Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets - The Firearms Forum

saustin692 · 08-10-2009, 11:35 AM

I am new to reloading for the 45 Colt. Is there a difference between the 45 ACP bullet (projectile) and the 45 Colt bullet?

I have quite a few 45 ACP bullets and want to know if I can use them in the 45 Colt.

Claude Clay · 08-10-2009, 12:20 PM

Lyman's #49 reloading manual [or its equivalent] is required to be on any loading bench.
r e a d it and understand enough to be able to know where in the book all the answers to your questions are.
after you can do this--start reloading with powder & primes & projectiles.
harsh?, not considering the consequences of depending in intenet advice vrs T"he Book"

i load these calibers and can answer you from memory--but i would still verify at the book befors i made a single bullet.
besides, you will have other questions and more after that also. the answers are all in that book for about $20.00

Haligan · 08-10-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claude Clay

Lyman's #49 reloading manual [or its equivalent] is required to be on any loading bench.
r e a d it and understand enough to be able to know where in the book all the answers to your questions are.
after you can do this--start reloading with powder & primes & projectiles.
harsh?, not considering the consequences of depending in intenet advice vrs T"he Book"

i load these calibers and can answer you from memory--but i would still verify at the book befors i made a single bullet.
besides, you will have other questions and more after that also. the answers are all in that book for about $20.00

Alittle harsh, but very, very correct.

saustin692 · 08-10-2009, 02:02 PM

Thanks. I don't think that is harsh at all. It is very good advice.

I am using the Speer Reloading Manual and it implies that the two are the same diameter so they should be interchangeable.

I surmise after looking at it that they use the same bullets but I wanted to get an answer, or opinion, from someone who has experience successfully reloading both 45 ACP and 45 Colt cartridges.

The Speer manual has been my bench reference manual for reloading for many years now.

Bindernut · 08-10-2009, 04:55 PM

Yup, they are the same diameter.
The biggest problem can be most .45ACP bullets don't have a crimp groove (or cannelure)
Most .45 Colt (and other rimmed revolver cartridges) use a roll-type crimp to hold the bullet in place, where a rimmless autoloader round like the ACP uses a taper-crimp because the cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.

If you're using bullets with no cannelure, just be sure to taper crimp instead of trying to roll crimp and you should be good to go. A taper crimp won't hold the bullet as well as a roll crimp, so if these are stout loads the bullet may still creep in the casing.

Alpo · 08-10-2009, 05:17 PM

Yes.

If what you have is lead bullets it will work better. I have many 200 grain lead SWC 45 ACP bullets and have loaded them with no problems in 45 Colt. I also have a bunch of 230 grain lead RN and TC bullets, and have also loaded them in 45 Colt.

As Bindernut said, if you want to use your 230 hardball in your 45 Colt, you need to taper crimp them. Trying to put a roll crimp in a jacketed bullet is not a really great idea.

If using jacketed, seat and crimp your bullets using your 45 ACP seating die. You will screw the adjustment up, so the next time you want to load ACPs you'll have to reset the die, but at least you can get the Colts loaded.

gdmoody · 08-10-2009, 06:48 PM

I too load the 230 grain cast bullet in the .45 Colt. I think that the .45ACP diameter is .451 and the .45 Colt is .452 which ain't a whole lot of difference!!

tEN wOLVES · 08-10-2009, 06:53 PM

What the others have said, and I'll add this, if your planning to use the round nose 45 bullets in a lever action rifle, DON'T, only use a flat point bullet, round nose bullets have been known to detonate in tube feed guns, I use RNFP (Round Nose Flat Point ) bullets in all my 45's from hand guns to rifles, from 200 gr. to 260 gr. with good results, round nose are find for revolvers and some rifles just not lever guns or any tube feed gun.

Good luck with your reloading, be safe and have fun too

Regards

tEN wOLVES

Oneida Steve · 08-11-2009, 02:27 PM

+1 to Bindernut.

I've loaded 230 gr. FMJ Winchester .45 ACP bullets and 6.0 Red Dot for my indoor Colt .45 loads. They work fine for paper shooting.

oldreliable45120 · 09-14-2009, 09:33 PM

Just a quick note, not all 45 colt bullets are the same. Original Colts used a .454 Bullet. You should slug ths cylinder of you 45 Colt, and try to use a bullet as close to cylinder mouth size as possible for best results.

JLA · 09-14-2009, 10:31 PM

I have some .45 ACP loaded with 255 gr. cast boolits intended for my .45 colt. They work fine and even function through a 1911 despite the flat nose...

jroco · 09-16-2009, 10:20 AM

I size all my 45 caliber bullets to .452 and shoot them in both a 1911 in 45acp and a ruger blackhawn in 45lc with no problems at all. 185gr up to 230gr. Heavier bullets (250 and 255 gr) I use only in 45lc.

