Mike Irwin
Member
"BTW - You're STILL at the 'puter at THIS time of night??????
(GO TO BED!!!!!!!!)"
4 hours of sleep a night, every night.
It's the law...
(GO TO BED!!!!!!!!)"
4 hours of sleep a night, every night.
It's the law...
.45 Long Colt popularity, or lack of?
- Thread starter valnar
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I own a lot of handloading equipment, but that Lee handpress is a neat piece of gear. It is very inexpensive and I think it is a great way to get into handloading. It isn't fast, but it is convienient. I primarily use mine to size cases in front of the TV although I have taken it to work and snuck off into a dark corner to size cases. I have mainly used it in .223. Factory ammo in that caliber is very cheap, it costs about the same as handloading, but being a handloader I couldn't just leave the brass laying around. I figured if the price was the same the time taken to handload wasn't worth it, but if I could do it while I was relaxing in front of the TV, why not ? Back when all I had was a single stage press, I frequently sized and primed all my empty cases as time premitted. Then when I wanted to load some ammo, it was simple and fast since I had a big bag of sized and primed cases. Just add powder and bullet.
I think those handpresses go for less than $30. You would also need a set of dies and at least a powder scoop which I believe comes with Lee dies. There is a priming attachment for the handpress, which I have but have never tried. If you wanted to upgrade slowly, you could buy a powder scale, a handpriming tool, and a powder measure as time and funds dictate. Then if you ever decided to buy a bench mounted press you would have some of the items that you would use no matter how you eventually decided to load. The dies, priming tool, powder measure and scale would be just as useful if you ever decided to upgrade. Handloading does not have to be expensive or equipment intensive although it certainly can be if that is what you want.
After reading a recent thread on Elmer Keith, I ordered several of his books from Amazon. I am currently reading Sixgun Cartridges and Loads published in 1936. I found it amusing that he discusses many of the topics that come up on here. He even devoted a couple paragraphs to the small rim on the .45 Colt case. He talks about the weak factory loads in this caliber and the poor factory bullets. Something that I was surprised about is the power of the .45 Colt loaded with blackpowder. I believe he was using a 255 grain bullet loaded with 35 grains of FFFG blackpowder. He tells the tale of shooting a mountain goat. He hit it something like 10 or 12 times with some shots at 300 yards !!!!! He says every shot went right thorugh it-even the long range shots and blames the number of shots taken to bring it down on the poor bullet design used by the factory ammo. By the way, even in 1936 he uses the term .45 Colt and never mentions "Long".
I have gotten in numerous discussions about the .45 Colt and almost always had to specify that I was talking about the revolver cartridge and not .45 ACP. So, I guess there is a valid reason for using the term "long Colt". It gets on my nerves for some reason, but it makes sense from a communication standpoint.
I think those handpresses go for less than $30. You would also need a set of dies and at least a powder scoop which I believe comes with Lee dies. There is a priming attachment for the handpress, which I have but have never tried. If you wanted to upgrade slowly, you could buy a powder scale, a handpriming tool, and a powder measure as time and funds dictate. Then if you ever decided to buy a bench mounted press you would have some of the items that you would use no matter how you eventually decided to load. The dies, priming tool, powder measure and scale would be just as useful if you ever decided to upgrade. Handloading does not have to be expensive or equipment intensive although it certainly can be if that is what you want.
After reading a recent thread on Elmer Keith, I ordered several of his books from Amazon. I am currently reading Sixgun Cartridges and Loads published in 1936. I found it amusing that he discusses many of the topics that come up on here. He even devoted a couple paragraphs to the small rim on the .45 Colt case. He talks about the weak factory loads in this caliber and the poor factory bullets. Something that I was surprised about is the power of the .45 Colt loaded with blackpowder. I believe he was using a 255 grain bullet loaded with 35 grains of FFFG blackpowder. He tells the tale of shooting a mountain goat. He hit it something like 10 or 12 times with some shots at 300 yards !!!!! He says every shot went right thorugh it-even the long range shots and blames the number of shots taken to bring it down on the poor bullet design used by the factory ammo. By the way, even in 1936 he uses the term .45 Colt and never mentions "Long".
