Craig Boddington was the senior contributing editor of our modern gun and ammunition caliber dictionary. Craig was involved in the development and testing of many of these and writes from first hand experience. This dictionary was written exclusively for Wholesale Hunter with unique information found nowhere else.
GUN CALIBER DICTIONARY
Centerfire Handgun
10mm
22 TCM
25 ACP
25 NAA
30 Luger
32 ACP
32 H&R MAG
32 North American Arms
32 S&W
32 S&W Long
32 Short Colt
327 Federal Magnum
357 Magnum
357 Maximum
357 Sig
38 Colt Short
38 Long Colt
38 S&W
38 Short Colt
38 Special
38 Special +P
38 Super Automatic
380 ACP
4.6X30 Heckler & Koch
40 S&W
400 Cor-Bon
41 Colt
41 Remington Magnum
41 Special
429 Desert Eagle
44 Auto Mag
44 Colt
44 Rem Magnum
44 Russian
44 Special
45 ACP
45 Auto Rimmed
45 AUTO+P
45 Colt
The 45 Colt (45 Long Colt) was introduced in 1873 in Colt's Single Action Army. Adopted by the U.S. military in 1875, it served until 1892 when it was replaced by the less powerful (and unsatisfactory) 38 Long Colt. Originally loaded with 40 grains of blackpowder and a 255-grain bullet the 45 Colt produced about 900 feet per second for more than 400 foot-pounds of energy, a powerful handgun cartridge for its day--and any day. Using a .454-inch bullet, today's standard load retains the 255-grain bullet at 860 fps. Lighter bullets at somewhat higher velocities are available. 45 Colt was the most common chambering in Colt's single action. Today it is chambered in virtually all centerfire single-action revolvers and has been chambered in numerous large-frame double-action revolvers. 45 Colt is the most popular revolver cartridge in cowboy action shooting, and remains a powerful and effective personal defense cartridge, its only drawback being the necessity for a large revolver to house it. — Craig Boddington
