1911Tuner said:Take a breath. Call it .45 Colt or .45 Long Colt as you please...we all know what you mean.
While I agree with the sentiment, the OP's topic is titled "School me on the .45 Long Colt". Surely we can have an intelligent, rational and calm discussion on how the .45 Colt came to be known by some as the .45 Long Colt without getting all bent out of shape. Personally, I've been calling it .45 Colt ever since I learned that it was created as such back in 1872.
If I look at my .45 Colt firearms, the Redhawk, Super Redhawk, USFA Rodeos (2) and Marlin '94 all have .45 Colt stamped on them somewhere. The only exception are the Bisley Blackhawks which have .45 Caliber stamped on them since they're convertible models that came with .45 ACP/.45 Colt cylinders. The Remington and Hornady cases that I use for reloading have .45 Colt stamped on them. My Redding reloading dies for .45 Colt and .454 Casull also have .45 Colt stamped on them. Basically, I don't have anything with .45LC stamped on it. I don't buy .45 Colt factory ammunition, but a quick look on Midway seems to indicate that all of the modern ammunition simply states .45 Colt.
Everyone is free to refer to the .45 Colt in any way they see fit, but given the explanation of how the .45 Colt became known as the .45 Long Colt and now realizing that the distinction isn't necessary, and given that most firearms, dies, cases, ammunition etc use .45 Colt, I do wonder why anyone, knowing all that, would choose to call it the .45 Long Colt.
I suggest a concerted effort "to School EVERYONE on the .45 Long Colt" by undoing a wrong and giving the venerable cartridge the respect that it rightfully deserves.
.45 Colt!!