LEVERevolution is the line that lets a lever action 45-70 Govt shoot pointed bullets from a tubular magazine, thanks to a soft flex tip that will not set off the primer ahead of it. The line holds two loads for the cartridge: a 325 gr FTX and a 250 gr MonoFlex. The chart below tracks both loads from the muzzle to 500 yards, covering velocity, energy and trajectory in one place.
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45-70 LEVERevolution Ballistics Chart
Velocity is in feet per second, energy in foot-pounds and trajectory in inches, with distances in yards. The trajectory columns run on a 100 yard zero, so both loads read 0 at 100 yards and fall below the line of sight beyond it. Figures are for a 24 inch test barrel.
| Load | BC (G1) | Vel. Muzzle (fps) | Vel. 100 yd (fps) | Vel. 200 yd (fps) | Vel. 300 yd (fps) | Vel. 400 yd (fps) | Vel. 500 yd (fps) | Energy Muzzle (ft-lb) | Energy 100 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 200 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 300 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 400 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 500 yd (ft-lb) | Traj. 100 yd (in) | Traj. 200 yd (in) | Traj. 300 yd (in) | Traj. 400 yd (in) | Traj. 500 yd (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 gr FTX | 0.230 | 2050 | 1728 | 1449 | 1225 | 1070 | 968 | 3032 | 2154 | 1515 | 1083 | 827 | 677 | 0 | -5.5 | -21.0 | -49.5 | -95.0 |
| 250 gr MonoFlex | 0.185 | 2025 | 1708 | 1432 | 1210 | 1060 | 960 | 2276 | 1619 | 1138 | 813 | 623 | 511 | 0 | -6.0 | -22.5 | -53.0 | -102.0 |
Both loads plotted from the muzzle to 500 yards: velocity on top, energy in the middle, trajectory on the 100 yard zero below.
Two Bullets, Two Approaches
The 325 gr FTX is the load that made the line famous: a full weight hunting bullet with a pointed flex tip, a 0.230 ballistic coefficient and the highest muzzle energy of the pair. The 250 gr MonoFlex is a lighter copper alloy bullet with a 0.185 coefficient. It starts 25 fps slower than the FTX load in this chart, yet gives up almost nothing in speed downrange because both bullets shed velocity at a similar rate.
Velocity Out to 500 Yards
The two loads run close together at every step. At 100 yards the FTX load reads 1,728 fps against 1,708 fps for the MonoFlex load. At 200 yards the gap is 1,449 to 1,432 fps, and at 300 it is 1,225 to 1,210 fps. Both loads stay supersonic through 400 yards, then ease to 968 and 960 fps at 500 yards, just under the speed of sound.
Energy: Weight Wins Every Column
Energy is where the heavier bullet separates itself. The FTX load opens at 3,032 ft-lb and still holds 2,154 ft-lb at 100 yards, 1,515 ft-lb at 200 and 1,083 ft-lb at 300. The MonoFlex load starts at 2,276 ft-lb and falls to 1,619, 1,138 and 813 ft-lb at the same three marks. At 500 yards the split is 677 ft-lb against 511 ft-lb.
Trajectory on a 100 Yard Zero
Sighted in at 100 yards, both loads print close to the line of sight early and arc steeply late, as big bore cartridges do. The FTX load sits 5.5 inches low at 200 yards and 21.0 inches low at 300. The MonoFlex load tracks a touch lower at 6.0 and 22.5 inches. By 500 yards the pair has fallen 95.0 and 102.0 inches, which is why most 45-70 hunting happens well inside 250 yards.
Hornady Factory Ballistics Table
Alongside the full chart above, here are the figures from Hornady’s own published factory chart for the same two loads, items 82747 and 82741. That table runs to 300 yards and prints its trajectory on a 200 yard zero, which is why the 200 yard cells read 0 and the muzzle cells read -1.5 inches. The factory chart carries no ballistic coefficient column, and its footnote gives a 24 inch barrel as the standard for rifle data.
| Item No. | Load | Cartridge | Vel. Muzzle (fps) | Vel. 100 yd (fps) | Vel. 200 yd (fps) | Vel. 300 yd (fps) | Vel. 400 yd (fps) | Vel. 500 yd (fps) | Energy Muzzle (ft-lb) | Energy 100 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 200 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 300 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 400 yd (ft-lb) | Energy 500 yd (ft-lb) | Traj. Muzzle (in) | Traj. 100 yd (in) | Traj. 200 yd (in) | Traj. 300 yd (in) | Traj. 400 yd (in) | Traj. 500 yd (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82741 | 250 gr MonoFlex | 45-70 Govt | 2025 | 1616 | 1285 | 1068 | – | – | 2276 | 1449 | 917 | 634 | – | – | -1.5 | 6.1 | 0 | -27.2 | – | – |
| 82747 | 325 gr FTX | 45-70 Govt | 2000 | 1685 | 1413 | 1197 | – | – | 2886 | 2049 | 1441 | 1035 | – | – | -1.5 | 5.5 | 0 | -23.0 | – | – |
Picking Between the Two Loads
Inside 200 yards the choice is mostly about recoil and bullet construction: the MonoFlex load is the lighter kicking option, while the FTX load carries roughly 375 ft-lb more energy at 200 yards. Past 200 yards the FTX load’s better coefficient keeps it slightly flatter and harder hitting, so it is the natural pick for the longest shots a lever gun hunter is likely to take.
FAQs
1. How many LEVERevolution loads are there for the 45-70 Govt?
Two: a 325 gr FTX load and a 250 gr MonoFlex load.
2. What is the muzzle velocity of the 325 gr FTX load?
It leaves a 24 inch barrel at 2,050 fps with 3,032 ft-lb of energy.
3. How much does the 325 gr FTX load drop at 300 yards?
On a 100 yard zero it prints 21.0 inches below the line of sight at 300 yards.
4. Which load has more energy at 200 yards?
The FTX load, with 1,515 ft-lb against 1,138 ft-lb for the MonoFlex load.
5. What ballistic coefficient does the FTX bullet carry?
The 325 gr FTX is listed at 0.230 (G1), against 0.185 for the 250 gr MonoFlex.
6. How fast is each load at 500 yards?
The FTX load reads 968 fps and the MonoFlex load 960 fps at 500 yards.
7. Why can these pointed bullets ride in a tubular magazine?
Each bullet carries a soft elastomer flex tip. The tip gives the bullet a pointed profile in flight but cushions primer contact in the magazine tube.
8. What zero does the main chart use?
A 100 yard zero. Both loads read 0 inches at 100 yards and drop from there.
9. Why do the two tables show different trajectory numbers?
They use different zeros. The main chart runs on a 100 yard zero, while the factory table further down is printed on a 200 yard zero, so its bullets arc above the line of sight at 100 yards.
10. Which load shoots flatter at long range?
The FTX load. At 500 yards it has dropped 95.0 inches against 102.0 inches for the MonoFlex load, and it holds more velocity and energy at every distance.