Bear Run Butch Posted February 7 Posted February 7 (edited) Does anyone have any load data for cowboy 45 special brass with 160 grain bullets. I prefer Hodgdon HP-38 as I have a lot of it. Thank you in advance for your help Butch Edited February 8 by Bear Run Butch Quote
Griff Posted February 7 Posted February 7 (edited) Although I prefer TiteGrouup, QuickLoad ptredicts 5 grains of HP-38 wil will yield 763 fps @ 7010psi from a 4-¾" , maybe a little less due cylinder gap. Use a good roll crimp. And, to stay in character, it's Cowboy 45 SPECIAL! Edited February 7 by Griff 3 Quote
Cholla Posted February 7 Posted February 7 Do a search here. This is a common topic, and I'm sure you will find the information you're looking for. Quote
Griff Posted February 7 Posted February 7 See, ya done it again... s/b "Cowboy 45 Special." 😁 1 1 Quote
Long Fingers, SASS#56813 Posted February 7 Posted February 7 Use at you own risk, compiled these several years ago when I was playing with the 45s LF. cowboy 45 special Bullet Weight Powder Charge 130 Titegroup 4.3 130 Trail Boss 4.0 130 Promo 3.5 160 Bullseye 5.0 160 Bullseye 5.8 160 Clays 3.4 160 Clays 3.9 160 Clays 4.2 160 Red dot 3.3 160 Red dot 3.8 160 Red dot 5.3 160 Tight group 4.7 160 Trail boss 3.5 160 Trail boss 3.8 160 Unique 7.1 160 W231 6.1 160 Zip 6.5 165 Clays 3.2 165 Tight group 4.0 170 Clays 3.9 175 Wst 4.2 175 Bullseye 4.2 180 Clays 3.6 180 Clays 3.9 180 Trail boss 3.5 200 Clays 3.9 200 Red dot 4.0 200 Red dot 4.2 200 Unique 6.0 200 Trail boss 3.0 200 Trail boss 3.5 3 1 1 Quote
Tall John Posted February 8 Posted February 8 Bear, pleas add a “C45S” and a “Cowboy 45 Special” tags to this post to make it easier to find again in the future. thanks! 1 Quote
watab kid Posted February 8 Posted February 8 always need to not only look at the FPS but also the PSI - these revolvers we shoot are not ratred in many cases for a high PSI load - DANGER of injusry to both the shooter and those around them , Quote
Bear Run Butch Posted February 8 Author Posted February 8 The guns are OMV made in USA very strong guns. One time at a match I saw a cowboy shot the second shot on a squib and both bullets hit the target. That was a Ruger and the cowboy still uses the gun. Butch Quote
Cholla Posted February 8 Posted February 8 The C45S case is almost identical to the 45 Auto Rim. Look up light loads for it. 1 Quote
Bear Run Butch Posted February 8 Author Posted February 8 Well thanks to all you cowboys' I loaded 12 test rounds of for C45S (Cowboy 45 Special) will take them to the range tomorrow and test fire. I have 6 loaded 160 gr bullet 4.5 HP-38 and 6 at 4.0 HP-38 same bullet. I ended up cutting 45 Colt down and trim to length and camphor. Thanks ALL Butch 1 Quote
Choctaw Jack Posted February 9 Posted February 9 160 grain RNFP C45S brass and cut down .45 Colt brass ~4.0 grains Clay Dot Federal 150 or 155 primer Firm roll crimp 615 fps from a 4.75 in 635 from a 5.5 in Practically no recoil Quote
Roscoe Regulator Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I use W231/HP-38 in my 160 grain Cowboy 45 Special loading. 6.1 gr is what I settled on, ladder testing for shooting impression alone, but it can be lighter. That began as a 45 ACP extrapolation, which I understand some will discredit. They shoot great. Quote
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Im a 44 man myself. This is very good information. Between loading 44R 44Sp & 44Mag I think this would even be a good reference point for my loadings . Thank you Rooster Quote
