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Thread: Cowboy 45 special brass, where can I find it?

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Cowboy 45 special brass, where can I find it?

    I've been looking for it for a while, but can't find it anywhere. Seems the original seller quit selling it. Is it even still being made? Is there anywhere that still has it? Thanks for any insight.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master

    Wayne Smith's Avatar
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    What's the difference between Cowboy 45 Special and 45 S&W? Starline makes 45 S&W.
    Wayne the Shrink

    There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
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    The 45 Special (Cowboy) is a 45 ACP case drawn on the 45 Colt head. The original seller sold out and it is available from the new seller. I don't have the link but somebody will come along with it.
    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    I went to the link I had for the new seller and it is no longer viable. I posted on the CAS site, when I get an answer there, I will let you know.

    Okay, just checked and this was sent to me.

    http://www.acammo.com/

    The site is under construction but at least it is something.

    Char-Gar has it. The 45 CS is basically the 45 long Colt shorted to the length of the 45 ACP. You use the ACP dies and the 45 long Colt shell holder. The cartridge is very similar to the original 46 Remington that was used by the factory to convert what we call the 1858 Remington revolver. Also similar to the 44 Henry. A lot of them can fit into a magazine tube!

    Kevin
    Last edited by StrawHat; 03-16-2015 at 06:48 AM.
    Knowledge I take to my grave is wasted.

    I prefer to use cartridges born before I was.

    Success doesn't make me happy, being happy is what allows me to be successful.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    I've been looking for it also, I like running 45 AR through my Smith and this stuff looks like the same thing with the 45 colt rim. Which would be awesome for my Schofield.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master scattershot's Avatar
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    I made a few to play with by cutting down .45 Colt cases. They work fine in .45ACP and .45 Colt revolvers, and should work in .45 Schofield, too. I can't help but think, though, that they are a solution in search of a problem.
    "Experience is a series of non-fatal mistakes"


    Disarming is a mistake free people only get to make once...

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by scattershot View Post
    I made a few to play with by cutting down .45 Colt cases. They work fine in .45ACP and .45 Colt revolvers, and should work in .45 Schofield, too. I can't help but think, though, that they are a solution in search of a problem.
    The fellow who originally came up with the idea, Adirondack Jack intended it to be a smaller volume case for those shooters who owned revolvers chambered in 45 long Colt.

    This is from the website of Adirondack Jack's Trading Post

    " ...It also happens that by doing so, the case
    capacity under a 250 grain bullet is cut by just about half, making it a dandy,
    soft shooting round with smokeless powder, black powder, or subs in the
    process.

    Thus was born the Cowboy .45 Special. Designed to reduce case capacity
    available under the bullet by as much as 50%, this little beauty runs very
    consistently and accurately with smokeless loads as light as 600 - 650 fps
    with 200 grain bullets. A current favorite recipe runs a 200 grainer at 650
    fps with an extreme spread of SIX, even with progressively loaded ammo
    and volumetrically dispensed charges (no hand weighing and single stage
    loading to artificially tighten results). A real sweet 520 fps load with 160
    grainers is possible too!... "

    However, because it has the capacity of the 45 ACP case, it can also be a work horse.

    There are threads about it on the CAS sites. Here's one,

    http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...?topic=35690.0

    Kevin
    Knowledge I take to my grave is wasted.

    I prefer to use cartridges born before I was.

    Success doesn't make me happy, being happy is what allows me to be successful.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master scattershot's Avatar
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    Well, that clears it up some. Thanks for the info and the link.
    "Experience is a series of non-fatal mistakes"


    Disarming is a mistake free people only get to make once...

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    If you shoot Cowboy Action you don't need lots of recoil and too much smoke. A 45LC loaded with Black Powder is a handfull in this sport. And after the third or fourth round with no wind, the smoke obscures the targets. c45s allows the use of half as much powder without the cost and extra process of using wads. With smokeless powder your powder costs are cut by 40%

    I've been using c45s in my converted Colt 1860 revolvers for two years now and I love it. Recoil like a 38 but 170g "ping".........

    Not for everyone, but those that get it...get it!

    (BTW, cutting down 45LC creates a very thick wall on the cutdown case which actually sizes the bullet to the point that leading becomes an issue. I tried that once.....no joy!



    Roy B
    Massachusetts

    www.rvbprecision.com

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    GLL's Avatar
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    I recently contacted ACAmmo about .45 Cowboy Special brass and they indicated that it should be available sometime in May.
    Here is their response note.

    "We just heard back from Starline, the brass is expected by May. We will let you know as soon as we have a more definite date, we will be posting updates in our website:

    www.ACAmmo.com

    Thanks for your interest!"

    The website has just been updated with that May delivery information !

    Jerry

    S&W .38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

  11. #11
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    W.R.Buchanan's Avatar
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    I thought the purpose of this round was to shorten the lever stroke on an 1894 Marlin. There was a short stroke kit for it and everything. It shortened the stroke down to very close to what the short stroke 1873's are.

    This was designed to be competition for the Short Stroke 1873 rifles in a more available and much stronger package.

    At least this is what I think I recall reading about it?

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    According to AJ, it was to provide a smaller capacity cartridge for the revolvers chambered for the 45 long Colt. It's use in rifles was a by product of the original idea. I personally have always wanted a lever action chambered for the 45 ACP. This would have been a fairly inexpensive way to have something vary close to my dream rifle.

    Kevin
    Last edited by StrawHat; 04-05-2015 at 07:24 AM.
    Knowledge I take to my grave is wasted.

    I prefer to use cartridges born before I was.

    Success doesn't make me happy, being happy is what allows me to be successful.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    I see the reason they created the 45 spcl, 45 colt works great in BP (for full powered loads), and with the capacity works great w those Ruger only loads. But when your trying to do the cowboy loads in smokeless its way to much capacity. A cowboy load of unique was just a little in the bottom, I had position sensitivity in an 1858 conversion.

    Its a niche thing, doubt it helps in the accuracy department with a case that short in a full length 45 colt chamber. But as said works good w reduced BP loads, and cowboy smokeless.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master



    ddixie884's Avatar
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    This is close to the stillborn .45S&Wspl. or as it is sometimes known the .45 Fankford 1906.
    JMHO-YMMV
    dd884
    gary@2texastrucks.com
    Gary D. Peek

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master



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    I bought some .45 Cowboy Special cases from the original supplier for another purpose. I discovered that they work really well in my .45 Colt/.45 ACP Ruger Bisley SS Convertible in the .45 ACP cylinder. If you want to shoot heavy bullets in the ACP cylinder (in my case the 454424 250 gr. Keith bullet) you can use a roll crimp. Works perfectly. The thin rim of the Cowboy Special headspaces perfectly in the .45 ACP cylinder.

    FWIW
    Dale53

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Why not try the .45 Schofield? 'Bout the same thing ain't it? Check it out @ Starline

    Knarley
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    MOLON LABE

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Schofield is too long. Needs trimmed quite a bit.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy
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  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy
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    I just got a batch this week from Starline.
    Only left handed guns are interesting!

  20. #20
    Boolit Man
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    I just heard about these - can they also be used in the lever action rifles?

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check