The Long & Short of the .45 Colt
by Jim Taylor
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/45_short_colt.htm

The debate over whether there is a .45 "Long" Colt cartridge is an on-going one that has been active for probably 75 years.  Elmer Keith alluded to the arguments many years ago when he wrote "...Some newcomers to the game claim there is no such animal, but if they had shot the short variety that Remington turned out in such profusion before, during and after  World War I they would see there was some basis in referring to the .45 Colt as the .45 Long..." (Sixguns, page 285)

As far as I know there have never been any .45 Colt cartridges headstamped "Long" and though I have reports of old cartridge boxes marked "45 Long" I have never personally seen any.  Mr. Keith referred to them from time to time as "long" Colt's (with a small "L").  If you have ever seen the short Colt .45's you can understand why.

The Winchester .45 Colt's that Paco and I have came from Shootist Keith Owlett who gave them to us a short time before he passed on.  The cartridge box is deteriorated and I have it put away now - at least what's left of it. But it is plainly marked ".45 Colt Government".  The headstamp on the cartridges is ".45 Colt" ...BUT these are SHORT .45 Colts!  The headstamp is the same as the longer .45 Colts, even down to the "W" on the primers.

These are not S&W or Schofield cartridges.  The rim diameter is the same as the long .45 Colts, which is smaller than the Schofield rim diameter.  These are true .45  Short Colts.  The cartridge is listed in Cartridges of the World on page 306 as ".45 Colt - .45 Colt Government".

I can visualize someone walking into a hardware store around the turn of the last century and asking for a box of .45 Colt's.  As the clerk pulls down a box the customer says, "Not the short ones.  I want the Long Colts!" and the name ".45 Long Colt" came down to us as a "user-applied" name, not a factory name.

While I can't prove it, I believe the usage was common since Colt had factory cartridges like the .32 Short Colt,  .32 Long Colt, .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .41 Short Colt and the .41 Long Colt.

I pulled one of the .45 shorts apart and weighed and measured it. The case is 1.1" long. The powder charge was black powder, approximately 28 grains.  The bullet weighed right at 230 gr. and was lubed with a white chalky-looking substance.  I fired one from my Ruger 7 1/2" barreled .45 and it went through the chronograph at near 750 fps.

The following week I went out in the hills and called up a nice large coyote and shot him with the .45 short.  He ran to within 10 feet of me, responding to the call.  I pulled the gun up and shot, hitting him up through the right shoulder and spine, dropping him instantly.  The little pointy bullet did not damage the pelt at all. I was able to tan the hide and make a nice looking wall hanging from it.

He was probably the last critter on earth ever killed with a short .45 Colt!

Expert Fishing Tips for Bluegills, Crappies, and Perch

The best fishing guides get results when the rest of us don't. We asked four top pan fish guides to share their secret strategies for perch, crappies, and bluegills. So, listen up - school is in session.

Wishin' You Were Fishin'

By Stuart Freese

Quite a few of us can still remember seeing the "Gone Fishing" sign on the barbershop door in Norman Rockwell paintings or on the Andy Griffith Show. We've possibly even seen custom license plates in our area with "LV2FSH" or "FSHN PRO," or something along those lines. And I'm sure we've all encountered the T-shirts and bumper-stickers that say, "A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work." Or how about the sign that reads, "I'd rather be lost on the lake than found in town."?

What's the point of all these messages about fishing? Is life so dull, or business that unimportant, or work that intolerable, or being inside city limits so distressing that folks are turning to angling as a last resort or using a fishing pole as a crutch to endure the miseries of life? Actually, the answer is simpler and far less dire than all of that. The fact is, fishing is just plain a whole lot of fun!

A wise individual once said, "Fishing is its own reward." I wish I'd have thought that one up, but just having the privilege of hearing and learning it has been benefit enough. You see, I've come to learn that there's no such thing as a bad time fishing, as long as you get the opportunity to actually fish. When I was young and impatient, I figured anything less than a cooler full of bluegill out of the farm pond was a complete disappointment and a waste of time. But the day came when my brother and I pulled a twenty-pound catfish out of that pond, and my whole attitude toward fishing suddenly changed.
That day I learned that the fun of fishing doesn't entirely depend on how many fish a person can catch, or even the size of the fish. The fun is in fishing itself-throwing a ridiculously small hook into a relatively big expanse of water, and never quite knowing what might get hooked. It's that element of adventure and surprise, the unknown if you will, the possibility that darn near anything could happen, that compels a person to keep throwing a line out again and again.

Now, don't get me wrong-I still want to catch a lot of fish, and a lot of specimens as large as they can come. And I for sure want to be able to say, "At least we didn't get skunked." But whether I do get skunked or I'm hauling in fish in biblical proportion-and I've been in both scenarios-I still believe that a day spent fishing is a day well spent. While nothing can quite compare to thrill of pulling that glistening creature out of its deep, dark abode and into your possession, the catch is really just icing on the cake. The actual cake itself is the pursuit, simply being able to get out there and to do something that somehow makes the world right again. It may sound primitive, but I believe there's a natural yearning within every human being to compete against nature and win.

