The 405 never got a good start.
About the time it went south a lot of lever guns were taking a beating. Lots of soldiers were coming home and had just experienced the best the US had to offer, the Springfield 1903 and Enfield P17.
Also the fantastic Mauser M98 and SMLE.
The flatter trajectory and increased power in a lighter more compact pack may have had more than a bit role in pushing the 405 to the back burner.
While the 45-70 did not suffer the same fate it was not treated kindly by the gun press or the gun buying public. As is so often the case, the newest, biggest, mostest... etc got the lion share of the publicity and the old tried and trues got left behind. Until the depression when finding a new gun was a chore not many could afford.
Just finding ammo was a blessing and people bought any ammo they found. If the had a gun so chambered, great. If not, it became trading material when the right stuff was found.
Anyway, as the new stuff was introduced the old just got pushed aside. It happened to the 45-70 and the 50-70 before it. The 300 Savage spoken about by mcwoodduck is today an endangered species and there are a bunch more, if you believe the writers.
Enough rambling, if you have one of the older rifles chambered for a classic cartridge you know what it is like to be content. If not, have fun chasing the next fastest, bestest, mostest.
There is enough of both to keep everyone happy.