45-70 vs 30-06: Steel Has Never Been Hit So Hard 

I have been reloading both cartridges for 50+ years. 45-70, 300 gr hollow point 2,400 fps! That is a very hot load. Most reloading manuals with that bullet list a maximum velocity of 2,100 in a lever gun. The 30-06 will out penetrate a 45-70 due to the reduced frontal mass and longer bullet of the .30 caliber. That is why 6.5 mm is such a penetrator at modest velocities. That said the 45-70 is Thor's hammer.

4570 is the only government i trust

Penetration is a good thing but delivering the energy to the target is another discussion. IMHO getting hit by either round is a terminal wound.

"One of the cleanest holes I've seen". . . Me too brother. . . me too. . .

Bullet design affected the penetration test. Do it again with a modern spitzer type bullet in the 45-70. I think the results would be interesting 👍

Love your content!!! Please keep this style going brother!!

Very different I enjoy watching your videos

So glad this channel has blown up!!

Pretty interesting, great video

Definitely should redo this test with your plate holder

Love this terminal ballistics stuff your putting up. Keep it up😁👍The reason the 45-70 with more energy doesn't go through the steel the same as the 30-06, is surface area for those who don't know. A lil' hint.

Good job

Nice vid! realy hard hitting! I shot a 30-06 today at my gunclub, remington 30-06 bolt, almost the same as a 303 british ( Lee Enfield)

I load up a 220 grain Nosler partition for my 30-06. It's pretty high energy on target, more than the usual 45-70 loads you see. Easier on the shoulder I'm betting too. Both are great calibers at the appropriate range.

Hey bro i just want to let you know that i was already a sub of your channel and i did a search on a cartridge and one of your video's popped up in the list, although its not about the cartridige im looking for i clicked. But i see im no longer subscribed to your channel when i got here? So i subbed again and like the video of course, because they are cool! LOL

The deer I've taken with both cartridges never complained

You need a 45-70 HSM 430gr hardcast bullet.

45-70 might not be as spicy as the 30-06, but it hits like a freight train. If I had to pick one for hunting, I'd probably pick the 45-70 as long as I wasn't planning on taking anything too far away.

30-06 pokes holes in dinosaurs while 45-75 puts them down!

I would like to see 30.06 FMJ surplus ammo used against the steel, vs soft point.

I have firsthand experience with a 7mm rem mag going easily through 1/2” mild steel at 50-100 yds.

awsome content. could you do an incendiary 308 or 556 vs steel plates or armor piercing vs steel plates?

I have a 1874 sharps quigley 34 inch barrel. Ive seen first hand the power of 45-70 on targets.. and its pretty scary. I had 3 buckets lined up with a sandy muddy mixture inside.. shot them with my 44 magnum lever action and it jist made a hole. Then my 54 caliber black powder rifle.. made a bigger hole.. then my 45-70 sharps.. and the bucket exploded into 50 peices and shot muddy sand everywhere

I comment rarely, but here we go. Back in the 80s uncle sam gave me a sweet job shooting the 308, or 7.62x51 for you sticklers out there. Have LOTS of experience, no need to expound on that (yes, I'm old). The M21 was my baby. I helped Uncle Sam develop the next model. (Again, I'm old). Got out of service in 88 and wanted a new 308 when I got home. Went through a pre-ban HK91 that I sold way to cheap. Then to a DPMS 308LR. Shouldn't have sold that one either. Then saw the Quigley movie. I want one of those I said to me!! Unbenounced to me, my GF at the time (evidently liked me ALOT...and she was rich) bought me a Browning 1885 falling block in 45-70. WELL! The local deer, brake disks, concrete blocks, steel plates, whatever I shot, DID NOT like that rifle. Then...we broke up and......I sold it. STUPID!! I went through a period when I thought I didn't need guns (thank God I got passed that!!) So, I went back to my roots and got M1A NM and took care of my long-range need for doing just that back in the day. I still wanted another 45-70. I had a crap load of reloading stuff for a rifle I didn't own...WTF? So I got a Marlin 1895SS Guide gun with the fancy magna porting and 5 rounds of quick succession shoulder pounding, damn I wish hadn't done that, recoil. So, after shooting hundreds of different loads in that short, pretty, little howitzer, I have found that the 400 grain hard cast, loaded with about anything from Blue Dot to Unique to its max grams (according to Lyman, I don't believe it, use your own judgement, kids...DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.), is probably the round which will penetrate like you would not believe. Posting anywhere from 1800 to 2600 FPS. No damage to the rifle so far, never loaded outside of safe specs...much, but I'm not going to live much longer so I don't GAF. I have tested REAL 308AP(not what you are told or shown is) and it has its place, but so does the hardcast 45-70. So what are my babies now. Those two, plus "some others". A big family is a happy family!! Good video dude! Keep shootin'!!

I put 405gr hard cast lead with 54gr of H335 in my reloads. It doesn’t penetrate the steel gong but I have to walk down and set the target back up every time. My 30-06 just swings it a little bit.

That first plate straight dissappeared! 🤣😆😂 That was CRAZY!

