which is correct - .45 Colt or a .45 Long Colt?

[Trailrider]

Often times common usage will change nomenclature. When you have to blow your nose, do you reach for a kleenex? How about if you want to tape something? Do you use scotch tape? If you have a headache or your doctor recommends you take a "baby aspirin"? Those were/are copyrighted brand names of Kimberly Clark, 3M and Bayer, respectively, but common usage has rendered them often-used terms. Words in our language also change meaning. Years ago, a beautiful girl was termed a "handsome woman", whereas today we

For many younger shooters, using ".45 Long Colt" distinguishes that cartridge from, say ".45ACP" or ".45 Schofield"

"In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something. Now, Heaven knows...anything goes!"

[Dave T]

For many younger shooters, using ".45 Long Colt" distinguishes that cartridge from, say ".45ACP" or ".45 Schofield"

So you're saying "45 Colt" can't be distinguished from "45 ACP" or "45 Schofield", but "45 long Colt" can? And this apparently applies mostly to young shooters?

I'm too old for this. Get me out of here,
Dave

[Abilene]

Since some folks like to call their 44 Mag the Extra Long Russian, would 454 Casull be 45 Extra Long Colt?

[FriscoCounty]

.45 Colt correct.  That said, there are reference to .45 Long Colt dating back to the 1870s by US Army personnel as a way of differentiating between the Colt cartridge and the compromise .45 Caliber Ball cartridge which chambered in both the S&W and Colt. 

The .45 caliber cartridge developed by Colt for the US Army trials in early 1873 was a 255gr bullet and 40gr of BP.  By June 1874, the Army Ordinance department reduced the loading to 250gr and 30gr of BP.  On August 20, 1874 the Frankfurt Arsenal stopped production of the Colt's Revolver, Cal .45.  In early 1875 a compromise cartridge that could be chambered in both the S&W and Colt revolvers was introduced.  It used a 230gr bullet and 28gr of BP.  It was termed Revolver Ball Cartridge, Calibre, .45.  Around 1882 the cartridge switched from being Berdan primed to Boxer.  Some other minor changes resulted in the M1887 Ball Cartridge, introduced in 1887.  This was the sole US Government revolver cartridge until the introduction of the .38 Long Colt in 1892.  The .45 ACP was based on the ballistics of the M1887 Ball Cartridge, not the .45 Colt.

[Dave T]

OK, since the 45 Colt cartridge was dead as far as the Ordnance Dept was concerned by 1874, perhaps it should have been re-named the 45 Spit & Piddle. Then we wouldn't be arguing over "Long" vs "Colt".

Goodness knows what the civilians were calling it? Couldn't possibly have been anything as simple or descriptive as "45 Colt". Maybe they called it the "45 Caliber the Army Used to Have", or the 45 CAUH for short. (smile)

Dave

[Abilene]

I can imagine walking into a general store and saying "I need a box of .45's" and the clerk says "Colt or Smith?"

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

In a terrible western from years ago, starring Mickey Rourke as the primary bad guy. As he and his henchmen were escaping, they stopped to count their ammo. They said they had a lot of 44/40 and some 45/40. Hey, I said it was it was terrible. What do you expect from a western with Mickey Rourke.

Rev. Chase

[Professor Marvel]

Why do people insist on calling it .45 Long Colt?
The grand tradition and long history of "short" "regular" and "Long" cartrdige designation!

for many many lustrum there was a common tradition of introducing a cartridge,
then making it longer and more powerful. I offer for you rentertaintmant the following:

.22 short, long, long rifle
.32 colt
.32 Short Colt
.32 Long Colt
.32 S&W
.32 S&W Long ( .32 Colt New Police)
.38 Short Colt
.38 Long COlt
.38 S&W
.380 Revolver Short
.380 Revolver Long
.41 Short Colt
.41 Long Colt
.41 Special
.45 Schofield (aka .45 S&W )
.45 Colt Government ( aka .45 Colt Short )
.45 Colt (aka .45 Long Colt )



=================================

While it is sometimes referred to as .45 Long Colt or .45 LC, to differentiate it from the
very popular .45 ACP, and historically, the shorter .45 S&W Schofield, it was only an unofficial
designation by Army quartermasters.

