ORIGINAL: cayugad
This is my reason for the search. It was mentioned on a different forum that modern inline centerfires can equal that of a center fire rifle. A 45-70 Government was actually used in this comparison. I felt this might be a boast but felt before I replied to this claim, that I should have information backing up my statement no matter which way the findings show..
IF one were to compare a .45/70 firing a 405-grain bullet at around 1300 FPS, or shopoting a 500-grain bullet in the vicinity of 1200 FPS, (the original ballistics of .45/70 ammo using black powder, and to which current ammo is loaded using smokeless powder and intended for trapdoor SApringfields and the like), then yes, a modern-steel muzzleloader can equal or exceed this performance level. However, a sidelock made of modern barrel steel can do just as well as an inline in this respect!
This 370-grain Maxiball load is going 1742 FPS at 10' from the muzzle. This equates to an energy level at 10' of 2493 foot-pounds - over 2500 at the muzzle! But with its poor ballistic coefficient, this load will run out of steam long before a modern centerfirerifle bullet that starts out with the same energy!!
