45 colt cal vrs 45 LC - The Firearms Forum

bigboat · 11-16-2009, 09:48 PM

I see ammo listed (cowboy loads) listed as 45 colt and 45 LC. Are they both the same and if not, my conversion is for 45 Long colt. Can I shoot the 45 colt (cowboy load)?

45nut · 11-16-2009, 10:02 PM

They are the same. It's just a change on nomenclature from the late 1800's.

Alpo · 11-17-2009, 08:46 AM

It's like "45 Auto/45 ACP" or 9x19/9mm Parabellum/9mm Luger. Multiple names for the same cartridge.

Claude Clay · 11-17-2009, 08:52 AM

muddober · 11-17-2009, 11:59 PM

To my knowledge there is no such cartridge as a 45 LC, only 45 Colt. It is kind of like calling your car, your "ride". I believe somewhere along the line the 45 Colt picked up the nick name 45 LC to distinguish it from the 45 acp. That being said if you see a sign on ammo marked 45 LC it is in fact 45 Colt. I don't believe you will ever see a case head marked 45 LC only 45 Colt.

Ron

oscarmayer · 11-18-2009, 05:51 AM

the 45 colt was for a short time referred to as 45 long colt because at the same time there was a 45 schofield developed by s&w for the model 3 american. at least i think thats how it went ?

muddober · 11-18-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscarmayer

the 45 colt was for a short time referred to as 45 long colt because at the same time there was a 45 schofield developed by s&w for the model 3 american. at least i think thats how it went ?

I think you might be right as I have heard that before as well and forgot about it until your post, but I don't think there was ever a cartridge actually headtsamped 45 LC. I must admit I was wrong once before.

Ron

JUNKKING · 11-18-2009, 11:25 PM

They are the same as stated above. The cowboy load is lead and mainly used for plinking or targets. The ones I have used and many of them are pretty dirty rounds. Winchester was the brand name on them.

Alpo · 11-19-2009, 09:31 AM

Elmer Keith, in Sixguns, mentions the "old short 45 Colt round" that was loaded with hollowbase bullets. If Elmer said there was a short 45 Colt, I believe him. Then look at the 45 Frankfort round. It is shorter than a normal 45 Colt. Yes, there was the 45 S&W, and it is shorter than the 45 Colt. I don't see how that would matter, as it was S&W, not Colt. Be kinda like sayin' you wanted the 32 Long H&R, so you didn't get the 32 Short S&W by mistake.

Back in the 1800s, the numbers Smith gave guns were frame sizes, not model numbers. The American, the Russian, the Schofield and the 1881 Double Action were all Number 3s. Like saying an "N" frame, nowadays. The American was their first #3, and was much different than their Schofield. Just so you know.

Alpo · 11-26-2009, 10:23 AM

Also, for all the nay-sayers out there, that say "there ain't no such animal as a 45 Long Colt, because there never was a 45 Short Colt", looka here.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/ta...short_colt.htm

scrat · 11-26-2009, 01:08 PM

ALso to add some more gas to the fire.

If you go to Colts website and look through thier single action firearms they do offer for sale a 45 Long Colt SAA

delta13soultaker · 11-26-2009, 07:30 PM

Alpo, thanks for the link. Very interesting history.

Terry_P · 11-29-2009, 04:17 PM

The Army in the late 1800's had two revolvers the 45 Schofield and the 45 Colt. The military with usual efficiency called them both 45 Colt. As a result some outposts received SAA's with 45 Schofield ammo. No problem as the Schofield can be fired in the Colt however some had the Schofield's and received 45 Colt ammo which will not fit as the 45 Colt is a longer cartridge. As a result the Army began calling the 45 Colt the Long Colt. I had not heard that the Schofield was called the short colt although it wouldn't surprise me.

delta13soultaker · 11-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry_P

The Army in the late 1800's had two revolvers the 45 Schofield and the 45 Colt. The military with usual efficiency called them both 45 Colt. As a result some outposts received SAA's with 45 Schofield ammo. No problem as the Schofield can be fired in the Colt however some had the Schofield's and received 45 Colt ammo which will not fit as the 45 Colt is a longer cartridge. As a result the Army began calling the 45 Colt the Long Colt. I had not heard that the Schofield was called the short colt although it wouldn't surprise me.

