362: 45-70 vs 308 Winchester Caliber Comparison

Today we’re going to talk about two completely different rounds: the 45-70 Government and the 308 Winchester. Comparing these two cartridges is a great example of how a person who doesn’t know any better can get a wildly distorted view of how two cartridges compare to each other by simply looking at their performance on paper. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss the situations where each one excels.

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 23 March 2025 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Resources

45-70 vs 308: Comparing Oranges To Pineapples – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best Hunting Ear Protection For Sportsmen – Ear protection recommendations

Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting - Rifle scope recommendations

Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Rifle sling recommendations

Best 308 Hunting Ammo - 308 Winchester ammo recommendations

Best 45-70 Ammo For Hunting - 45-70 ammo recommendations