A look at the 45 ACP Ballistics and more about the venerable caliber of 1911 shooters and Thompson Machine Gunners.

45 Auto Fast Facts

• Designed in 1904 to provide a semi-automatic pistol with the .45 caliber bullet deemed by the U.S. Military to deliver the greatest stopping power. The 45 Automatic Colt Pistol has been a cartridge for self-defense since its conception.
• While today’s shooters use it less frequently than the three-years-older 9mm, the 45 ACP’s efficacy for personal protection — as well as its enjoyability to shoot — ensure it will remain one of America’s favorite cartridges.
• The caliber’s 21,000 psi chamber pressure and ensuing muzzle velocity are rather low. However, the 45 ACP’s standard 230 grain bullet has enough mass to compensate for its relative sluggishness.
• While the popular 1911 pistol is now available in a variety of calibers, it was chambered for 45 ACP when it came out in the year it is named after.

45 ACP Ballistics Chart

Ammo	Barrel Length	Muzzle	25 yds.	50 yds.	75 yds.	100 yds.		Muzzle	25 yds.	50 yds.	75 yds.	100 yds.		Muzzle	25 yds.	50 yds.	75 yds.	100 yds.		G1	G7	Sect. Density
Sellier & Bellot 230 Gr. FMJ	5	853	829	799	-	742		371	351	326	-	281		-	0	-2.4	-	-17.7		0.093		0.162
Winchester 230 Gr. FMJ	5	865	817					356	342													0.162
Magtech 230 Gr. FMJ	5	837	822	809	795	782		358	346	334	323	313		-	0	-3.2	-9.7	-19.7		0.201		0.162
Fiocchi 230 Gr. FMJ	5	875		827		797		377		350		324			-1.49	-6.01				0.184		0.162
Remington 230 Gr. FMJ	5	835	817	800				356	341	326					-0.4	-1.6						0.162
PMC 230 Gr. FMJ	5	830	809	789	769	749		352	334	318	302	286		-	1.4	0	-4.9	-13.5		0.133		0.162
>Federal American Eagle 230 Gr. FMJ	5	890	872	856	840	824		404	389	374	360	347		-	0	-2	-6.9	-15		0.193		0.162
Tula 230 Gr. FMJ	5	850						369														0.162
Blazer Brass 230 Gr. FMJ	5	830	812	794	778	762		352	337	322	309	296		-	0	-3.3	-10	-20.4		0.156		0.162
Federal Hi-Shok 185 Gr. JHP	5	950	923	899	876	855		371	350	332	315	300		-	0	-1.7	-6	-13.1				0.13
Winchester USA 230 Gr. FMJ	5	835	817	800	784	769		356	341	327	314	302		-	0	-3.2	-9.9	-20.06		0.163		0.162
Federal HST 230 Gr. JHP +P	5	950	929	909	890	873		461	440	422	405	389		-	0	-1.6	-5.9	-12.8		0.196		0.162
Wolf 230 Gr. FMJ	5	850						369														0.162
Federal HST 230 GR. FMJ	5	890	872	856	840	824		404	389	374	360	347		-	0	-2	-6.9	-15		0.193		0.162
Federal 185 Gr. SWC	5	770	735	703	672	642		244	222	203	185	170		-	0	-3.1	-10.6	-23		0.072		0.13
Speer Gold Dot 230 Gr. HP	5	890	867	845	824	805		404	384	365	347	331		-	0	-2	-7.1	-15.3		0.143		0.162
Remington Golden Saber 230 Gr. BJHP	5	875	853	833				391	372	354				0	-0.4	-1.5						0.162
Remington HTP 230 Gr. HTP	5	835	817	800				356	341	326				0	-0.4	-1.6						0.162
Speer Lawman 230 Gr. TMJ	5	830	811	794	777	760		352	336	322	308	295		-	0	-2.4	-8.2	-17.7		0.156		0.162
Federal LE Bonded 230 Gr. JHP +P	5	950						460														0.162
Blazer 230 Gr. FMJ	5	845	826	808	791	774		365	349	334	319	306		-	0	-3.2	-9.7	-19.7		0.156		0.162
Armscor 230 Gr. FMJ	5	830						352														0.162
Hornady 185 Gr. FTX	3	1000	966	936	909	885		411	383	360	340	322		-	0	-2.3	-7.1	-14.6		0.143		0.13
Winchester USA 185 Gr. FMJ	5	910	885	863	842	822		340	322	306	291	277		-	0	-2.8	-8.5	-17.2		0.145		0.13
Hornady 220 Gr. FTX	5	975	950	928	908	888		464	441	421	402	385		-	0	-2.4	-7.3	-14.9		0.183		0.14
Federal Gold Medal 230 Gr. FMJ	5	860	844	828	813	799		378	364	350	338	326		-	0	-2.2	-7.5	-16.1				0.162
Black Hills 230 Gr. FMJ	5	950						460														0.162
Federal Personal Def. 230 Gr. JHP	5	850	834	819	804	790		369	355	343	330	319		-	0	-2.2	-7.7	-16.4		0.193		0.162
Barnes TAC-XPD 185 Gr. SCHP	5	1000	971	944	921	899		411	387	366	348	332		-	0	-2.3	-7.1	-14.4		0.167		0.13
Federal Syntech 230 Gr. TSJ	5	830	815	800	786	773		352	339	327	316	305		-	0	-2.3	-8.1	-17.3		0.194		0.162
Federal Hydra-Shok 165 Gr. JHP	5	1060	1014	976	942	912		412	377	349	325	305		-	0	-1.2	-4.7	-10.6		0.133		0.116
Winchester Ranger 230 Gr. JHP	5	990	964	940	918	898		501	474	451	431	412		-	0	-2.3	-7.1	-14.5		0.18		0.162
Sig Sauer 200 Gr. JHP	5	918						374														0.14
Speer Gold Dot 200 Gr. JHP	5	1080	1033	994	960	930		518	474	439	409	384		-	0	-1.1	-4.5	-10.2		0.138		0.14
Speer Gold Dot 185 Gr. JHP	5	1050	998	955	919	886		453	409	375	347	322		-	0	-1.3	-4.9	-11.1		0.109		0.13
Federal A.E. Suppressor 230 Gr. TMJ	5	840	821	803	785	769		360	344	329	315	302		-	0	-2.3	-8	-17.2				0.162
Hornady 230 Gr. XTP	5	950	928	908	889	871		461	440	421	404	388		-	0	-2.5	-7.7	-15.6		0.188		0.162
Remington Golden Saber 185 Gr. JHP	4	1015	981	951				423	395	372				-	0	-1.4				0.149		0.13
PMC 185 Gr. JHP	5	900	867	836	805	776		333	309	287	266	247		-	1.2	0	-4.3	-12		0.098		0.13
Winchester PDX1 230 Gr. JHP	5	920	900	882	864	848		432	414	397	382	367		-	0	-2.7	-8.2	-16.5		0.188		0.162
Federal Ballisticlean 155 Gr. RHT	5	1130	1062	1008	964	926		439	388	350	320	395		-	0	-1	-4.2	-9.7		0.11		0.109
Black Hills 200 Gr. SWC	5	875						340														0.14
Winchester Ranger T 230 Gr. JHP	5	935	913	893	875	857		447	426	408	391	375		-	0	-2.6	-7.9	-16.1		0.18		0.162

