.45-70 Government Drop Chart
A big, slow, heavy-hitting bullet with a rainbow arc — devastating up close, short-ranged by design.
Load
Zero
300 gr · 1,880 fps · G1 BC 0.205 · 100-yard zero · 2″ optic height · sea level.
| Range | Drop (in) | Hold (MOA) | Hold (MIL) | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 yd | +0.5 | — | — | 1,703 fps |
| 100 yd | 0 | — | — | 1,540 fps |
| 150 yd | −4.2 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1,393 fps |
| 200 yd | −12.9 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1,265 fps |
| 250 yd | −27.0 | 10.3 | 3.0 | 1,159 fps |
| 300 yd | −47.5 | 15.1 | 4.4 | 1,077 fps |
Stays supersonic to roughly 200 yards — past that the bullet goes transonic and groups usually open up.
Estimate — confirm at the range. These figures are computed for the selected load and zero at sea level. Your real drop depends on your exact ammo, barrel length, zero, altitude, temperature, and conditions. Use this to get in the ballpark and to pick the right optic — then verify your actual come-ups on paper or steel before you trust them.
What this means for your optic
By the time you're holding several MOA or MIL of holdover, a plain dot stops being enough. That's where a reticle with marked holds (a BDC or MIL/MOA grid), an exposed turret you can dial, and a first-focal-plane scope earn their keep. Pick a rifle below to see the optics that fit it — and how they mount.