What would a 45 Colt load be vs. 45-70?
- Thread starter Lavan
- Start date
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Lavan said:
Equal in what sense? Velocity? Muzzle energy? Trajectory?
The original .45 Colt used either a 230-grain or 255-grain bullet with anywhere from 28 to 40 grains of (black) powder. The .45-70 used a 300-grain bullet. That makes it difficult to in any way make a .45 Colt "equal" a .45-70, so you'll have to be more specific as to what parameter you want to match.
If what you mean is naming the .45 Colt by caliber and powder charge like the .45-70, then it would be .45-40, for the original BP load.
255gr conical bullet (with a small flat point) and 40 grains of blackpowder, in a balloon head case.
35-38grains is all you can fit in modern solid head cases, and the charge was reduced (to 35, I think) for these cases, and the Army reduced the charge even further to match the .45 Schoefield (and went to a 230gr bullet).
The original naming system used three numbers, caliber, powder charge, and bullet weight. The .45-70-500 was the GI load (infantry) and used a 500gr bullet. People being what they are, the last number was soon dropped in casual conversation, and the name .45-70 became fixed.
The 405gr bullet (and a reduced powder charge of 60 grains) was adopted later as the "cavalry" load (being more suitable for the cavalry carbines), but the name .45-70 stuck, and has carried through today.
255gr conical bullet (with a small flat point) and 40 grains of blackpowder, in a balloon head case.
35-38grains is all you can fit in modern solid head cases, and the charge was reduced (to 35, I think) for these cases, and the Army reduced the charge even further to match the .45 Schoefield (and went to a 230gr bullet).
The original naming system used three numbers, caliber, powder charge, and bullet weight. The .45-70-500 was the GI load (infantry) and used a 500gr bullet. People being what they are, the last number was soon dropped in casual conversation, and the name .45-70 became fixed.
The 405gr bullet (and a reduced powder charge of 60 grains) was adopted later as the "cavalry" load (being more suitable for the cavalry carbines), but the name .45-70 stuck, and has carried through today.