Current catalog listings of compatible handguns list the caliber as .45 LC and .45 Colt.

many gun rag writers put together so-callerd "debate articles" during slow months.

one such said it nicely:

snip-----------------------------------------
"So is it 45 Colt or 45 Long Colt?

While either term is correct, 45 Long Colt was really just a nickname. The majority of ammunition manufacturers stamp their cases with "45 Colt" as do the majority of firearm manufacturers mark their firearms with the same.

The reason for this is because .45 COLT is the official name used by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI). When all else fails, this is the correct term to which we fall back."
endsnip-----------------------------------------


If anyone is so bored they have nothing else to do than argue over this tired old topic, please
feel free to contact me, as I would be more than happy to put anyone to work taking care
of my growing todo list at the 1967 historic rate of $1 per hour.

Oh I know! Lets have a Spelling Contest!



yhs
prof marvel

[Coffinmaker]

  You gotta be kidding!!   

Two pages going on three, kicking around a question answered early on in page one.

Peanuts !!  Popcorn !!  Cracker Jacks !!  Get yer Cold Beer Here !!      




ps:  Especially since the answer is so durn SIMPLE   

pss:  The KEY question here this week.  Will we make it to PAGE THREE   

[Niederlander]

I wonder why people get so burned up about ".45 Long Colt", when nobody worries about .44-40, .30-30, .30-40, etc?  They all started out with different designators, as well, but no one seems to get all heated up about it.

[The Pathfinder]

Aw, c'mon, Coffinmaker, don't point out the truth, heck it's fun watching all the confusion we're adding. And as Niederlander said, they haven't even started on the 44 WCF, 30 WCF, and 30 Army etc yet.

[Professor Marvel]

Ah My Dear Coffin....

It's not like we have an overabundance of scheiss topics to discuss at the moment, and at least this one is innoccuous inocuus wont make peoples heads explode.

There I just became the first one to drop out of the Spelling Contest.. 

Yhs
Prof mumbler

[Dave T]

I wonder why people get so burned up about ".45 Long Colt", when nobody worries about .44-40, .30-30, .30-40, etc?  They all started out with different designators, as well, but no one seems to get all heated up about it.

I beg to differ, Sir. There are those of us who believe words mean things and proper usage is, well, proper usage.

I for one have always objected to 44-40 instead of the more proper 44 WCF, to 30-30 instead of 30 WCF, to 30-40 instead of the 30 US Army, not to mention the bastardization of the 38 WCF to 38-40 and the 32 WCF to 32-20.

Oh the shame, the shame I tell you! (smiley face goes here)

Dave

[Niederlander]

Alright, I won't slap someone if they ask if my '95 is in .30-40 Krag..............

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Guys please enough already,
The question is now moot because now mostly when I shoot those new fangled cat-ridge guns my choice is the .45 Colt SHORT (AKA .45 Cowboy Action Special).
But due to the good influence of a retired gun plumber we all know and love most shooting now is done with cap & ball snub nose revolvers.
But thanks for the history lessons. I suspected that .45 Colt was correct because guess what is stamped on the barrel of my 1909 manufactured Colt Single action....wait for it


".45 Colt".
Respectfully
Bunk

[Major 2]

and with that ...it seems no mater the length Colt 45 ,  is still Colt 45   

[Cap'n Redneck]

Hahaha..! 
Major 2:  You Sir, have just made the best argument for ".45 Colt"...!  Cheers! 

[Coffinmaker]

  Ah HA   

PLUS ONE too Major 2

and

PLUS ONE too Cap n Redneck

Pardon whilst I lever the lid offa Dead Guy you betcha

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

since there is a question if we'll get to 3 pages, let me throw this turd into the punchbowl:

Which is right a dash or a slash? 45-70 or 45/70, plus all the other dash/slash cartridges. I'm a slash man myself.

Rev. Chase

[greyhawk]

since there is a question if we'll get to 3 pages, let me throw this turd into the punchbowl:

Which is right a dash or a slash? 45-70 or 45/70, plus all the other dash/slash cartridges. I'm a slash man myself.

Rev. Chase

Rev
Ya need to use the dash cuz if ya use a slash yr conmputer is gonna throw a fit and will not file any slash info for ya ----I like you, prefer the slash but Bill Gates has rendered it un useable for our purpose ----did somebody mention a turd in the punchbowl?