.45 ACP: Difference between revisions

:''Caliber .45 shot M12(T23)'' (1943-1944 ) was a survival round with a round-nosed red [[wax paper]] projectile containing 118 pieces of No . 7 {{frac|1|2}} birdshot. It was issued in USAAF survival kits<ref group="note">The ammunition was packed in USAAF B-2 and B-4 emergency kits and C-1 survival vests.</ref> to allow pilots and aircrew armed with the Colt M1911A1 to use it for hunting small game.<ref group="note">The trials cartons originally had the instructions "Use only for hunting game. Do not use against enemy troops" in both English and either German or Japanese on the front. This was later changed to "For use in hunting small game, effective range 25 feet" and the foreign language text was dropped.</ref> The shotshell was a little longer than a standard round, so the operator had to load it in the action individually.<ref group="note">Text on the instructions slip packed with the ammunition carton (the last sentence is from the reverse side of the slip): "Instructions: This cartridge is intended for killing small game. Because of {{notatypo|i|t's [sic]|it's a typo}} length it will not feed in magazines, and each round must be loaded by hand. To load in the automatic pistol, draw slide back and lock in rearward position. Insert cartridge in chamber. [Depress slide stop, allowing slide to move forward.]"</ref> It was extracted after firing by removing the magazine, pulling back the slide, and pushing down on the case until it fell down the magazine well.<ref group="note">Text on the reverse of the instructions slip packed with the ammunition carton: "Instructions [...] If it be necessary, to remove an unfired cartridge from pistol, remove magazine, draw slide back and push downward on cartridge, allowing it to fall out through magazine slot."</ref> Reports showed that the paper projectile was affected by humidity and would swell or break apart. It was made limited standard until replaced by the .45 M15 shot cartridge.