mjr
Member
It worked for George Custer and the Seventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn. 'Nuff said?
No, wait....
Can Someone Explain to Me The Appeal of the .45 Colt
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It worked for George Custer and the Seventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn. 'Nuff said?
No, wait....
Wyatt Burp
Member
Pick up a classic Colt SAA in .45 Colt and run some blackpowder handloads through it, as close to 40 grains as you can get in there, then come back and we'll talk about the classic old pumpkin roller. You'll be thrilled being enveloped in that cloud of smoke that made those guys at the OK Corral find it so difficult to hit people shooting back at them at ten yards. And recoil will have that gun aiming at the sky.
I think to fully enjoy the 45 Colt you must reload. You make the point that you can shoot 44 specials in your 44 mag. Well if you reload you can do the same with 45 Colt mild to wild!
Here is a target shot with my 25-7 in 45 Colt 10 yards rested 255 gr LSWC over 5.9 gr of Trail Boss
25-7
Wild 45 Colt loads with vintage speer 4477 200 gr flying ashtrays over 10.6 gr W231
I'm a big fan of .45 Colt. You have to handload or buy custom loadings to get the most power out of it, but I really love shooting the lower powered stuff too. It's quite versatile.
RobertJ.
Member
If I already have this _____(fill in the blank), why would I need that _____? (fill in this blank also).
If I have a .30-06, why would I need a .30-30? Maybe because it does the job I need it to do.
I only have 1 .45 Colt, a modified New Service. I don't carry it much, and only shoot it once in a while. It is my most unique handgun, born around 1916, originally .455 Ely, then wound up in the hands of an American sailor. It's my little piece of Gun History.
If you shoot a .45 Colt often, you'd better reload!
If I have a .30-06, why would I need a .30-30? Maybe because it does the job I need it to do.
I only have 1 .45 Colt, a modified New Service. I don't carry it much, and only shoot it once in a while. It is my most unique handgun, born around 1916, originally .455 Ely, then wound up in the hands of an American sailor. It's my little piece of Gun History.
If you shoot a .45 Colt often, you'd better reload!
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
I think it's good hunting ethics to hunt with something that's accurate and powerful for a one bullet, one shot kill. I respect the animal and it deserves a quick kill.
I do admit with yotes around all the time at my camp my outhouse gun was my 1911 in 45acp for the only reason I could kill many of them if they were close.
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yashua-p
Member
Your loss...don't shoot it.
Regards,
yashua
Regards,
yashua
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
1. Moon clips. The $1 speed loader.
2. Ammo. More available and cheaper. And maybe the guy with a 1911 doesn't want to fuss with another caliber for his revolver.
Personally, I've been paining over what I want for my "big boomer." .44 Magnum or .45 Colt. Since I reload, the only downside to the .45 I can figure is that I don't usually find much .45 brass for free at the range.
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Why a .45 Colt?
In my case it's simply because I like owning and shooting a cartridge that's been in constant use for 140 years. In this day and age of "instant obsolescence" that means something to me. The cartridge is just as good and effective as it ever was, maybe more so.
In my case it's simply because I like owning and shooting a cartridge that's been in constant use for 140 years. In this day and age of "instant obsolescence" that means something to me. The cartridge is just as good and effective as it ever was, maybe more so.
1. Moon clips. The $1 speed loader.
2. Ammo. More available and cheaper. And maybe the guy with a 1911 doesn't want to fuss with another caliber for his revolver.
Personally, I've been paining over what I want for my "big boomer." .44 Magnum or .45 Colt. Since I reload, the only downside to the .45 I can figure is that I don't usually find much .45 brass for free at the range.
Starline has reasonable brass prices, I think I paid $145 for 1000 pieces of new brass the last time I bought some.
mc5aw
Member
The .45 Long Colt is a historical cartridge, and has nostalgic appeal as much as for its proven performance and pistol/rifle capability. Additionally, the LC, .44-40, and .44 simply look right in a SA chamber, whereas the .45 ACP looks woefully out of place. And the LC is quite at home in a modern revolver like the Mountain Gun. Quite a few people didn't (and still don't) get the .44 Special. Their loss, same as with the .45 LC.
+1
Kinda how I feel.
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my newest in the 45 lc lineup is that rossi short (24in) lever action ...have not fired it yet....it's my first rossi 
i have a LOT of respect for the 45lc however
i have a LOT of respect for the 45lc however
rcnixon
Member
I have a very nice .45 Colt Model 25-9 that is my first S&W. I was looking for a Model 17 but this one happened to be in the case at the GS. I made the grievous error of saying "let me look at that one". Money changed hands shortly thereafter. The cylinder is a bit plum-colored but I don't care.
I reload so it takes some of the sting out of .45 Colt ammo prices.
Russ
I reload so it takes some of the sting out of .45 Colt ammo prices.
Russ
Gyrene6891
US Veteran
Why 45 Colt? Same reason I have a 44 Magnum, 45 ACP, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 357 Sig, 9 MM, 22 LR, 5.56, 223, 300 Blackout/Whisper. Cause I like to shoot them all!
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I think that these days with the lack of ammo available and all that, having any gun that can shoot more then one kind of ammo is a plus. If you want to shoot and can't find ammo then its a bummer. I just bought a 460 with a 14" barrel and the main reason I chose it over others is I can shoot 460,45colt, and 454.
