12 gauge cowboy load

Don't know for sure(you need to check the CAS rule book), but No. 8 shot is too small for plates. Bounces back to beyond the firing line like hail. Pins and plates are normally shot with 2's or bigger. Mind you, the Saskatchewan Association of Wild West Shooters allows 4's to 8's. Absolutely must be lead shot only.
 
From the SASS Shooters Handbook,

Shotgun shot size must be number 4 lead birdshot or smaller for all events (no steel or
plated shot).

Magnum and high velocity shotgun shell loads are not allowed.

At our club (Red Mountain Renegades, Mission BC), most are using 7 1/2's and they are adequate for falling plates at our club. I should mention, I have shot 8's and had no issues at shoots in the US or at our club.

We've experienced splash back from some of our older targets and felt it was the target surfaces rather than the shot.
 
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95% of Cowboy Action steel targets are NOT reactive plates, they remain standing when hit. Therefore the vast majority of Cowboy shooters shoot 7 1/2 & 8 shot. Some club matches do have reactive targets, especially if there is IPSC shot at the hosting club. Then you will find pepper poppers doing double duty. Personally, I always keep a dozen #4 shot in my ammo bag, just in case I need a little extra juice to take down a reactive target.
 
I shoot a short barrel 12 gauge 1897 with the lightest #8's I can find and can't say that I have ever not knocked down a reactive target due to shot size. When I miss I miss that's why they don't go down for me.

My wife shoots a 20 gauge with light 8's as well with an experience similar to mine. Hit the target and down it goes.
 
The laws of physics dictate that 1 oz of #8 and 1 oz #4 both weigh 1 oz and carry the same ammount of energy. Its like:

What weighs more. A pound of lead or a pound of feathers?
 
Brickie said:
The laws of physics dictate that 1 oz of #8 and 1 oz #4 both weigh 1 oz and carry the same ammount of energy. Its like:

What weighs more. A pound of lead or a pound of feathers?
Click to expand...

You law works if all the pellets from each load hit the target at the same velocity---not going to happen with the difference in how different shot sizes react to choke sizes( especialy as most shortened cowboy shotguns have no choke at all)
 
cowboy load

hi there, if it were me, id be loading black powder and using fiber wads and #6 lead shot, my loads consist of 70 grns of 2f black powder, then a 1/2" fiber wad
then a thin card wad, 1oz of shot and i roll crimp them, shoots great in all my sxs, clean up after shooting with hot soapy water, then oil bores afterwards

its more fun with the smoke to for cowboy action!!!
 
That is a valid point, fingers284, for distance shooting but most shotgun targets are only about 10 yards away in CAS (correct me if I am wrong because I very well may be). Of course there will be variations in the construction of shells, be it the hull, wad, powder, primer or shot. All I was trying to say is that if everything was the same in both shells the velovity at 10 yards and the spread pattern are going to be very close. Both will certainly have enough "oomph" to knock a plate over.

I would think the biggest variable is can the guy shoot straight because if he can't...aint no laws of physics can fix that.LOL
 
That last variable "can the guy shoot straight" is the biggie. I once saw a guy that can bust 20 or more clays in a row miss 2 s/g targets out of 4 at 12 yds. Lots of s/g misses or half hits at a cowboy match because of the speed involved and believe me your first miss at 12 yds is a humbling experience.
 
Federal 7 1/2's target load lead flips Crow's shotgun flags around ok, no problem.

Niagara Glen

ps: if you want to puree pumkins, you can use something bigger- those of you in southern Ontario will know what I mean!
 
I have shot every major Western Canadian match and have never had a problem with SG knockdowns using WW Featherlites with 8 or 9 shot. Easy on a 97 and fall out of a decent double.
Just my 2 cents worth.
 
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I have even went down to 3/4 oz #8 loads when developing a load for my daughter to shoot. Even these had no problem taking down a full size popper out of a cylinder bore as long as the hit was in the center or higher.
 
HUNTERROD said:
hi there, if it were me, id be loading black powder and using fiber wads and #6 lead shot, my loads consist of 70 grns of 2f black powder, then a 1/2" fiber wad
then a thin card wad, 1oz of shot and i roll crimp them, shoots great in all my sxs, clean up after shooting with hot soapy water, then oil bores afterwards

its more fun with the smoke to for cowboy action!!!
Click to expand...

You have the right idea!
 
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