5 of 23 .45-70 Govt factory loads carry 1,500 ft·lb and expansion velocity for elk; the best reach 100 yd (Federal 300 gr Fusion). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 300 gr Fusion | 300 | 100 | 1,850 | 670 | yes |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 250 gr MonoFlex | 250 | 100 | 2,100 | 420 | yes |
| Barnes Pioneer 300 gr TSX FN | 300 | 50 | 1,925 | 444 | yes |
| Barnes VOR-TX 300 gr TSX FN | 300 | 50 | 1,925 | 444 | yes |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 250 gr MonoFlex | 250 | 50 | 2,025 | 407 | yes |
| Federal Federal Subsonic 300 gr Fusion | 300 | not enough | 1,000 | 389 | yes |
| Barnes Pioneer 400 gr JHP FN | 400 | wrong bullet | 1,715 | 743 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr FTX | 325 | wrong bullet | 2,000 | 657 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun 300 gr | 300 | wrong bullet | 2,100 | 558 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 300 gr Jacketed Hollow Point | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,880 | 669 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 250th Anniversary USA 300 gr JSP | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,850 | 668 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 300 gr HammerDown Bonded SP | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,850 | 670 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 300 gr Power-Shok JSP | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,850 | 668 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Federal x Henry 250th Anniversary 300 gr Hollow Point | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,850 | 668 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington High Performance Rifle 300 gr Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,900 | 546 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 405 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 405 | wrong bullet | 1,600 | 774 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 300 gr Ballistic Silvertip | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,880 | 498 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Harvest Collection 300 gr Sierra Pro-Hunter | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,895 | 328 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Federal Subsonic 300 gr Target Soft Point | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,000 | 384 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Subsonic 410 gr Sub-X | 410 | wrong bullet | 1,075 | 572 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Subsonic Rifle 300 gr Bonded Hollow Point | 300 | wrong bullet | 1,000 | 384 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 405 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 405 | wrong bullet | 1,330 | 670 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 405 gr Lead Flat Nose | 405 | wrong bullet | 1,150 | 597 | behind the shoulder only |
1,500 ft·lb is the number most repeated (Guns & Ammo, Backfire); Hawks says 1,200, Boddington floats 2,000. Avoid quick-opening and match bullets. Legal: SD: ≥ .243 and 1,700 ft·lb at muzzle · CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd, ≥ 85 gr. Floor used: 1,500 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.gunsandammo.com, www.chuckhawks.com, www.petersenshunting.com, regulations.justia.com.