45 Colt Cowboy

I shoot a lot of 38 and 44 specials in my magnum revolvers. After a couple hundred rounds through them there is a crud ring but a .40 brush through the 357 and a .45 brush through the 44 takes it right out.
 
Rusty wood has the short cowboy brass in stock. Only a couple bucks more than the standard stuff.

I have trimmed down 454 brass to use small rifle primers
I’ve also used the shorter brass that comes in the hornady FTX ammo. Loaded with 325g WFN cast.

45 colt is becoming one of my favorite cartridges

Lite loads to big thumpers. Seams to eat it all
 
I'll be looking for Cowboy cases as well.
I'm concerned about powder position issues as well, with the types of powder I've been able to find. The powder look lost in the bottom of the .45 Colt case!
I had good results with TB and Clays but now I'm looking for some other powder to load, over the winter, for next years' CAS season.
Musing: Maybe save the small amount of TB and Clays I have to load .45 Colt for the '73 rifle and get some .45 Cowboy for the SAA's???

Hope the election happens sooner than later and JT tries to hang on to power. I'd like to see him humiliated at the polls.
 
Got 500 cases from a Canadian supplier, RCBS taper crimp die and 200 grain bullets on the way.
First run, of .45 Cowboy Specials, in my SAAs, will be at our Christmas Match, fending off the Grinch at The Square Circle Wranglers dedicated cowboy facility at our EOSC home range.
Going to save the rest of my TB powder and loaded cartridges for my rifle.
Wish me luck!
 
Good to know Henry. Thanks. Unfortunately, when I tapped the Starline website, you were not listed.
Next time, I'll give you a call.
Picked up a new RCBS .45 ACP Taper Crimp Seating Die, so it looks like I'm good to go, once my new stock of 200 grain bullets are ready.
I feel a lot more ........... comfortable loading HS-6 or HP-38 in the Cowboy brass than in the cavernous .45 Colt. Too used to using Trail Boss in them I guess.
I'll just load 50 or so for our Grinchmas Match on December 9.
 
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Well, the .45 Cowboy Special loads worked just fine at Grinchmas and the recent Winter Match at EOSC with the Square Circle Wranglers!
4.5 Gr Titegroup driving a 200 grain LRNFP bullet in my Ruger's (New Model Vaqueros), so, I'll be loading the rest of the brass with that charge.

I used the .45 ACP recommended starting charge from Lyman, but there was some differences between Lyman, Hornady and Lee in their Starting and suggested Max loads:
4.5 or 4.8 Starting to 5.3 or 5.4 depending on the OAL of the bullet;
4.8 to 5.4 Lee;
4.6 to 5.7 with Hornady.
As an old fart, I was cautious. (And it takes so long to heal)
Besides, I'm not shooting at T-Rexs!
 
B said:
I don't have first hand experience but guns can be modified to run them without too much fuss. You are stuck with running the shorter cases but yeah.
Click to expand...

You are right, actually the 45 short colts round was first designed for the marlin shooters to keep up with the short stroked 73's. The smaller case space aspect of then was just a by-product of the first brain wave.
the marlins were remodeled with a lifter that stopped the short cartridge's from going as far back into the action as the originals , shortening the stroke. They worked but didnt catch the coolaid drinkers like a short stroked 73 did so were not nearly as common.
 
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