.45 Auto (.45 ACP) Ballistics

Updated: 8.01.2012

History, Details, Ballistics, and Drop for the .45 Auto (.45 ACP)

Cartridge Type: Handgun
Height: 0.898"
Width: 0.48"
Average FPS: 937
Average Energy: 403
Average Gr: 207
Recoil: 0.93
Power Rank: 3.88 of 7 [?]

.45 Auto / ACP is the top end pistol cartridge that packs more energy than the 9mm, the 40 S & W, and of course the dinky 380 ACP. The only common pistol round more powerful is the .357 Magnum and the 50 Action Express (the 50 being not so popular really)

.

The 45 ACP was designed by the late and famous John Browning for his 45 Colt Pistol at the time a prototype. The squat little 45 round provided excellent "stopping power", and effective penetration in the current ballistic tests. Despite this fact more local police, and military personnel carry either the 40 cal, or the 9mm due to capacity issues. While a .45 in the right hands is most likely the superior round the extra capacity afforded by the 9 or 40 provides room for less than spectacular shots.

We took the average of all the 45 auto bullets in our database and the average fps from barrel is 937, average energy 403 lbs, average gr being 207 (they don't make a 207 gr that is just the average folks), and we've given it a power rank of 3.88 out of 5 pistol rank.

So in summary if you are a medium to large build man/woman and you are fairly accurate with a pistol or can swap mags fast, and you are looking for a bullet to put the bad guys on their ass the 45 ACP may be the cartridge for you.

*Casing image above is an artist rendering and not a real photo of .45 Auto (.45 ACP) Ballistics cartridge. While we have went to great lengths to make sure that it's as accurate as possible this rendering should not be used to generate specs for casings.

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Handpicked .45 Auto (.45 ACP) Ballistics Videos from YouTube

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Known Rounds

.45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Fiocchi FMJ EB, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Ultramax JHP, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Magtech FMC - SWC, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Black Hills Jacketed Hollow Point, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Hornady TAP-FPD + P, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Sellier & Bellot FMJ, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Fiocchi XTPHP, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Ultramax SWC, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-PMC Starfire Hollow Point, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-UMC (Remington) FNEB Leadless, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Cor-Bon JHP + P, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Black Hills Jacketed Hollow Point, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Magtech SCHP, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Federal FMJ - SWC Match, .45 Auto (.45 ACP)-Winchester Jacketed Hollow Point,

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Other Cartridges with Similar Widths (cartridges not bullets)

.30-06 Springfield, .500 Smith & Wesson Special, .240 Weatherby Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6mm Remington, .35 Whelen, .357 Magnum, .220 Swift, 8mm Remington Magnum, .44 Smith & Wesson Special, .375 Dakota, .44 Remington Magnum (Rifle Data), .500 Jeffery, .458 Winchester Magnum, 7-30 Waters,

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Other Cartridges with Similar Length

6.53mm (.257) Lazzeroni Scramjet, .416 Remington Magnum, .405 Winchester, .300 Weatherby Magnum, .375 Remington Ultra Magnum, .340 Weatherby Magnum, 10.57mm (.416) Lazzeroni Meteor, .222 Remington Magnum, .375 Weatherby Magnum, .32 Auto (7.65mm Browning), .300 Savage, .40 Smith & Wesson, 8mm Remington Magnum, .375 Ruger, .38-55 Winchester,

