Good Field Load For The 45 Cowboy Special

Thanks again to Walter Bunning for this fine Starline 45 Cowboy Special brass. A very efficient case, we got 1000 - 1200 fps with Unique powder and the 200 grain Lee RNFP cast bullets. No pressure signs, we got a nice field load with these components.

[@LoadsofBacon]

That shorter brass sure makes for an efficient use of the powder.

[@jcm4590]

Wow, I'm amazed at the velocities you're getting with those short cases! You're into Magnum country, now. Great work, FortuneCookie. Thanks again.

[@gunnareriksen8756]

You are the professor in shooting and learning. I eprisiet it a lot. Keep them vidios coming. You're the man. Much better than boring t.v. shows!!!.

[@bunkstagner298]

My favorite load is a 1.3 c/c volume of GOEX FFFg powder, a 200 grain bullet crimped using a .45 Auto Rim roll crimp die. I have no idea how many hundreds of this load have gone down range both in my open top Uberti revolvers and a .45 Colt Uberti 1860 Henry with a modified lifter. An accurate and pleasant loading to shoot. Some of my brass is the original Adirondack Jack case which, I am sure, was made by Starline. Trail Boss (for nitro shooters) also works well and makes it impossible to double charge a case.

[@samwilliams1142]

I have an old model Blackhawk Vaquero 3¾" barrel, the ejector rod barely pushes out the C45S cases. Pretty much have to elevate muzzle to get 45 Colt empties out. 200RNFP is a good bullet for it. I also load the 160RNFP.😂

[@Thorsaxe777]

The smaller case capacity sure makes a difference in velocity Vs. powder charge, I believe we found that out in the .44 Russian loadings. Those were some real thumpers out of my Bulldog, Dave

[@TheKentuckyPatriot]

I got my bench in and all set up! I just finished loading those .454 Casull bullets that Loads of Bacon sent me!! I am now an official reloader. I am a huge greenhorn but still in the reloading club lol. I have come 45lc brass and Lord willing I will be reloading that soon as well :-D

[@sureshotandrew]

Thanks, Steve. I would like to see the 45 Cowboy special brass using a Ruger Vacquero at lower fps(750~850fps). I reload 45 colt,HP 38, 7.0gn, 200gn Missouri Cowboy #4 bullets, with some descent grouping.

[@gngng5626]

Beaufiful groups! Wow. FC45LC, you dialed it in!

[@FortuneCookie45LC]

G n' GF - That's good field ammo for the 45 Colt - handy compact ammo that shoots well and efficiently. Have a great day G n' GF..!! FC Steve

[@gngng5626]

+FortuneCookie45LC Thank you. Excellent video as usual sir. Rick.

[@miketreen7403]

Those are impressive velocities from such a light powder charge! Your getting into the +p area with light target load data. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@DickTickles]

Yeah and obviously the "bullet jump" has no affect on accuracy. It sucks though that we can't use these shorter cartridges in lever actions and not only gain more velocity, but increase the tubular magazines' capacity as well. I'm gonna have to look into what it will take to make a lever rifle run trouble free with shorter cartridges. I'll make my own if I have to!

[@dowdawg]

Very nice!!!

[@TheReloaderDude]

Bassed on them Crono speeds you like to move them pretty fast while I am down here in whimpy land. 😁. Excellent video my friend.

[@nokoolaid]

It's capable of more, with 45 colt.

[@DickTickles]

I shot some factory .45 Schofield last week with a 180 grain bullet. It was hitting to POA at 50 yards with my 8 inch Pietta 1858 conversion, which I was very happy with as my .45 Colt loads with 7 grains of Unique and 250 grain bullets were not at that distance. I think I'm going to have to order some 200 grain bullets for my .45 reloading and see what results I get. I'm noticing in the .45 handguns that 200 grains or less the bullets shoot better, more accurately. That's great for revolvers, but in .45 ACP pistols, it makes me think that maybe 10mm Auto really is superior as I look at similar bullet weights in factory loadings between the two and the 10mm has higher velocities than even .45 ACP +P does and 10mm pistols have higher capacities than .45's do. Don't mind me, I'm just musing over here.

