The .45-70 Government cartridge is a tried-and-true option for big game hunting. Although many hunters overlook this venerable cartridge in favor of newer, faster options, the .45-70 is far from a fossil.
Capable of humanely harvesting every game animal in North America (and most of those found on the African continent), this hard-hitting cartridge is still relevant, especially when paired with the best scope for 45-70.
Not sure what to look for in a riflescope for your .45-70 rifle? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite options for .45-70 rifles.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for the details, here are our best picks for .45-70 Government Scopes:
- Trijicon Ascent 1-4x24mm Riflescope
- Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout Scope
- Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24
- Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40
- Sig Sauer Romeo5
Table of Contents
About the .45-70 Government
The .45-70 Government has been around practically forever. In fact, it was one of the first centerfire rifle cartridges ever invented. The original design was developed in 1873 at the US Army’s Springfield Armory for use in the “Trapdoor Springfield” rifle. The original cartridges used black powder.
Modern .45-70 loads use smokeless powder, which has definitely improved the cartridge’s consistency and performance. However, the .45-70 is still far from a ballistic superstar.
Where this round excels is its hard-hitting performance. It easily propels heavyweight bullets with hard-hitting terminal energy transfer and deep-driving penetration. The cartridge is most effective at ranges inside of 150 yards. However, when loaded in the right rifle and held in a skilled shooter’s hands, the .45-70 is capable of great accuracy at longer ranges.
Choosing a Scope for Your .45-70 Rifle
Most rifles chambered for this venerable cartridge are lever-action carbines. That places some limitations on the type of scope you can pair with them. Here are a few key things to consider when searching for a new .45-70 scope.
Eye Relief
Pushing 300-grain (or heavier) bullets produces a ton of recoil. To avoid painful scope bite, you need a scope with generous eye relief.
Many .45-70 rifles are also old-school, top-ejecting lever actions. These guns require you to mount the scope forward of the receiver. In this case, you’ll need at least four inches of eye relief, although more is probably better.
Low Magnification
The .45-70’s trajectory drops quickly once it stretches beyond 200 yards. This cartridge is not a long-range shooter. It performs best inside of 150 yards, which means you don’t need a ton of magnification. A fixed power or LPVO (low power variable optic) will work well for most .45-70 Govt shooting applications.
Durability
Because the .45-70 produces some pretty stout recoil, you need a scope durable enough to withstand harsh, repetitive recoil.
Also, because these rifles are often used as brush guns and guide guns, they need to be sturdy enough to handle rough use and harsh environments.
Best Scope for 45-70 Govt on the Market Reviews
Here are just a few of what we consider the best scope options to partner with your .45-70 rifle.
1 Trijicon Ascent 1-4x24mm Riflescope
Trijicon is well known for producing some of the most rugged optics on the face of the planet, and their Ascent riflescope is certainly no exception. The scope is made from 6061 aluminum. The Ascent is shock and vibration tested to ensure each one can withstand vibrational stress and harsh recoil.
The Ascent has also passed Trijicon’s Alaska-to-Africa Temperature Test. This temperature shock test ensures the optic can withstand temperatures from -20 degrees F to 140 degrees F. That means you can rest assured that this scope will perform reliably no matter where on Earth your adventures take you.
Not only is the Trijicon Ascent insanely durable, but it also has brilliant optical quality. With fully multi-coated broadband anti-reflective glass, this riflescope delivers excellent light transmission, true color fidelity, and crisp edge-to-edge clarity.
The Ascent also features a fast-focus eyepiece and an uncluttered, easy-to-use reticle.
Is It Worth It?
Although the Trijicon Ascent has a modern tactical look and feel, it is well-suited for a traditional lever-action rifle. It has a compact lightweight design that won’t unbalance your brush gun and a practical magnification range that works well for most hunting scenarios. Plus, this scope is built to handle rough use and the harshest environments on planet Earth.
Here are a few of the scope’s best features.
- Sturdy construction.
- Shock and Vibration tested.
- Alaska-to-Africa Temperature tested.
- Excellent image quality.
- Built for low-light shooting.
- Fast-focus eyepiece.
- Simple, uncluttered reticle.
Mounting and Accessories
We recommend mounting the Trijicon Ascent with the company’s heavy-duty 30mm scope rings. Made from high-strength steel with a parkarized finish, these rings are just as rugged as your .45-70 Govt rifle.
2 Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout Scope
Vortex Optics makes some of the most practical scopes on the market today. Their Crossfire II Scout Scope definitely weighs in heavy in the practicality department. Super affordable, insanely durable with a crystal clear sight picture, this scope is one of our all-time favorites.
Built for a forward, scout-style mount, the Crossfire II Scout works well for old Henry top-eject lever actions. The scope provides extra long eye relief of almost 9 ½ full inches. This model also has a forgiving eye box which is a must for a scout set-up.
Priced under $200, the Vortex Crossfire II Scout definitely falls in the budget category. However, this optic performs well above its price point. Made with anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses, this scope gathers light like a pro. That means you can enjoy a bright, clear sight picture, even in dim light.
The Crossfire II Scout is definitely sturdy. The main housing is milled from a single piece of hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum. The tube is filled with nitrogen and o-ring sealed for true waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof performance. Perfect for backcountry hunting and tough survival situations, the Crossfire II Scout can handle rough use and tough environments without breaking a sweat.
Is It Worth It?
