hitinthexring - Don't mean to flame you, bro, but I've been shooting the .45 Colt for 54 years, and have never had a rim tear on extraction. The modern rim is .060", the same as the .44 Magnum, and the brass, temper and web thickness are comparable as well. If you are quoting hearsay, it probably stems from an old "balloon head" case. These were folded down from a brass cylinder, in manufacture, and were considerably weaker than modern cases, but still only blew or stuck in a chamber when loaded too hot, or were fired after they were so old they had weakened. They haven't been made for years. The limiting factor nowadays, in .45 Colt loads, is the strength of the gun, and the thckness of the chamber walls. Gentleman mentioned Hamilton Bowen. If you have the green, and want to go hot in a .45 Colt DA, get Ham's .45 Colt "Alpine" model Redhawk, with his five-shot cylinder. This will handle 1200 fps+ loads, if your hands can take it. My .45 Colt carry is a 625-6 Mountain Gun, loaded to 900 fps with 255 gr. SWCs, or 1100 fps with 185 gr. JHP. The 3" barrels have little real carry advantage over a 4", and don't balance in the hand as well, IMO.