That was the version I'd heard.

11-16-2009, 09:48 PM	#1
bigboat Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 6	45 colt cal vrs 45 LC I see ammo listed (cowboy loads) listed as 45 colt and 45 LC. Are they both the same and if not, my conversion is for 45 Long colt. Can I shoot the 45 colt (cowboy load)? -->

11-16-2009, 10:02 PM	#2
45nut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,428	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC They are the same. It's just a change on nomenclature from the late 1800's. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that. Shane Nemo me impune lacesset We recall the case of the Shoshone war band which showed up complete with one 30-30 rifle per man the week after Pearl Harbor, and simply wanted to have the enemy pointed out to them. "We hear there's a war going on and we want to go fight it." Jeff Cooper *KCCO*

11-17-2009, 08:52 AM	#4
Claude Clay V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 451	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC yes

11-17-2009, 11:59 PM	#5
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC To my knowledge there is no such cartridge as a 45 LC, only 45 Colt. It is kind of like calling your car, your "ride". I believe somewhere along the line the 45 Colt picked up the nick name 45 LC to distinguish it from the 45 acp. That being said if you see a sign on ammo marked 45 LC it is in fact 45 Colt. I don't believe you will ever see a case head marked 45 LC only 45 Colt. Ron

11-18-2009, 05:51 AM	#6
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC the 45 colt was for a short time referred to as 45 long colt because at the same time there was a 45 schofield developed by s&w for the model 3 american. at least i think thats how it went ?

11-17-2009, 08:46 AM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC It's like "45 Auto/45 ACP" or 9x19/9mm Parabellum/9mm Luger. Multiple names for the same cartridge. __________________ 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.

11-18-2009, 11:25 PM	#8
JUNKKING Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just East of Pittsburgh PA Contributor Posts: 1,782	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC They are the same as stated above. The cowboy load is lead and mainly used for plinking or targets. The ones I have used and many of them are pretty dirty rounds. Winchester was the brand name on them. __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again!

11-19-2009, 09:31 AM	#9
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC Elmer Keith, in Sixguns, mentions the "old short 45 Colt round" that was loaded with hollowbase bullets. If Elmer said there was a short 45 Colt, I believe him. Then look at the 45 Frankfort round. It is shorter than a normal 45 Colt. Yes, there was the 45 S&W, and it is shorter than the 45 Colt. I don't see how that would matter, as it was S&W, not Colt. Be kinda like sayin' you wanted the 32 Long H&R, so you didn't get the 32 Short S&W by mistake. Back in the 1800s, the numbers Smith gave guns were frame sizes, not model numbers. The American, the Russian, the Schofield and the 1881 Double Action were all Number 3s. Like saying an "N" frame, nowadays. The American was their first #3, and was much different than their Schofield. Just so you know. __________________ 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.

11-26-2009, 10:23 AM	#10
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC Also, for all the nay-sayers out there, that say "there ain't no such animal as a 45 Long Colt, because there never was a 45 Short Colt", looka here. http://www.leverguns.com/articles/ta...short_colt.htm __________________ 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.

11-26-2009, 01:08 PM	#11
scrat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 86	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC ALso to add some more gas to the fire. If you go to Colts website and look through thier single action firearms they do offer for sale a 45 Long Colt SAA

11-26-2009, 07:30 PM	#12
delta13soultaker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Depends on Uncle Sam's whim every 3 yrs. Posts: 2,948	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC Alpo, thanks for the link. Very interesting history. __________________ Never say die! "A nation who forgets its defenders is soon forgotten itself." "A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Theodore Roosevelt

11-29-2009, 04:17 PM	#13
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: 45 colt cal vrs 45 LC The Army in the late 1800's had two revolvers the 45 Schofield and the 45 Colt. The military with usual efficiency called them both 45 Colt. As a result some outposts received SAA's with 45 Schofield ammo. No problem as the Schofield can be fired in the Colt however some had the Schofield's and received 45 Colt ammo which will not fit as the 45 Colt is a longer cartridge. As a result the Army began calling the 45 Colt the Long Colt. I had not heard that the Schofield was called the short colt although it wouldn't surprise me. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle