45LC VS. 45Colt
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Low Key
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They are, in fact, the same thing. I saw the history of the 45 colt/45LC in a thread on the firing line, but the short story is that it is 2 names for the same animal.
I've never been entirely clear on this, but .45 Long Colt is a low pressure, black powder equivalent round, right? All factory loads (or maybe I should say all loading specs) make it safe to use in a frame designed for black powder and we don't need to go seeking out special low power loads?
Low Key
Member
The original 45 colt load in black powder was 40gr of bp under a 225gr lead conical. Recoil was a bear, so the load was dropped to 35gr bp under the same slug. The original load was at least equal in power to the modern 44 mag. You can find modern smokeless loads to equal these original loads or load your own bp cartridges. Its recommended that if you are going to shoot the modern smokeless 45 colt in a bp revolver to go with the cowboy loads, which are loaded light for less recoil and to stay under the velocity limitations of SASS.
This is just info I've picked up reading other threads over the past months and I know someone who knows much more than me will jump in here to provide a better explanation.
This is just info I've picked up reading other threads over the past months and I know someone who knows much more than me will jump in here to provide a better explanation.
Vern Humphrey
Member
That is correct. The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) have established a pressure level for the .45 Colt that is safe with the earliest SAAs made (14,000 Copper Units of Pressure.)
There are some factory loads (for example, Cor Bon) which are designed for use on more modern firearms and carry a warning on the box. Similarly, if you go to loading manuals, you will often see the .45 Colt in two different sections -- one for "traditional" loads, and one for more modern firearms.
In general, the .45 Colt can be loaded to four levels -- 14,000 CUP for older SAAs, up to 19,000 CUP for Colt New Service revolvers. up to about 21,000 CUP for modern S&Ws, and up to 32,000 CUP for Ruger Blackhawk, older Vaqueros, and T/C pistols.
Spec ops Grunt
Member
To some people .45 Colt is synomys with the .45 ACP or the .45 LC.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I assume you mean the Ruger Old Army. Yes, it is perfectly safe with standard .45 Colt or .45 ACP loads.
ewb45acp
Member
Yes
The schofield round will work in a Colt (long colt) chamber.
The schofield round will work in a Colt (long colt) chamber.
MCgunner
Member
In no way is the original .45 Colt BP load even close to .44 mags, more like .44 specials. The hottest loads available for the Ruger Blackhawk only are pretty close to .44 mag loads, but don't shoot those in your old Colt! Black powder can't push those pressure levels. That takes hefty charges of relatively slow burning smokeless pistol powders, like Aliant 2400 or W296. You'll turn an old BP era Colt and perhaps a modern replica SAA into scrap metal with that sort of pressure.
And, I've heard of a fifth level for the .45 colt in the gun world, for the Freedom Arms revolvers. They push pressures that you wouldn't believe, but the gun can handle it. Freedom arms guns are built for the statospheric pressures of the original .454 Casull.
Jim Watson
Member
You got some funny answers here. There is no commonality between .45 Colt and .45 ACP and they are NOT interchangeable. The Kirst and R&D conversion cylinders are for .45 Colt and will handle .45 S&W Schofield. Period. They do NOT shoot .45 ACP. I think one company made a few specifically for .45 ACP but they discontinued them and blew out the remainder a while back.
.45 Colt black powder will get a 250 grain bullet into the 900+ fps range out of a long barrel which is powerful but not a magnum level load.
.45 Colt black powder will get a 250 grain bullet into the 900+ fps range out of a long barrel which is powerful but not a magnum level load.
Ferret
Member
45 ACP doesnt have the rim that 45 Colt or 45 Schofield has. Put ACP in a chamber meant for the 45 Colt and it will just slide around in the chamber. Hit the primer with the guns hammer and the round will start flying forward before it even goes off... this is BAD and can/may/will blow your cylinder.
Low Key
Member
You're right, my mistake...
, I rechecked the ballistics table I was looking at and I was reading off the wrong line when I posted. The table is an older printing (1998) and is printed very tiny. I still have good eyes, but not as good as they used to be. Thanks for catching me on that one and making me recheck my info.MCgunner
Member
.45 ACP is smaller diameter than the .45 colt and not only will it not head space (no rim), it'll drop right through a .45 colt chamber. The fact that it won't work will be blatantly obvious.
