The .45 ACP Cartridge Is Dead Sexy

I also have found a few deals on 45's but that was about a year or two ago.
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I don't know if you have shopped SG Ammo or not, but a week or so ago they had a couple of different brands of .45 for $233 a case (plus shipping).
 
Just for fun, here are some ACP cartridges from earlier times:



The two on the left vintage WW I, the right from WW II. The .45 ACP has been around a loong time. And it hasn't survived these years just on looks!

Bob Wright
 
I have carried a .45 acp for almost 50 years never thought of the round as sexy, effective, solid hitting, the reason I am still here, but never sexy.
 
Interesting read...
After my M&P Shield 9mm and Sig Sauer P320 Compact RX 9mm
I have been thinking that my next gun will be a 45.
So I have been reading everything 45 and watching everything 45 on you tube.
I want to try my P320 in 45 because I love it in 9 also...
M&P Shield 45
Sig Sauer P250 Compact
Glock 36
Springfield XDs .45ACP
Kahr CW45

Mackie244 / Bud
 
I got my first 1911 a few weeks ago, also my first .45. Biggest surprise was how easy it is to CCW. Admittedly it is single stack but still a full- size version. Didn't require much of a wardrobe change to dress around it.
 
I too feel the siren song of big ol .45 ACP.

I often carry 9mm and shoot it well, but old big fat and slow always calls me back. Usually to the equally venerable 1911 platform, but the Glock 21 and 30 get some love too.
 
best look

Thanks for the pics of the vintage .45 acp rounds. I have 30-40 rds of the WWI era stuff, in their boxes, with the halfmoons still attached. I cna't say as I've ever seen the steel case WWII ammo.

I think the best "look" for the .45ACP is the jacketed, truncated bullet as loaded by Hornady. I'm not sure if they still sell that round, I cannot find the jacketed slug as a reloading component either. Lead truncated 225's are pretty common. Another "look" and slug I have been experimenting with, and I am pleased with results, is the 250 gr LRNFP as intended for the .45 Colt revolver. I get about 815 fps +/- with a reasonable charge of Unique, and it is entirely shootable in my SIG P220.
 
Just a reminder. For pure fun with a .45 ACP, take a look at the single action Ruger Vaquero Talo distribution model with birdshead grip . No moonclips required, best loaded from a 1911 magazine.

The single action folks love these things. Just don't take one apart :):):)

I had a dislike of the .45 ACP because I had to carry a US Army 1911 cow on occasion. A friend got one of these Vaqueros and we had an absolute blast at the range with it. I'm now looking at this cartridge with interest. It is indeed sexy.
 
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I carry a 255gr SWC .45 ACP cartridge loaded to 860 FPS in my Springfield Armory M1911A1 pistol.
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This is a great load, use the same bullet in my Les Baer and Colt 1991A1. Feeds and fires just fine. Lots of momentum and hits steel plates with authority.
 
I have a 45 and a 9mm. I load for both. I am a bit more accurate with my 45 than I am with my double-stack 9mm, but at the distances a pistol is likely to be needed, it's about the same.

Can't say that I've ever though a cartridge was "sexy", the 45 does have its attractions, particularly in a nickel plated case topped with a Hornady XTP bullet which provides a nice contrast between the silvery shine of the nickel, the copper color of the bullet jacket and the dull gray of the exposed lead.
 
vba said:
This is a great load, use the same bullet in my Les Baer and Colt 1991A1. Feeds and fires just fine. Lots of momentum and hits steel plates with authority.
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I use the .45 ACP 255gr SWC for bowling pin shooting. I have my Glock 17 back from Glock GA now, so I will be carrying my G17.
 
The .45 does nothing for me, am not a fan at all. I do like the feel of a 1911, but make mine a slim and speedy 9mm.
 
Joe Pike
Have you fired the Defender yet ? I picked up a new Colt New Agent in 45 ACP it came with black crimson trace laser grips . Its the same gun as yours but with trench sights , the recoil is light for a 3" , great carry an so mush fun to shoot , you will be surprised how accurate it
is , I'm shooting 230 gr. hardball through it . Just love the gun.
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Finally got around to shooting it today and it's a snappy little bugger. My hands were hurting before I got to the range, so, my grip wasn't what it should have been. I shot 120 rounds through it and had one FTF. I probably limp wristed it because it was in the last ten rounds that I fired and, like I said, my hands were hurting before I even started shooting, so, I couldn't grip it like I should have.
 
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