THE .45 COLT CARTRIDGE An American Legend: A Complete History, Technical Guide, and Shooter’s Handbook (Historic American Cartridges) Paperback – March 3, 2026

It was adopted by the United States Army in 1873. It rode with the cavalry at the Little Bighorn, stood in the holsters of Wyatt Earp and Pat Garrett, survived two official declarations of obsolescence, and remains in production today — loadable, shootable, and purchasable off the shelf at any sporting goods store in America. No handgun cartridge in history has demonstrated this kind of longevity, and none carries a heavier weight of American history.The .45 Colt: An American Legend is the definitive book on the cartridge that defined the American frontier and refuses to leave it.WHAT THIS BOOK COVERSWritten by firearms instructor, retired law enforcement officer, and lifelong shooter Scott L. Buttrick, this comprehensive volume covers every dimension of the .45 Colt — historical, technical, cultural, and practical:• The complete origin story: the 1872 Army contract, the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, and the birth of the Single Action Army• Why it was called the .45 Long Colt — and why that name is technically wrong but historically understandable• The balloon head case: what it is, why it matters for handloaders, and how to identify one before it ruins your day• The frontier era in full: Little Bighorn, the cattle drives, Dodge City, Tombstone, and the O.K. Corral• The cartridge’s near-disappearance and remarkable revival, from the 1950s Western television boom through the SASS revolution• Complete ballistics data: original black powder specs, standard pressure factory loads, and the Ruger-only heavy loads that push the cartridge to .44 Magnum energy levels and beyond• The author’s two proven handloads: a 255 gr lead SWC over 8.0 gr Alliant Unique at 850 fps for target work, and a 300 gr Hornady XTP over 24.0 gr Winchester 296 at 1,300 fps for hunting• Hunting applications: game-by-game guidance, bullet selection, shot placement, and trajectory tables for both the revolver and the lever gun• Cowboy Action Shooting and the SASS connection: categories, equipment rules, competition loads, and how the sport saved the cartridge• The .45 Colt’s descendants: the .454 Casull and .460 S&W Magnum, with factory load data for both• The cartridge in film and television: from The Great Train Robbery to Deadwood, with a frank discussion of what Hollywood got right and what it got catastrophically wrong• A complete analysis of two outstanding .45 Colt platforms: the Ruger Blackhawk Bisley with 7½-inch barrel and the Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited Edition, including trigger work performed by the authorWHO THIS BOOK IS FORWhether you are a Cowboy Action competitor developing your first .45 Colt load, a deer hunter considering a lever-action season, a collector of Single Action Army revolvers, or simply a student of American firearms history who wants the complete story, this book was written for you. The technical content is rigorous enough for the serious handloader and the experienced gunsmith. The narrative is accessible to anyone who loves firearms and the history they carry. Read more