The Many Faces of the .45

[Jeff Higgins]

Ah yes, the ubiquitous .45 caliber. Between handguns and rifle, it quite possibly enjoys a greater variety of chamberings than any other bore diameter. It struck me the other day that I actually reload for a pretty fair number of them myself. I thought it might be fun to share, so below is a pic of my current selection of .45 caliber handloads.



From left to right we start with three varieties of .45 ACP, a couple of cast bullet plinkers sporting a 200 grain SWC and a 230 grain RN. The third is my carry load, the 230 grain Hornady XTP. The cast bullets are commercially cast - I can't bring myself to spend enough time at the lead pot to feed these ammo gobbling beasts.

Next up is the .45 Colt. From left to right, we start with an original spec load with 40 grains of FFFg black powder and a 250 grain bullet from a Lyman mold. Next is my go-to woods bumming and general carry load, a 270 grain RCBS bullet in a "+P" level load that is still safe in newer Peacemakers. Next is my "Ruger only" heavy hunting load with a 300 grain LBT bullet These things touch 1,300 fps.

Next is the .45-70. On the left we have my "Marlin only" load, a 400 grain gas check bullet at just over 1,900 fps. Ouch. Next is a black powder hunting load, with a 400 grain Lyman plain base bullet over a duplex charge of 7.0 grains of Reloder 7 and 53 grains of FFg. Next are two match loads, both with 60 grains of 1.5 Fg. The first is a 500 grain RCBS bullet, the second is a 540 grain Paul Jones Creedmoor.

Next is the .45-90. This uses the Lyman 400 grain as well, over 85 grains of 1.5 Fg.

Next up are a pair of .45-100's, both loaded with 85 grains of 1.5 Fg. On the left is a 500 grain bullet from a Lyman mold, on the right is the 540 grain Creedmoor.

Last, but not least is the .458 Winchester Magnum. Notice the bullet, a 500 grain Hornady, is seated out a bit, with the canalure above the case mouth. I can do this in my Ruger #1 and achieve .458 Lott level performance, with the 500 grain bullet hitting close to 2,200 fps. Ouch. Again.

So there you have it. I obviously enjoy shooting all things .45 caliber. I do a lot of plinking with them, have hunted all kinds of critters with them, and have shot matches all the way out to 1,000 yards with them. What great good fun.

[vash]

how many .22 cals are there?

.30?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by vash

how many .22 cals are there?

.30?

2 .22's just about equals a 45.

[GH85Carrera]

Neat selection.

Amazing that the .45 has so many varieties. Cool hobby.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vash

how many .22 cals are there?

.30?

Good question. Those are by no means all of the .45's, either handgun or rifle. Hmmm... .22's... Let's see how many I can think of.

Excluding the dozens of wildcats, factory chamberings include: .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball, .222 Remington, .222 Remington Magnum, .223/5.56mm, .22-250, .220 Swift, .224 Weatherby. Pretty sure I've missed several. I know there is some weird little bottle necked .22 meant for 1911's now as well.

Factory .30's: 7.63x25 Mauser, 7.65x21 Parabellum, .30 Carbine, .30-30, .30-40 Krag, .30-'03, .30-'06, .308/7.62x51, 7.62x39, .300 H&H, .300 Win Mag, .300 Weatherby, .300 RUM, .300-378 Weatherby, .30 Nosler, .300 Savage, .30 Remington, .300 Norma Mag, .303 Savage, .300 WSM. I'm sure I'm missing a few.

[vash]

okay..so maybe .45 is the biggest possible group?

for sure the oldest no?

[tabs]

Jeffy It is getting close.....

A 3 barrel set...22 LR, 25/20 SS and 38/55

I just had to do something with it..

[Jeff Higgins]

Absolutely stunning, tabby. And jeebus - that's a $750 piece of wood as just a blank. How the hell did you score that?

So, CPA or original action? Either way, that's going to be one damn nice rifle.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vash

okay..so maybe .45 is the biggest possible group?

for sure the oldest no?

It just might be the biggest group. A few more factory loaded examples are the .454 Casull, .45 Schofield, .45 Short Colt (or .45 Government (shortened to fit the Schofield revolver)), .45 GAP, .450 Bushmaster, .45-110, .45-120 (although not an original Sharps chambering, as many still believe), .458 Lott, .460 Weatherby, .450 Rigby, .450 Nitro Express, .450 Marlin, and probably a few more.

I think the .44 caliber predates the .45. Henry rifles in .44 rimfire were used in the Civil War and S&W revolvers in .44 American came out in 1869. The first .45's were the .45 Colt and .45-70, both in 1873. The .56 Spencer, another Civil War arm, might predate the Henry, but I'm not sure. Tabs would know.

[Seahawk]

I am not going to buy anything because of this thread.

I am not going to buy anything because of this thread.

I am not going to buy anything because of this thread.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Absolutely stunning, tabby. And jeebus - that's a $750 piece of wood as just a blank. How the hell did you score that?

So, CPA or original action? Either way, that's going to be one damn nice rifle.