If you want (or need) to set up your .45-70 Govt scout style, this optic is one of the best options available.
- Affordable price tag.
- 9.45 inches of eye relief.
- Forgiving eye box.
- Fully multi-coated optics.
- Bright, clear sight picture.
- Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.
Mounting and Accessories
The Vortex Crossfire II Scout comes with lens covers and a lens cloth. You will need to purchase a set of Vortex Hunter Riflescope Rings separately.
3 Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24
The Athlon Talos BTR works well on guide guns chambered in .45-70 Govt. The 1x magnification is ideal for close-range targets, while the 4x magnification works well on targets at medium ranges.
Offering 6.26 inches of eye relief, the Talos BTR works perfectly as a forward-mounted scout scope. It also promotes both-eyes-open shooting, preserving peripheral vision, which is a necessity in the untamed wilderness.
The Talos BTR features Athlon Advanced fully multi-coated lenses. These proprietary lens coatings deliver excellent clarity and brightness, even in low light. With a bright, clear sight picture, you can extend your hunting day by precious minutes at dawn and dusk when animals are most active.
This affordable scope is also solidly built. It features a one-piece main tube that is heat-treated for extra durability. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating and is reliably fogproof no matter what the ambient temperature.
Is It Worth It?
The Athlon Talos LPVO (low power variable optic) is an affordable, yet a surprisingly rugged option for a guide gun or hunting rifle. Here’s what this scope has to offer:
- Affordable price.
- 6.26 inches of eye relief.
- 1-4x magnification range.
- Athlon Advanced fully multi-coated lenses.
- Excellent light transmission.
- Second focal plane BDC reticle.
- Solid construction.
- Waterproof.
- Fogproof.
Mounting and Accessories
You will need a set of sturdy 30mm Athlon Optics Precision Riflescope Rings to securely mount the Athlon Talos on your rifle.
4 Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40
The Leupold name is legendary for producing tough outdoor optics, and their VX-Freedom riflescope is one of the company’s toughest models. Made with 6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum with a matte black finish and scratch resistance lenses, this scope is built for rugged conditions. It also has a slim, lightweight, low-profile design that is perfect for backcountry hunting.
The VX-Freedom is built for incredible light transmission in low light and serious glare reduction in harsh light. It provides impressive resolution and edge-to-edge clarity through the optic’s entire magnification range.
Shooters can choose from several SFP reticle designs, including ultra-basic uncluttered Duplex configurations as well as more complex BDC reticles for precise distance shooting.
Is It Worth It?
If you want to stretch the range limits of your .45-70 Govt, this scope is up to the task. Pair the Leupold VX-Freedom with a long-barrel rifle and you’ll easily approach tack-driving accuracy beyond 100 yards.
Here are the VX-Freedom’s most noteworthy features.
- Sturdy aluminum construction with a matte black finish.
- Lightweight, low-profile design.
- Scratch-resistant lenses.
- Excellent light transmission and glare reduction.
- Several SFP reticle options to choose from.
Mounting and Accessories
Mounting the Leupold VX-Freedom requires a set of Leupold PRW2 Riflescope Rings.
5 Sig Sauer Romeo5
A red dot sight may be an unconventional choice for a traditional .45-70 Govt. However, these modern high-tech optics work quite well on a guide gun or brush gun, even if they do look slightly out of place on a Marlin lever action.
Sig Sauer’s Romeo5 provides unlimited eye relief and a massive field of view, which means you can easily find your aiming point, even if you miss a solid cheek weld. That unlimited eye relief makes the Romeo5 perfect for reflex shooting or popping fast-moving game.
The Romeo5 features a solar-powered illumination system, that backs up the optic’s onboard battery. The optic also comes with MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination). This handy feature powers up when it senses motion, then automatically shuts off during periods of inactivity to save battery life. These features combine to ensure you’re never stuck in the backcountry with a dead optic.
Sig Sauer designed their red dot to hold up in rough conditions. The Romeo5 is IPX-7 rated, which means the entire optic can survive submersion in up to one meter of water. Not only is the Romeo5 waterproof, but it is also reliably fogproof and shockproof.
Is It Worth It?
Although the Romeo5 is a high-tech optic, it works surprisingly well on a .45-70 lever gun. With unlimited eye relief, you can mount it forward of the receiver on top-eject models or further back on flat top receivers. This red dot promotes rapid target acquisition and accurate targeting in almost any hunting situation.
Here are Romeo5’s best assets.
- Unlimited eye relief.
- Generous FOV.
- Solar-power backup.
- Motion Activated Illumination.
- Waterproof, fogproof, shockproof.
- Unlimited lifetime guarantee.
Mounting and Accessories
The Sig Sauer Romeo5 mounts easily to a Picatinny rail. Since most traditional .45-70 rifles don’t come with a Picatinny rail, you may need to install one. However, since Picatinny rails mounted on rifle barrels have a tendency to come loose and throw off shooting accuracy, it may be best to leave the installation to a qualified gunsmith.
Final Thoughts
The .45-70 Government is a hard-hitting cartridge that works well for hunting large and dangerous game animals. It also makes a smart choice for a guide gun, because it has plenty of power to stop a charging grizzly or bull moose.
The best scope for 45-70 Govt rifles is designed to enhance the capabilities of both the cartridge and the rifle. Extra eye relief, a low-profile design, and easy target acquisition are all important traits for an optic that partners well with these classic hard-hitting rifles.
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