| Primary Use | Deer · Elk · Black bear · Hog · Large game for lever-action rifles |
| Bullet Type | FTX — Flex Tip eXpanding, elastomer tip, tubular-magazine safe |
| Bullet Weight | 325 gr |
| Case | Brass (Hornady, reloadable) |
| Primer | Boxer |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box · 10 boxes per case (200 rounds) |
| Typical Price | ~$39–43 / box (~$1.95–2.15 per round) |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Power-Shok .45-70 300 gr SP · Winchester Super-X .45-70 300 gr JHP · Buffalo Bore .45-70 +P loads |
Official Specs
All data verified against Hornady’s official ballistics chart (PDF, multiple sources) and Hornady’s product page.
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,050 fps | Hornady official (24″ barrel) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3,032 ft-lbs | Hornady official |
| Bullet Weight | 325 gr | Hornady |
| Bullet Type | FTX — Flex Tip eXpanding, elastomer tip | Hornady |
| BC (G1) | 0.230 | Multiple sources confirmed |
| Sectional Density | 0.221 | Hornady / OpticsPlanet |
| Test Barrel | 24″ | Hornady official |
| Manufacturer SKU | 82747 | Hornady |
| UPC | 090255827477 | — |
| Reloadable | Yes | Hornady brass |
⚠️ Not for use in revolvers or handguns — Hornady’s explicit warning. The FTX and LEVERevolution loads are designed for lever-action rifles only.
Barrel length matters: Hornady publishes 2,050 fps from a 24″ test barrel. Real-world velocities from shorter barrels: approximately 2,000 fps from a 22″ barrel, approximately 1,800–1,850 fps from an 18.5″ Guide Gun barrel. Community submissions with barrel length and chronograph data are especially useful for this load given the significant velocity spread between barrel lengths.
ME verification: 325 gr × 2,050² ÷ 450,400 = 3,032 ft-lbs ✓
Ballistics Table
From Hornady’s official velocity data (0/100/200/300 yd: 2050/1729/1450/1225 fps, 24″ barrel). Intermediate 50-yard steps interpolated. Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2,050 | 3,032 | +1.5 |
| 50 | 1,883 | 2,558 | +2.1 |
| 100 | 1,729 | 2,157 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 150 | 1,583 | 1,809 | -5.5 |
| 200 | 1,450 | 1,517 | -15.2 |
| 250 | 1,333 | 1,282 | -30.2 |
| 300 | 1,225 | 1,083 | -51.9 |
Velocity at 0/100/200/300 yards matches Hornady’s published figures exactly. The 50-yard intermediate values are interpolated. Trajectory cross-checked against Hornady’s published table (different zero: +3.0″/0/−4.1″/−27.8″ at 0/100/200/300 from a scope zeroed 3″ high at 100 yards, 1.7″ overbore) — consistent with these calculations.
Key takeaway: the .45-70 is a fundamentally different ballistic profile from any load in this series. Velocity drops from 2,050 fps at the muzzle to 1,225 fps at 300 yards — a 40% reduction. The trajectory curve is steep: nearly flat to 125 yards, then accelerating drop. This is a 150-yard rifle in practical hunting terms. Within that envelope — inside 150 yards — the 325 gr FTX delivers massive energy (over 1,800 ft-lbs at 150 yards) in a lever-action platform.
The FTX Flex Tip — Why It Exists
Traditional .45-70 bullets used flat-point or round-nose designs — not by choice, but by necessity. Lever-action rifles use tubular magazines where cartridges stack nose-to-primer. A sharp pointed bullet could detonate the primer of the round in front of it under recoil. For 150 years this constrained .45-70 to blunt, aerodynamically inefficient bullet shapes.
Hornady’s Flex Tip (FTX) solved this with a compressible elastomer (rubber) tip. The tip is soft enough that it compresses safely against the primer in the magazine without igniting it, but firm enough to function like a polymer tip on impact — driving rearward to initiate expansion. The result:
- Safe for tubular magazines — elastomer tip compresses without firing risk
- Higher BC than flat-point — BC 0.230 vs ~0.190 for traditional .45-70 flat-points
- Up to 250 fps faster than equivalent flat-point factory loads — more velocity within the same pressure limits because the pointed profile allows a more efficient powder burn
- Reliable expansion — the tip initiates consistent expansion from close range through 200+ yards
- Up to 40% more energy than traditional flat-point .45-70 loads at comparable distances
LEVERevolution vs Traditional .45-70 Factory Loads
| Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr FTX | Traditional .45-70 (e.g. Winchester 300 gr JHP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 325 gr | 300 gr |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,050 fps | ~1,880 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 3,032 ft-lbs | ~2,355 ft-lbs |
| BC | 0.230 | ~0.190 |
| Tip | Elastomer (safe in tube mag) | Flat/round point |
| Energy at 200 yd | 1,517 ft-lbs | ~1,100 ft-lbs |
The LEVERevolution load carries 38% more energy at 200 yards than the standard Winchester flat-point load — a meaningful upgrade for the lever-gun hunter who wants more reach.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Whitetail deer, mule deer at 50–150 yards in timber or brush where lever-action handling and heavy bullet impact are the priorities
- Elk at close range (inside 150 yards) — Hornady field reports confirm one-shot kills on elk with the 325 gr FTX; at 2,050 fps the bullet mushrooms reliably and stays in the animal, transferring all energy
- Black bear and hogs where a heavy, fast-expanding bullet in a handy lever-action rifle is the ideal tool
- Hunters who carry a Marlin 1895 or Winchester 1886/1895 and want the highest-performance factory load available
- Hunters in states or situations where bolt-action or semi-auto rifles are impractical — dense brush, saddle scabbard carry, or personal preference
Not the right tool for:
- Long-range shots beyond 200 yards — the steep trajectory curve makes holdover estimation difficult and retained energy drops significantly past 200 yards
