.45LC or .45ACP

[williamlayton]

Which caliber do you prefer and why ?
Blessings

 

[arjay]

I like em both,but prefer 45 colt in a revolver.No moon clips.Love 45 acp in a 1911.

 

[Revolver-time]

I like them both! I have many revolvers and auto in both calibers. I even have 3 Ruger Blackhawks that fire both with an extra cylinder. In the Ruger I load the LC round from mild to wild. In the ACP I shoot my 1911s and when I get tired of chasing my empty cases I load up my 1917 or 25 with moon clips. I can see for myself if it came down to one caliber it would be the 45!

 

[smithnframe]

I shoot them both but at the moment I would have to say the 45 acp/auto rim. I do most of my shooting with three 1911's and a 1955 target(auto rim) very accurate in all my weapons!

 

[williamlayton]

For a number of reasons I am having a hard time justifying the .45LC. I dunno !
Blessings

 

[arjay]

You just need a gun that was made for it, like a colt saa ;-)

 

[Warren Sear]

Definitely prefer the LC in a revolver. I like the great range of usable bullet weights and available power. I also like having no need for the moon clips. I had a M1917 and hated messing with the clips. The clips, of course, were designed as a stop-gap measure to get more handguns available to U.S. troops during WWI. It is amazing to me that it ever became popular, and that popularity seems to be growing.

If I still had a revolver in ACP, I would get some AR brass for it so I would not have to bother with the clips.

The ACP is for pistols, the LC is for revolvers, and everything seems happier keeping it that way!

 

[jimNeb]

I prefer the 45 ACP for a few reasons. The 1911 is my favorite handgun, cost and fun to shoot.

I only own one revolver that will shoot the 45 LC and I prefer to shoot 460 FTX ammo with it.

 

[sunday bill]

Star-line used to make 45 Special for a cowboy action shooter named Adirondack Jack. He retailed'em out. Same capacity as A.C.P.....No clips needed. Schofield brass also works in Long Colt chambers, and its powder capacity is in between LC and 45 Special. Lotsa ways to go with "Long Colt"........Thank goodness that yahoo who always hollers about not callin it "Long Colt" hasn't started chirping yet.

 

[sodacan]

I like the .45ACP especially because of the moonclips. I'm not fond of loading and unloading the clips themselves, but they are really easy and fast to load in the gun. I like 1911's as well, though not my favorite. Also .45LC is much more expensive to buy, and I don't reload.

 

[ltxi]

For a number of reasons I am having a hard time justifying the .45LC. I dunno !
Blessings

Understand that. I've always considered .45 Colt a nice/secondary/recreational cartridge. Hard to justify spending practical $$ on sometimes.

 

[marmax]

I like both but would pick 45 A.C.P. if I had to choose. I can always shoot 45 AR if I just don't want to use moon clips. I do like 45 LC and always will. I load all three all the time. The real question is would I pick my 1911 or 625. I would hate to have to pick.

 

[harvester1]

45 Colt brings a whole different power level to the table if needed. Both have good power and advantages but of the two only the 45 colt brings the big power and bullet weight.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I have loyalty to both. In a Revolver it's the Colt and in the 1911, the ACP.

No question there's more power to be had with the Colt. Heavier bullets moving faster, no complaints.

In the 1911, the ACP is sublime. Accurate and hard hitting.

Tough choice to make if you're asking which one I prefer.

 

[Allen-frame]

For a number of reasons I am having a hard time justifying the .45LC. I dunno !
Blessings

Because you don't handload it ?

This would be my only reason for not Liking the 45 Colt.

Handload it. Shoot it. And you will be converted ,brother.

Amen

Allen FRame

I just bought my 25th revolver chambered in 45 Colt today.

Come on over , we'll shoot a few. have some fun.

A

 

[Ron H.]

Which caliber do you prefer and why ?
Blessings

Sir, FWIW, I have and like both. I tend to regard them as different tools in the box: .45 ACP for around town where a trim auto is nice for carry, and .45 Colt for the woods where concealment is secondary to power.

If I had to choose between them, I'd go with the .45 ACP only because I spend a lot more time in town than in the woods these days.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[gaijin]

Depends on the intended purpose:
range gun; toss up
self defense; .45 acp first, .45 Colt second
hunting; .45 Colt hands down

 

[Stainz]

My first centerfire revolver was a .45 convertible Ruger Blackhawk, bought to shoot up the stash of leftover .45 ACP ball ammo from my G21 sale. I made the mistake of trying the .45 Colt cylinder - instant love! Several more Rugers in .45 Colt followed, including my first DA .45 - a SRH in .454! Over ten years ago, I got a gift from my wife - a new 625-7 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. It was followed in weeks by a new 4" 625-8 in .45 ACP, later sold and ultimately replaced by a then just released 625JM. Nearly ten years ago, I started reloading - just .45 Colts initially - but that snowballed - I make a myriad of revolver ammo calibers now. But, that is why I ultimately bought a second .45 Colt MG - I make it's ammo, else I couldn't afford it. If I didn't make my own ammo, I'd go with .45 Auto and not look back. Adding to the mix, that 625JM will also take the no-moonclips-required .45 Auto Rims, which I load to .45 Colt levels with 255gr LSWCs and 250gr Speer Gold Dots!

Still confused? S&W does make a revolver that will shoot both .45 ACP in moonclips and loose .45 Colts, not to mention .45 GAP, .45 Schofield, and 2.5" .410 shotgun shells - the Governor. You could always buy one and experiment yourself. The Governor's cylinder won't close with .45 Auto Rims in it, so their use is not possible.

