.45 Colt

Not to be confused with .45 ACP.
This article is about the ammo weapon. For other uses, see Colt 45.
.45 Colt
TypeRevolver
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1873–1892
Used byUnited States
WarsIndian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Moro Rebellion
Production history
DesignerU.S. Army
Designed1872
Produced1873–present
Variants.45 Colt +P
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.452 in (11.5 mm)
Neck diameter.480 in (12.2 mm)
Base diameter.480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter.512 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thickness.060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length1.285 in (32.6 mm)
Overall length1.600 in (40.6 mm)
Case capacity41.60 gr H2O (2.696 cm3)
Rifling twist1 in 16 in (410 mm)
Primer typeLarge Pistol
Maximum pressure (CIP)15,900 psi (110 MPa)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)14,000 psi (97 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
160 gr (10 g) TAC XP, Double Tap 1,125 ft/s (343 m/s) 450 ft⋅lbf (610 J)
200 gr (13 g) JHP, Buffalo Bore 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) 444 ft⋅lbf (602 J)
250 gr (16 g) Nosler JHP, Double Tap 900 ft/s (270 m/s) 450 ft⋅lbf (610 J)
300 gr (19 g) JSP +P, Cor-Bon 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) 1,126 ft⋅lbf (1,527 J)
360 gr (23 g) Nosler JHP +P, Double Tap 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) 1,151 ft⋅lbf (1,561 J)

The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), often called the .45 Long Colt, is a rimmed straight-walled handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as an official US military handgun cartridge for 19 years, before being replaced by the .38 Long Colt in 1892. Although there has never been a ".45 Short Colt" cartridge, the .45 Colt is frequently called the ".45 Long Colt" (.45 LC) to better distinguish it from the shorter and less powerful .45 Schofield cartridge, which was also in use around the same time as the .45 Colt.