Re: Colt .45

[Bob Wright]

I'm from a more distant generation than most folks here, but here's my opinion:
The term "M1911" is of the new generation when dexcribing a .45 auto pistol. In my day it was simply ".45 Automatic" while those "in the know" used the term "Colt Government Model" or "Colt Commander." Even a genuine M1911A! was most usually described as "Army Pistol."

And, in my day, when buying cartridges, shooters either asked for a box of ".45 Automatic" or ".45 Colt." The .45 S&W was so long dead as there was never any confusion as to what one wanted.

So, to me, a Colt .45 is a Single Action Army, though to my narrow mind it a New Frontier. But the, term ".45" is a Ruger Blackhawk!

Bob Wright

 

[contender]

I fully understood everything you wrote. I'm a bit younger,, but I can easily relate.

 

[GypsmJim]

Excellent comment, and it should require no negative comments.

 

[wproct]

I too always referred to this pistol as a .45 automatic or a .45acp. The first unusual one I saw was my wife and I had a couple that we became friends with and they were about 20 years older than us and he got a new Colt that he was really proud of and I think it was a .38 Super. I started to refer to these pistols as a 1911 about the time that I started visiting the forums. I did know that they were a 1911 because that was easy for me to remember because my Mom was born in 1911.

 

[JAYDAWG]

In my little brain.............
1911 is 45ACP
45 Colt is Blackhawk/revolver
??????

 

[TheTexasRAT]

But the, term ".45" is a Ruger Blackhawk!

Bob Wright

You think with both of us being .45 guys we would whole heartedly agree, and I did all the way up till you said Blackhawk.
And that's because I favor the DA Ruger Redhawks over the SA Blackhawks.

 

[Bob Wright]

You think with both of us being .45 guys we would whole heartedly agree, and I did all the way up till you said Blackhawk.
And that's because I favor the DA Ruger Redhawks over the SA Blackhawks.

I'll not quibble with you there. I've tried DA guns and find I'm much faster getting off my shots using a Single Action revolver.

Bob Wright

 

[TheTexasRAT]

I'll not quibble with you there. I've tried DA guns and find I'm much faster getting off my shots using a Single Action revolver.

Bob Wright

Yeh, they are very easy to shoot two handed but a bear might not let one have both arms to use against him. Even in self-defense one may only get to use one hand to run the gun while dealing with other aspect with the other. Competition is a whole nother thing though.

 

[Don Lovel]

In my little brain.............
1911 is 45ACP
45 Colt is Blackhawk/revolver
??????

Is it blasphemy for me preferring to shoot with the 45acp cylinder more than the 45 Colt in my Bisley Vaquero ?
The Underwood 185gr JHP 45 acp +p at 1250fps out of the 5 1/2" barrel sure is easy on the hand but hits hard on target.

 

[Bob Wright]

Yeh, they are very easy to shoot two handed but a bear might not let one have both arms to use against him. Even in self-defense one may only get to use one hand to run the gun while dealing with other aspect with the other. Competition is a whole nother thing though.

Somehow or another I miss your point. Two handed? I never shoot two handed in defensive style shooting. This, to me, is out of the holster and shoot. The hammer is cocked as soon as the gun clears leather ans fired as the gun is leveled. My let hand is free to do whatever it wants to do. If you use the off hand to cock the gun, you're doing it wrong.

Bob Wright

 

[TheTexasRAT]

my bad. I've seen cowboy action shooters doing it two handed very fast and thought that was what you had meant. personally I shot one handed from the hip.

 

[eveled]

Is it blasphemy for me preferring to shoot with the 45acp cylinder more than the 45 Colt in my Bisley Vaquero ?
The Underwood 185gr JHP 45 acp +p at 1250fps out of the 5 1/2" barrel sure is easy on the hand but hits hard on target.

Same here, I love the stubby little.45ACP in my Blackhawk.

I have no use for.45 Colt. For my purposes it is overpriced and almost anemic. If I was a reloader I'm sure I would feel differently.

 

[GasGuzzler]

In my day it was simply ".45 Automatic" while those "in the know" used the term "Colt Government Model" or "Colt Commander." And, in my day, when buying cartridges, shooters either asked for a box of ".45 Automatic" or ".45 Colt."

Because that is correct.

 

[warren5421]

Bob I shoot a lot of .45 Scholfield or .44WCF. My S&W Scholfields will not chamber .45 Colt but as you said .45 Colt not short or long.

It's 45 Auto or 45 Colt. That's a 1911 or a SSA.

 

[Don Lovel]

Same here, I love the stubby little.45ACP in my Blackhawk.

I have no use for.45 Colt. For my purposes it is overpriced and almost anemic. If I was a reloader I'm sure I would feel

Same here, I love the stubby little.45ACP in my Blackhawk.

I have no use for.45 Colt. For my purposes it is overpriced and almost anemic. If I was a reloader I'm sure I would feel differently.

I love big cast bullet +p 45 Colt handloads and the offerings from Cor Bon, Doubletap, Underwood and Grizzly, if you need a stomper.
But an Underwood load 185 Nosler JHP at 10mm velocity is plenty for my everyday needs.
Sure is faster reloading with a 1911 mag for a speedloader and the cases get pushed clear of the cylinder unlike 45 Colt ejecting part way

 

[Armybrat]

This is the only .45 Colt I've ever had….. Colt Texas Sesquicentennial 1986.
It still remains unfired since the factory, but I do have 3 boxes of ammo for it (two cowboy loads, one self defense).
Maybe I should shoot it before shuffling off.

 

[Bob Wright]

Bob I shoot a lot of .45 Scholfield or .44WCF. My S&W Scholfields will not chamber .45 Colt but as you said .45 Colt not short or long.

It's 45 Auto or 45 Colt. That's a 1911 or a SSA.

I don't know the actual status of the nomenclture of the round, but in my day the cartridge, when found, was called ".45 Smith & Wesson" or ".45 S&W." The term .45 Schofield is of new origin. When I was searching for cartridges to add to my collection, the few .45 S&W I found were in rural service stations or general stores. Cartridges sold in service stations? Yep.

Bob Wright

 

[Armybrat]

I don't know the actual status of the nomenclture of the round, but in my day the cartridge, when found, was called ".45 Smith & Wesson" or ".45 S&W." The term .45 Schofield is of new origin. When I was searching for cartridges to add to my collection, the few .45 S&W I found were in rural service stations or general stores. Cartridges sold in service stations? Yep.

Bob Wright

My brother was the manager of a South Texas Firestone Tire store 60 years ago. His store sold guns.
I bought a new Springfield single shot .22 rifle from him for $15.

 

[wheelgun1958]

My brother was the manager of a South Texas Firestone Tire store 60 years ago. His store sold guns.
I bought a new Springfield single shot .22 rifle from him for $15.

Otasco sold guns too.

 

[GypsmJim]

Same here, I love the stubby little.45ACP in my Blackhawk.

I have no use for.45 Colt. For my purposes it is overpriced and almost anemic. If I was a reloader I'm sure I would feel differently.

My Blackhawk convertible was shot with the ACP cylinder only once. I thought: "meh". Long Colt ever since.