The 45-70 is a cartridge that I shoot thousands of times per year. My favorite loads use LBT LFN bullets of 350 and 400 gr with mil surp powder. The 350 gr mold is a four-banger, and it keeps up with my bullet needs nicely. Muzzle velocities run 1500 - 1700 fps, depending on my mood, but usually in the mid 1500's. Accuracy is excellent. Cost to shoot is on par with 22 LR; the most expensive component is the primer (cases are old, old, old Starline that have long ago paid for themselves (case life is excellent with low-pressure loads, and resizing is easy too)).

I reload the cartridge on a Dillon 450 that I use in semi-progressive mode. Cases are run through the sizing and belling dies and collected into a loading tray. They are then charged with powder manually, and then run through the seating and crimping dies. The system works so well that I have two; the other Dillon 450 is set up for 454 Casull, of which I shoot many thousands also, and also with LBT LFN bullets (320 gr). The Freedom Arms 6" M83 is like another 45-70, by the way.

My enjoyment of this cartridge is so profound that I have purchased a second Winchester High Wall, this one with a 28" barrel. My first, which I shoot all the time, has a 24" barrel, Williams FP rear sight and XS Sights blade front sight. The new rifle, when it gets here, will receive a Lyman 20 MJT Globe front sight (already in my hands), but I haven't completely made up my mind about the rear, though I'm leaning towards a Lee Shaver Super Grade. My Marlin Guide Gun is tricked out with an XS Sights rear base, front blade sight, and Williams FP, and I have a scope and a red dot sight both sighted in that I can drop onto the rear base. Frankly, I use the alternate high-tech sights so little I may remove the rear base; the Williams FP is the sight I enjoy.

The 45 Govt. cartridge is such a wonderful, all-around cartridge that I can imagine doing without other centerfire rifle rounds. In fact, I'm thinking of getting a 250 gr hollow point mold and loading it to high speed with linotype bullets to use as a ground hog gun (I live in the Eastern US, and need groundhog bullets to fragment on impact).