Patrick Henry
Member
I think the most usual answer is that it was replaced by .45 ACP. But history shows that explanation to be false. .45 ACP handguns never replaced the revolver in police service, which continued to be the standard sidearm until the very late 20th century.
Instead there was a trend at the beginning of the 20th century toward small caliber guns which I have never been able to understand or heard explained. As an example, Theodore Roosevelt in his tenure as commissioner of the NYPD (1895-1897) adopted the .32 caliber revolver as standard. I understand this to be typical of US law enforcement at that time.
One possible explanation I can think of is that .45 colt was never as universal or as widely acknowledged as a "man stopper" as modern legend says. In fact the first assertion is definitely true, because historians say the .44-40 was always more popular than .45 colt in the "old west". But I still don't understand the trend toward small calibers.
It is even more baffling to me why, once it began to be generally recognized that small caliber revolvers were not as effective, police (and gun makers) did not simply return to an already existing and outstanding cartridge, namely .45 colt. Instead they developed the .38 special, and it became the standard for over half a century. But while the .38 special is a undoubtedly a fine cartridge, I have to wonder again, what was the problem with the ol' forty-five?
With good loads the .45 colt is ballistically superior to the .45 acp. It ought to be at least as effective as a "man stopper." The closest thing to it in modern revolvers is I suppose the .44 special. But the .44 special is much weaker ballistically.
I ardently wish a gun maker (S&W, Ruger, Taurus, etc.) would produce a new modern double-action revolver chambered specifically for .45 Colt. Yes, I'm aware .454 Casull revolvers can fire the .45 Colt, but due to their power these guns are all very large and not really suitable for everyday carry. What I would like to see is a medium-size revolver chambered specifically for the .45. I think defensive-wise there is a gap in the modern revolver line-up if you want a caliber larger than .38/.357 and it seems to me the proven .45 Colt would fill that gap nicely.
Instead there was a trend at the beginning of the 20th century toward small caliber guns which I have never been able to understand or heard explained. As an example, Theodore Roosevelt in his tenure as commissioner of the NYPD (1895-1897) adopted the .32 caliber revolver as standard. I understand this to be typical of US law enforcement at that time.
One possible explanation I can think of is that .45 colt was never as universal or as widely acknowledged as a "man stopper" as modern legend says. In fact the first assertion is definitely true, because historians say the .44-40 was always more popular than .45 colt in the "old west". But I still don't understand the trend toward small calibers.
It is even more baffling to me why, once it began to be generally recognized that small caliber revolvers were not as effective, police (and gun makers) did not simply return to an already existing and outstanding cartridge, namely .45 colt. Instead they developed the .38 special, and it became the standard for over half a century. But while the .38 special is a undoubtedly a fine cartridge, I have to wonder again, what was the problem with the ol' forty-five?
With good loads the .45 colt is ballistically superior to the .45 acp. It ought to be at least as effective as a "man stopper." The closest thing to it in modern revolvers is I suppose the .44 special. But the .44 special is much weaker ballistically.
I ardently wish a gun maker (S&W, Ruger, Taurus, etc.) would produce a new modern double-action revolver chambered specifically for .45 Colt. Yes, I'm aware .454 Casull revolvers can fire the .45 Colt, but due to their power these guns are all very large and not really suitable for everyday carry. What I would like to see is a medium-size revolver chambered specifically for the .45. I think defensive-wise there is a gap in the modern revolver line-up if you want a caliber larger than .38/.357 and it seems to me the proven .45 Colt would fill that gap nicely.