Cowboy Action Shooting

Alex McKr said:
Until one of those pesky steel plates won't fall. Have seen it happen more than once...as I'm sure you have, too.
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at one time in the high water time of Cowboy'n, it was considered very bad taste to set up Knockdowns so that not every participants ammo couldnt knock them down and a few folks were using 32's at the time.
I and the wife set up over 20 Canadian Championship match courses over the years and we used rounds from our Territorial Governors (Cariboo) belt to test the knockdowns, if his mouse farts would tip them, anybodies would.
I have seen a fellow from the parent California SASS club use machinist calipers to set the tip point/distance on a stand of targets at Cody one time...anal, ya but you could blow on those targets and they would fall.
Alex McKr said:
Of course, like many other cowboy action buffs, I am always tinkering with loads to see whether one might perform just that wee bit better than the other.
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I dont differentiate between revolver rounds or rifle rounds at all, they all come out of the same pail as we use them, however we do always carry a 100 round box of 1/2 grain heavier loads for a knockdown stand that hasnt been properly set/adjusted.
 
Fingers284: A fellow shooter in these parts runs .44 Special in his Blackhawks . Same load in his '94 Marlin. Not sure what pf he's running currently, but he sure wakes those plates up!
I run .38 Special most of the time. Also: .38 Long Colt (revolver only), with the occasional .357 Mag (rifle) thrown into the mix.
I used to run the same load in both revolver and rifle. Still can, if needed. But gradually over the years, modified the revolver loads to more closely match what they preferred for bullet/velocity/pf, etc. With the ultimate goal being to achieve a good balance of: speed, accuracy, and control. Long since got that sorted out. But, still like to experiment with different load combinations. Mostly out of curiosity. Still using the same load, for rifle.
Most of the problems I've seen with poorly adjusted knock downs, were at the club level. Never an issue at a major match.

Al
 
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I appreciate all the information provided. I will definitely look into matches around me and visit a few to get a better understanding of it. You have have provided a wealth of information for me to get my toes wet. Again much appreciated.
 
Just to bring the thread back from the near dead: :LOL:
I used the same .45 COLT cartridge, bullet and powder charges in my Ruger SAAs and my '73
5.0 Gr Trail Boss under a 250 grain LRNFP bullet (.45 Colt)
With the demise(*?) of Trail Boss, I'm saving what I have left of it and CLAYS for my rifle and when it's gone, I'll switch to W231
I've bought some Starline .45 Cowboy Specials to load with Titegroup for my SAAs using a 200 grain LRNFP bullet. Works well.

Regarding freeze on the sale/transfer of handguns, our posse will allow the use of double action revolver(s) shot single action. Category to be determined. Remembering that posses in the USA started shooting using .22's when ammo and powders got scarce during the Covid panic, we don't see adjustments to the normal rules as an issue.

*? ADI, in an August 2024 announcement mentioned Trail Boss production restart "late 2024 or early 2025" You have to look for the announcement, but it's there on their site. Just to tease us I guess.
 
Cold Lake Kid: That is an excellent idea...allowing the use of double action revolvers at club level matches. Bends the rules a bit....but, If it attracts more players to the game, that is a good thing. Anything we can do to promote the sport....until this Liberal-induced woke madness is over....is welcomed. Kudos to the Posse, for coming up with the idea.
By the way, over on SASS Wire, last few days, there's been a conversation going on regarding Titegroup and .45 Cowboy Special cartridges. If you haven't already seen it, might be worth a look.

Garand: Titegroup works very well, in .38 Special. Used it exclusively for revolver loads up until very recently. Discovered that I liked Clays, just a little bit better. Though still not convinced that it's a better choice. Time will tell. Titegroup meters well, is clean burning, accurate(at least in my guns) and good as an all-around powder for the game.

Al
 
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Alex McKr said:
Cold Lake Ked: That is an excellent idea...allowing the use of double action revolvers at club level matches. Bends the rules a bit....but, If it attracts more players to the game, that is a good thing. Anything we can do to promote the sport....until this Liberal-induced woke madness is over....is welcomed. Kudos to the Posse, for coming up with the idea.
By the way, over on SASS Wire, last few days, there's been a conversation going on regarding Titegroup and .45 Cowboy Special cartridges. If you haven't already seen it, might be worth a look.