Tall John Posted February 15 Posted February 15 On 2/7/2026 at 2:53 PM, Long Fingers, SASS#56813 said: Use at you own risk, compiled these several years ago when I was playing with the 45s LF. cowboy 45 special Bullet Weight Powder Charge 130 Titegroup 4.3 130 Trail Boss 4.0 130 Promo 3.5 160 Bullseye 5.0 160 Bullseye 5.8 160 Clays 3.4 160 Clays 3.9 160 Clays 4.2 160 Red dot 3.3 160 Red dot 3.8 160 Red dot 5.3 160 Tight group 4.7 160 Trail boss 3.5 160 Trail boss 3.8 160 Unique 7.1 160 W231 6.1 160 Zip 6.5 165 Clays 3.2 165 Tight group 4.0 170 Clays 3.9 175 Wst 4.2 175 Bullseye 4.2 180 Clays 3.6 180 Clays 3.9 180 Trail boss 3.5 200 Clays 3.9 200 Red dot 4.0 200 Red dot 4.2 200 Unique 6.0 200 Trail boss 3.0 200 Trail boss 3.5 great info! What’s everybody using for OAL for these different size bullets? the American Cowboy 180 grn loads I bought from Natchez are 1.1740” Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted February 15 Posted February 15 John, I just crimp in the crimp groove. They're so short, you can't make em too long! With Slippery's 165 TC with no crimp groove, I crimp right at the edge of where they taper. EH 1 1 Quote
Buffalo gus Posted February 16 Posted February 16 On 2/7/2026 at 3:53 PM, Long Fingers, SASS#56813 said: Use at you own risk, compiled these several years ago when I was playing with the 45s LF. cowboy 45 special Bullet Weight Powder Charge 130 Titegroup 4.3 130 Trail Boss 4.0 130 Promo 3.5 160 Bullseye 5.0 160 Bullseye 5.8 160 Clays 3.4 160 Clays 3.9 160 Clays 4.2 160 Red dot 3.3 160 Red dot 3.8 160 Red dot 5.3 160 Tight group 4.7 160 Trail boss 3.5 160 Trail boss 3.8 160 Unique 7.1 160 W231 6.1 160 Zip 6.5 165 Clays 3.2 165 Tight group 4.0 170 Clays 3.9 175 Wst 4.2 175 Bullseye 4.2 180 Clays 3.6 180 Clays 3.9 180 Trail boss 3.5 200 Clays 3.9 200 Red dot 4.0 200 Red dot 4.2 200 Unique 6.0 200 Trail boss 3.0 200 Trail boss 3.5 Do you have any load data for 200 grain bullets over titegroup? I’ve tried searching but haven’t been able to find any. Quote
Leroy Luck Posted February 16 Posted February 16 18 minutes ago, Buffalo gus said: Do you have any load data for 200 grain bullets over titegroup? I’ve tried searching but haven’t been able to find any. I’ve been loading 3.8-4.0 grs of Titegroup with a 180gr bullet (I understand you’re asking about 200gr) for a couple years. Works wonders in both rifle and pistol. I’ve looked at past threads and there are several people running 3.4-4.2grs of Titegroup with anywhere from a 160-200gr bullet. When I first started loading C45S it was for revolvers only and I used 3.5grs. Had to bump it up when I began shooting them in the rifle. 2 Quote
Griff Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) I load both 160 & 200 grain RFN bullets with 3.4 grains of TiteGroup. Sized at .452 from my 18.5 bbl the 200s run 818 fps abt. 6345 psi; the 160s run 852 fps @ 4719 psi. From my 4-¾" SAA they run about 623 fps for the 200, and 619 fps for the 160s. All of which are fine for CAS purposes. I've tried 3.2 grains, but they're so light I get no feedback in felt recoil. I also seem to get rather erratic powder drops on my Dillon. I just crimp in the crimp groove for both, OAL is meaningless with the short cartridge in a 45 Colt chamber. Edited February 16 by Griff 2 Quote
Tall John Posted March 8 Posted March 8 Ok boys next question. While it’s been made clear to me that OAL isn’t that important with the C45S, where do you seat your 130 grain Barnstormers? the American Cowboy, Cowboy Special Commercial rounds are 185 grain LRNFP bullets and loaded to 1.755-6” OAL. A club mate loads their 165grn to 1.102” the 130 grain Hollow Base Barnstormers have two canelures or grooves. If I seat/crimp to the: Bottom groove, OAL is around 1.70” The middle band, OaL is 1.40” The top groove, OAL is around 1.059” I’m now planning on using Trail Boss for these loads! where would you seat? Quote
Leroy Luck Posted March 8 Posted March 8 All the pictures I’ve ever seen of the barnstormers loaded look exactly like the one of the far left. The 2nd groove. Pictures from previous posts on the Wire through the years. 2 Quote
Cemetery Posted March 8 Posted March 8 7 hours ago, Leroy Luck said: All the pictures I’ve ever seen of the barnstormers loaded look exactly like the one of the far left. The 2nd groove. Far left for me as well. 1 Quote