I used a heavy jacketed 350 grain Kodiak 45/70 and it punched clean holes thru 1/4" plates, looked like they'd been drilled!

Thought: what if you used the intended barrel length for the particular cartridge instead of the EXACT same barrel length? For example, when comparing 556 to 300blk you use 20" barrel for the 556 (or maybe different lengths according to different considerations such as 16" as it is the most common rifle barrel length for the 556) and 8" for the 300 blk, instead of for example using 16" for both cartridges

Can we see a video of 45-70 extreme penetrators, FMJ, or solid copper bullets against 1/2" mild steel? curious to see what will happen.

I would like you to do a test between .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, and maybe even back to the 45-70. I run .450 in an 18 inch AR and would like to see how it compares. Thanks.

Are gun powder specifics (type/characteristics) relevant to barrel length? As in, the specific powder can perform better in a shorter or longer barrel. Upshot, just having the same barrel length for two different rounds doesn’t make it a fair comparison if one the rounds is loaded with powder that doesn’t perform best in those barrel lengths?

If you load a .45-70 for a Mauser action you can load it much hotter. Some years back, Mauser rifles from Thailand were converted to .45-50. The loads were stout.

If you are looking for steel penetration, you should use the same composition of bullet. I am confident that a solid copper underwood xtreme penetrator would out-penetrate the same round in 30-06 on steel.

Using SP on a steel penetration test? They are made to expand. One is 45 caliber, one is 30 caliber. Which one will expand wider and slow down faster?

Try the 45-70 again with some hard cast bullets

Deer, Moose, Bear, Coyote, Wild Boar at 175+ yards with .45-70..... Wouldn't trade it for anything except .303 British or .308. Penetration in steel is nowhere even close to ENERGY and SHOCKWAVE through tissue and vital organs.

I wanna see .45-70 vs .444 marlin! And .50bmg vs .416 barrett

You used a soft points for the 45 70 The 30th 6 looked like a full metal jacket I would like to see you using an extreme penetrator Plus p in the 45 70

Putting .458 solids in a 45/70 is the move up in penetration. This bullet is used with 458 Win mag , but can make a 45/70 a real thumper

Love the big bores, but can hardly justify dropping $900+ on a .45-70. I cheated and got a nice .450 Bushmaster upper. Closely mimics the .45-70 performance out to 100 yards or so, which is all I need it for. Nice test. Love watching your vids, Nana.

Very good video thank you. I have a Winchester 1886 in 45/70 but my loads don't deliver 3838 ft/lbs by far ;)

It's all about the construction material and design of the projectile.

I just watched a video of 3006 AP go through 1" mild steel. You should test some on 1 1/4"

Is it possible to put the steel into some type of frame so it doesn't give up so much energy? I've seen 405 rem go through two long ballistic gels water jugs and embed in body armor. I'm guessing a spitzer tip at 30 cal vs a 45 RN one is a bulldozer and one slices but they both displace the lightweight steel. I guess if you are always testing the same you have a consistency.

Not sure you're being fair to the venerable 45-70 since I believe that modern factory loads are low pressure that is safe for original 1886 black powder models. I have had 3 1886 rifles: an original, a Browning High Grade, and the new version Winchester I got for $795 when it came out 25 or so years ago. I had shot tons of rounds but then when I got dies and powder, I loaded a 'starting load' I think with 4227 and 405gr ,and bruised my shoulder so bad with the curved buttplate that I sold the gun and hurt for 3 or 4 years. Try your test again with modern pressure safe loads for Ruger #1 or Henry or Marlin 1895 or new Winchester and see what happens. Otherwise I really like and enjoy the videos. thnx

Good

50 BMG vs 416 Barret?

I know on the surface it’s nice seeing those similar barrel lengths for your cartridges as being fair but it doesn’t take into account the bore diameter… That 30-06 is far more restricted than that 45 Gov. 👍

I wonder if that 30-06 would punch through on a more solidly set plate. A lot of energy is being dissipated as the plate flops around on impact.

Need to try 220 grain 30-06 round

Try the .45/70 loaded with the Barnes 300 gr TSX with at the same velocity as the soft point in Your video !

Not quit banana to banana. The 45 70 is a soft point . Fun video anyway. Thanks for posting

You should have shot the 1/2 inch plate and saw how deep the crater was with the 45-70.

I shoot black powder 45-70 and 45-100(sharps) at a 1/4 inch steel plate with cast lead/tin and it simply leaves a smear on the steel.

I would like to see penetration of the 45-70 lever evolution ammo.

Sectional density of bullet is key to penetrate. My opinion

Well I guess now you need to test solid copper bullets vs fmj

That’s a clean hole.

Should redue this with the new set-up

Shocking results. I thought the 45 .70 wod out do the 30.06 .

Just getting into hunting and looking to buy my first hunting rifle. Got it to a bolt 30-06 and a Marlin 45-70. Which would you choose and why?

I love and hunt with them both but here in the northeast nothing cuts through the trees and knocks down a deer like the 45 - 70, takes care of the noisy squirrels too!

What magazine and barrel do you have on your 30-06? I'm about to have my gunsmith turn my 30-06 into a tack driver hunting rig for hunting elk out west. Im also wanting to use an external magazine.