You have your own reasons for fishing, and I respect them even if they don't exactly match mine. The main thing is to make time to get out to the water and drown a line or two. And if you're needing any fishing-related equipment or supplies, we invite you to take a look at what we can do to make your next fishing outing a reality. We have something for nearly every type of fishing, so let us help you make some memories. Good luck to you!       http://www.thehuntfishcamp.com

Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happy Camping

By Stuart Freese

Why is it that we Americans can instantly relate to the term, "Happy Camper?" When a vociferous toddler manages to secure the attention of every customer in the mega-market, everyone turns to their fellow shoppers nearby to say, "Someone's not a happy camper!" Then they all smile and resume their shopping, grateful they're not the embarrassed parent of the bellowing child.

But notice, however, that no one ever says, "That child is an unhappy camper!" Why is that? Isn't an "unhappy camper" technically the same as a person who is "not a happy camper?" Not at all! And the reason for that is simple-there's no such thing as an unhappy camper! "Happy camper" is a redundancy, like saying, "He's a big sumo wrestler!" Really? How many small sumo wrestlers are out there? It's the same thing here: you're either a camper--a happy camper--or you're not.

What makes campers so happy? The reason for that is simple, too. When you're camping, you're free. Think about it-it's one of the only scenarios where you can pretty much do what you want. If you want to rough it, fine. If you want spend your time engrossed in electronic gadgets, it's your call. If you want to eat beans straight from the can, then go ahead. There's no dress code, either-although you should still wear something, especially if you decide to leave the door or tent flap open! The point is, you're free to live like bums or royalty, and no one can tell you otherwise. And that makes you happy, camper.

Never underestimate the benefit of the freedom that camping offers, however brief it may be. As Americans, we're proud of our history as a nation that shook itself free from the bonds of tyranny. On an individual basis, every human being needs that same sensation of freedom from tyranny, in whatever form it might take. Are you fed up with the work-place drama, the bossy supervisor, the ridiculous employee handbook, the unreasonable customer, the impossible deadlines, etc., etc.? Then grab a tent, a trailer, a backpack, an RV-whatever floats your boat-and do some camping! Take a two-week trip or spend a weeknight with the kids in a backyard tent. Just get out there!
Many of my fondest memories involve camping -from a blanket pulled over the clothesline to a pup-tent in the pasture to a huge motor home-they all are cherished moments in my life. From more than forty years ago to last year, to next month, each camping trip has helped me in some way.

Make sure you get in on the benefits of camping, too. Re-live some good old times and create some new ones. Get closer to friends and family, and even to yourself. Take a look at what we can provide you, to make some camping memories of your own. We have all types of camping supplies for all types of campers. Let us help you become what everyone really wants to be-a happy camper!

Gear up for your outdoor adventures: http://www.thehuntfishcamp.com

The Ammunition Revolution: The World's Unsung Game-Changer

By Stuart Freese

History books are filled with scores of "giant leaps for mankind"-like the Space Age and moon landing, the Industrial Revolution, the atom bomb, the discovery of the New World, the medical application of antibiotics, the invention of the wheel, the use of sharp sticks to jab at hairy, dangerous things, and the squirting of fake cheese from the nozzle of a spray can, just to name a few. But how many of us can ever recall the history books paying fair tribute to one of the really great historical events, namely, the dawn of self-contained, pre-loaded ammunition in cartridge form?

Sure, Roger Bacon's gunpowder recipe in the 1200's has made the significant event list a few times, but recent historical research has indicated that even the ancient Greeks, Persians and Chinese were using their own versions of similar explosive concoctions many eons earlier. And yes, centuries of battles and wars were successfully won and lost with crude weapons using chunks of metal, gobs of loose black powder and various sparky-things to make it all go BANG. But I maintain that it was during the second half of the 1800's, when mankind could finally stuff his pockets full of cartridges and shot shells without worrying about the wind blowing his powder or his ramrod snapping, that the world experienced the unsung but truly significant advent of loaded ammo. And the world would never be the same again.

While I, like most of us, seldom stop today to ponder the wondrous spectacle of an ammo cartridge, I often did so as a young child. And what intrigued me the most was the common.22 rimfire. Small enough to get lost forever in a tuft of grass, capable of fitting by the hundreds in a tin can, it could nevertheless flatten a huge hog at butcher time! One sharp CRACK, a tiny grayish-lined hole in the forehead, and the 350-pound swine buckled so quickly it made the ground shake.

I used to marvel as well when Dad would rest the forearm of his 30-06 in his palm, atop a corner post, and send a 125-grain bullet (his preferred coyote load) toward the unsuspecting four-legged thief at a full 300 yards away. The late-arriving WHACK confirmed the dramatic impact that occurred a few seconds prior. Dad intended to use such experiences to teach me, I'm sure, the tremendous power of such inventions and the somber responsibility on those who would use them effectively and safely.

Today the ammo industry has given us even more reason to appreciate, if not marvel at, the incredible advances in factory-loaded ammunition. Whatever your reason for using ammo-hunting, competition, protection, pest eradication or just plain having your way with a milk carton, come and see what we have to offer in all types of ammunition. Let us be part of your memories-to-be: http://www.thehuntfishcamp.com.