The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as an official US military handgun cartridge for 19 years, before being replaced by the .38 Long Colt in 1892.
.45 Colt
Diagram of .45 Colt U.S. Army "ball cartridge" for Army M1909 revolver, with dimensions in inches.
.45 Colt shown alongside other cartridges. From left to right: .30-06, 7.62×39mm, .454 Casull, .45 Colt, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .45 ACP, 9×19mm Parabellum, .380 ACP, .22 Long Rifle
.45 Colt cartridge featuring a jacketed hollow point bullet
A revolver is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six cartridges, before needing to be reloaded, revolvers are commonly called six shooters or sixguns. Due to their rotating cylinder mechanism, they may also be called wheel guns.
Colt Single Action Army
Firing a Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Magnum
Detail of an 8-chambered matchlock revolver (Germany, c. 1580)
Colt Paterson 2nd belt model