Paul5388
US Veteran
This might be good reading for those who are unaware of a factory short Colt that was made. 45 Short Colt
With 45 Colt's like this, who needs a magnum anything?
- Thread starter Skip Sackett
- Start date
scattershot
Member
Thanks for the link.
Paul5388
US Veteran
Too many people get all fired up over things they haven't research well. As far as I'm concerned, it machs nichts if it's called .45 Colt/Long Colt/LC, since there isn't any question of which round is being referred to.
It really isn't any different than calling the .45 S&W a .45 Schofield, but admittedly, there are three designations for that cartridge, .45 S&W,
.45 S&W Schofield and .45 M1877 ball revolver. All three would also fit a .45 SAA and the M1877 allowed a full cylinder to be loaded.
It really isn't any different than calling the .45 S&W a .45 Schofield, but admittedly, there are three designations for that cartridge, .45 S&W,
.45 S&W Schofield and .45 M1877 ball revolver. All three would also fit a .45 SAA and the M1877 allowed a full cylinder to be loaded.
I understand the 45 Schofield and thats what we called it Scholfiel not short Colt. It became common to say short Colt when those who did not know better starting calling the 45 COlt the Long Colt. Oh well some things one can not change...I think this is one of them...however my two young sons who shoot never refer to them as the long Colt...<vbg>
Charlie
Charlie
Paul5388
US Veteran
Here's what Elmer had to say about the subject.
It's in the bottom right corner of the page and the paragraph extends to page 288.
It's in the bottom right corner of the page and the paragraph extends to page 288.
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Because Colt now calls it 45 Long Colt and it's their cartridge.
Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC
Why does this cartridge being renamed cause such debates when others (ie. 244 Remington, 7 MM Express) do not?
Missionary
Member
Greetings
I will agree the 45 Colt in a modern made revolver is one fine tool. Easily capable of plunking any hunted critter I have ever seen. And put that same round through either of my leverguns and it would hunt any critter on this side of the world.
I enjoy 19 grains of 2400 with a 265 grain WW for all around good shooting. When things need to be serious I get out the 296 or 1680 and stoke-er-up a few notches.
Hard to beat a .45 hole !
I will agree the 45 Colt in a modern made revolver is one fine tool. Easily capable of plunking any hunted critter I have ever seen. And put that same round through either of my leverguns and it would hunt any critter on this side of the world.
I enjoy 19 grains of 2400 with a 265 grain WW for all around good shooting. When things need to be serious I get out the 296 or 1680 and stoke-er-up a few notches.
Hard to beat a .45 hole !
raymeketa
Member
I was "playing" with the 45 Colt long before it became cool. Read my article in HANDLOADER #48. Way back in 1974. My son still has the S&W used in the tests and pictured in the article.
Regarding the long colt, short colt debate - serious cartridge collectors (of which I am one) have concluded that there are only two commercial cartridges. The 45 Colt and the 45 S&W. Any others are either misnamed or variations (including the so-called 45 Govt.) But when the names become entrenched in the vocabulary of shooters they actually become more or less "official" IMHO. I still call it the 45 Long Colt because I grew up in days when both the long and the short case were common. Apparantly, Colt has made it politically correct to call it that also.
Ray
Regarding the long colt, short colt debate - serious cartridge collectors (of which I am one) have concluded that there are only two commercial cartridges. The 45 Colt and the 45 S&W. Any others are either misnamed or variations (including the so-called 45 Govt.) But when the names become entrenched in the vocabulary of shooters they actually become more or less "official" IMHO. I still call it the 45 Long Colt because I grew up in days when both the long and the short case were common. Apparantly, Colt has made it politically correct to call it that also.
Ray
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Arisin Wind
Member
I bought my first handgun in early 1974 - a 45 Ruger Blackhawk. I put some smokin' loads through it and and have been a 45 Colt fan since. My most accurate revolver is a 6 inch 25-5. That gun will shoot the X ring at 25 yards all day long. I've put some stout loads through it as well - but not as stout as the loads for my Blackhawks and Redhawk.
Here's my 45's minus my Winchester 94AE in 45 Colt.
My Redhawk and 25-5 holstered. A fine pair of revolvers. Wouldn't hesitate to take them anywhere.
Here's my 45's minus my Winchester 94AE in 45 Colt.
My Redhawk and 25-5 holstered. A fine pair of revolvers. Wouldn't hesitate to take them anywhere.
longranger
Member
My second revolver in 30 years was a Colt Anaconda 6" in .45 Colt.The other revolver was Ruger B/H 7.5" in .41 Mag.I could never shoot that gun very well,41. Mag is not a good cartridge to learn to shoot a handgun with.
The Anaconda in .45 Colt allowed me to shoot a less recoil generating cartridge and be successful in learning how to shoot a handgun.It is the road I ended up on, certainly much better cartridges for learning the finer points of revolver shooting are out there. I have now added 14revolvers to my safe from.38 S&W to a new Model 57 and can now shoot all of them with a degree of proficiency that I never enjoyed before my early and recent experience with the .45 Colt.That Anaconda has recently eclisped my Model 19 6" for dead rest 5 shot group @ 15 yds.,nearly a one hole group with 255gr LSWC and 5.0 gr of Auto Comp.
