45 Colt vs 45 Long Colt – a 45 Caliber Debate Over Nothing

By Mike Searson

by Mike Searson
Let’s set the record straight once and for all, the 45 Colt & 45 Long Colt are the same exact round of ammunition.

United States -(AmmoLand.com)- At 143 years old, a certain US made .45 caliber cartridge still shows no sign of going away. The question often becomes, “What do we call it?”

Is it 45 Colt or 45 Long Colt?

45 Colt vs 45 Long Colt History

The year was 1873 and Colt’s latest handgun, the Model P (aka as the Single Action Army Revolver of 1873) was just awarded the contract as the official sidearm for the US Army. The chambering selected was a .45 caliber black powder cartridge manufactured by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company of Bridgeport, CT.

Based on the slightly older 44 Colt round, this new cartridge used the same rebated heel type bullet. It was named the 45 Colt and all was right with the world.

Two years later Army units began adopting the Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver for use as an alternate sidearm.