Grizzly Cartridge Co. Big Bore Hunting, .45-70 Gov’t, RNFP, 405 Grain
Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Big game hunting (deer, bear, hog, bison) |
| Bullet Type | Round Nose Flat Point (RNFP), lead alloy |
| Bullet Weight | 405 grain |
| Case Material | Brass (reloadable) |
| Primer Type | Boxer, centerfire |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $42.74/box · $2.14/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Premium HammerDown .45-70 300 gr BRT, Hornady LEVERevolution .45-70 325 gr FTX, Buffalo Bore Heavy .45-70 405 gr RNFP |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | — | Not published |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | — | Not published |
| Bullet Weight | 405 gr | Manufacturer label |
| Bullet Type | Round Nose Flat Point (RNFP) | Manufacturer label |
| BC G1 | — | Not published |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | — | Not published |
| UPC | — | Not published |
| Reloadable | Yes | Brass case, Boxer primer |
Note: Grizzly Cartridge Co. does not publish muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, or ballistic coefficient data on retail product listings for this load. All ballistic figures in the table below are calculated estimates based on published data for comparable 405 gr RNFP loads in .45-70 Gov’t. Community-submitted chronograph results will be incorporated when available.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature, altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzle velocity for comparison.
Assumptions: ~1,330 fps muzzle velocity (typical for 405 gr RNFP .45-70 factory loads in a 22″ rifle barrel), G1 BC ≈ 0.270, sight height 1.5″ above bore, zero at 100 yards.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~1,330 | ~1,591 | -1.5 |
| 50 | ~1,232 | ~1,365 | +1.8 |
| 100 | ~1,148 | ~1,186 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 150 | ~1,079 | ~1,047 | -5.0 |
| 200 | ~1,022 | ~940 | -14.8 |
| 250 | ~975 | ~855 | -30.0 |
| 300 | ~934 | ~785 | -52.0 |
Key takeaway: The 405 grain RNFP is a heavy, subsonic-adjacent projectile that sheds velocity quickly beyond 150 yards — a characteristic of all large-bore lever-action cartridges at this weight class. Inside 150 yards, the load retains over 1,000 ft-lbs of energy, which is more than sufficient for large and dangerous game at practical hunting distances. Trajectory drop becomes significant past 200 yards, making this load best suited for deliberate shots within 200 yards. Hunters expecting shots beyond that range should evaluate lighter, higher-BC projectiles in the same caliber.
The .45-70 Gov’t and the 405-Grain Standard
The .45-70 Government cartridge was standardized by the U.S. Army in 1873 and originally loaded with a 405 grain lead bullet at approximately 1,350 fps — the exact weight class Grizzly Cartridge Co. replicates here. That original specification was designed around reliable terminal performance on large animals and barrier-penetrating capability, priorities that remain unchanged for hunters pursuing black bear, elk, feral hog, and bison today.
The Round Nose Flat Point profile has specific practical value: the flat meplat delivers a wide initial wound channel and reliable expansion of the permanent cavity even at reduced velocities, while the round nose feeds reliably through tubular magazines. This is not a modern compromise — it is the bullet geometry the cartridge was engineered around. Grizzly Cartridge Co. positions this load as a return to that original intent, using a hard-cast or swaged lead alloy construction suited to penetration over rapid expansion.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Deer, black bear, and feral hog hunting inside 150 yards in heavy cover
- Lever-action rifles chambered for standard .45-70 pressure loads (Marlin 1895, Henry H010, Winchester 1886 replicas)
- Hunting environments where tubular magazine compatibility is required and pointed bullets are not permitted
- Hunters who prioritize deep penetration over rapid expansion, particularly in thick-skinned or heavy-boned game
- Follow-up shots on dangerous game at close range where a wide, flat meplat is preferred
Not the right tool for:
- Open-country shots beyond 200 yards where trajectory compensation becomes impractical
- Rifles rated only for trapdoor Springfield pressure levels — always confirm your action’s rated pressure before using any commercial load
- Hunters requiring lead-free projectiles due to state or federal regulations (California condor zones, national wildlife refuges with lead restrictions)
- Situations demanding rapid fragmentation or polymer-tipped expansion at low impact velocities
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product descriptions, this load uses brass casings with Boxer primers, which supports consistent ignition and allows reloading for those who choose to do so. Grizzly Cartridge Co. is a small-batch American manufacturer with a stated focus on hunting performance in large-bore calibers. Open-source user reports across forums describe their 405 gr .45-70 loads as producing consistent groupings from Marlin 1895 platforms and feeding reliably through tubular magazines without nose deformation. No structured chronograph data or independent laboratory testing results are available at this time. All reliability characterizations above come from manufacturer claims or informal open-source commentary, not controlled submissions.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bore Heavy .45-70 405 gr RNFP | 405 gr | Hard Cast RNFP | ~0.270 | ~1,625 fps | ~$65–$70 | Premium alternative; higher-pressure load — confirm action rating |