Pretty sure you can get Spitzer bullets for 45-70. Would have been a better comparison.

Reprise this with your steel sled,but use a hot load in the 4570

Its time to grind !!!!!!!!!!!

the soft lead nose would be better off for hunting, trying something like a 45-70 xtreme perpetrator would do alot better

Penetration vs severe internal bleeding

Hey, if that 45-70 will punch through 1/4" steel, why would you need Buffalo Bore bullets for Bear?

What is the 30-06 Rifle

Was the 45-70 a soft point?

What is the name of the 30-06 Rifle

You need a 416 rigby that will teach your shoulder a leson

Why nit try the 45/70 hard cast rather than soft lead?

I wanna see 7mm Rem mag vs 300 Win mag, or 300 Win mag vs 338 Lapua Mag

Try a 405 grain hard cast bullet in the 45-70.

This more of bullet design test. So the bullet coming out of the 30-06 has an advantage.

Would have been nice to see the 45-70 shooting Buffalo Bore hard cast +P+ rounds

Think of this way, it's easier to stab through objects with a icepick than with a hammer but which one will do more damage?

🤷🏼‍♂️ and when will we be seeing a .50 BMG VS. ? Test?

I wanted to see the 45-70 toss the half inch plate

The vast difference in bullet composition makes this "penetration test" next to worthless. Not sure what the point of this "test" is, other than showing that semi-jacketed soft-nose rounds aren't optimized for penetration. The 30-06 looks FMJ or nearly (it may be soft-tipped but just barely) coming to a near point, while the 45-70 rounds used semi-jacketed flat soft-nosed bullets intended to expand and transfer massive shock. While not penetrating as well, I would guess the energy and shock imparted to the target was vastly greater for the 45-70. But we all know fully jacketed rounds are known for greater penetration with not as much energy transferred at point of contact.

Throwing Boulders!

can't pick my rifle for the california apocalypse...needs back up iron sights, detachable mag, semi or lever and capable of 200yard. mini 14 meh, m1 eh, m1a so close.... BAR MK III.... SO CLOSE but no iron sights.... modern levers with high capacities also looking so good... winchesters, henry, marlin.. the gun that one the west and i live by the winchester mystery house... 308, 30-30, 30-06, 360 buck,45-75...?? lookin for high penetration for personal defense too so i don't think 45-70 is my choice... i gotta make an excel sheet - what's the most afffordable and popular and available in cali? tough times.. i'm goin bananas deciding..

Sectional density and velocity won

I own several reproductions and the springfeild trapdoor is one of them i do not buy ammo online for it i just buy the casings and make my own with a ammo press its cheaper and i get way better results than the low velocity govt .45-70 ammo i use triple 7 or pyrodex if i dont have triple 7. fun fact about .45-70 ammo you buy premade, it doesnt have the full 70 grains of powder in it and it doesnt use the original 500 grain lead flat round they use about 60 grains of powder and a 405 grain ball also if you make your own rounds do not use black powder specs if you use pyrodex or triple 7 you will blow your hands off its a more powerful powder than black powder

I'm pretty sure anti-tank cannons, rifles and missiles hit steel harder than this since WW1 onwards...

A demonstration of the difference between energy and force. The smaller 30-06 bullet delivers greater force because the energy is applied over a smaller surface area. The result is that more work (penetration) is done.

WWII 30 06 AP?

Grizzly bear running at ya..... 45-70 all the way.....

45/70 is what they used to take down buffalo back in the day. It was a one hitter quitter.

You sound like a radio voice or voice actor

God's own dinner bell.

😎👍👍👍😎

300 win mag next

You are basically comparing a sledge hammer to a war pick! Nothing on the other end is going to care once they are hit.

WHY ARE YOU USEING A 300 gr. HP WHY NOT 405 OR 500 300gr. IS LITE

What about 30-06 and 45-70 AUTO? Or even 45-70 vs. 45-70 auto? I ask as a European "protected from dangerous firearms by my government". So things "obvious" to any gun nut living out there beyond the pond - is sadly not so apparent to me.

But but I know a guy that his cousins sisters brother that shot 1 inch plate with a 45-70 and it shook the eath. Lol jk. Thought someone would get laugh.

What are you doing???? The 45-70 comes in 3 different strengths. You obviously shot the 45-70 trapdoor which although not a wimpy round it's just no where near what the others will do. Then there's the 45-70 standard which is basically 30-06 ballistics with improved knock down power and then the 45-70 strong which is much more powerful than the 30-06. Please note that when they manufacture bullets with the 45-70 they like to sell it with the power of the 45-70 trap door to avoid any lawsuits from someone who pulls out a firearm made when people were still throwing rocks at each other for defense, who might try to put in a 45-70 that has pressures that will blow out the side of those very old firearms. The 45-70 trap door is a black powder round and firearms manufactured to only handle these cannot take the pressures of the other 2 rounds mentioned. Guaranteed the 45-70 standard will go through 3/8 steel plate and the 45-70 strong will most definitely go through a 1/2 steel plate no problem.