Posted by denny mcdaniels on Mar 04, 2026 in Handgun Cartridge Reloading Info
Cowboy Action Shooting is not a high-velocity sport. The objective is to get a lead bullet to a steel target at distances that average 25 yards. Use load data that produces 900 fps or less.
This is shooting historical firearms or replicas. Modern firearms are also used if the operating mechanisms are classic in design, aka Ruger Blackhawks and Vaqueros. When reloading for Cowboy Action Shooting, high velocity is not the objective.
Serious competitors favor light loads to minimize recoil and muzzle blast for faster follow-up shots. However, extremely light charges can cause issues such as incomplete powder burn, unburned granules in the case, primers backing out and tying up a revolver cylinder, and reduced accuracy. In some rifles, low pressures may not fully expand the case to seal the chamber, leading to blowback. My Marlin 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt will experience this scenario.
The challenge is how to produce a light charge in a case originally designed for black powder. Such a charge can seem lost. Researching what other used I referenced a post at sass.net where I learned 5.0 grain of Hodgdon-Group is popular. Hodgdon Reloading Data lists the starting load at 6.5-grains. A traditional black powder charge averaged 30-grains, the 45 Colt was designed to hold powder.
A good workaround is using a denser powder that fills more of the case, Trail Boss was created just for this problem. 6-0 grains will take up at least twice as much case volume and accidental double charge is practically impossible. Exceeding 1000 fps with Trail Boss is also practically impossible. HS-6 requires more powder volume, is somewhat of a smokier load and would propel a 200-grain bullet just shy of 1000 fps. Great rifle round, many would argue that this is warmer in a revolver than preferred. One solution for maintaining powder burning efficiency with lighter charges is using shorter cases: .38 LONG COLT in place of .38 Special, .44 RUSSIAN in place of .44 Special, or .45 COWBOY SPECIAL used in a .45 Colt. Advantage: no unburnt powder and primers backing out. Disadvantage: Shorter COL MAY result in lever gun cycling problems. If so have separate standard-length ammunition strictly for your rifle.
Below is a chart used to compare recommended starting Cowboy recipes. Data used from Hodgdon Reloading.
.38-caliber 125-grain cast bullet, Hodgdon Tite-Group
| CALIBER | CHARGE | FPS | COL |
| 38 LONG COLT | 2.3 | 657 | 1.4 |
| 38 SPECIAL | 3.2 | 856 | 1.455 |
| 357 MAGNUM | 4.0 | 1055 | 1.585 |
.38-caliber 125-grain cast bullet, Trail Boss
| CALIBER | CHARGE | FPS | COL |
| 38 LONG COLT | 2.0 | 622 | 1.4 |
| 38 SPECIAL | 3.0 | 753 | 1.4 |
| 357 MAGNUM | 3.5 | 874 | 1.585 |
.44-caliber 200-grain cast bullet, Tite-Group
| CALIBER | CHARGE | FPS | COL |
| 44 RUSSIAN | 3.5 | 738 | 1.245 |
| 44 SPECIAL | 4.5 | 846 | 1.45 |
| 44 MAGNUM | 5.0 | 878 | 1.570 |
.44-caliber 200-grain cast bullet, Trail Boss
| CALIBER | CHARGE | FPS | COL |
| 44 RUSSIAN | 3.0 | 647 | 1.245 |
| 44 SPECIAL | 4.3 | 754 | 1.45 |
| 44 MAGNUM | 6..1 | 890 | 1.570 |
45-caliber 200-grain cast bullet, Tite-Group
| CALIBER | CHARGE | FPS | COAL |
| 45 COWBOY | 4.8 | 877 | 1.225 |
| 45 COLT | 6.5 | 933 | 1.60 |
.45-caliber 200-grain cast bullet, Trail Boss