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| .45 Winchester Magnum | ||||||||||||||||
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 A lineup ofWildey cartridges, with the .45 Winchester second from left. | ||||||||||||||||
| Type | Pistol | |||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Winchester | |||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1977 | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Winchester | |||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1979–present | |||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .45 NAACO | |||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, straight | |||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .452 in (11.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .473 in (12.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .476 in (12.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .480 in (12.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .072 in (1.8 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case length | 1.198 in (30.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.575 in (40.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 38 gr H2O (2.5 cm3) | |||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Large pistol | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (SAAMI) | 40,000 psi (280 MPa) | |||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
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The.45 Winchester Magnum is a.45 caliberrimless cartridge intended for use insemi-automatic pistols. The cartridge is an externally lengthened.45 ACP with a thicker web to withstand higher operating pressures. The 45 Win Mag is nearly identical in dimensions and loading to the .45 NAACO developed by theNorth American Arms Corporation for theirBrigadier pistol, developed to supply to theCanadian Army afterWorld War II. The army ultimately did not adopt the pistol and its non-NATO standard ammunition.[1]
The cartridge has been primarily used by small game hunters andmetallic silhouette shooters.[2]
Although the .45 Winchester Magnum may be based on the.45 ACP and have the same Rim and Base dimensions, the .45 Winchester Magnum has no parent case. The .45 Winchester Magnum case is redrawn with thicker walls and longer case. The thicker wall dimensions of the .45 Winchester Magnum are designed to accommodate a higher internal pressure (40,000copper units of pressure) than that of the .45 ACP (18,000 copper units of pressure, 21,000 psi, or 140 MPa).
The .45 Winchester Magnum had been on the drawing board for two years before its introduction, in 1979, by Winchester. The cartridge did not gain much popularity due to the intermittent availability of theWildey andLAR Grizzly pistols. The cartridge was chambered in theThompson-Center Contender single shot pistols. The cartridge was also chambered for theFreedom Arms Model 83 single-action revolver via an available optional cylinder.[3]
The .45 Winchester Magnum gained a following amongIHMSA competitors as it provided the power and performance necessary to knock down targets at an extended range. The cartridge has been used by handgun hunters and is among the few semi-automatic pistol (as opposed to revolver) cartridges which have been adopted for this sport.[2]