Centerfire pistol and revolver cartridges using .451-.452-inch (45 caliber) bullets. This catalog covers 45 ACP and 45 Colt – the two most established 45-caliber handgun cartridges, each with a distinct platform, history, and handloading character.
Cartridges in this catalog:
45 ACP
45 ACP is John Browning’s classic semi-auto cartridge, designed in 1904 and still one of the most popular handgun rounds in North America. It drives heavy .452-inch bullets at subsonic velocity, giving excellent terminal performance with low muzzle blast and naturally suppressor-friendly ballistics. It is a mature, forgiving cartridge to handload with a wide selection of bullets, powders, and brass available from every major manufacturer.
45 Colt
45 Colt is the original American frontier revolver cartridge, introduced in 1872 for the Colt Single Action Army. It uses the same .452-inch bullet diameter as 45 ACP but in a longer rimmed case suited to revolvers and lever action rifles. Standard loads are mild and easy to shoot, but the cartridge can be loaded significantly hotter in modern strong-action revolvers, putting it into genuine hunting territory for deer, hogs, and black bear at handgun ranges.