Best .45 Colt Ammo
Compare loads for defense, target, competition & more
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.
All .45 Colt Loads
Compare ballistics and prices across 16 products
| PRODUCT ↕ | GRAIN ↕ | VELOCITY ↕ | ENERGY ↕ | BC ↕ | USE CASE ↕ | BEST PRICE ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Atomic .45 Colt 200gr LRNFP Ammo
200gr
• 800 fps
• Competition
|
200gr | 800 | 284 | .125 | Competition | $1.04/rd |
|
Barnes VOR-TX .45 Colt 200gr XPB Ammo
200gr
• 850 fps
• Hunting
|
200gr | 850 | 321 | .145 | Hunting | $1.65/rd |
|
Buffalo Bore Heavy .45 Colt +P 300gr SJFP Ammo
300gr
• 1700 fps
• Hunting
|
300gr | 1700 | 1924 | .165 | Hunting | $2.01/rd |
|
CCI .45 Colt Shotshell #9 Shot Ammo
• 1000 fps
• Hunting
|
— | 1000 | — | — | Hunting | $1.66/rd |
|
CCI Blazer .45 Colt 200gr JHP Ammo
200gr
• 1000 fps
• Self-Defense
|
200gr | 1000 | 444 | .14 | Self-Defense | $1.25/rd |
|
Corbon .45 Colt +P 200gr JHP
200gr
• 1100 fps
• Self-Defense
|
200gr | 1100 | 537 | .13 | Self-Defense | $2.32/rd |
|
DoubleTap .45 Colt +P 255gr HCSW Ammo
255gr
• 1450 fps
• Hunting
|
255gr | 1450 | 1190 | .145 | Hunting | $1.16/rd |
|
DoubleTap Hunter .45 Colt +P 360gr HCSLD Ammo
360gr
• 1200 fps
• Hunting
|
360gr | 1200 | 1151 | .175 | Hunting | $1.24/rd |
|
Federal American Eagle .45 Colt 225gr JSP
225gr
• 860 fps
• Target & Range
|
225gr | 860 | 369 | .135 | Target & Range | $1.57/rd |
|
Federal Champion .45 Colt 225gr LSWCHP
225gr
• 830 fps
• Self-Defense
|
225gr | 830 | 344 | .12 | Self-Defense | $2.67/rd |
|
Fiocchi Cowboy Action .45 Colt 250gr LRNFP Ammo
250gr
• 750 fps
• Competition
|
250gr | 750 | 312 | .14 | Competition | $1.05/rd |
|
Fiocchi Training Dynamics .45 Colt 225gr CMJ Ammo
225gr
• 750 fps
• Target & Range
|
225gr | 750 | 281 | .145 | Target & Range | $1.07/rd |
|
Fort Scott Munitions .45 Colt 225gr TUI Ammo
225gr
• 869 fps
• Self-Defense
|
225gr | 869 | 377 | .12 | Self-Defense | $1.44/rd |
|
Hornady Critical Defense .45 Colt 185gr FTX
185gr
• 920 fps
• Self-Defense
|
185gr | 920 | 348 | .14 | Self-Defense | $2.52/rd |
|
Underwood .45 Colt 225gr Soft Cast HP
225gr
• 1050 fps
• Hunting
|
225gr | 1050 | 551 | .13 | Hunting | $2.37/rd |
|
Winchester Bigbore .45 Colt 250gr JSP Ammo
250gr
• 845 fps
• Hunting
|
250gr | 845 | 396 | .146 | Hunting | $1.42/rd |
.45 Colt Trajectory Calculator
Calculate drop, velocity, and energy at any range
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Excellent accuracy potential
- Wide range of loading options
- Heavy bullets for hunting use
- Mild recoil with standard loads
- Works well in both revolvers and rifles
Cons
- More expensive ammunition than modern cartridges
- Limited firearm options compared to newer rounds
- Heavy bullet weight affects trajectory
- Must be careful with load selection for older revolvers
- Less readily available than more common cartridges