Guide

.45 Colt Ammo 2026: Self-Defense, Hunting and Range Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 12 current .45 Colt loads on Federal's, Remington's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 5 from Federal, 4 from Remington and 3 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 3 makers, not every .45 Colt load sold.

Grouping follows each maker's own usage label ("Self-Defense," "Big Game" and "Target Shooting"). Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its loads sit in their own table. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses: "45 Colt". This guide covers the .45 Colt only. The .45 ACP, which makers list as "45 Auto," is a different cartridge with its own .45 ACP ammo guide, and no .45 Auto loads are in these tables.

Self-defense loads

These are the loads Federal and Remington label Self-Defense on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok Deep	45 Colt	P45CHSD1	210 gr Hydra-Shok Deep Jacketed Hollow Point	913 fps	389 ft-lb	6 in vented	20	Currently Unavailable
Remington High Terminal Performance	45 Colt	23012	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	850 fps	369 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hunting loads

Federal and Remington label these loads Big Game on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal HammerDown Handgun	45 Colt	LG45C1	250 gr Bonded Hollow Point	1,025 fps	583 ft-lb	20 in	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Handgun	45 Colt	C45LCB	235 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	850 fps	377 ft-lb	6 in vented	20	Available
Remington Core-Lokt Handgun	45 Colt	20272	237 gr Core-Lokt Hollow Point	850 fps	380 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady Cowboy	45 Colt	9115	255 gr Cowboy™	725 fps	298 ft-lb	4.75 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Critical Defense	45 Colt	92790	185 gr FTX® Critical Defense®	920 fps	348 ft-lb	3 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady LEVERevolution	45 Colt	92792	225 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®	960 fps	460 ft-lb	4.75 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page

Range and training loads

These are loads Federal and Remington label Target Shooting. Several are the same load in different box counts, and each box size has its own item number.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal American Eagle Handgun	45 Colt	AE45LC	225 gr Jacketed Soft Point	860 fps	369 ft-lb	4 in	50	Available
Federal Champion Training	45 Colt	C45LCA	225 gr Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point	830 fps	344 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Remington Performance WheelGun	45 Colt	22338	225 gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter	830 fps	344 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington Performance WheelGun	45 Colt	22340	250 gr Lead Round Nose	750 fps	312 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 12 loads, 3 list no test barrel on the maker page (Remington), and 2 list 4 in vented, 2 list 6 in vented, 2 list 4.75 in vented, 1 lists 4 in, 1 lists 20 in, 1 lists 3 in vented. A revolver with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's velocity test barrel for .45 Colt is 7.260 in solid or 4.000 in vented. Many maker pages list a vented revolver test barrel. For how velocity changes with barrel length in .45 Colt, see our barrel length vs velocity data for .45 Colt.

.45 Colt: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "45 COLT" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022, its centerfire pistol and revolver standard (approved Dec. 13, 2022). The cartridge drawing was issued 02/12/1987 and revised 07/13/2021. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 14,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 140 in psi/100), and the same 140 figure in CUP/100 for crusher. Cartridge overall length runs from 1.515 in minimum to 1.600 in maximum. Case length is 1.285 in (−.020), and bullet diameter is .4560 in (−.0060). Bore is .442 in and groove is .450 in. SAAMI's velocity test barrel for .45 Colt is 7.260 in solid or 4.000 in vented. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.3 PDF.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we opened 9 Winchester product pages (shotshell, handgun and rimfire) on Nov. 4 and every one said "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we could not verify its product pages.
Speer: Speer's caliber list and its Gold Dot and Lawman product pages (opened Nov. 4) show no .45 Colt load, so none is in the tables.
Hornady: its .45 Colt loads come from the product pages listed in Hornady's sitemap; any .45 Colt page not in that sitemap is not in the tables.
CCI: its handgun pest-control shotshells for .45 Colt are shot capsules, not bullet loads, and CCI lists no .45 Colt bullet load on the pages we opened, so none is in the tables.
Test barrels and stock status: Remington pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

Revolvers and carbines for .45 Colt

The .45 Colt is used in revolvers and lever-action carbines. Check your firearm maker's manual for the loads it is rated for, because Federal lists a 20 in test barrel for its HammerDown load. Barrel length changes velocity, as the .45 Colt barrel length data shows. See also new pistol releases.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Remington show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available" or "Currently Unavailable"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .44 Magnum ammo, .357 Magnum ammo, .38 Special ammo, .45 ACP ammo (a different cartridge), the .45 Colt barrel length data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Compare: .44 Magnum vs .45 Colt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .45 Colt?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 14,000 psi for 45 Colt, measured by transducer (140 in psi/100), in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3.

What grain is .45 Colt ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 185 gr to 255 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your gun is set up to shoot.

How fast is .45 Colt ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 725 fps to 1,025 fps, and muzzle energies from 298 ft-lb to 583 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. See our .45 Colt barrel length data.

Do you list prices or stock for .45 Colt ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

.45 Colt Ammo 2026: Self-Defense, Hunting and Range Loads From the Makers

Self-defense loads

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Range and training loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.45 Colt: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Revolvers and carbines for .45 Colt

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Self-defense loads

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Range and training loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

.45 Colt: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Revolvers and carbines for .45 Colt

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report