08-10-2009, 11:35 AM	#1
saustin692 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2	Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets I am new to reloading for the 45 Colt. Is there a difference between the 45 ACP bullet (projectile) and the 45 Colt bullet? I have quite a few 45 ACP bullets and want to know if I can use them in the 45 Colt. -->

08-10-2009, 12:20 PM	#2
Claude Clay V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 451	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets Lyman's #49 reloading manual [or its equivalent] is required to be on any loading bench. r e a d it and understand enough to be able to know where in the book all the answers to your questions are. after you can do this--start reloading with powder & primes & projectiles. harsh?, not considering the consequences of depending in intenet advice vrs T"he Book" i load these calibers and can answer you from memory--but i would still verify at the book befors i made a single bullet. besides, you will have other questions and more after that also. the answers are all in that book for about $20.00 __________________ teachers may learn you the rules; experience will teach you the exceptions. NRA Instructor Last edited by Claude Clay; 08-10-2009 at 12:23 PM..

08-10-2009, 04:55 PM	#5
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,489	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets Yup, they are the same diameter. The biggest problem can be most .45ACP bullets don't have a crimp groove (or cannelure) Most .45 Colt (and other rimmed revolver cartridges) use a roll-type crimp to hold the bullet in place, where a rimmless autoloader round like the ACP uses a taper-crimp because the cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. If you're using bullets with no cannelure, just be sure to taper crimp instead of trying to roll crimp and you should be good to go. A taper crimp won't hold the bullet as well as a roll crimp, so if these are stout loads the bullet may still creep in the casing.

08-10-2009, 05:17 PM	#6
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets Yes. If what you have is lead bullets it will work better. I have many 200 grain lead SWC 45 ACP bullets and have loaded them with no problems in 45 Colt. I also have a bunch of 230 grain lead RN and TC bullets, and have also loaded them in 45 Colt. As Bindernut said, if you want to use your 230 hardball in your 45 Colt, you need to taper crimp them. Trying to put a roll crimp in a jacketed bullet is not a really great idea. If using jacketed, seat and crimp your bullets using your 45 ACP seating die. You will screw the adjustment up, so the next time you want to load ACPs you'll have to reset the die, but at least you can get the Colts loaded. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

08-10-2009, 06:48 PM	#7
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets I too load the 230 grain cast bullet in the .45 Colt. I think that the .45ACP diameter is .451 and the .45 Colt is .452 which ain't a whole lot of difference!! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

08-10-2009, 02:02 PM	#4
saustin692 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets Thanks. I don't think that is harsh at all. It is very good advice. I am using the Speer Reloading Manual and it implies that the two are the same diameter so they should be interchangeable. I surmise after looking at it that they use the same bullets but I wanted to get an answer, or opinion, from someone who has experience successfully reloading both 45 ACP and 45 Colt cartridges. The Speer manual has been my bench reference manual for reloading for many years now.

08-10-2009, 06:53 PM	#8
tEN wOLVES V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northridge, California Posts: 174	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets What the others have said, and I'll add this, if your planning to use the round nose 45 bullets in a lever action rifle, DON'T, only use a flat point bullet, round nose bullets have been known to detonate in tube feed guns, I use RNFP (Round Nose Flat Point ) bullets in all my 45's from hand guns to rifles, from 200 gr. to 260 gr. with good results, round nose are find for revolvers and some rifles just not lever guns or any tube feed gun. Good luck with your reloading, be safe and have fun too Regards tEN wOLVES __________________ NRA, SASS #69595, NCOWS #3123, RATTS # 369, SCORRS, BROW, ROWSS#40, Leather Shop

08-11-2009, 02:27 PM	#9
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,029	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets +1 to Bindernut. I've loaded 230 gr. FMJ Winchester .45 ACP bullets and 6.0 Red Dot for my indoor Colt .45 loads. They work fine for paper shooting.

09-14-2009, 09:33 PM	#10
oldreliable45120 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets Just a quick note, not all 45 colt bullets are the same. Original Colts used a .454 Bullet. You should slug ths cylinder of you 45 Colt, and try to use a bullet as close to cylinder mouth size as possible for best results.

09-14-2009, 10:31 PM	#11
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets I have some .45 ACP loaded with 255 gr. cast boolits intended for my .45 colt. They work fine and even function through a 1911 despite the flat nose... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

09-16-2009, 10:20 AM	#12
jroco Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4	Re: Difference Between 45 ACP and 45 Colt Bullets I size all my 45 caliber bullets to .452 and shoot them in both a 1911 in 45acp and a ruger blackhawn in 45lc with no problems at all. 185gr up to 230gr. Heavier bullets (250 and 255 gr) I use only in 45lc.