Cowboy Action Ammo

[Griff]

While I generally like to shoot my 1851s in cowboy action matches... the possibility exists to shoot a match in CO this weekend on my way to Denver. Since amenities like running water are in short supply in my less than well equipped RV (aka The Black Rose), I'll be taking my SAAs and shooting smokeless. In checking my supply of Cowboy45Special ammo, I found it was a bit thin... i.e., I could see the bottom of the ammo can!

So between other chores to get ready to depart tomorrow, I loaded up 400 or so rounds of 160 grain C45S ammo. So, with a hundred rounds each of 45 Colt & C45S, a single box of 12 gauge Winchester LNLR should see me thru the match.

So, now I'm left with about a ½ can of C45S with a 160 bullet for the handguns, & about the same ½ can of 45 Colt and 200 grain RFN for the rifle.

C45S-TiteGrp-160.jpg

45Colt200RedDot.jpg

The first photo shows 45ACP as the cartridge, but... since the C45S has the same internal volume, I figure it's a good representation of the load. This load is fully sufficient to travel the 7-10 yards most CAS pistol targets are at... recoil can absolutely be controlled! LOL! The 2nd graph is for the 45 Colt I use for both Wild Bunch and cowboy action. While still a light load, it's easily controlled in any of my 6 45 Colt rifles! And still good on coyotes out to about 50 yards. Although, for them or other game I prefer my Ruger only loads out of the 24" 1885. @ 20,643 psi, it's outside the limits I'll put my Colt SAAs thru, but with 1,368 fps, and a 75 yard zero it'll only be a tad over 3" low at 100. With a 100 yd zero, it's within 3" all the way to 120 yards. Good medicine for what needs it.