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Buffalo Bore's 8C20 Lever Gun cartridges exist in that sweet spot between raw power and versatility. These are standard 45-70 Government cartridges on the outside, but they pack substantially more muscle inside. When you compare them to off-the-shelf factory ammo, you're getting a completely different experience. The 350-grain semi-jacketed flat point bullet runs at 2150 feet per second and generates 3591 foot-pounds of energy, making this load arguably the most practical of Buffalo Bore's 45-70 offerings if you want a single box that works across a range of hunting situations.
The bullet design is where the thinking shows. Semi-jacketed construction gives you a lead core that's partially covered by a copper jacket. The exposed lead tip initiates expansion on impact while the jacket prevents over-expansion, resulting in that critical balance between stopping power and deep penetration. The flat point nose is engineered specifically for tubular magazines found in lever-action rifles, which means nose-to-primer stacking won't cause complications. You're not dealing with feeding issues or primer concerns when these are loaded in a Marlin 1895 or similar platform.
Based on what Buffalo Bore has documented, this bullet creates only a moderate mushroom roughly .60 caliber in diameter, which translates to roughly 4 feet of penetration through muscle and bone. That penetration profile makes it effective on everything from elk to wild boar to thick-bodied bears, though the real strength is how predictably it performs across different shot angles and ranges that hunters actually encounter in the field.
These rounds are built for people running modern strong-action rifles like post-1972 Marlin 1895 lever guns, Browning 1885 and 1886 copies, Ruger falling block actions, Winchester 1886 rifles made after 1915, or equivalent firearms that can handle the increased pressure. Buffalo Bore doesn't recommend these in older trap door actions or weaker designs. If you've got a modern rifle chambered in 45-70 and you want ammunition that performs better than standard commercial loads while staying in a standard-sized case, these are the box to reach for.
These cartridges are externally identical to standard 45-70 ammo, so they fit any 45-70 chamber, but they generate significantly higher pressure internally. They should only be used in modern strong-action rifles like Marlin 1895 lever guns made since 1972, Browning 1885/1886 copies, Ruger falling block actions, Winchester 1886 rifles made after 1915, or equivalent modern platforms. Do not use in vintage trap door actions or weaker designs.
The 8C20 offers the most versatility of Buffalo Bore's 45-70 lineup. The semi-jacketed flat point gives moderate expansion with deep penetration (around 4 feet), making it effective on game ranging from mid-sized animals to large, thick-bodied game. Other Buffalo Bore loads in 45-70 include lighter bullets that expand more aggressively and heavier bullets designed for maximum penetration on dangerous game.
Buffalo Bore loads to maximum pressure specifications while maintaining standard cartridge dimensions, generating far more muzzle energy than typical factory rounds. These 350-grain rounds produce over 3500 foot-pounds of energy compared to around 2000-2500 from standard factory loads, delivering dramatically improved performance for hunting and field use.
Yes. Lever-action rifles use tubular magazines where cartridges stack nose-to-primer. Rounded or pointed bullets can potentially contact the primer of the round below during recoil, creating safety concerns. The flat point nose design used in these rounds is specifically engineered to prevent this issue and feed reliably through your magazine.
| Caliber/Gauge | .45-70 Government |
|---|---|
| Case Material | Brass |
| Cost per Round | 3.80 |
| Grains | 350 gr |
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 8C20 |
| Units per Box | 20 |
| UPC | 651815008035 |
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