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Bullet Database

Image	Cartridge	Type	FPS	Energy	Power	Recoil	Length
	.17 Aguila	rifle	1850	152	0.37	0.16	0.618
	.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire	rifle	2483	246	0.45	0.19	1.06
	.17 Mach 2	rifle	2078	163	0.35	0.17	0.714
	.17 Remington	rifle	4145	877	0.95	0.45	1.796
	.204 Ruger	rifle	3935	1272	1.46	0.6	1.84
	.218 Bee	rifle	2760	778	1.27	0.56	1.345
	.22 Hornet	rifle	2719	706	1.17	0.54	1.017
	.22 Long	rifle	898	52	0.26	0.14	0.613
	.22 Long Rifle High Veloci	rifle	1341	152	0.51	0.22	0.613
	.22 LR	rifle	1061	99	0.42	0.19	0.613
	.22 Short	rifle	896	52	0.26	0.13	0.421
	.22 Winchester Magnum Rimf	rifle	2000	342	0.54	0.34	1.055
	.22-250 Remington	rifle	3787	1624	1.93	0.9	1.912
	.220 Swift	rifle	3845	1674	1.96	0.9	2.205
	.221 Remington Fireball	handgun	3097	958	2.78	0.67	1.4
	.222 Remington	rifle	3167	1091	1.55	0.74	1.7
	.222 Remington Magnum	rifle	3525	1241	1.59	0.79	1.85
	.223 Remington (5.56x45mm	rifle	3148	1254	1.79	0.8	1.76
	.223 Winchester Super Shor	rifle	3766	1826	2.18	0.95	1.67
	.224 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3650	1627	2.01	0.9	1.92
	.225 Winchester	rifle	3570	1556	1.96	0.9	1.927
	.240 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3396	2432	3.23	1.46	2.5
	.243 Winchester	rifle	3179	1952	2.77	1.25	2.045
	.243 Winchester Super Shor	rifle	3198	2228	2.55	1.37	1.67
	.25 Auto (ACP)	handgun	814	68	0.74	0.17	0.615
	.25 Winchester Super Short	rifle	3155	2387	3.41	1.57	1.67
	.25-06 Remington	rifle	3123	2360	3.4	1.57	2.494
	.25-20 Winchester	rifle	1460	407	1.26	0.57	1.33
	.25-35 Winchester	rifle	2230	1292	2.61	1.18	2.043
	.250 Savage	rifle	2820	1765	2.82	1.27	1.912
	.257 Roberts	rifle	2790	2039	3.29	1.47	2.233
	.257 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3408	2836	3.75	1.76	2.549
	.260 Remington	rifle	2856	2282	3.6	1.73	2.035
	.264 Winchester Magnum	rifle	3170	2766	3.93	1.91	2.5
	.270 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3335	3333	4.5	2.05	2.549
	.270 Winchester	rifle	3536	3775	4.81	1.82	2.54
	.270 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	3238	3166	4.4	2	2.1
	.280 Remington	rifle	2896	2793	4.34	1.95	2.54
	.284 Winchester	rifle	2880	2762	4.32	1.93	2.17
	.30 Luger (7.65mm)	handgun	1210	296	2.2	0.52	0.85
	.30 M1 Carbine	rifle	1987	964	2.19	0.99	1.29
	.30-06 Springfield	rifle	2815	2920	4.67	2.19	2.494
	.30-30 Winchester	rifle	2373	1888	3.58	1.6	2.04
	.30-378 Weatherby	rifle	3382	4520	6.02	2.55	2.908
	.300 Dakota	rifle	3183	4206	5.95	2.6	2.55
	.300 H&H Magnum	rifle	2880	3314	5.18	2.34	2.85
	.300 Remington Short Actio	rifle	3034	3494	5.19	2.36	2.015
	.300 Remington Ultra Magnu	rifle	3066	3610	5.3	2.64	2.85
	.300 Savage	rifle	2518	2280	4.08	1.78	1.871
	.300 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3229	4074	5.68	2.63	2.811
	.300 Winchester Magnum	rifle	3026	3517	5.23	2.39	2.62
	.300 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	3078	3576	5.23	2.36	2.1
	.303 British	rifle	2540	2406	4.27	1.98	2.222
	.307 Winchester	rifle	2510	2518	4.52	1.93	2.015
	.308 Winchester (7.62mm NA	rifle	2681	2617	4.4	1.95	2.015
	.32 Auto (7.65mm Browning)	handgun	957	136	1.28	0.29	0.68
	.32 H&R Magnum	handgun	998	197	1.78	0.42	1.075
	.32 Short Colt	handgun	745	99	1.2	0.27	0.65
	.32 Smith & Wesson	handgun	680	88	1.16	0.27	0.605
