Technically, the proper name for this cartridge is "45 Auto" (not to be confused with "45 Auto Rim" which is different), but most people call it 45 ACP, which is an abbreviation for "45 Automatic Colt Pistol". The word "Automatic" in the name was intended to indicate that it was for "auto-loading" pistols, which was as automatic as hand-held firearms got when this cartridge was invented in the early 1900's. Today, we would describe an "auto-loading" gun as being "semi-automatic", meaning one bullet comes out for each trigger pull, but the ejection of the spent casing and loading of the next round into the chamber are done automatically. But that is not the same as "fully automatic", meaning that you can pull the trigger once, and as long as you keep holding the trigger back, bullets keep coming out of the gun until it runs out of ammo (a.k.a. a machine gun). So, the word "Automatic" in "ACP" should, today, be read as "semi-automatic".
Click on one of the links below to see .45 ACP ammo prices.
If you want to see any type of 45 ACP ammo, including reloads, steel-cased, remanufactured, etc., then use the "All 45 Ammo" links.
If you just want to see normal (brass cased, factory new) ammo, use the "Filtered" links.
| Site | All 45 Ammo | Filtered |
|---|---|---|
| AmmoSeek | AmmoSeek - 45 ACP/Auto | AmmoSeek - Filtered |
| WikiArms | WikiArms - 45 ACP | |
| AmmoSpy.net | AmmoSpy - 45 ACP/Auto | |
| GunBot | GunBot - 45 ACP |
For Bullseye competition, most people use some variety of lightly-loaded semi-wad-cutter (SWC) or jacketed hollow-point (JHP) ammo in 200 grain or 185 grain bullet weights, for maximum accuracy. Most competition shooters reload their own ammo, so that they can "work up" a load that works well in their particular gun. However, there are places to buy either newly-manufactured or reloaded ammo that might be suitable.
A wad-cutter is a shape of bullet, which cuts a nice, clean hole in a paper target (easy to score). A semi-wad-cutter is a compromise between a wad-cutter and a normal, round-nose bullet, designed to cut a clean hole in paper, but with more reliable feeding from magazine to chamber.
LSWC = lead semi-wad-cutter JHP = jacketed hollow-point JSWC = jacketed semi-wad-cutter
| Site | All 45 Ammo | Filtered | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Made Cartridges | Quality Made Cartridges - 45 ACP | LSWC 200gr: 50 rounds 500 rounds 1000 rounds (free s/h) |
Comes in zip-lock bags of 50 rounds each. |
| NSK Sales | Makes new or reloaded ammo specifically for competition shooting. You have to email him for a price list, or to order ammo. |
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| Atlanta Arms | "Match Select" 45 ammo "Match Elite" 45 ammo |
Makes new or reloaded ammo specifically for competition shooting. | |
| Federal GM45B | AmmoSeek - All Federal 185gr WikiArms - GM45b Slickguns - Search for GM45b |
Federal Premium Gold Medal GM45B 185gr jacketed semi-wad cutter in .45ACP, 770fps Usually 70-85 cents per round. Best price seen: 56 cents per round (1000 rounds for $555 + s/h). |