The Anaconda in .45 Colt allowed me to shoot a less recoil generating cartridge and be successful in learning how to shoot a handgun.It is the road I ended up on, certainly much better cartridges for learning the finer points of revolver shooting are out there. I have now added 14revolvers to my safe from.38 S&W to a new Model 57 and can now shoot all of them with a degree of proficiency that I never enjoyed before my early and recent experience with the .45 Colt.That Anaconda has recently eclisped my Model 19 6" for dead rest 5 shot group @ 15 yds.,nearly a one hole group with 255gr LSWC and 5.0 gr of Auto Comp.
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If I shot Colt SAA's in 45 Colt, or shot 45 Colt in Cowboy Action, then I can see the need for a S&W in 45 Colt...
But, anything you can do with a S&W in 45 Colt, you can do with a S&W in 44 Mag, and you can go to full power 44 mag loads as well.
IF you do not need full power 44 Mag loads then I would much rather have a S&W revolver in 45 ACP/Auto Rim.
You can load it up to the equal of a 45 Colt S&W and there a BUNCH of good factory loads avialable, and full moon clips are the fastest revolver reload.
But, anything you can do with a S&W in 45 Colt, you can do with a S&W in 44 Mag, and you can go to full power 44 mag loads as well.
IF you do not need full power 44 Mag loads then I would much rather have a S&W revolver in 45 ACP/Auto Rim.
You can load it up to the equal of a 45 Colt S&W and there a BUNCH of good factory loads avialable, and full moon clips are the fastest revolver reload.
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DonD
Member
I'll just add that I too have spoken with John Linebaugh in the past and like others said, he's patient, very cordial and certainly very knowledgeable. Don
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Wowsers!
I know I am late to the 45Colt "Ruger Only" loads. I am kicking myself for waiting so long to get into them! Now what I need is a M625 in 45Colt! Next on the list!
At any rate, I went to the range with some "whompers" this morning. I used my 230gr LRN from a Saeco mould and a bunch (don't want to post how much) of WC820 underneath them.
I shot them out of the Ruger convertible and left the Puma at home.
I was surprised to see the velocity to say the least! They weren't too consistent, 102fps ES but they were impressive in recoil and recoil!
From the 5 1/2" barrel, I got an average of 1470fps! From a 45 caliber handgun! With a 230gr bullet!
WOWSERS!
Accuracy was OK, nothing to write home about.
I think the consistency can be worked on by using a heavier bullet. Any more powder and I can't seat the bullet!
(Just kidding) It would be a compressed load though.
WC820 is a military surplus powder that was designed for the 30 Carbine. My powder lot is supposed to burn like H110.
John Linebaugh says that 26gr is "THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM" with a 260gr bullet. With this lighter one, I went a tad over that. I'm not going any higher.
From now on, it's at least a 240gr bullet for me!
I know I am late to the 45Colt "Ruger Only" loads. I am kicking myself for waiting so long to get into them! Now what I need is a M625 in 45Colt! Next on the list!
At any rate, I went to the range with some "whompers" this morning. I used my 230gr LRN from a Saeco mould and a bunch (don't want to post how much) of WC820 underneath them.
I shot them out of the Ruger convertible and left the Puma at home.
I was surprised to see the velocity to say the least! They weren't too consistent, 102fps ES but they were impressive in recoil and recoil!
From the 5 1/2" barrel, I got an average of 1470fps! From a 45 caliber handgun! With a 230gr bullet!
WOWSERS!
Accuracy was OK, nothing to write home about.
I think the consistency can be worked on by using a heavier bullet. Any more powder and I can't seat the bullet!
(Just kidding) It would be a compressed load though.WC820 is a military surplus powder that was designed for the 30 Carbine. My powder lot is supposed to burn like H110.
John Linebaugh says that 26gr is "THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM" with a 260gr bullet. With this lighter one, I went a tad over that. I'm not going any higher.
From now on, it's at least a 240gr bullet for me!
It's odd how all the brass I have says "45 Colt" on the base. None say, 45LC or 45 Long Colt nor does Colt's SAA say anything but 45 Colt on the barrel. I don't know how this 45 LC thing got started anyway.
Whatever it's called today, it's still one of the few that has lasted past the century mark in full production today as factory loaded ammo and components are still out there from brass to bullets. Speer's #14 manual devotes over 15 pages to it so, there still must be a kindred spirit for those who love this old grand dad cartridge.
I'd bet a years supply of primers there won't be a 357 Sig or 45 Gap 100 years down the road.
Whatever it's called today, it's still one of the few that has lasted past the century mark in full production today as factory loaded ammo and components are still out there from brass to bullets. Speer's #14 manual devotes over 15 pages to it so, there still must be a kindred spirit for those who love this old grand dad cartridge.
I'd bet a years supply of primers there won't be a 357 Sig or 45 Gap 100 years down the road.
Boxhead
Member
Throwing 325 gr LFN's at 1500 fps is not a problem in my Ruger.
bwickens
Member
I've got to agree with everything NE450No.2 wrote, but I have a .45 Colt Mountain Gun because I WANTED one, not because I needed one. And now that I have one, I really, REALLY like it. Now I just "need" a good single action to pair it with, maybe a USFA SAA, or a New Model Vaquero.
As for a mild, factory duplication load, my RCBS Uniflow doesn't like Unique. Meters it inconsistently. It does like HS-6 and throws the same charge each and every time. With 255 grain Hornady RNFPs, that charge would be 11.5 grains for 830 fps.
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Throwing 325 gr LFN's at 1500 fps is not a problem in my Ruger.
I've shot a few of those loads in my FA97 and it was not pleasant at all.
