Henry Steel Lever Action .45-70 Gov’t

Originally a military caliber standardized for the battlefields of the 1870s, .45-70 Government has stood the test of time and still thrives nearly a century and a half later in hunting camps across the country. When it comes to hurling a huge chunk of lead downrange, there is no finer way to do it than with a Henry.

Sufficiently punchy enough to stop any North American game, .45-70 started with a 405-grain lead bullet propelled with 70 grains of black powder. A longer 500-grain grain load was later added to extend effective range, while the original lighter cartridge was kept for use in cavalry carbines. Since then, this caliber gained wide commercial support, and you can find anything from a high-velocity expanding 300-grain load to 600-grain subsonic. The robust rimmed case feeds reliably from tube magazines, while modest chamber pressure aids extraction. Once available in every kind of action, .45-70 recommended itself best in lever-action repeaters. The Henry Steel Lever Action .45-70 Side Gate is the most advanced example of that breed.