.45 Colt Ammo Overview

The .45 Colt represents one of America's most historic and enduring cartridges. Introduced in 1873 as the official military handgun cartridge, it earned its reputation on the American frontier and continues to serve modern shooters. Originally designed for black powder, the cartridge has evolved into a versatile round capable of both mild cowboy loads and, in modern strong revolvers, magnum-level hunting performance.

Today's .45 Colt serves multiple roles: a main staple of cowboy action shooting, a potent hunting cartridge in strong modern revolvers, and a reliable defensive round. Its large case capacity allows for a wide range of loadings, from soft-shooting target loads to heavy outdoor loads rivaling the .44 Magnum in proper firearms. This versatility, combined with its historic significance, maintains its popularity among diverse groups of shooters.

What .45 Colt Does Best

Cowboy Action Shooting

The .45 Colt excels in Cowboy Action Shooting, where its historic authenticity and mild recoil with standard loads make it a popular choice. The cartridge's inherent accuracy and ability to make major power factor with relatively light recoil gives competitors an advantage. The ability to use the same ammunition in both revolvers and rifles simplifies competition logistics.

Big Game Hunting

In modern strong revolvers like the Ruger Blackhawk and T.C. Contender, the .45 Colt can be loaded to impressive velocities suitable for large game hunting. These "Ruger-only" loads can match or exceed .44 Magnum performance, while the heavy bullets provide excellent penetration. The cartridge is particularly effective in lever-action rifles, where it serves as an excellent deer and bear cartridge.

Traditional Shooting

For shooters who appreciate traditional firearms and historical authenticity, the .45 Colt offers an unmatched connection to America's frontier heritage. The cartridge works exceptionally well with cast lead bullets, allowing handloaders to recreate historic loads or develop specialized loads for specific applications. Its mild recoil with standard loads makes it enjoyable for recreational shooting.

Popular Manufacturers

Standard/Cowboy Loads

• Winchester: Cowboy Action
• Federal: Champion
• Black Hills: Cowboy
• Hornady: Cowboy
• Fiocchi: Cowboy

High-Power Loads

• Buffalo Bore: Heavy Outdoorsman
• HSM: Bear Load
• Double Tap: Hunter
• Garrett: Supreme
• Underwood: Maximum

.45 Colt History

The .45 Colt was developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver and adopted by the U.S. military in 1873. It quickly earned a reputation as a powerful and reliable cartridge during the American frontier era. The original black powder load featured a 255-grain lead bullet over 40 grains of black powder.

After serving as the standard military sidearm cartridge until 1892, the .45 Colt remained popular in civilian use. The advent of smokeless powder allowed for improved performance, though pressures were kept modest for use in original Colt revolvers. The introduction of stronger modern revolvers, particularly the Ruger Blackhawk in the 1950s, allowed for much higher pressure loads.

The rise of Cowboy Action Shooting in the 1980s brought renewed interest in the cartridge. This led to increased production of both firearms and ammunition, including specialized low-velocity loads for competition use. Simultaneously, the development of high-pressure hunting loads for strong modern revolvers expanded the cartridge's versatility.

Today, the .45 Colt continues to serve multiple roles: a competition cartridge, a powerful hunting round in appropriate firearms, and a historic favorite among traditional shooters. Its adaptability to both mild and powerful loads, combined with excellent accuracy potential, ensures its continued popularity among diverse groups of shooters.