Scroll right for energy, trajectory and coefficient data in the 45 ACP Ballistics chart above.

Background on 45 Automatic Colt Pistol

Disappointed by the 38 Long Colt’s performance during the Philippine-American War, the U.S. Army sought a more powerful cartridge for their standard sidearm, as well as an upgrade to an easier to reload semi-automatic. The 1904 Thompson-LaGarde Tests determined that the .45 caliber was the minimum needed for decisive stopping power. With that in mind, John Browning designed the 45 ACP in the same year. The Army soon adopted it for service along with Colt’s semi-automatic M1911 pistol. 

What Does 45 ACP Offer Ballistically-Speaking?

What made the 45 ACP appealing to the Army back then still makes it appealing now. The round’s .451” diameter bullet is wide enough to produce a devastatingly wide wound channel. This is typically true even if it’s an FMJ that’s incapable of expanding. Its 230 grain bullet furthermore possesses the mass requisite for deep penetration through soft tissue. In terms of ballistics, its relatively low 830 fps muzzle velocity doesn’t produce enough recoil and muzzle blast to make accurate rapid fire difficult. Furthermore, the 45 ACP’s low chamber pressure doesn’t rapidly wear out a weapon. This is an important feature when troops may have to make do with the same firearm for a long time.

45 ACP Specs

Parent case	N/A
Case type	Rimless, straight
Bullet diameter	0.451"
Neck diameter	0.473"
Base diameter	0.476 "
Rim diameter	0.480"
Rim thickness	0.049"
Case length	0.898"
Overall length	1.275"
Case capacity	26.7 gr H2O
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)	21,000 psi

45 ACP ammo is still commonly equipped with a 230 grain bullet, although lighter bullets are available in factory loaded rounds. Whether its bullet is heavy or lightweight, and whether its muzzle velocity is in the low 800 range or close to hitting four digits, it consistently delivers at least 300 ft lbs of energy at the 100 yard mark. Even conservative estimates place 300 ft lbs as the minimum acceptable amount of energy needed for self-defense at the muzzle. The 45 ACP’s slow muzzle velocity does convey its chief shortcoming, however: Its trajectory is far from flat, with an average of 15 to 20” bullet drop at 100 yards.

Comparisons to 9mm Ammo

The 45 ACP has become less popular than the 9mm for a number of other reasons. It is larger, and thus reduces magazine capacity and complicates mass transport. Its heavyweight bullet is less capable of penetrating armor. It’s also a little more expensive, if only because more metal must go into its production. But at the end of the day, the 45 ACP’s military mythos coupled with its undeniable utility for self-defense will keep it alive and well for centuries to come.

Other Attributes

• You’re by no means limited to the 1911 if you want to carry a handgun chambered for 45 ACP. The Glock 21, S&W M&P Shield .45, and SIG Sauer P227 are all better than serviceable alternatives.
• The inherent subsonic muzzle velocity of a standard pressure 45 ACP cartridge lends itself perfectly to suppressor use.
• “You oughta be able to do a .45 in 25,” Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade informs Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman. Assembling and disassembling a Colt MK IV in so few seconds is an impressive feat indeed, even for someone who isn’t blind.