- Handguns or revolvers — Hornady explicitly prohibits this; do not use in Ruger revolvers or any handgun chambered in .45-70
- Lead-free requirements — lead-core FTX bullet
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
General notes from field use:
- Hornady field reports on their website document one-shot elk kills at 125 yards with the 325 gr FTX — “bullet was under the skin on the far side and had mushroomed perfectly”
- Real-world barrel length effect is significant and well-documented in the Marlin community: 24″ barrels approach the published 2,050 fps; 22″ barrels average ~2,000 fps; the 18.5″ Guide Gun typically produces 1,800–1,850 fps — not the 2,050 fps advertised
- FTX expansion velocity range per Hornady: 244 to 610+ m/sec (800 to 2,000+ fps) — the bullet expands reliably even at the reduced velocities generated by short guide gun barrels
- Magazine follower note: Hornady states that the FTX/MonoFlex designs may require a newer magazine follower for proper function of the last round in some guns — check compatibility before hunting season
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | MV | Energy @ 100 yd | Price / box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Super-X .45-70 300 gr JHP | 300 gr | JHP | ~1,880 fps | ~1,580 ft-lbs | ~$38–44 |
| Federal Power-Shok .45-70 300 gr SP | 300 gr | SP | ~1,850 fps | ~1,520 ft-lbs | ~$36–42 |
| Hornady LEVERevolution .45-70 250 gr MonoFlex | 250 gr | MonoFlex | ~2,025 fps | ~1,900 ft-lbs | ~$42–46 |
| Buffalo Bore .45-70 +P 430 gr LFN | 430 gr | Hard cast | ~1,925 fps | ~2,175 ft-lbs | ~$46–52 |
The LEVERevolution advantage: the 325 gr FTX carries 2,157 ft-lbs at 100 yards vs 1,520–1,580 ft-lbs for the Winchester and Federal flat-point alternatives — a significant energy improvement for the same lever-action platform.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $39–43 per box of 20 (~$1.95–2.15/round)
- vs. Winchester / Federal flat-point: LEVERevolution runs $0–5/box more for substantially better BC, velocity, and downrange energy — strong value case
- vs. Buffalo Bore +P loads: Buffalo Bore runs $4–10/box more for heavier hard cast bullets optimized for dangerous game at close range — different use case
- Fair price benchmark: under $42/box is excellent for this load; LEVERevolution is consistently the best-performing standard-pressure .45-70 factory option
Where to Buy
Hornady Leverevolution 45-70 Gov 250 Grain MonoFlex (Box)
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Why is the .45-70 LEVERevolution limited to 200 yards?
Two reasons: trajectory and velocity. By 200 yards the 325 gr FTX has slowed to 1,450 fps and dropped 15 inches from a 100-yard zero. At 300 yards it’s at 1,225 fps and 52 inches of drop. Accurate holdover estimation at those distances requires careful range measurement and practiced knowledge of the trajectory curve — conditions most hunters don’t reliably meet. More practically, the .45-70 was designed as a close-range big-bore cartridge; its design envelope is 0–200 yards for hunting. Within that range it is devastating. Beyond 200 yards, modern rifle calibers like 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win offer much flatter trajectories with less guesswork.
Can I use LEVERevolution in my Ruger No. 1 single-shot in .45-70?
Yes — Hornady’s “not for handguns or revolvers” warning is specifically about handguns, not single-shot rifles like the Ruger No. 1. The warning exists because .45-70 revolvers (Ruger Redhawk .45-70 model) have different pressure tolerances than lever-action rifles. The Ruger No. 1 is a falling-block single-shot rifle rated for full .45-70 pressures — LEVERevolution is appropriate.
How does barrel length affect velocity in the real world?
Hornady tests at 24″. Field-measured averages from the Marlin community: 22″ barrel ~2,000 fps, 18.5″ Guide Gun ~1,800–1,850 fps. The Guide Gun barrel produces 200+ fps less than the published spec. This is not a flaw — it’s physics; shorter barrels give propellant gases less time to accelerate the bullet. At 1,850 fps from a Guide Gun, the FTX still expands reliably (Hornady’s minimum is ~800 fps) and carries 2,464 ft-lbs at the muzzle. The load performs well in short barrels — just not at the published velocity.
LEVERevolution FTX vs MonoFlex — which should I choose?
The FTX (325 gr) uses a lead-core bullet with elastomer tip — maximum energy transfer, explosive mushroom, stays in the animal. The MonoFlex (250 gr) uses a solid copper alloy bullet with elastomer tip — lighter, faster, lead-free, deep penetration, >95% weight retention. For deer and elk inside 150 yards where maximum energy dump is the goal: FTX. For large dangerous game where deep penetration through heavy bone matters more: MonoFlex. For California and lead-restricted areas: MonoFlex.
Submit Your Data · Real-World Results
Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.
Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.
| UPC # | Firearm | Barrel (in) | Avg Velocity (fps) | Shots | Temp (°F) | Chronograph | Lot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 090255827477 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No data yet |
Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.
Barrel length is especially important for this load — the velocity difference between a 24″ and 18.5″ barrel is over 200 fps. Please include your exact barrel length in the submission.
All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.
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Hornady Leverevolution 45-70 Gov 250 Grain MonoFlex (Box)
Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · Velocity (2,050 fps) from 24″ test barrel per Hornady official. Shorter barrels produce significantly lower velocities — see notes above.
