45 Cowboy Special Brass?

[Dusty Chaps, SASS #5925]

Howdy all. 

While cleaning the garage (yeah, what's that about), I found an old stash of both new and once-fired Starline 45 Cowboy Special Brass from a long ago experiment. I'm not sure why I quit.

Is anybody else still using these? 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

There is a whole bunch of shooters still using C45S.  It's a very good cartridge for those who wish to shoot 45s with about the same recoil as 38s.  Thats what AJ originally designed it for.  It (the C45S) can and will allow 45ers to shoot competitively with 38s.  I wouldn't even suggest dumping them.  Great cartridge you betcha

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Best invention (wildcat) ever for cowboys shooting a gun made in an OG chambering.    good luck, GJ

[Eyesa Horg]

I run them in my Rugers with 160-170gr. bullets. Hoping to try the 130 Barnstormers soon 

[Sarge]

Yes in both rifle and pistols.

[Griff]

The Cowboy 45 Special, (proper name), or C45S is a great cartridge for this game.  I use them in both rifle & pistol when I don't shoot my C&B navies.

Edited October 6, 2025 by Griff

[Choctaw Jack]

Dusty,

Yep, there are those of us that are fans of this little round.

If they're taking  up too much room, I'll be glad to take them of of your hands 😊!

Choctaw Jack 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

EYESA,

 

Soon as you snag some BARNSTORMERS, you're gonna be LURV!!  The Barnstormer runs about 130Gr as cast and shoot as accurate as anything out there.  The only "downer" is the Barnstormer won't run in rifles.  But, who cares??  A 160Gr bullet from a rifle doesn't recoil enough to spit at.  C45S cases with Barstormers ROCK YOU BETCHA.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

HEY GARRISON!!

 

Tain't a "Wildcat" any more.  Tis a legitimate round with brass from the MAJOR manufacturer!!  Although, there isn't yet an Ammunition Manufacturer offering it as a loaded round AFAIN.  At least, I ain't seen it (yet).

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

For me, it's a wildcat until an ammo maker and gun maker both agree on "what it is", and they submit the chambering to SAAMi with some chamber specs and pressure limits.  And it gets accepted. 

 

Then, tested published loading data for it is just icing on the cake. 

 

A single-action revolver specifically sized for it is fully "wishing to die and go to Heaven."  good luck, GJ  

[Boggus Deal #64218]

19 minutes ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

For me, it's a wildcat until an ammo maker and gun maker both agree on "what it is", and they submit the chambering to SAAMi with some chamber specs and pressure limits.  And it gets accepted. 

 

Then, tested published loading data for it is just icing on the cake. 

 

A single-action revolver specifically sized for it is fully "wishing to die and go to Heaven."  good luck, GJ  

My first thought seeing the Taylor’s TC-73 was “can I rebarrel it in C45S?”

[Griff]

2 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

My first thought seeing the Taylor’s TC-73 was “can I rebarrel it in C45S?”

Had they chambered it in C45S, they'd have sold hundreds by now!  

[Boggus Deal #64218]

6 minutes ago, Griff said:

Had they chambered it in C45S, they'd have sold hundreds by now!  

No, they wouldn’t have. But since I have a .45 barrel blank and am undaunted by common sense, I’ll likely build one one day.

[Springfield Slim SASS #24733]

Seems like a lot of work considering 45 Colt barrels work perfectly fine with it.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Really good for Derringer guns !

[Eyesa Horg]

11 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

EYESA,

 

Soon as you snag some BARNSTORMERS, you're gonna be LURV!!  The Barnstormer runs about 130Gr as cast and shoot as accurate as anything out there.  The only "downer" is the Barnstormer won't run in rifles.  But, who cares??  A 160Gr bullet from a rifle doesn't recoil enough to spit at.  C45S cases with Barstormers ROCK YOU BETCHA.

And as a bonus, the caster is a Pard I shoot with regularly! Slippery Bullets.

[Boggus Deal #64218]

5 hours ago, Springfield Slim SASS #24733 said:

Seems like a lot of work considering 45 Colt barrels work perfectly fine with it.

.45 Colt barrels for what?

[Lucky R. K.]

Bill English will sell you a modified carrier that will allow you to shoot the .45 Cowboy in your .45 Colt rifle.

Lucky 

[Choctaw Jack]

18 minutes ago, Lucky R. K. said:

Bill English will sell you a modified carrier that will allow you to shoot the .45 Cowboy in your .45 Colt rifle.

Lucky 

I've got one of Bill's modified carriers in my Uberti short rifle , my main match rifle. It has an action job and has been short stroked by Ken Griner, and it works perfectly!

Ken currently has my '66, and he's going to work the same magic on it.

I'm really looking forward to getting it back, and getting some rounds through it.

I'm planning on ordering one more carrier from Bill to install In a 20 inch Uberti .45 rifle that has also been slicked up and short stroked by Ken.

These rifles converted to C45S are a ton of fun, and the advantages of this cartridge makes it even better.

 

 

[Charlie MacNeil, SASS #48580]

C45S is really nice to the arthritis in my wrists!

 

[Tall John]

Where can I read up on this Cowboy 45 Special cartridge? 

[watab kid]

i get the desire to attend to the arthritis issues - i deal with them as well , along with reynolds but you can load most anything to the levels that dont irritate that , my 45colts dont bother me the temperature does for both conditions , ive also found handling the larger cartridge format it actually easier on my hands , 

if all you want is to load a smaller length cartridge have at it , but its not the only solution to your issues , 

[Eyesa Horg]

Do a search including sassnet.com

 

There's been a few threads regarding them and the dies to use. Essentially it's a 45 colt shortened to ACP length. You can trim down colts if you want or get them new from Starline.