Stainz

 

[Ed45]

Definitely prefer the LC in a revolver. I like the great range of usable bullet weights and available power. I also like having no need for the moon clips. I had a M1917 and hated messing with the clips. The clips, of course, were designed as a stop-gap measure to get more handguns available to U.S. troops during WWI. It is amazing to me that it ever became popular, and that popularity seems to be growing.

If I still had a revolver in ACP, I would get some AR brass for it so I would not have to bother with the clips.

The ACP is for pistols, the LC is for revolvers, and everything seems happier keeping it that way!

Yup agree whole heartedly. Should also mention that I have a sweet Winchester Trapper lever action carbine in 45LC and have some nice outings with it and my 45LC Mountain gun.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

The 45 Colt is a much more versatile cartridge, at least in terms of power. You can use it for everything from self defense to dangerous game (it's been done successfully). Also works well in a rifle (eg a Marlin levergun). If you're hunting it's no contest: 45Colt. If you're an auto guy or if you don't reload: 45acp. Obviously, the 45 acp wins the versatility battle in terms of self defense, due to the defensive guns that shoot it.
If I had to pick, I'd pick the 45 C.

 

[williamlayton]

I do/did reload---seems like over the last few years I have gotten away from it because of the lack of desire to do it much. Just old age I guess.
For that reason, I am considering the ACP---I will admit that at this time I can't seem to come to a definitive decision---the LC holds a lot of good rasoning and "I don't have one" is nagging at me.
One of the fellows here offered me a chance at the LC, but, since I am in such a quandry I let it slide and now it's gone---isn't that always the case .
I guess I will look around and the first decent shooter, at a realistic price, in either one will get the nod-------Well, maybe----I am so wishy washy at this time---
I really appreciate the feed-back.
Blessings

 

[Smee78]

I love both rounds, but as a reloader I like the wheel guns better because I do not have to chase my brass. I also believe that you have to reload to get the most use out of the 45Colt, shelf ammo is over priced and under powerded (cowboy rounds) most of the time.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Which caliber do you prefer and why ?
Blessings

Easy. .45 ACP. Cheaper to shoot and it is chambered in firearms that are more suitable for self-defense and which hold more ammo. Although both are probably good stoppers in appropriate loadings, the ACP is better developed in this regard, with more choices of loads, all of which are more proven due to more use in actual situations since the development of low flash powders and premium projectiles designed to perform well not only in tissue, but after passing through various barriers expected to be encountered in self-defense situations, from heavy denim to walls, auto glass and so forth.

For self-defense selection, always start with the preferred caliber and then select the best firearm for that caliber AND you.

The pistol is the "launcher" only and has no part in the stopping power equation apart from its ability to be safely and more or less conveniently carried and quickly and accurately used by the person carrying the pistol.

 

[ozo]

.45colt
One of the sweetest shooting rounds ever,
and I am mostly a wheelie fan.

 

[Neumann]

I'm a dedicated fan of .45 ACP in pistols, but if I were to buy a .45 revolver, it would be .45 Colt (not sure where the "Long" came from), hands down.

I would find it a PITA to use moon clips, or search for rimmed cartridges for a revolver. Mostly though, it's about ballistics, with a bit of history thrown into the mix. The .45 Colt cartridge has been around for 140 years, and there's no end in sight.

I reload, and .45 Colt components are easy to find. Without straining, you can load the cartridge to near .357 Magnum performance, hotter than any listed load for .45 ACP or .44 SPL. The only downside is that I have several .44 Magnum revolvers, and it's hard to sort .44M cases from .45 Colt by eyeball. I just hate it when the loading handle goes crunch (or bump).

 

[BigBill]

I leave the 45acp for the 1911's. I recently picked up a ruger vaquero in 45lc with a 7 1/2" barrel in polished stainless. Now i'm like you William i been eyeing a ruger blackhawk in 45lc and a S&W model 25 in 45lc too. I figure since i have one to shoot and reload for why not more? The 45 long colt is part of our american history about the old west too.

BTW; There are special reloading spec's for the ruger super blackhawk in 45 long colt too it will out perform a 44mag ballastic wise. But only for the stronger ruger super blackhawk.

 

[Warren Sear]

... but if I were to buy a .45 revolver, it would be .45 Colt (not sure where the "Long" came from), hands down...

That goes way back into days of yore when the U.S. Army issued 45 Colt and 45 Schofield ammo and revolvers. The 45 Colt cartridge was only usable in the Colt revolvers and was long in comparison to the Schofied cartridge (which was much shorter, and was what the S&W revolvers were chambered in), and that length was the obvious visual distinction between the two. The slang name stuck, and although now redundant and unnecessary, folks know exactly and immediately which cartridge is being referenced. It also totally eliminates any confusion with the 45 ACP or 45 AR cartridges.

BTW, the Colt revolver could chamber either cartridge (although the rim diameter specification of the Schofield was slightly larger in diameter, and sometimes caused difficulty in loading), but the S&W could only chamber the Schofield.

 

[Warren Sear]

... Adding to the mix, that 625JM will also take the no-moonclips-required .45 Auto Rims, which I load to .45 Colt levels with 255gr LSWCs and 250gr Speer Gold Dots! ...

Stainz, I am almost afraid to ask, but HTH are you getting 45 Colt performance out of 45 AR?

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I like them both and i like them both in the same gun. I got one of the new 45LC and had it cut for moon clips, now I can shoot them both.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Even Colt calls it a "Long Colt." That's good enough for me.