The .45-70-405 Cartridge consists of 70 gr. of powder and a 405 gr. bullet.  A cartridge with 55 gr. of powder was used for the carbine.  These cartridges originally used the copper case, inside-primed Benet cup anvil.  The 2 cartridges looked identical so the base of the carbine round was stamped "U.S. CARBINE".  The air space above the powder charge in the carbine cartridge was filled with pasteboard wads.  In 1877, the heads of both cartridges were stamped with the month and year of manufacture, the initial of the arsenal of manufacture, and the letters "R" or "C" for the rifle or carbine.  Problems with the extractor ripping through the relatively weak head of the cartridge and a desire for a reloadable cartridge led to the adoption, in 1882, of the Model 1881 Rifle ball Cartridge.  This is a copper case, exterior-primed, solid-head cartridge using the Boxer primer.  The rifle cartridge used a 500 gr. bullet.  The heavier bullet reduced the muzzle velocity from 1350 fps to 1315 fps but the burning of the powder was made more uniform.  In 1886, the pasteboard wads in the carbine cartridge were eliminated and the bullet was seated deeper.  The "R" and "C" was dropped from the headstamp because the rifle and carbine cartridges were now distinguishable.  In 1888, brass replaced copper for the cartridge case.  The brass case was tinned inside and out to minimize internal corrosion from the black powder and priming mixture.  In April, 1898, the Model 1898 Cartridge was adopted.  It used smokeless powder and a tinned brass case with a knurled cannelure around the case body.  The cannelure acted as a stop for the bullet to prevent it from being pushed down into the case against the powder charge.  The last photo here shows a .45 caliber Forager round.  This used a wooden "bullet" as a plug, the case being filled with shot for hunting small game.