And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Of course you are correct. 1873-74 the SAA had the first 45 cartridge. It was the "Colt 45" to which you refer. 1875 the Schofield revolver was also accepted by the US Army along with the SAA. It also was a .45 caliber but the case was shorter. My guess is that was when the term "Long Colt" came into use as an easy way to distinguish between the two. I use the term "Long Colt" as there's no doubt whatsoever.
When you buy a new revolver it say "COLT 45" Not long colt so that is why I use the term. I have a Ruger (Colt 45) VAQUERO. MY 1922 SAA ARMY said colt 45.
The most interesting thing about the .45 Colt is how the original black powder loads have more oomph than standard modern smokeless loads. Oddly, it's hard to find a hand load that duplicates those early days. You've got to tone it down or use a Ruger and boom it out there. 200 fps to slow or 200 fps too fast.
Could also have been a 44-40 as the '73 was chambered in both. The .45 was a military round, the 44-40 civilian. Hard to tell the difference looking at them without reading the stamp. In a pinch you could fire the 44-40 in the 45. The biggest advantage of the 44-40 was Winchester chambered their rifles in that so you could have a pistol and rifle that shot the same ammo. Like now you can get replica Winchesters in .357 mag and .44 mag to go with your pistol. A great combo which I highly recommend.---ken
Based on a comparison with cartridges from my 1898 Colt S.A.A. (in .44-40), those are not .44-40. The .44-40 has a slight bottleneck, which I don’t see on any of these rounds. P.S.: with modern Cowboy Action loads it’s a blast (ha!) to shoot, like .38 sp. in a long-barreled .357. Fun!!
HOW about the real name of JUST "COLT 45" The first 45.
ReplyDeleteOf course you are correct. 1873-74 the SAA had the first 45 cartridge.
DeleteIt was the "Colt 45" to which you refer. 1875 the Schofield revolver was also accepted by the US Army along with the SAA. It also was a .45 caliber but the case was shorter. My guess is that was when the term "Long Colt" came into use as an easy way to distinguish between the two. I use the term "Long Colt" as there's no doubt whatsoever.
The new one should have been called "short" colt, and leave the old one alone.
DeleteWhen you buy a new revolver it say "COLT 45" Not long colt so that is why I use the term. I have a Ruger (Colt 45) VAQUERO. MY 1922 SAA ARMY said colt 45.
DeleteThe VAQUERO bangs steel nicely a 100 yards. So I tend to trust them. AS does the 45 ACP.
DeleteThose rounds would fit in "The Judge" or "The Governor" but why waste them in those junk handguns??
ReplyDeleteVery nice color contrasts there. I think you are correct on the cartridge stamp.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting thing about the .45 Colt is how the original black powder loads have more oomph than standard modern smokeless loads. Oddly, it's hard to find a hand load that duplicates those early days. You've got to tone it down or use a Ruger and boom it out there. 200 fps to slow or 200 fps too fast.
ReplyDeleteCould also have been a 44-40 as the '73 was chambered in both. The .45 was a military round, the 44-40 civilian. Hard to tell the difference looking at them without reading the stamp. In a pinch you could fire the 44-40 in the 45. The biggest advantage of the 44-40 was Winchester chambered their rifles in that so you could have a pistol and rifle that shot the same ammo. Like now you can get replica Winchesters in .357 mag and .44 mag to go with your pistol. A great combo which I highly recommend.---ken
ReplyDeleteBased on a comparison with cartridges from my 1898 Colt S.A.A. (in .44-40), those are not .44-40. The .44-40 has a slight bottleneck, which I don’t see on any of these rounds.
ReplyDeleteP.S.: with modern Cowboy Action loads it’s a blast (ha!) to shoot, like .38 sp. in a long-barreled .357. Fun!!