45 long colt

[austintexas]

I picked up some long colt at the San Antonio show last weekend. My question is, it is marked F A 2 11. Can anyone tell me if it is black powder or smokeless?

SWCA 892

I want to thank everyone for their comments on my question, I picked these rounds up in a zip lock, sorry no box. The primers were rounded and I don't plan on shooting these shells. Since they were so old I just wondered what type of powder would be in them and I was pretty sure someone on this ammo thread would know.

SWCA 892

 

[hatt]

I don't know anything about those rounds but a google search points to smokeless. I guess you don't have the box.

 

[Dragon88]

If you shake a round up and down next to your ear, do you hear loose powder sloshing around inside? If so, it must be smokeless, as BP fills the entire case. This is horribly unscientific, but it will get you going in the right direction if you can't find more solid info on this ammo. Did it just come in a ziploc or something, no box or label?

 

[Neumann]

The safest way is probably to fire one and smell the smoke. Don't try to use an inertial puller with black powder. Use a modern pistol rated for smokeless, just in case.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

.45 Long Colt??

 

[30-30remchester]

I have to ask, why do you care. This is antique ammunition that should be put on a shelf and admired. Easy to tell though, simply pull one bullet and inspect.

 

[Dragon88]

Some google searching reveals that these are likely loaded with a semi-smokeless powder called RSQ.

 

[semperfi71]

I know nothing about collectible ammunition but from readings is it possible that "F A" stands for Frankfort Arsenal?

If the primer is domed and not flat that might be a clue as to its age as well. The domed primers might date it to before the 1900s....maybe.

Again I am suspecting based on a small amount of readings.

.45 Long Colt is indeed a correct pronunciation although quite dated and not used so much anymore. This I know as fact as it has been discussed here and elsewhere and I shoot about 20 or more .45 Long Colts.

 

[mkk41]

I know nothing about collectible ammunition but from readings is it possible that "F A" stands for Frankfort Arsenal?

That would be Frankford Arsenal. 2 11 means it was made in February of 1911 , well into the smokeless era.

I got a few dozen of these FA 12 13 maked rounds in a large box of mixed ammo , and upon pulling one , it was loaded with a coarse flake smokeless propellant.

Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia was THE cutting edge military small arms ammuntion development center in the country till it's closing.

Frankford Arsenal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ol' geeser]

30-30remchester: If I read your post correctly,IMHO, you are somewhat misinformed about the effectiveness of the .45 LC round. In my experience, which spans about 30 yrs., I have yet to find this cartridge lacking if I do my part. Its accuracy potential in MY 25-5 equals or surpasses any other centerfire handgun I own. This includes a 1950 Target in 44special.
Over the years I have used this cartridge to dispatch numerous head of crippled livestock, take several deer, and it will drop a 325 lb.+ feral hog like it was poleaxed when used in a mdl. 94 Trapper and the range is reasonable.
It works. It's not a 460 or 500, but it is tried, true, has minimal recoil, and can be a bonafide bonecrusher in the proper loading. personal experience - it is what it is.....

 

[hatt]

I think he was talking about the hundred year old ammo and not the .45 Colt.

 

[longranger]

45 Long Colt is indeed a correct pronunciation although quite dated and not used so much anymore.

.45 Colt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ArchAngelCD]

.45 Long Colt is indeed a correct pronunciation although quite dated and not used so much anymore. This I know as fact as it has been discussed here and elsewhere and I shoot about 20 or more .45 Long Colts.

A .45 Colt is a .45 Colt, not a Long Colt. When the .45 S&W (45 Schofield) came out it was sometimes called a .45 Short Colt but there never was and never will be a 45 Long Colt.

 

[smith17]

arch:
While I want to agree with you, I think at times the designation is important since ammo companies such as Peters were marketing boxes back in the 20s and 30s with a 45 Colt designation, when in fact the contents was the ACP cartridge. The ornate Peters box with the large red P with the horizonally extended loop is a prime example.
As a collector of such items, more than once I have had to get 'real specific' with sellers when sizing up what exactly they had for sale. Using Long Colt terminology for the 45 caliber usually cleared things up.
Ed

 

[mkk41]

OK , if ya look at the headstamp of the center round , it clearly says 45 COLT.

But if ya lay 'em down , it is apparent that it is shorter.

Reloading manual says , ,

 

[semperfi71]

Here I go again.

If it is pronounced by enough people (the military of old) and if is used in common conversation (as reported here via collectors) it becomes a correct pronunciation in polite circles.

Even a few gunwriters of old referred to it as the .45 Long Colt.

I call it ".45 Colt" when I am speaking with most folks and ".45 Long Colt" when its time to pull someone's chain.

Wikipedia is NOT a reliable source of factual information.

 

[mkk41]

Call it a slang term if you will , but lets look back. There were actually 3 distinct .45 revolver cartridges in military service back then.

Just for the sake of argument , we'll call the original 1873 round the .45 Long Colt. Case length was 1.29 and rim dia was .510.

Along came the .45 S&W Schofield. Case length was only 1.10 and rim dia was .530+.

.45 Colt rounds were too long for the Schofield.

The rims of the .45 Schofield would hit each other in the Colt cylinder , rendering the SAA to a 3-shooter.

The compromise .45 Colt Govt round (shown above) was basically a Schofield length (1.10) round with a Colt dia (.510) rim. But the small rim would often slip under the star extractor of the S&W , tying the gun up.

So as we now know , the Schofields were sold off and stocks of the shorter .45 Colt Govt rounds were used up.

I have seen old UMC and Peters cartridge boards with the 2 rounds listed as .45 Colt(long) and .45 Colt Govt(short).

 

[Dragon88]

Come on guys, we already beat the H110/W296 dead horse this week. Let's save the 45 "Long" Colt dead horse for next week.

 

[mkk41]

Come on guys, we already beat the H110/W296 dead horse this week. Let's save the 45 "Long" Colt dead horse for next week.

No , I like my horsemeat tenderized!

 

[Jack Flash]

Well, even Colt has used the term: