.45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges
Learn more about .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges
Looking to find out more about firearms before you apply for your SAPS firearm licence? Learn all there is to know about .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges right here.
This cartridge was adopted by the US Army in 1873 for the legendary Colt Single Action Army 'Peacemaker' revolver. This is yet another cartridge that was originally a black-powder design. This cartridge is still very popular today, used in many derringers and cowboy action revolvers.
.45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges |
 |
| Cartridge Specifications | |||
| Case Type: | Rimmed, straight | ||
| Introduced: | 1872 | Made For: | Revolver |
| Cart Len: | 1.600-in | Case Len: | 1.285-in |
| Case Dia: | 0.480-in | Bul Dia: | 0.456-in |
| Ballistics measured with: |
| 4-inch revolver barrel |
| Cartridge Variants: | |||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy | |
| From: | 165 gr | 1100 ft/sec | 443 ft-lbs |
| To: | 255 gr | 860 ft/sec | 420 ft-lbs |
| Cartridge Used in Database | ||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy |
| 250 gr | 850 ft/sec | 401 ft-lbs |
| Rankings for Cartridge Used in Database | |||
| PF: | 212500 | TKO: | 13.843 |
**See below for further reference regarding the power rankings listed in the tables above:
MV-Muzzle Velocity
Muzzle velocity when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in feet-per-second.
ME-Muzzle Energy
Muzzle energy when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in foot-pounds.
PF-Power Factor
In shooting competition the Power Factor is used to determine the competitive division in which a particular handgun/cartridge can be used. A simple calculation of the bullet's mass times its muzzle velocity.
PF = bull. mass x muzzle vel.
TKO-Taylor Knock Out Formula
Developed by big-game hunter John Howard Taylor in the 1940's. Calculates the relative effectiveness of bullets for hunting game.
TKO = (bull. mass x muzzle vel. x bull. dia.)/7000
Link back to the main table listing of handgun and rifle cartridges HERE.
