45-70 Loads vs. 308 win

I just compiled some data on hot 45-70 loads in a bout of insomnia, so I figured I'd share (and store it here for reference).

CORBON
"FPPN Penetrator:" 405 gr @ 1600 FPS = 2302 ft lbs at muzzle / 1568 ft lbs and -5.6" at 150 yards
"Hard Cast:" 460 gr @ 1650 FPS = 2780 ft lbs at muzzle / 1942 ft lbs and -5.1" at 150 yards
"DPX Hunter:" 300 gr @ 1900 FPS = 2404 ft lbs at muzzle / 1496 ft lbs and +4.9" at 150 yards (zeroed for 200 yards, MPBR valid to 225 yards)

BUFFALO BORE
"8A LBT-LFN:" 430 gr @ 1925 FPS = 3446 ft lbs at muzzle / 1826 ft lbs and -5" at 150 yards
"8B JFN:" 405 gr @ 2000 FPS = 3596 ft lbs at muzzle / 2066.8 ft lbs and -4" at 150 yards
"8C JFN:" 350 gr @ 2100 FPS = 3426 ft lbs at muzzle / 2062 ft lbs and -3.5" at 150 yards

GARRETT
"Hammerhead +P:" 420 gr @ 1850 FPS = 3200 ft lbs at muzzle / UNK ft lbs and +3" at 100 yds (claimed effective to 225 w/ -10" drop)

HORNADAY "LEVEROLUTION"
"FTX:" 325 gr @ 2050 FPS = 3032 ft lbs at muzzle / 2158 ft lbs and +3" at 100 yds (ballistics good out to 200+ yards!)

Those are all pretty impressive numbers, at least up close. The Hornaday Leverolution clearly takes the prize for ballistics, reaching all the way out to ~2225 yards. Garrett is not far behind, and the DPX hunter from CORBON also performs out to >200 yards. However, the DPX does not retain much energy out even at 100 yds. I'm also a bit leery of the FTX bullet used by Hornaday, which is definitely not going to penetrate as much as the hardcast Garrett. The Buffalo Bore cartridges all pack a solid whallop, but drop a bit faster (maybe different BCs?).

It looks like these modern 45-70 loads are actually starting to be able to reach out a bit past the 150 yards I expected with a lever-gun! Of course, all these numbers are based on nice, long barrels. A guide gun with 18.5" barrel is going to lose ~50 FPS, with commensurate loss of energy and even range.

---

By comparison, here are some "large, heavy game" 308 loads from Federal:
FEDERAL NOSLER PARTITION: 180 gr @ 2570 FPS = 2640 ft lbs at muzzle / 2278 ft lbs and +3" at 100 yds
BARNES TRIPLE SHOCK: 165 gr @ 2650 FPS = 2573 ft lbs at muzzle / 2145 ft lbs and +0.9" at 100 yds

And from CORBON...
DPX: 165 gr @ 2600 FPS = 2521 ft lbs at muzzle / 2217 ft lbs and +2.2 at 100 yds

And Winchester's top of the line...
XP3: 150 gr @ 2825 FPS = 2658 ft lbs at muzzle / 2279 ft lbs and +0" at 100 yds

The 45-70 definitely has a significant edge in energy, especially up close.