I bought two sets of wood blanks at an online auction in Ohio a coupla years back for $150. The other is just as nice.

30 in half octagon barrels, stock checkering, engraving, rust blue, Niedner butt plate.

I am just a little up in the air as to sights...MVA Soule and globe front, or Unertl/Lyman 20X.. The barrels are drilled for scope and cut for a dove tail front. So I can go either way..or both.

[HardDrive]

Honestly, the first thing I thought when I saw the photo is, "Higgins finally stained his deck"

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Honestly, the first thing I thought when I saw the photo is, "Higgins finally stained his deck"

I re-seeded the lawn, too.

That heavy .45 Colt load is the same one you had so much fun with oh so many years ago.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by tabs

I bought two sets of wood blanks at an online auction in Ohio a coupla years back for $150. The other is just as nice.

30 in half octagon barrels, stock checkering, engraving, rust blue, Niedner butt plate.

I am just a little up in the air as to sights...MVA Soule and globe front, or Unertl/Lyman 20X.. The barrels are drilled for scope and cut for a dove tail front. So I can go either way..or both.

I love my MVA Soules. I have a couple of the taller ones, and one has the extended windage drum. I bought that one many years ago after my second or third trip to the Quigley match in Forsyth. Even with a windage adjustable front sight, in addition to the windage on the rear, I actually ran out of adjustment on the buffalo and had to hold off on a rock. Boy was it blowing that day. Over 40 minutes of combined windage was not enough.

Have you considered the MVA scopes? I don't own one, but the ones I've seen sure are purty...

[gr8fl4porsche]

Bought my 2nd .45 ACP last week to be one of my suppressor hosts.

FN FNX Tactical for an Octane .45 can.

Can't wait to try the combo once my suppressor gets out of jail. Should be soon!

Sent individual paperwork on 3/2/18.

[tabs]

The coming cpa was on the bucket list. I had wanted to do it for a few years. One day I found the wood at an auction in Ohio. I got it cheap. The wood sat for acoupla years then last September I decided I had better get on the stick and do it before I can't. So that was my bday present for myself last year.

Paul Shuttleworth who runs CPA with his daughter Gail is close to 90.

I have one more spoon aquistion to get and that is a USFA SAA Flattop and or Bisley Flattop. I had a restored one that I sold with the idea I could get one from usfa but when I got around to ordering it they had gone out of biz.

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

It just might be the biggest group. A few more factory loaded examples are the .454 Casull, .45 Schofield, .45 Short Colt (or .45 Government (shortened to fit the Schofield revolver)), .45 GAP, .450 Bushmaster, .45-110, .45-120 (although not an original Sharps chambering, as many still believe), .458 Lott, .460 Weatherby, .450 Rigby, .450 Nitro Express, .450 Marlin, and probably a few more.

I think the .44 caliber predates the .45. Henry rifles in .44 rimfire were used in the Civil War and S&W revolvers in .44 American came out in 1869. The first .45's were the .45 Colt and .45-70, both in 1873. The .56 Spencer, another Civil War arm, might predate the Henry, but I'm not sure. Tabs would know.

Don't leave out the widely used British 577/450 round as used in the Martini Henry rifle!

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by tabs

I bought two sets of wood blanks at an online auction in Ohio a coupla years back for $150. The other is just as nice.

30 in half octagon barrels, stock checkering, engraving, rust blue, Niedner butt plate.

I am just a little up in the air as to sights...MVA Soule and globe front, or Unertl/Lyman 20X.. The barrels are drilled for scope and cut for a dove tail front. So I can go either way..or both.

I have a nice 15X Lyman Super Targetspot scope complete with wood case and original instructions and paperwork that I would be willing to let go. The lens covers are missing in action.


Scope in the box


Instructions, original


Scope mounted on my 1928 Winchester Model 52 (rifle not for sale!)

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

It just might be the biggest group. A few more factory loaded examples are the .454 Casull, .45 Schofield, .45 Short Colt (or .45 Government (shortened to fit the Schofield revolver)), .45 GAP, .450 Bushmaster, .45-110, .45-120 (although not an original Sharps chambering, as many still believe), .458 Lott, .460 Weatherby, .450 Rigby, .450 Nitro Express, .450 Marlin, and probably a few more.

I think the .44 caliber predates the .45. Henry rifles in .44 rimfire were used in the Civil War and S&W revolvers in .44 American came out in 1869. The first .45's were the .45 Colt and .45-70, both in 1873. The .56 Spencer, another Civil War arm, might predate the Henry, but I'm not sure. Tabs would know.

The Spencer carbine/rifle was first built in a 46-56 caliber cartridge. Depending on which example you measure, the bullet diameter can be anywhere from .44 to .46 caliber. It predated the Henry by about 2-3 years. There is documentation that some of the Pony Express riders carried a 46-56 Spencer carbine in 1859. Considering that S&W didn't start making the .22 short until 1859, the Spencer has got to be one of the earliest successful fully contained cartridges made.

[scottmandue]

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