[Cholla]

On 10/20/2025 at 8:49 PM, Tall John said:

Where can I read up on this Cowboy 45 Special cartridge? 

https://gunsmagazine.com/ammo/the-cowboy-45-special/

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Cholla said:

https://gunsmagazine.com/ammo/the-cowboy-45-special/

Well written Cholla!

[Tall John]

Thanks guys!  This looks real interesting!

[Eyesa Horg]

2 hours ago, Tall John said:

Thanks guys!  This looks real interesting!

You'll have fun with it. Slippery will be making the 130 Barnstormers. He has them periodically now, but not in mass production yet. I'm looking forward to trying some myself!

[Tall John]

I need to study this a bit before trying it.  I’m just beginning my 45LC journey and am wondering if I should go o down this rabbit hole vs sticking with the traditional 45LC.  It seems that the components for 45 CS are readily available and I like the idea of a low recoil big bore option for our game.

 

There seems to be some debate about the best Die setup.  Cholla’s article link recommends the following….
 

I wouldn’t say I like splitting up die sets to make something work. When Adirondack Jack was selling the C45S, he recommended the Hornady 45 Auto/AR/Win three-die set (#546554). It was made for the .45 Auto Rim, so no modifications are required.

 

curious how much tweaking is involved here

[watab kid]

ive understood the reasoning behind it but never wanted to modify my rifles carrier to handle it , i like loading only omr cartridge for both revolvers and rifle , im one that set my dies to load a round that works in all my rifles and use the same in my revolvers , i load down and the recoil is not affecting my arthritis near as much as the movements or drawing and operating , 

[Griff]

13 hours ago, Tall John said:

I need to study this a bit before trying it.  I’m just beginning my 45LC journey and am wondering if I should go o down this rabbit hole vs sticking with the traditional 45LC.  It seems that the components for 45 CS are readily available and I like the idea of a low recoil big bore option for our game.

 

There seems to be some debate about the best Die setup.  Cholla’s article link recommends the following….
 

I wouldn’t say I like splitting up die sets to make something work. When Adirondack Jack was selling the C45S, he recommended the Hornady 45 Auto/AR/Win three-die set (#546554). It was made for the .45 Auto Rim, so no modifications are required.

 

curious how much tweaking is involved here

1. It's a 45 Colt.  There was never a cartridge named "Long Colt" except in the .38.  There was a shorter 45 Colt that was named 45 Colt Gov't.  

2. It's the Cowboy 45 Special, and abbreviated as C45S.  Headstamp reads Cowboy above the primer pocket and 45 Spl below it.  

You really don't need to buy another complete die set,  If you already have a 45 Colt set, the only thing really needed is a roll crimp die for the shorter cartridge.  Some guys get by with a taper crimp, but I prefer the solidity of a firm roll crimp.   The RCBS # 18942, a roll crimp die for the 45Auto/GAP fill this roll well.  I don't know if you load on a single stage or a progressive.  On my Dillon 550C I have tool heads for each cartridge I load, including one each for the 45Auto, 45 Colt and C45S.   

Edited October 23, 2025 by Griff

[Boggus Deal #64218]

@Griff Thank you. When Colt Firearms developed the cartridge in the 1870’s, that’s what they called it. They even stamped it on their guns. Never figured out why there was ever a question.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

The incorrect term 45 Long Colt was coined by some ignorant magazine Gun Scribes.  Was and has always been just 45 Colt.  Magazine Gun Scribes are often somewhat stupid.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Choosing dies for Cowboy 45 Special is pretty simple.  Use a regular 45 Colt resize/deprime die (don't use a 45 ACP resize.  Imparts a slight taper to the case).  45 ACP seating die.  45 Auto Rim roll crimp die.  I prefer and use the Redding 45 Auto Rim Profile Crimp die.  Just be sure to give the cartridge a nice firm roll crimp.  Easy Peasy.

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

15 hours ago, Tall John said:

I need to study this a bit before trying it.  I’m just beginning my 45LC journey and am wondering if I should go o down this rabbit hole vs sticking with the traditional 45LC.  It seems that the components for 45 CS are readily available and I like the idea of a low recoil big bore option for our game.

 

There seems to be some debate about the best Die setup.  Cholla’s article link recommends the following….
 

I wouldn’t say I like splitting up die sets to make something work. When Adirondack Jack was selling the C45S, he recommended the Hornady 45 Auto/AR/Win three-die set (#546554). It was made for the .45 Auto Rim, so no modifications are required.

 

curious how much tweaking is involved here

That set is what I (and others I know) have used for several years. My wife’s load (when she shot) was four grains Trail Boss, 130 grain Barnstormer bullet and Federal Large Pistol primer. No “tweaking” or modification required. Just set up as directions say and go for it. Regards 

Gateway Kid

PS I know the name is incorrect on the bottle, so sue me! 

Edited October 23, 2025 by Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

On 10/6/2025 at 7:05 PM, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

...Although, there isn't yet an Ammunition Manufacturer offering it as a loaded round AFAIN.  At least, I ain't seen it (yet).

There was one company, not one of the major ones, 5 or 6 (?) years back selling loaded ammo.   I don't recall details but at the time you couldn't get it from Starline.  It was very expensive, like over $50 per box.  I remember Texas Jacks had it in stock and despite ammo shortages it sold very slowly.