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**Mike Irwin** · August 3, 2012, 07:41 AM

Bob,

The .50-70 was never really seen as anything more than a stop-gap cartridge while a newer, smaller caliber round was developed.

As originally adopted, the .45-70 had a 405-gr. bullet. It was ballistically superior to the 450-gr. bullet of the .50.

The .45-70 with the 500-gr. bullet wasn't adopted until 1879, when testing at the Sea Girt grange showed that it was a lot better at long range.

And, a little known tidbit about the Span-Am war...

Regular Army troops were issued the then standard Krag Jorgenson rifle.

Volunteer troops were all issued Trapdoors in .45-70.

Except for one unit.

Teddy Roosevelt apparently pulled some strings as former Ass't Secretary of the Navy and got the Rough Riders Krags.

August 3, 2012, 07:41 AM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Bob, The .50-70 was never really seen as anything more than a stop-gap cartridge while a newer, smaller caliber round was developed. As originally adopted, the .45-70 had a 405-gr. bullet. It was ballistically superior to the 450-gr. bullet of the .50. The .45-70 with the 500-gr. bullet wasn't adopted until 1879, when testing at the Sea Girt grange showed that it was a lot better at long range. And, a little known tidbit about the Span-Am war... Regular Army troops were issued the then standard Krag Jorgenson rifle. Volunteer troops were all issued Trapdoors in .45-70. Except for one unit. Teddy Roosevelt apparently pulled some strings as former Ass't Secretary of the Navy and got the Rough Riders Krags. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.