	.32 Smith & Wesson Long	handgun	758	124	1.48	0.35	0.92
	.32 Winchester Special	rifle	2250	1911	3.83	1.95	2.04
	.32-20 Winchester	rifle	1210	325	1.21	0.55	1.315
	.325 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	2213	2174	4.43	2.78	2.1
	.327 Federal Magnum	handgun	1427	452	2.86	0.67	1.2
	.330 Dakota	rifle	2925	4369	6.73	3.11	2.74
	.338 A Square	rifle	3246	5412	7.56	3.15	2.85
	.338 Lapua Magnum	rifle	2927	4831	7.43	3.33	2.774
	.338 Remington Ultra Magnu	rifle	2968	4478	6.8	3.18	2.76
	.338 Winchester Magnum	rifle	2819	3916	6.26	2.93	2.5
	.338-378 Weatherby	rifle	3184	5176	7.32	3.4	2.913
	.340 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3033	4615	6.85	3.3	2.825
	.35 Remington	rifle	2120	1876	3.99	1.87	1.92
	.35 Whelen	rifle	2638	3538	6.04	2.64	2.494
	.350 Remington Magnum	rifle	2663	3353	5.67	2.65	2.17
	.356 Winchester	rifle	2460	2687	4.92	2.22	2.015
	.357 Magnum	handgun	1294	528	3.68	0.89	1.29
	.357 Magnum (Rifle Data)	rifle	1737	1105	2.87	1.3	1.29
	.357 SIG	handgun	1379	515	3.36	0.76	0.865
	.375 A-Square	rifle	2920	5679	8.76	3.94	2.85
	.375 Dakota	rifle	2750	4835	7.92	3.6	2.57
	.375 Holland Magnum	rifle	2585	4317	7.52	3.42	2.85
	.375 Remington Ultra Magnu	rifle	2862	5055	7.96	3.7	2.85
	.375 Ruger	rifle	2720	4763	7.89	3.3	2.58
	.375 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	2800	5221	8.4	3.75	2.855
	.375 Winchester	rifle	2200	2149	4.4	1.98	2.02
	.378 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3011	5696	8.52	3.95	2.913
	.38 Short Colt	handgun	730	148	1.82	0.17	0.765
	.38 Smith & Wesson	handgun	685	152	2	0.45	0.775
	.38 Special (.38 Smith & W	handgun	876	235	2.42	0.53	1.155
	.38 Super Auto Colt	handgun	1306	454	3.14	0.71	0.9
	.38-40 Winchester	handgun	1160	538	4.18	0.95	1.305
	.38-55 Winchester	handgun	1320	986	6.74	1.51	2.085
	.380 Auto (9mm Browning Sh	handgun	980	194	1.78	0.41	0.68
	.40 Smith & Wesson	handgun	1074	423	3.54	0.74	0.85
	.400 A-Square Dual Purpose	rifle	2593	3881	6.74	4.27	2.81
	.404 Dakota	rifle	2450	5104	9.38	4.27	2.57
	.405 Winchester	rifle	2200	3223	6.6	1.51	2.583
	.41 Remington Magnum	handgun	1276	763	5.38	1.23	1.29
	.416 Dakota	rifle	2500	5370	9.68	4.56	2.85
	.416 Remington Magnum	rifle	2339	4992	9.61	4.32	2.85
	.416 Rigby	rifle	2314	4850	9.44	4.27	2.9
	.416 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	2720	6373	10.55	4.77	2.913
	.44 Colt	handgun	728	268	3.32	0.75	1.1
	.44 Remington Magnum (Pist	handgun	1317	897	6.14	1.45	1.285
	.44 Remington Magnum (Rifl	rifle	1751	1688	4.34	1.9	1.285
	.44 Smith & Wesson Special	handgun	911	361	3.58	0.81	1.16
	.44-40 Winchester	rifle	1060	499	2.12	1.07	1.305
	.444 Marlin	rifle	2217	3001	6.1	2.54	2.225
	.45 Auto (.45 ACP)	handgun	937	403	3.88	0.93	0.898
	.45 Colt (.45 Long Colt)	rifle	915	442	2.18	0.45	1.285
	.45 GAP (Glock Automatic P	handgun	959	414	3.9	0.92	0.76
	.45 Smith & Wesson Schofie	rifle	730	243	1.5	0.76	1.1
	.45 Winchester Magnum	handgun	1200	831	6.24	1.4	1.198
	.45-70 Government	rifle	1680	2274	6.1	2.43	2.105
	.450 Dakota	rifle	2500	7215	13	5.8	2.9
	.450 Marlin	rifle	2163	3511	7.31	3.27	2.1
	.454 Casull	rifle	1644	1650	4.52	2.2	1.365
	.458 Lott	rifle	2254	5583	11.16	5.05	2.8
	.458 Winchester Magnum	rifle	2158	5045	10.53	4.36	2.5
	.460 Smith & Wesson	handgun	1885	2240	10.7	2.46	1.79
