45 long colt ammo

45 Long Colt ammo — properly the .45 Colt — is the storied frontier revolver cartridge that armed the Old West and still runs strong today in cowboy-action revolvers, lever guns, and the Taurus Judge. It throws a big .452-inch bullet at modest velocity for low-pressure, big-bore authority, and in modern +P loads it becomes a legitimate handgun-hunting and bear-defense round. If you shoot a single-action Colt clone, a Ruger Blackhawk, or a lever carbine, this is your cartridge.

Tatted Tacticals stocks .45 Colt from Federal, Hornady, Winchester, Buffalo Bore, and Underwood — cowboy-action loads, defensive JHP, and heavy hard-cast hunting loads, in boxes and bulk.

“.45 Colt” vs “.45 Long Colt”

They’re the same cartridge. The name “.45 Long Colt” arose in the 1870s to distinguish the longer Colt round from the shorter .45 Schofield, and the nickname stuck — boxes use both “.45 Colt” and “.45 Long Colt” interchangeably. It is not the same as .45 ACP, which is a shorter semi-auto cartridge and not interchangeable. If your revolver is marked either “.45 Colt” or “.45 Long Colt,” it fires this ammo.

Standard vs. +P Loads

The .45 Colt lives in two worlds. Standard-pressure cowboy and defensive loads push a 250- to 255-grain bullet around 860 fps — gentle, accurate, and perfect for cowboy action and target work. Heavy +P loads from Buffalo Bore and Underwood drive hard-cast bullets far faster for handgun hunting and bear defense, but these are only safe in modern strong-framed revolvers and lever guns like the Ruger and Henry — never in older or replica Colt-style guns. Always match the load to your firearm’s rating. Our .45 Long Colt ballistic data compares the loads.

Uses: Cowboy Action, Hunting, and the Judge

The .45 Colt dominates cowboy-action shooting with soft-recoiling lead loads, serves as a deep-woods handgun-hunting round in +P, and is a popular defensive chambering in the Taurus Judge and similar revolvers that also fire .410 shotshells. For more revolver power, the .44 Magnum and .45-70 step up; for similar-era revolver shooting, the .357 Magnum and .44 Special are common companions. Standards follow SAAMI specifications.

Buying .45 Colt

Federal law sets the minimum age for handgun ammunition at 21, and some states and cities restrict online sales; per ATF guidance, confirm federal rules, then review our ammunition shipping rules and state restrictions before ordering.

.45 Long Colt Ammo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between .45 Colt and .45 Long Colt?

No — they are the same cartridge. “Long Colt” is a historical nickname used to distinguish it from the shorter .45 Schofield round of the 1870s. Modern ammo boxes use both names interchangeably, and any revolver marked .45 Colt or .45 Long Colt fires identical ammunition.

What is .45 Long Colt ammo good for?

Cowboy-action shooting, where its soft-recoiling lead loads are a standard; handgun hunting and bear defense in heavy +P loads from strong-framed revolvers; and general big-bore revolver shooting. In the Taurus Judge it doubles as a defensive round alongside .410 shotshells. It’s a versatile cartridge spanning gentle target loads to powerful hunting loads.

Will a .45 LC stop a bear?

In heavy +P hard-cast loads from a strong-framed revolver, the .45 Colt is a recognized bear-defense option with deep penetration. Standard-pressure loads are too mild for that role. As with any handgun bear defense, deep-penetrating hard-cast bullets and shot placement matter most — and only modern guns rated for +P should fire those loads.

Is .45 Long Colt ammo hard to find?

It’s a lower-volume cartridge than common semi-auto rounds, so it can thin out during shortages, but it remains in regular production for the strong cowboy-action and revolver markets. Buying a stock when you see your preferred load — cowboy, defensive, or hunting — is the simplest way to stay supplied.

Can you buy .45 Colt ammo online?

Yes. In most U.S. states you can buy .45 Colt online and have it shipped to your door. You must be at least 21 for handgun ammunition, and some states and municipalities add restrictions or shipping limits, so confirm your state and local laws before ordering.