Patrick Sweeney dives into the ins and outs of reloading the .45 ACP for competition. (Patrick Sweeney)
May 01, 2026
By Patrick Sweeney
The .45 ACP cartridge and the 1911 pistol became public items in early 1911. It probably wasn’t right on top as a reloading caliber, but I suspect that changed in April 1917 when we declared war on Germany. As a defensive and competition cartridge, the .45 ruled the roost from 1919 until, well, now. It was a requirement for Bullseye competition, it was the top dog in IPSC/USPSA until rudely shoved off the podium by the .38 Super in the 1980s. It is still highly regarded, and a must-have for...
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