[@chrisfloyd8512]

My carry load in 45acp is pushing a 200gr xtp at 1175fps. Primers are not flattened and my pistol runs smooth. That's right at 10mm factory hunting loads. The plus side is I can run all other 45acp loads with zero issues. 10mm is a great round, but I own a 45acp already and can do almost everything the 10mm can do with very little invested in mods. And it's completely safe.

[@DickTickles]

@@chrisfloyd8512 Like the 10mm isn't safe? Look, the .45 is fine, but it's not something I recommend to people to go out of their way to buy. Everyone under the age of 50 is buying 10mm's, it's what people are choosing over .45 for the more powerful semi auto pistol and the fact 10's can shoot .40 without issues is an added benefit in a time of shortages.

[@chrisfloyd8512]

@@DickTickles I never said the 10mm isn't safe. Lol Yes you can fire 40s&w in a 10mm, but it's far from a safe practice! The 40 is just being held in place by the extractor and not head spaced properly. It's exactly like trying to shoot 45gap out of a 45acp. Can you do it? Yes. Is it practical or safe? Not in the long run. Want to shoot 40s&w out of a 10mm? Buy a 40s&w barrel for your 10mm.

[@davekoenig9935]

Made a deal with Scott at Lipsey’s for a mic’d TALO 45 acp C Birdshead. Had GS tune with spring set and breathe on it. CNC cuts were a tad shy on chamber mouths. GS has super gauges and sees these. In his mic’s window. I am shooting these in a 45 Colt converter in a 1858 Remmie C & B revolver. Still a work in progress, using custom L E Wilson Q holders. 0.800” looks like the T 7, 2F’s sweet spot.@ 15 grs. Do not slip a taper crimp and compress Trail Boss! Better use correct bullets made for 45 Colt, roll crimps.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

good video as well i know it would with out watching all of it

[@JH-kc9tm]

What would you estimate the pressure on the 200 gr bullet with 7 gr of unique fortune cookie 45Lc ?

[@SQ_og]

So do you like the Schofield or cowboy brass loads better?

[@nickjm37fordel1]

Hey Steve, the only place I found that cool rest was on Ebay and with shipping it came to $80.00 + Tried also to find your printable targets online and was not very successful :-( Question FC Steve, do you like the Blackhawks ( SA ) better than the Redhawks ( DA ) or does it depend on the caliber ?

[@danieldesimonedanny1827]

I'll add watch the pressures ..

[@randomruss651]

I can't even get unique powder ever been looking for a while.

[@oscarbear7498]

I want to know I you can use h110 lol

[@Quantalume]

From an accuracy perspective, would you say it is better to use the 45 Cowboy Special with its associated bullet jump to the cylinder throat, or a 45 Colt with its half-empty case? The ideal situation would be a compact revolver designed specifically for the 45 CS.

[@FortuneCookie45LC]

Quantalume - Easy question to answer - thanks for making it...The efficient fill of powder space has been shown to be more a factor to accuracy than any bullet jump considerations. Back in my PPC days, there were custom guns that had shortened cylinders to minimize bullet jump effects with the 38 wadcutters, but they did not take the PPC world by storm. Bill Davis did not hesitate to make custom PPC guns (1 1/2" at 50 yards) from 357 magnum cylinders, without any shortening, of course. It was because of all that - I have no problems whatsoever about bullet jump - but it continues to be heralded otherwise. Have a great day, FC Steve

[@davekoenig9935]

RCBS sells a special seat crimp ( roll crimp ) die that will roll crimp cases as short as the 45 G A P’s.

