All About .45 Colt
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over the
.45 Colt cartridge. The cartridge has persisted for over 150 years and still sees support from shooters and manufacturers of
ammunition and firearms today. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the cartridge while also delving into some of its traits, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about
.45 Colt.
What is .45 Colt?
The
.45 Colt is a long-standing American handgun cartridge. The cartridge made its debut in 1873 alongside the iconic Colt Single Action Army (Model 1873). Initial loadings for the
.45 Colt featured black powder and marked the adoption of another metallic cartridge by the United States military. Prior to the introduction of the
.45 Colt, the military had utilized cap and ball and cartridge converted revolvers in order to utilize new metallic cartridges. The cartridge was employed by the United States until 1892, seeing use in the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and Moro Rebellion.
While not a magnum cartridge, the
.45 Colt boasts a stout and prominent recoil impulse. As many of the firearms chambered in
.45 Colt are of the manual variety, there is no provision for recoil reduction when firing. Because of this fact, shooters are generally feeling the full recoil impulse of each round fired. That being said, while stout, the recoil is by no means abusive. The heavier projectiles of the cartridge paired with low velocities makes the recoil seem more akin to a stern rearward push. Ultimately, the recoil of the cartridge is predictable and can easily be tamed with practice.
The cartridge has persisted for over a century and a half and is still enjoyed by shooters of all types today. History buffs and collectors are drawn to the cartridge as they are able to own a modern rendition of a historic cartridge, often paired with a reproduction of a classic design. Hunters have also preferred the cartridge for use in lever action rifles and in revolvers for handgun hunting. One of the largest groups of shooters using the cartridge today would have to be those engaged in cowboy action shooting. The cartridge is also utilized by recreational shooters who simply enjoy the cartridge for what it is. Simply put, shooters of all types can enjoy and utilize the
.45 Colt.
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What About .45 Long Colt?
The
.45 Colt is also often referred to as .45 Long Colt. While the official designation for the cartridge is
.45 Colt, many have added the term “long” to help further differentiate it from the
.45 ACP cartridge. In shorthand, the term “Colt 45” has been historically used to refer to the
.45 ACP and 1911s in general. The use of this term has inevitably spawned some confusion with cartridge names such as
.45 Colt. As such, adding the word “long” makes it quite obvious which cartridge is being talked about.
How is .45 Colt Different From .45 ACP?
An immediate difference between the
.45 Colt and
.45 ACP is going to be the length of the two cartridges.
.45 ACP cartridges are quite noticeably shorter than their
.45 Colt counterparts. Additionally, the
.45 Colt is a rimmed cartridge while the
.45 ACP features a recessed rim. Rims were present on casings to ensure that proper headspace was achieved when they were chambered. Additionally, rimmed cartridges are well-suited to revolver use as the rim ensures they seat properly into cylinders. The presence of rims on cartridges also allows them to be ejected and removed easily from cylinders. For cartridges such as
.45 ACP to be used in revolvers, moon clips must be used and there must be ample clearance in the cylinder. Of course, the revolver in question must be able to accommodate
.45 ACP like the Model 1917 revolver.
How Available is .45 Colt Ammunition?
At this point in time,
.45 Colt ammunition is a bit harder to find than some of the more contemporary and common calibers on the market. One will have an easier time finding loadings for
9mm Luger,
.40 Smith & Wesson, and
.45 ACP than they will if they are seeking
.45 Colt ammo. The cartridge is supported by a number of companies such as
Black Hills Ammunition,
Magtech,
Armscor,
Aguila, and
Sellier & Bellot to name a few. Among these loadings are purpose-built offerings which are tailored for use cases such as hunting, self-defense, cowboy action shooting, and general plinking to name a few. An overwhelming majority of (if not all) modern
.45 Colt loadings will feature brass casings and non-corrosive primers. As a result, most casings can be reused for reloading
ammunition and shooters will not need to worry about corrosion when shooting
.45 Colt ammo. Typically,
.45 Colt loadings will feature projectiles ranging from 200 grains to 250 grains. Specialty loadings for purposes such as hunting or self-defense will generally feature lighter or heavier projectiles to make them more optimal for these use cases. While the cartridge is not as common as some more contemporary rounds, one will be able to find
.45 Colt ammo if they truly want to.
