ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.45 Colt Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Cor Bon
200 gr.
JHP +P
Cor Bon
225 gr.
DPX +P
Federal
225 gr.
semi-
wadcutter
Lead HP
18" 1275 1482 1042
17" 1254 1464 1050
16" 1245 1483 1060
15" 1239 1494 1045
14" 1238 1454 1034
13" 1244 1431 1031
12" 1179 1420 1005
11" 1198 1406 1000
10" 1180 1387 1000
9" 1154 1356 965
8" 1140 1340 947
7" 1090 1278 925
6" 1043 1210 891
5" 957 1157 847
4" 875 1093 757
3" 775 936 684
2" 675 778 609

 

real
world
weapons
Cor Bon
200 gr.
JHP +P
Cor Bon
225 gr.
DPX +P
Federal
225 gr.
semi-
wadcutter
Lead HP
1892
Winchester
(repro)
20" barrel
1413 1599 1122
Beretta
Buntline
carbine
18" barrel
1237 1317 943
Cimarron
Colt
7.5" barrel
1227 1204 872
Cimarron
Colt
5.5" barrel
1094 1087 791
Navy Arms
Schofield 3.5" barrel
828 976 808
Bond
Derringer
3.5" barrel
759 750 715
Taurus
450
Ultralight
2" barrel
827 898 681

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.