	.460 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	2610	7380	12.74	5.86	2.913
	.470 Nitro Express	rifle	2134	5055	10.67	4.84	3.25
	.475 Linebaugh	handgun	1300	1501	10.4	2.3	1.4
	.475 Nitro Express 2	rifle	2200	5265	10.78	4.95	3.5
	.480 Ruger	handgun	1360	1314	8.7	1.95	1.285
	.495 A-Square	rifle	2350	6988	13.4	6.03	2.8
	.50 Action Express	handgun	1475	1488	9.08	2.05	1.285
	.500 A-Square	rifle	2470	8126	14.82	6.68	2.9
	.500 Jeffery	rifle	2400	6841	12.84	5.78	2.756
	.500 Nitro Express 3-Inch	rifle	2125	5714	12.11	5.52	3
	.500 Smith & Wesson Specia	handgun	1367	1348	8.88	2.01	1.295
	.500 Smith & Wesson Specia	handgun	1609	2132	11.94	2.95	1.625
	.500-465 Nitro Express	rifle	2150	4926	10.32	4.59	3.25
	.505 Rimless Magnum (Gibbs	rifle	2200	6049	12.39	5.44	3.15
	.577 Nitro Express 3-Inch	rifle	2050	6997	15.38	6.93	3
	.577 Tyrannosaur	rifle	2460	10076	18.45	8.31	2.99
	.600 Nitro Express	rifle	1950	7597	17.55	7.91	3
	.700 Nitro Express	rifle	1950	8440	19.5	9	3.5
	10.57mm (.416) Lazzeroni M	rifle	2800	6962	11.2	4.95	2.8
	10mm Auto	handgun	1199	546	4.1	0.96	0.992
	5mm Remington Rimfire Magn	rifle	2300	352	0.69	0.19	0.995
	6.17mm (.243) Lazzeroni Sp	rifle	3618	2470	3.08	1.37	2.05
	6.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer	rifle	2250	1753	0.04	1.71	2.12
	6.53mm (.257) Lazzeroni Sc	rifle	3750	3122	3.75	1.69	2.8
	6.5mm Remington Magnum	rifle	3118	2655	3.84	1.72	2.17
	6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser	rifle	2673	2078	3.5	1.72	2.165
	6.5x57 Mauser	rifle	2543	1881	3.33	1.62	2.232
	6.71mm (.264) Lazzeroni Ph	rifle	3312	2922	3.97	1.79	2.05
	6.8mm Remington SPC	rifle	2600	1696	2.94	1.41	1.686
	6mm Remington	rifle	3156	2145	3.06	1.4	2.233
	7-30 Waters	rifle	2700	1942	3.24	1.46	2.04
	7.21mm (.284) Lazzeroni Fi	rifle	3850	4278	5.01	2.33	2.8
	7.62x39mm Russian	rifle	2363	1587	3.02	1.29	1.528
	7.82mm (.308) Lazzeroni Pa	rifle	3378	3926	5.24	2.23	2.05
	7.82mm (.308) Lazzeroni Wa	rifle	3663	4915	6.04	2.8	2.8
	7mm Dakota	rifle	3320	3622	4.91	2.27	2.5
	7mm Remington Magnum	rifle	3024	3106	4.63	2.06	2.5
	7mm Remington Short Action	rifle	3044	3065	4.54	2.07	2.035
	7mm Remington Ultra Magnum	rifle	3121	3330	4.81	2.13	2.85
	7mm STW (Shooting Times We	rifle	3239	3494	4.86	2.31	2.85
	7mm Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3199	3476	4.89	2.2	2.549
	7mm Winchester Short Magnu	rifle	3134	3314	4.76	2.06	2.1
	7mm-08 Remington	rifle	2827	2448	3.9	1.8	2.035
	7x57mm Mauser	rifle	2602	2255	3.9	1.68	2.235
	7x64mm Brenneke	rifle	2818	2662	4.26	1.85	2.51
	8.59mm (.338) Lazzeroni Ti	rifle	3333	5426	7.33	3.3	2.8
	8mm Remington Magnum	rifle	2900	3734	5.8	2.77	2.85
	8x57mm Mauser JS	rifle	2466	2511	4.59	1.81	2.24
	9.3x74R	rifle	2374	3428	6.5	3.45	2.941
	9mm Largo (9x23mm)	handgun	1190	389	2.94	0.82	0.91
	9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum)	handgun	1138	357	2.82	0.65	0.754
	9mm Makarov (9x18mm)	handgun	1048	217	1.86	0.41	0.713
	9x23mm Winchester	handgun	1402	524	3.36	0.82	0.91
Cartridge	Image	Type	FPS	Energy	Power	Recoil	Length

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Power Rank

The PowerRank is an estimation of the cartridge power. The first number is the value of this cartridge, and the last number is the value of the most powerful round in our bullet database.

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