.45 Colt Drop Chart
The old Colt Single Action Army cartridge, modernized — a rainbow arc from a revolver, flatter and farther from a lever gun with Hornady's FTX.
Updated
Barrel
Zero
Units
225 gr FTX · 960 fps · G1 BC 0.14 · 4.75″ barrel · 100-yard zero · 2″ optic height · sea level.
| Range | Drop (in) | Hold (MOA) | Hold (MIL) | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 yd | +2.4 | — | — | 930 fps |
| 50 yd | +4.3 | — | — | 902 fps |
| 75 yd | +3.6 | — | — | 877 fps |
| 100 yd | 0 | — | — | 853 fps |
| 150 yd | −16.3 | 10.4 | 3.0 | 810 fps |
| 200 yd | −45.8 | 21.9 | 6.4 | 771 fps |
This load is subsonic — quiet and superb suppressed, but it drops fast and is a short-range proposition.
Estimate — confirm at the range. These figures are computed for the selected load, barrel, and zero at sea level — the barrel setting shifts muzzle velocity by a typical per-inch rate from published cut-down tests, so it’s an estimate too. Your real drop also depends on your exact ammo and lot, altitude, temperature, and conditions. Use this to get in the ballpark and to pick the right optic — then verify your actual holdovers on paper or steel before you trust them.
What this means for your optic
By the time you're holding several MOA or MIL of holdover, a plain dot stops being enough. That's where a reticle with marked holds (a BDC or MIL/MOA grid), an exposed turret you can dial, and a first-focal-plane scope earn their keep. Pick a rifle below to see the optics that fit it — and how they mount.