How Available are Firearms in .45 Colt?
Currently, one will find many firearms chambered in
.45 Colt. These firearms can be of modern, recent production or of older, vintage manufacture. Most commonly, firearms in this caliber will be found in the form of revolvers and lever action rifles. When it comes to revolvers, while double action models exist, a majority of revolvers in
.45 Colt will be of the single action variety. Single action revolvers in this caliber are generally going to be reproductions of traditional designs such as the Single Action Army or modern offerings such as Ruger Vaqueros. Companies such as Cimarron, Henry, Ruger, Colt, Winchester, and Uberti are among the companies who produce firearms in the
.45 Colt. At the end of the day, one will have no issue finding a firearm in
.45 Colt if they are after one.
Is .45 Colt Good for Hunting?
The
.45 Colt is capable of ethically dispatching a wide variety of game. The effectiveness of the cartridge is enhanced when paired with modern hunting loadings and when used in longer barrels or rifles. The cartridge is particularly useful for dispatching game such as hog, deer, and even black bear at the right ranges and with the right loading. Generally speaking, the sweet spot for hunting with this cartridge, particularly with a handgun, will be at distances well under 100 yards. Many of the heavier loadings for
.45 Colt, such as those with 300 grain projectiles, can achieve velocities of over 1,300 FPS when paired with longer barreled firearms. Velocities like this paired with a heavy projectile, particularly one that is optimized for hunting and expansion, can facilitate considerable kinetic energy transfer. Essentially, a large projectile traveling at supersonic velocities will have a significant effect on target. All in all, the cartridge is viable for hunting when one does their part and utilizes the appropriate loadings at the appropriate distances.
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Is .45 Colt Good for Self-Defense?
As mentioned above, the
.45 Colt is no slouch when it comes to hunting. The cartridge is more than suitable for use in self-defense applications, especially when paired with lighter defensive loadings. While the cartridge is more than capable for defensive use, it is ultimately hindered by the types of firearms chambered in the cartridge.
When considering a defensive firearm, one will generally gravitate towards something that is easy to shoot, has an ample
ammunition capacity, has an efficient form factor, and is compatible with holsters. Generally, these factors lead concealed carriers to adopt some form of semi-automatic handgun chambered in something like
9mm Luger,
.40 Smith & Wesson, or even
.45 ACP. An overwhelming majority of the firearms chambered in
.45 Colt will be revolvers or lever action rifles, two examples of manual action firearms.
Modern semi-automatic offerings will eclipse these firearms in terms of capacity, recoil management, and support by defense-oriented companies who make gear like holsters. Easily replaceable magazines make semi-automatic firearms easier to load and unload than their revolver and lever action counterparts. Additionally, their semi-automatic nature makes it easier to get more shots down range and helps dampen recoil. Speaking of recoil, the aforementioned semi-automatic cartridges produce less recoil impulse than the
.45 Colt, making them easier to shoot and make follow up shots with.
Simply put, while the round may be viable for stopping a threat, there are simply better options available on the market than something chambered in
.45 Colt. This is not to say that the round won’t get the job done, but modern loadings for cartridges such as
9mm Luger and
.45 ACP paired with modern semi-automatic handguns are simply more optimal.
Conclusion
All in all, the
.45 Colt has persisted for over 150 years. The cartridge continues to be utilized by shooters of all types and multiple generations and shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon. Regardless of whether you are a recreational shooter, a cowboy action shooter, a historic firearm enjoyer, or a hunter, you cannot go wrong with the
.45 Colt. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a variety of
.45 Colt loadings in addition to the
ammunition we stock. Whether you are after some
.45 Colt 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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