I have gotten in numerous discussions about the .45 Colt and almost always had to specify that I was talking about the revolver cartridge and not .45 ACP. So, I guess there is a valid reason for using the term "long Colt". It gets on my nerves for some reason, but it makes sense from a communication standpoint.
FYI, Smith is currently producing wonderful, beautiful, a four-inch barrel, .45 Colt, Mountain Gun (the 625-9). I absolutely love mine: a work of art, very accurate, excellent quality/fit/finish, and employs the versatile .45 "long" Colt round.
Image of this revolver can be found in: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=43205
Image of this revolver can be found in: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=43205
Mike Irwin
Member
You know, I really don't know why people get such a case of ??? over whether it's .45 Long Colt, or .45 Colt.
Sit back for just a second and use the mush in the coconut that God gave us and THINK for a moment how many common cartridges there are that have two, three, or even more names that are variations on a theme!
9mm Luger
9x19
9mm Parabellum
Does that bother anyone?
8mm Mauser
7.92x57 Mauser
Ticked off?
.38 Special
.38 S&W Special
.38 Colt Special
Bugged yet?
9mm Makarov
9x18
Eyes bulging, bloodpressure increasing?
.45 Auto
.45 ACP
.45 Colt Automatic
Steam coming out your ears?
.45 Colt
.45 Long Colt
.45, Model of 1873 (I saw that reference once, a long time ago, and it was referring to the ammunition, but it's not common. Just a toss in.).
BLAM!
Huh. Looks like the tops of several skulls have blown out...
Sit back for just a second and use the mush in the coconut that God gave us and THINK for a moment how many common cartridges there are that have two, three, or even more names that are variations on a theme!
9mm Luger
9x19
9mm Parabellum
Does that bother anyone?
8mm Mauser
7.92x57 Mauser
Ticked off?
.38 Special
.38 S&W Special
.38 Colt Special
Bugged yet?
9mm Makarov
9x18
Eyes bulging, bloodpressure increasing?
.45 Auto
.45 ACP
.45 Colt Automatic
Steam coming out your ears?
.45 Colt
.45 Long Colt
.45, Model of 1873 (I saw that reference once, a long time ago, and it was referring to the ammunition, but it's not common. Just a toss in.).
BLAM!
Huh. Looks like the tops of several skulls have blown out...
mtnbkr
Member
LOL@Mike
Wanna really get into an arguement about 45Colt vs 45 LONG Colt? Go over to sixgunner.com and tell them it's a looonnnnnggg Colt.
Chris
Wanna really get into an arguement about 45Colt vs 45 LONG Colt? Go over to sixgunner.com and tell them it's a looonnnnnggg Colt.
Chris
Mike Irwin
Member
You know, one of these days I'm going to track down and scan or photograph some of the early Colt advertising that refers to it as the .45 Long Colt just to listen to the choking, sputtering, and pissing and moaning.
I think the term "Long Colt" came into general use after World War Two when dealers wanted to be sure what the customer wanted - the "long" cartridge for a revolver or the "short" one for a pistol. In this context the use of "long" makes sense.
:banghead: 
Mike Irwin
Member
Stainz
Member
I was reminded of another Dillon benefit yesterday - it came in the mail. Another monthly installment of their catalog, 'The Blue Press', arrived. This one, the November issue, has a nice picture on the cover, as usual. By golly, a friend was correct... she is holding a firearm! How long have they been doing that? I may have to look at the older issues to see if they have some on them as well.
Oh yeah, they have reloading stuff inside - and some shooting accessories... or so I am told.
Stainz
Oh yeah, they have reloading stuff inside - and some shooting accessories... or so I am told.
Stainz
Mike Irwin
Member
Someone told me once that when he started publishing Blue Press that all of the models were company employees...
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