All About .45 ACP
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over
.45 ACP today. The cartridge has been around for well over a century and has been employed by shooters of all types. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the
.45 ACP while delving its traits, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk all about
.45 ACP.
What is .45 ACP?
The
.45 ACP, or
.45 Automatic Colt Pistol, cartridge is the brainchild of prolific firearm designer John Moses Browning. Originally developed in 1904, the cartridge is closely associated with the 1911 pistol, an iconic service pistol chambered in
.45 ACP. Beyond its use in handguns, the cartridge is well-known for being used in submachine guns such as the Thompson and M3 “Grease Gun.” The
.45 ACP notably served the United States and allied nations throughout both World Wars and in many of the conflicts throughout the 20
th century.
The cartridge is primarily used in semi-automatic and fully-automatic firearms. Because of this fact it is shorter than many of the cartridges which preceded the
.45 ACP such as the
.38 Special and
.45 Colt. While it is shorter than some of the rounds that came before it, it is longer and larger than other cartridges intended for use in automatics such as the
9mm Luger and
.40 Smith & Wesson. Generally speaking, most
.45 ACP loadings will feature a stout yet manageable recoil impulse. This is due to the fact that the larger projectiles of the cartridge are traveling at subsonic velocities. These factors make
.45 ACP recoil more akin to a rearward push as the snappy muzzle rise associated with higher velocity rounds is not present.
Throughout its existence, the
.45 ACP has been employed by a variety of end users and shooters of all types. Recreational shooters have enjoyed the cartridge in the form of various pistols, carbines, and even revolvers. The cartridge has also been utilized in competitions throughout the round’s existence, specifically in multigun matches and single stack division competitions. Echoing the cartridge’s legacy in service use, the
.45 ACP has also been utilized for concealed carry use and for duty use by generations of shooters.
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Is it the Same as .45 Colt?
While the
.45 ACP and
.45 Colt may feature similar naming conventions, the cartridges are quite distinct and different. The
.45 Colt, often referred to as the “.45 Long Colt,” is noticeably longer than the
.45 ACP. The cartridges also feature similar Additionally, the
.45 Colt will feature a prominent rim at the base of the cartridge while the
.45 ACP features a recessed rim. The large, distinct rim on the
.45 Colt makes it well suited for use in revolvers as ejectors can engage with this rim and it ensures rounds index properly into cylinders and chambers. The presence of rims on cartridges was a common practice done to achieve proper headspacing with older cartridges and firearms. Simply put, the
.45 ACP and
.45 Colt are two distinct and different cartridges.
How Available is .45 ACP Ammunition?
At this point in time,
.45 ACP ammunition can easily be found at most places
ammunition is sold. The cartridge is supported by a variety of manufacturers in the United States and foreign countries. Companies such as
PMC,
Sellier & Bellot,
Winchester,
Federal, and
CCI are among the producers of
.45 ACP ammo. Additionally, some of the aforementioned companies and others such as
Speer,
Barnes,
Hornady, and
Underwood produce purpose-built defensive loadings for the cartridge.
Beyond conventional jacketed hollow point (JHP) offerings, lead-free, solid copper projectiles and specialty hollow point offerings are also prevalent.
.45 ACP ammo will generally be found in the form of 230 grain full metal jacket (FMJ) loadings. Beyond the standard loadings, specialty offerings in lighter and heavier grain weights are available depending upon the loading, use case, and material used. Simply put, one will have no problem stocking up on
.45 ACP ammo if they are after loadings for this caliber.
How Available are Firearms Chambered in .45 ACP?
Currently, there are a wide variety of firearms which will accept the
.45 ACP cartridge on the market. These firearms are available in old production, vintage form and in the form of modern production offerings. One will find both handguns and rifles chambered in the
.45 ACP round, with some revolvers even being able to accept the round. In order for the cartridge to be used in compatible revolvers, things such as moon clips or half moon clips must be utilized to compensate for
.45 ACP’s lack of a pronounced rim.
Most of the firearms chambered in
.45 ACP will be in the form of handguns. As far as vintage and old production
.45 ACP chambered firearms go, one will find many 1911s and some unique firearms such as the M1917 revolver. Current production offerings are provided in the form of handguns and carbines from companies such as Glock, B&T, Heckler & Koch, FN, and Springfield Armory to name a few. Many 1911s in both single stack and double stack varieties are common on the market, a testament to the enduring legacy of both the
.45 ACP and the 1911 design. Additionally, many modern production firearms will feature provisions for mounting optics, lights, lasers, and suppressors. Simply put, one will have zero issue finding firearms chambered in
.45 ACP if they wish to acquire one.
Is .45 ACP Good for Self-Defense?
The
.45 ACP has a long history of being employed as a defensive cartridge. Many semi-automatic duty pistols throughout the 20
th century and modern era have utilized the cartridge to good effect. After the advent of modern defensive loadings, smaller calibers such as
9mm Luger became even more viable for defensive use. These modern loadings capitalize on the high velocity of these smaller cartridges and include hollow point projectiles to facilitate effective expansion. The advent of these types of loadings have led some to adopt calibers such as
9mm Luger,
.40 Smith & Wesson, and even
.380 ACP over the
.45 ACP. Just as other calibers have benefitted from modern production loadings, the
.45 ACP has also seen support in the form of purpose-build defensive loadings. These loadings will typically feature lighter projectile weights, such as 185 grain projectiles, in order to achieve higher velocities. These higher velocities help hollow point
.45 ACP loadings consistently expand and achieve fight-stopping capabilities.
One thing to consider with employing the
.45 ACP as a defensive cartridge is the fact that most of the firearms in the caliber will have inferior magazine capacities when compared to firearms in different calibers. For example, an FNX-45 pistol will hold 15 rounds of
.45 ACP while a Glock 17 will hold 17 rounds of
9mm Luger. Additionally, many of the handguns chambered in
.45 ACP will be larger and/or thicker than their smaller caliber counterparts. Simply put, for some shooters, they may find it to be more comfortable and efficient to carry something in
9mm Luger,
.380 ACP, or
.40 Smith & Wesson. The firearms hosting these calibers will almost always boast a superior capacity to their
.45 ACP counterparts and generally be smaller in size. These calibers also benefit from optimal defensive loadings, making them viable choices for self-defense.
All in all, the
.45 ACP is still a viable defensive cartridge. Just because other cartridges have become more effective over time with optimal loadings does not invalidate the
.45 ACP’s defensive capability. Even today, many people continue to employ the cartridge for duty use and for concealed carry. At the end of the day, one should test multiple options when considering a defensive carry caliber and handgun. One should consider their preferences, needs, use cases, and other factors to find the choice that is best for them.
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Is .45 ACP Good for Suppressed Use?
Typically, standard pressure
.45 ACP loadings will be traveling at subsonic velocities. As they are not breaking the sound barrier, standard
.45 ACP loads are well-suited to suppressor usage. Granted, things such as altitude and barrel length can impact the actual velocity one may achieve in reality. The fact that
.45 ACP standard pressure loadings tend to be naturally subsonic means shooters won’t have to look far for suppressor ready loadings. With other calibers such as
9mm Luger, one will need to look for subsonic loadings to optimize their suppressed shooting experience. Both handguns and carbines in
.45 ACP suppress very well with the appropriate suppressor.
Conclusion
All in all, the
.45 ACP cartridge continues to stand the test of time and remain in use well over a century after its introduction. Shooters of all types and generations still employ the round for a variety of uses ranging from competition, recreation, defensive use, and suppressed use. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide variety of
.45 ACP ammo in addition to the other
ammunition we stock. Whether you are after some
.45 ammunition or something else, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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