.50-70 Government

.50-70 Government
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1866–1873
Used byUnited States
Production history
Designed1866
Produced1866–present
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.515 in (13.1 mm)
Neck diameter.535 in (13.6 mm)
Base diameter.565 in (14.4 mm)
Rim diameter.660 in (16.8 mm)
Rim thickness.065 in (1.7 mm)
Case length1.75 in (44 mm)
Overall length2.25 in (57 mm)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Maximum pressure22,500 psi (155 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
425 gr (28 g) lead SP 1,448 ft/s (441 m/s) 1,979 ft⋅lbf (2,683 J)
550 gr (36 g) lead FN 1,375 ft/s (419 m/s) 2,310 ft⋅lbf (3,130 J)
400 gr (26 g) SP 1,849 ft/s (564 m/s) 3,037 ft⋅lbf (4,118 J)
Test barrel length: 28"
Source(s): Accurate Powder [1]

The .50-70 Government, also known as the .50-70 Musket, .50-70 Springfield, and .50-1+34" Sharps[2][3]) is a black powder cartridge adopted in 1866 for the Springfield Model 1866 trapdoor rifle.

  1. ^ .50-70 Govt data from Accurate Powder at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-09-30)
  2. ^ jestertoogmailcom, A. (2018b, April 11). (157) .50″-70 Springfield. Military Cartridges. https://militarycartridges.com/category/157-50-70-springfield/
  3. ^ Barnes, Frank C., and Amber, John. Cartridges of the World (Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972), p.115, ".50-70 Musket (.50 Gov't)"