| Hornady LEVERevolution .45-70 325 gr FTX | 325 gr | FTX (Flex Tip) | ~0.230 | ~2,050 fps | ~$38–$44 | Higher velocity, flatter trajectory; tube-magazine safe |
| Federal Premium HammerDown .45-70 300 gr BRT | 300 gr | Bonded Soft Point | ~0.200 | ~1,850 fps | ~$38–$45 | Optimized for lever-action feeding; lighter bullet |
| Winchester Super-X .45-70 300 gr JHP | 300 gr | Jacketed Hollow Point | ~0.185 | ~1,880 fps | ~$32–$38 | Budget alternative; widely available; lighter bullet |
| Remington Core-Lokt .45-70 405 gr SP | 405 gr | Soft Point | ~0.270 | ~1,330 fps | ~$36–$42 | Same weight class; widely available; traditional construction |
| HSM Bear Load .45-70 430 gr RNFP | 430 gr | Hard Cast RNFP | ~0.285 | ~1,350 fps | ~$55–$62 | Heavier option for dangerous game; similar pressure class |
Price Reality
- Typical retail price: $40–$48 per 20-round box; no standard case pricing is widely published for this load
- Per-round cost: approximately $2.14 at the $42.74 price point
- The Winchester Super-X 300 gr runs approximately $1.60–$1.90 per round, making it a meaningfully cheaper option for practice or volume use
- Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr FTX and Federal HammerDown 300 gr land in a similar price band ($1.90–$2.25/round), competing directly on a cost-per-round basis
- Buffalo Bore 405 gr RNFP runs $3.25–$3.50 per round — a significant premium for higher pressure and velocity
- Fair price benchmark: $38–$48 per box is reasonable for a small-batch, brass-cased 405 gr .45-70 load. Prices above $50 for this specific load represent a premium that is difficult to justify unless other options are unavailable.
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Grizzly Cartridge Co. Big Bore Hunting, .45-70 Gov't, RNFP, 405 Grain, 20 Rounds
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Does the 405 grain RNFP bullet expand on impact, or does it rely purely on mass and diameter for terminal effect?
The Round Nose Flat Point design used in this load is not engineered for controlled expansion in the way a bonded soft point or hollow point is. Terminal performance is driven by the large frontal diameter (.458″), bullet mass, and momentum rather than hydraulic expansion. The flat meplat creates a wide permanent wound cavity by crushing tissue rather than expanding outward. For most big game hunting applications inside 150 yards, this mechanism is highly effective — particularly on animals like black bear and feral hog where deep straight-line penetration is often more valuable than rapid expansion.
Is this load safe to use in a Marlin 1895 or Henry H010?
Both the Marlin 1895 and Henry H010 are rated for standard .45-70 Gov’t SAAMI pressure levels (approximately 28,000 CUP). Grizzly Cartridge Co.’s Big Bore Hunting line in this weight class is generally positioned as a standard-pressure load suitable for these platforms. However, it is the shooter’s responsibility to confirm the specific pressure rating of their individual firearm and verify compatibility with the manufacturer before use. This is especially important with older or vintage lever-action rifles, which may have different pressure tolerances than modern production guns.
How does this load compare to the Buffalo Bore 405 gr RNFP in practical hunting terms?
Both loads use the same 405 grain RNFP bullet concept, but Buffalo Bore’s Heavy .45-70 line is explicitly loaded to higher pressures, producing advertised velocities in the 1,600+ fps range from a rifle barrel. That additional velocity yields meaningfully more muzzle energy and a slightly flatter trajectory. The trade-off is that Buffalo Bore’s heavy loads are rated only for stronger modern actions and carry a significant price premium. The Grizzly Cartridge load at standard pressure is appropriate for a wider range of rifles and is better suited to hunters using standard-rated lever-action platforms.
Why doesn’t Grizzly Cartridge publish velocity or energy specs for this load?
Small-batch ammunition manufacturers sometimes omit ballistic specifications from retail listings, either because testing is conducted in non-standard barrel lengths that may not reflect typical consumer rifles, or because published specs are simply not part of their product documentation workflow. The absence of published data does not indicate a quality issue — it is a documentation gap. Based on the 405 grain weight class and typical .45-70 factory load conventions, a muzzle velocity in the 1,300–1,350 fps range from a 22″ rifle barrel is a reasonable working estimate, but this should be confirmed with a chronograph before making field decisions based on specific energy figures.
Is this load legal for hunting in states with lead-free ammunition requirements?
No. The 405 grain RNFP is a lead-alloy projectile and does not qualify as lead-free under regulations such as California’s AB 711, which mandates non-lead ammunition for all hunting statewide. Hunters in California or in federally designated condor zones must select a lead-free alternative — such as a Barnes TSX or similar all-copper projectile — in the appropriate .45-70 configuration. Outside of those jurisdictions, this load is subject to standard hunting regulations, and hunters should verify local rules regarding bullet construction before heading into the field.