VAdoublegunner
Member
I have revolvers both in 45 Colt and 45ACP.
I guess there are some folks who would ask, similarly, why would anyone want a revolver in 45ACP, since the cartridge will do the same thing in an automatic pistol. There, afterall, isn't much room for improvement, especially with factory loads, and considering the barrel/cylinder gap the autopistol may even have a slight ballistics advantage, not to mention holding a lot more rounds.
There is certainly a cost difference between the two for factory ammo, particularly the more mundane varieties, although when you get into more exotic loadings maybe not so much.
But if you handload for either, you will quickly find the 45 Colt is superior for heavier bullet weights while maintaining a velocity advantage. One of my favorite bullets for anything, particularly hunting, is the RCBS 45-270SAA. This bullet is probably one of the finest revolver hunting bullets yet created, stable, good meplat, accurate, straight penetrating, and when its typical 282gr weight is loaded to 950-1000fps (obtainable within standard pressures suitable for S&W revolvers) not only does it exceed any 45ACP ballistics, but is quite capable of any reasonable task asked of it for 2 or 4 legged purposes. And with less blast, flash and wear and tear on the shooter than a 44Mag. I don't believe that bullet is available commercially in the 45ACP or 45AR. Brian Pearce indicated in Handloader #251 that he had loaded it in 45AR to 885fps at 45ACP+p pressures with Power Pistol, but it's a lot easier to do it, and 'mo better', in 45 Colt. Any heavier bullets and you are out of luck with 45ACP.
So if you stick strictly to factory ammo and don't mind paying the cost for more exotic factory ammo, and have no desire to handload, there remains only a slight advantage of 45 Colt over 45ACP. BUT if you do handload, there are many wonderous and wonderful things that it can do for you compared to the 45ACP, all with less blast and recoil than 44 Mag which some shooters find objectionable or beyond their skill level to master. I like the 44Mag, have and shoot a number of them and not with light loads either. But when shooting e.g. a 5.5" 44 Mag Vaquero with factory loads and the same gun in 45 Colt with a 282gr bullet at 1000fps, or for that matter say a 4" S&W 629 vs a 4" Model 25, you _will_ notice the difference. Yet either will do most comparable tasks equally well for most practical purposes.
I guess there are some folks who would ask, similarly, why would anyone want a revolver in 45ACP, since the cartridge will do the same thing in an automatic pistol. There, afterall, isn't much room for improvement, especially with factory loads, and considering the barrel/cylinder gap the autopistol may even have a slight ballistics advantage, not to mention holding a lot more rounds.
There is certainly a cost difference between the two for factory ammo, particularly the more mundane varieties, although when you get into more exotic loadings maybe not so much.
But if you handload for either, you will quickly find the 45 Colt is superior for heavier bullet weights while maintaining a velocity advantage. One of my favorite bullets for anything, particularly hunting, is the RCBS 45-270SAA. This bullet is probably one of the finest revolver hunting bullets yet created, stable, good meplat, accurate, straight penetrating, and when its typical 282gr weight is loaded to 950-1000fps (obtainable within standard pressures suitable for S&W revolvers) not only does it exceed any 45ACP ballistics, but is quite capable of any reasonable task asked of it for 2 or 4 legged purposes. And with less blast, flash and wear and tear on the shooter than a 44Mag. I don't believe that bullet is available commercially in the 45ACP or 45AR. Brian Pearce indicated in Handloader #251 that he had loaded it in 45AR to 885fps at 45ACP+p pressures with Power Pistol, but it's a lot easier to do it, and 'mo better', in 45 Colt. Any heavier bullets and you are out of luck with 45ACP.
So if you stick strictly to factory ammo and don't mind paying the cost for more exotic factory ammo, and have no desire to handload, there remains only a slight advantage of 45 Colt over 45ACP. BUT if you do handload, there are many wonderous and wonderful things that it can do for you compared to the 45ACP, all with less blast and recoil than 44 Mag which some shooters find objectionable or beyond their skill level to master. I like the 44Mag, have and shoot a number of them and not with light loads either. But when shooting e.g. a 5.5" 44 Mag Vaquero with factory loads and the same gun in 45 Colt with a 282gr bullet at 1000fps, or for that matter say a 4" S&W 629 vs a 4" Model 25, you _will_ notice the difference. Yet either will do most comparable tasks equally well for most practical purposes.
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The .45 Colt ("Long Colt") has endured for over 140 and is STILL a GREAT cartridge. It is the cartridge we grew up with in all the Westerns from the 50's and 60's. It fits all the guns that we played with as kids.
Loaded up properly, it can be "a low end 44 Magnum" in rifles, and strong handguns (not the Colt SAA). It can also be down loaded for older and traditional guns and is widely used in Cowboy Action Shooting. Most people I know that shoot this round and own guns of this caliber, reload it because of the versatility and economics of the round.
Loaded up properly, it can be "a low end 44 Magnum" in rifles, and strong handguns (not the Colt SAA). It can also be down loaded for older and traditional guns and is widely used in Cowboy Action Shooting. Most people I know that shoot this round and own guns of this caliber, reload it because of the versatility and economics of the round.
