to it, they are similar cartridges designed over a century apart. The development of powder and bullets, combined with the modernization of weapon platforms, has allowed both to remain popular, even in 2025. However, that’s primarily due to straight wall hunting regulations. If those laws never existed, what then? Would these be more of a curiosity than a common hunting arm?

Zooming Out

Unfortunately, in the Midwest, we have unique laws that restrict the types of calibers that can be used for deer hunting. While to some, this might seem ridiculous, this is actually a massive step forward. Previously, many of these states were restricted to shotguns only (or muzzle loaders and handguns within certain restrictions). So, this is progress. Fortunately, the industry has responded with a range of new cartridges and rifles designed for the Midwest deer hunter.

Since the introduction of these laws, the .45-70 Gov’t and the 450 Bushmaster have been among the most popular calibers. However, in states like Ohio and Michigan, statutes and regulations helped promote the use of these calibers. Ultimately, the choice depends on the platform. If you're a hunter wanting to hunt with a bolt-action rifle or AR-15, then the 450 Bushmaster is your option. Conversely, if you prefer a lever-action rifle, then the .45-70 Gov’t is the way to go. Even with a single-shot rifle, I still prefer the .45-70 for its cartridge versatility and available options. Either way, both calibers are capable choices for taking down Whitetail deer.

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