Garand: Titegroup works very well, in .38 Special. Used it exclusively for revolver loads up until very recently. Discovered that I liked Clays, just a little bit better. Though still not convinced that it's a better choice. Time will tell. Titegroup meters well, is clean burning, accurate(at least in my guns) and good as an all-around powder for the game.

Al
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Clays has a softer recoil than TG, but doesn't meter as well and is a bit temp sensitive. Can't find it anymore either. I use (what I have left) in my revolvers...TG in the rifles since recoil is not an issue.
 
EhGun: That's been my experience, too. Clays feels more like a soft push.....similar to black powder. Titegroup's felt recoil tends to be sharper. A bit more muzzle jump.
Only recently started using Clays in revolvers(About a year, now. Cowboy Action competition). Good performance. Prior to that, used Titegroup almost exclusively. Will see how Clays holds up over the longer haul. Still have a relatively decent supply of Clays, so no issues so far.
Titegroup performs well in my rifles, too. Though HP-38/231 still remains my overall pick for a rifle powder. Revolvers too, as a back up. Still, good to know there is an alternative.
I agree....Clays tends to burn a bit dirty, when temps drop. Also tends to meter inconsistently, with very light loads. Titegroup, on the other hand, meters very well. Doesn't appear temperature sensitive, either.
Still haven't decided which powder I prefer. Though I do seem to be leaning toward Clays. Very pleasant shooting.

Al
 
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As I mentioned in another thread, my Aussie spy informed me his local gun shop now has Trail Boss for sale and that a shipment has already gone to New Zealand.
Brownell's is aware but has no ETA on it reaching the USA.
In Trudeau Country, there is no telling if/when we could see any, unless the tobacco and booze stores on the Rez opens and new line of imports.
 
Alex McKr said:
Cold Lake Ked:
By the way, over on SASS Wire, last few days, there's been a conversation going on regarding Titegroup and .45 Cowboy Special cartridges. If you haven't already seen it, might be worth a look.
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Yes, I learned about the .45 Cowboy Specials from Serenity and Legendary Lawman and bought some for use in my SAAs
I was using 4.5 Grains of TG but I'm now trying 4.0 under a 200 grain LRNFPBB.
(Nice clear "DING" on the steel and no doubt of a hit from the spotters! LOL).
I did find the load left a ring in each chamber of the cylinders that stop a .45 Colt from being chambered.
It was difficult to remove until Red Storm ran a .45 Hone through each chamber.
Not really an issue as long as I stick with the shorter cowboy cartridges. Got one for myself on order from Brownell's.
I'm now using Win 231 for my '73 in .45 Colt, rifle driving a 250 gr LRNFPBB at the LEE starting load.
Anticipating the GRINCHMASS Match on the 21st
 
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Hodgdon has let me know they don't yet have an ETA on Trail Boss in their warehouse magazines, so shipments here in Canada will likely be held off until after the election.
Hopefully, there will still be shops in business able to sell it.
 
The Cold Lake Kid said:
I did find the load left a ring in each chamber of the cylinders that stop a .45 Colt from being chambered.
It was difficult to remove until Red Storm ran a .45 Hone through each chamber.
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I and the "Trail Boss" have fire thousands of TG powdered .38 sp in her pistols & Marlins and have never found the "ring" to be a problem, I just chuck up a bronze bore brush ( with a little shot of G96 on it) in the cordless & let er buck for a minute. they will all chamber a .357 round effortlessly.
 
It's Titegroup I'm using in the Cowboy Special loads. I haven't tried TB in them yet.
Soon though.
Hopefully.
I've been using HOPES to clean the chambers, with a bronze brush, but I'll try the drill and your G96.
I've never tried it before.
Thanks.
 
My Brownells' hones have arrived and I can now chamber .45 Colts in my Ruger cylinders and Palomino Pal's .357 cylinders.
The hones work well with some honing oil and a drill.
Now if only Trail Boss would hit the shelves here.
 
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