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted March 8 Posted March 8 As originally designed, the "top" groove is intended as the crimp groove. The lower groove was intended as a lube groove and the original Barnstormers, as cast and supplied by AJ, had the lower groove carrying Lube. On all the Barnstormers I have loaded, I seat to the topmost groove and crimp into what was intended to be the crimp groove. Overall length of Cowboy 45 Special is meaningless. Where to crimp is basically based on the design of the bullet regardless of propellent choice. 2 Quote
Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life Posted March 8 Posted March 8 Another vote for the far left cartridge. That is what the ones I loaded for my wife looked like. 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted March 8 Posted March 8 I'd go for the crimp groove as well. The one in the very left. 1 Quote
Griff Posted March 8 Posted March 8 2 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said: As originally designed, the "top" groove is intended as the crimp groove. The lower groove was intended as a lube groove and the original Barnstormers, as cast and supplied by AJ, had the lower groove carrying Lube. On all the Barnstormers I have loaded, I seat to the topmost groove and crimp into what was intended to be the crimp groove. Overall length of Cowboy 45 Special is meaningless. Where to crimp is basically based on the design of the bullet regardless of propellent choice. Right... again! LOL! 1 Quote
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted March 8 Posted March 8 I wouldn't say "meaningless". If they're on the very short side of functional then your carrier has to push the incoming stack of cartridges back into the magazine every time you lever. Not a big deal but it does add some effort to the levering. 1 Quote
Griff Posted March 8 Posted March 8 24 minutes ago, Springfield Slim SASS #24733 said: I wouldn't say "meaningless". If they're on the very short side of functional then your carrier has to push the incoming stack of cartridges back into the magazine every time you lever. Not a big deal but it does add some effort to the levering. True... I should have stipulated,... "meaningless in a 45 Colt revolver". 1 Quote
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted March 9 Posted March 9 OK, OK, OK. I too submit a "Guilty" plea. I was also primarily thinking of the C45S with Barnstormer to be loaded for a 45 Colt Revolver. I respectfully plead OOPSIES!! 1 Quote
Tall John Posted March 12 Posted March 12 Thanks for the confirmation fellas! I’ve got ‘em loaded up and just waiting for BOOMSTICK Jay to work his magic on my SASS NMV’s! 1 Quote
The Verdigris Kid Posted March 13 Posted March 13 On 2/7/2026 at 2:53 PM, Long Fingers, SASS#56813 said: Use at you own risk, compiled these several years ago when I was playing with the 45s LF. cowboy 45 special Bullet Weight Powder Charge 130 Titegroup 4.3 130 Trail Boss 4.0 130 Promo 3.5 160 Bullseye 5.0 160 Bullseye 5.8 160 Clays 3.4 160 Clays 3.9 160 Clays 4.2 160 Red dot 3.3 160 Red dot 3.8 160 Red dot 5.3 160 Tight group 4.7 160 Trail boss 3.5 160 Trail boss 3.8 160 Unique 7.1 160 W231 6.1 160 Zip 6.5 165 Clays 3.2 165 Tight group 4.0 170 Clays 3.9 175 Wst 4.2 175 Bullseye 4.2 180 Clays 3.6 180 Clays 3.9 180 Trail boss 3.5 200 Clays 3.9 200 Red dot 4.0 200 Red dot 4.2 200 Unique 6.0 200 Trail boss 3.0 200 Trail boss 3.5 What, nothing with Holy Black? Quote
Leroy Luck Posted March 13 Posted March 13 23 minutes ago, The Verdigris Kid said: What, nothing with Holy Black? 1cc (13 grains by weight) of APP is perfect Quote
The Verdigris Kid Posted March 16 Posted March 16 On 3/12/2026 at 7:42 PM, Leroy Luck said: 1cc (13 grains by weight) of APP is perfect I personally use 1.4 cc of 3F of Goex (I still have 3 or 4 lbs left) with a 200 gr Big Lube bullet. Gives me a consistent 640 Fps out of a 4 3/4" Pistolero. I haven't chronographed it out of my rifle yet as I haven't gotten my breach block changed out for the CS yet. Quote
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