The .45ACP, like a lot of semi auto cartridges, head spaces on the lip front of the case. There is a little step inside the chamber for head spacing. It is rimless. .45 colts head space on the rim and there is no lip in the chambers.
There were some Blackhawks with dual cylinders available in the past that would shoot both rounds from the same gun, but they're not available now. Another difference in the past was that .45 colt barrels/bullets were .454". That hasn't been the case in the last 60 years, pretty much have standardized on .451" just like the ACP round.
I see no real reason to care to shoot .45ACP in a single action revolver. In a DA, the moon clips make for quick reloads, can be an advantage especially in competitions that require reloads. But, in a single action, I'd as soon just shoot the big Colt. I handload, so I can load 'em however I want. I have two .45 colt loads for my Blackhawk, one pushing a 255 grain flat nose at about 900, basic BP equivalent or a little more. The other pushes a 300 grain Horandy XTP JHP to 1200 fps out of a 4 5/8" barrel, a powerful load capable of bringing down some heavy game and in the .44 magnum range for power. The lighter load is more pleasant to shoot, obviously.
I really don't see why anyone would want to butcher a beautiful Old Army cap and ball to chamber it for .45 Colt. Just buy a blackhawk, heck-u-va gun there. You can get it with a 6 1/2 inch barrel if you want a long tube, long enough, or you can get it in 7 1/2 inch I believe in the Vaquero. My Blackhawk in .45 Colt is one of my favorite outdoor guns, especially if I'm hiking in bear country or hog hunting.
To me, the very reason for owning an Old Army is because it's a front loader. It's a danged accurate front loader and it makes a great back up for hunting game when you can only hunt with black powder, which I find cool. I've owned an Old Army for about 30 years and love to shoot the things. For hunting back up, I shoot a cylinder full of Pyrodex P behind the Lee 220 rain conical hollow point. It pushes around 900 fps, nothing to sneeze at! I had a stainless one that got ripped off and replaced it with a blued one. I'd like another stainless one someday as it was so easy to care for and clean up after shooting, just pop in the dish washer after pulling the cylinder.
The .45ACP, like a lot of semi auto cartridges, head spaces on the lip front of the case. There is a little step inside the chamber for head spacing. It is rimless. .45 colts head space on the rim and there is no lip in the chambers.
There were some Blackhawks with dual cylinders available in the past that would shoot both rounds from the same gun, but they're not available now. Another difference in the past was that .45 colt barrels/bullets were .454". That hasn't been the case in the last 60 years, pretty much have standardized on .451" just like the ACP round.
I see no real reason to care to shoot .45ACP in a single action revolver. In a DA, the moon clips make for quick reloads, can be an advantage especially in competitions that require reloads. But, in a single action, I'd as soon just shoot the big Colt. I handload, so I can load 'em however I want. I have two .45 colt loads for my Blackhawk, one pushing a 255 grain flat nose at about 900, basic BP equivalent or a little more. The other pushes a 300 grain Horandy XTP JHP to 1200 fps out of a 4 5/8" barrel, a powerful load capable of bringing down some heavy game and in the .44 magnum range for power. The lighter load is more pleasant to shoot, obviously.
I really don't see why anyone would want to butcher a beautiful Old Army cap and ball to chamber it for .45 Colt. Just buy a blackhawk, heck-u-va gun there. You can get it with a 6 1/2 inch barrel if you want a long tube, long enough, or you can get it in 7 1/2 inch I believe in the Vaquero. My Blackhawk in .45 Colt is one of my favorite outdoor guns, especially if I'm hiking in bear country or hog hunting.
To me, the very reason for owning an Old Army is because it's a front loader. It's a danged accurate front loader and it makes a great back up for hunting game when you can only hunt with black powder, which I find cool. I've owned an Old Army for about 30 years and love to shoot the things. For hunting back up, I shoot a cylinder full of Pyrodex P behind the Lee 220 rain conical hollow point. It pushes around 900 fps, nothing to sneeze at! I had a stainless one that got ripped off and replaced it with a blued one. I'd like another stainless one someday as it was so easy to care for and clean up after shooting, just pop in the dish washer after pulling the cylinder.
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