NAME – 11.43x23mm

NAME (COMMON) – .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), .45 M1911

TYPE – Rimless centerfire

YEAR OF INTRODUCTION – 1911

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

CASE TYPE – Rimless straight

CARTRIDGE LENGTH – 32.1 mm (1.265 in)

CASING LENGTH – 22.7 mm (0.895 in)

CASE HEAD DIAMETER – 12 mm (0.473 in)

CASE RIM DIAMETER – 12 mm (0.473 in)

BULLET TYPE – Round nosed full metal jacketed ball

BULLET DIAMETER – 11.46 mm (0.451 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 15 g (231 grains)

POWDER WEIGHT – 0.32 g (5 grains)

CASING WEIGHT – 5.64 g (87 grains)

TOTAL ROUND WEIGHT – 21.45 g (331 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 261 m/s (855 fps)

NOMINAL BARREL LENGTH – 12.7 cm (5 in)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 508 j (375 ft/lb)

     The 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP) cartridge was developed in part to duplicate the ballistics of the 11.43x33mmR (.45 Long Colt) round, but in a semiautomatic pistol. Experience in the Philippines during the Moro Insurrection forced the US Army to pull old Colt M1873 Peacemakers out of storage and issue them to the fighting soldiers. It was the large, relatively slow, bullet that transferred its energy to the target that influenced what the military wanted in a new round of ammunition. The 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP) has been argued against and for the large fat round with the heavy bullet for decades. That argument will not be resolved soon. But the round is still very popular among civilian and law enforcement shooters.

ADDITIONAL LOADINGS

NAME                                  TYPE                                     BULLET WEIGHT           CARTRIDGE WEIGHT             MUZZLE VELOCITY                                                  MUZZLE ENERGY

M26 Tracer                         Jacketed Tracer                 13.48 g (208 grains)     21.45 g (331 grains)              270 m/s (885 fps) – 12.7 cm (5 in) bbl                491 j (362 ft/lb)