[@michaeldickerson873]

Herco powder ever used with 255 gr FP Rainier bullets in your 45LC? I aim to try it in my old vaquero and Uberti clone😆

[@gapster46]

Never heard of the .45 Cowboy Special. Interesting cause the LGS has had a Uberti in .45 Colt for some time now and I’ve been considering it, but at $460, I don’t know if that’s a good deal or not. What was the Blackhawk you were shooting chambered for? .45 ACP, .45 Colt? Did Ruger make a .45 Cowboy Special?

[@lonewanderer3603]

gapster46 Starline recently started offering these cases. I don't think anybody makes a revolver specifically chambered for it.

[@gapster46]

+LoneWanderer360 - I have a .45 Colt levergun but have not given much thought to a .45 Colt in a revolver. If these are safe to shoot in a .45 Colt revolver, that could be enough for me to go ahead and grab that Uberti the LGS has.

[@lonewanderer3603]

gapster46 You likely will have no pressure related issues in a lever gun. My Winchester 94AE can handle the high pressure loads. However, you may have issues cycling the shorter cases.

[@lonewanderer3603]

Walter Bunning My Winchester doesn't even like the Lever revolution for some reason. It boggles my mind considering these are supposed to be specifically for lever guns.

[@oscarbear7498]

Does anyone know if you can use h110? Planning on using it in a 460xvr

[@p90man]

How about a 250gr hardcast flat point? Is 7gr still safe ?

[@DeanMk1]

...aren't those Auto Rim cases?

[@FortuneCookie45LC]

DeanMk1 - The 45AR cases will not function in the Ruger BHKs - the rounds will chamber, but the rims are too thick to allow the cylinder to turn. The 45 Cowboy Special brass is a 45 AR with the same rim thickness as the 45 Colt so they will function and chamber in both the 45 Colt cylinder as well as the 45 ACP cylinder. But the headspace is on the rim in either cylinder, and that is much superior than having ACP cases headspacing on the case mouths in the ACP cylinder. Good shootin' to ya, Steve

[@DeanMk1]

@@FortuneCookie45LC So, Yes!....sorta. Gotcha. =)

[@Portuguese-linguica]

Did you remove my comment ?

[@dakotaman4621]

:-)

[@thetexasrat]

WARNING: Pressure in the 45 ACP is far greater than that of the 45 Colt pistols. Not good to use 45 Auto data with cartridges to be use in 45 Colt guns. 45 ACP max pressure 21,000 psi 45 Colt max pressure 14,000 psi/14,000 CUP [disclaimer: every thing here below is for educational use only!] CAUTION: If one proceeds in this endeavor they should get the most helpful "Midway USA LoadMap 45 ACP" in order to be able to choose a safe powder charge to consider. As some starting charges are well over the 14000 PSI of the 45 Colt. See the Alliant Bullseye load data on page 70, in the USA LoadMap 45 ACP, to see just what could happen if one simply willy nillingly picks out any old 45 Auto load data and tries it out in the Cowboy 45 Special cartridges, as this starting load is way over safe working pressures of the 45 Colt. Also never go anywhere near the medium charge weight load data, as many of the medium charge weights for the 45 Auto are above the 14,000 psi of the 45 Colt gun's working pressure too. And keep in mind that any load near the 14,000 psi range would defeat the whole reason behind the Cowboy 45 Special case for shooting light loads! And while the 45 Auto Rim and Cowboy 45 Special are just a few thousandths of an inch different in length and diameter the 45 Auto Rim's maximum rating of 15,000 CUP [lower than the that of the 45 Auto] is still higher than that of the 45 Colt, so while the starting loads for the 45 Auto Rim can be used in the Cowboy 45 Special cases, the maximum 45 Auto Rim loads will still generate unsafe pressures. Always start low and work up with caution. And keep in mind you should be shooting for a light load in the first place. But why play around with fire? Below are proven safe and effective load data for the Cowboy 45 Special cartridge. [again: this is for educational use only!] Yes Actual Cowboy 45 Special load data can be found in the 17th edition of "Cartridges Of The World", page 486: And on these notes I hope y'all have a blast! The Good kind that is.

[@joemangan2577]

At least the rest not made in china