Jerry Kiln
In regards to the ".45 Colt" vs ".45 Long Colt"
Friday, October 02, 2026, 09:53

nomenclature debates, all I can say is that I never heard ".45 Long Colt" until the last couple of decades. Every gun and every box of ammo and every piece of brass was marked ".45 Colt", so that is what I always called it. Post-1911 I can see the "Long" creeping in to differentiate from .45 Colt Automatic Pistol by folk asking for ammunition, while even the modern ".45 ACP" or ".45 Auto" is still not proof against confusion by store clerks today, as I have certainly called stores several times seeking loaded .45 Colt ammunition in desperation, was assured they had some, and on arrival, proudly presented with a box of .45 ACP. If .45 Government were still around today, the confusion would be even worse for someone seeking ammunition for their .45 Government Model, and end up going home with the wrong cartridges. But, today with .45 Colt, .45 ACP/Auto, .45GAP, .45 Super, etc, I see the "Long" appendage as rather frivolous. Perhaps it appeals to the market segment which would not buy small or medium condoms, but only large, but which would buy large, extra large, and maybe forego jumbo condoms.