.38 SPCL Boolit

[Rich219]

Any recommendations for a good boolit to use in .38 spcl for cowboy action shooting?

[Jim]

Maybe THIS ONE?

[leadman]

Jims suggestion is the one I use most in my 38 and 357. Even works well in the leverguns.

[fecmech]

Cowboy action I would go with the Lee 125 RF cowboy boolit

[HangFireW8]

A 158 should work well, but is probably more recoil (and more lead) than required by CAS to get the job done.

[Cherokee]

If you plan a realistic load, use the 158 Lee, otherwise, use the 125 Lee.

[Rich219]

Minimal recoil and a bullet that will work in both the revolver and the lever action would be ideal.

Is the Lee 125 my best bet?

[cajun shooter]

If you intend to follow the sport with the "Gamer Crowd" then a 125 will work. If you see other shooters at your local club use this weight and all the KD's fall then it will work. I shoot at one club where the KD's will not fall 100% of the time if hit with a 125.

[Larry Gibson]

Cowboy action shooting is all about accuracy, reliability and speed in authentic type cowboy firearms. The power requirement is minimal except in the Wild Bunch matches where there is a higher power factor also. Everything is timed with the fastest time with all hits or the least misses winning. The targets are close and relatively large but you'll see a lot of misses as all shooters usually push the envelope for minimal time.

Just returned from End of Trail World Championship down in New Mexico at Founder's Ranch. I was there representing one of our site sponsors, Powder River Cartridge Company. PRCC has their Signature Series Evil Roy cowboy action loads which includes the .38 Special loaded with a Laser Cast 125 gr FP cast bullet at velcoity guarenteed to make the power factor (pistol: 638 fps, rifle: 874 fps). We talked with a lot of shooters regards their ammo during the matches. In .38 Special the majority use 120 - 125 gr bullets and some use 105 gr bullets. I did not find anyone using 150+ gr bullets. Those with adequate loads had no problems with any of the falling plates. We sold quite a bit of Evil Roy ammunition to those who did have ammo problems, especially our Evil Roy .45 ACP ammunition for the Wild Bunch Matches. Not a single complaint with the PRCC Evil Roy Signature Series .45 Colt, .45 ACP or .38 Special ammuntion.

For use in the .38/.357 in Lee moulds I would look at the 356-120-TC and 358-105-SWC. Lyman does not list a current suitable bullet unless the 356402 or 356242 will drop at .358. The RCBS 9-124-CN would be good also if it drops at .358. I don't see much listed for Saeco other than the 9mm bullets either. RN and TC bullets are fovored over the SWCs because of reliability in feeding. In Cowboy Action shooting a malfunction most often puts you out of the game.

PRCC uses Starline cases, VihtaVuori powder, Federal primers and Laser Cast bullets in the Evil Roy Sinature line. Please don't ask for "the load" as it is propriaty information for liability reasons as such information is with all manufacturers. The VihtaVuori Rep (Kaltron Petibone Inc.) has supplied me with their new Tin Star powder ( a "bulkier" powder to compete with Trail Boss) to develop lower end Cowboy Action loads as requested by most shooters. The load info in the VihtaVuori manual is insufficient in that it lists heavier bullets than are used and/or starting velocities that are at the top end and not used by Cowboy Action shooters. I will be velocity, pressure and accuracy testing the Tin Star powder in the .38, .45 Colt and 45-70 cartridges in revolvers and rifles. After the completion of the testing I will be providing PRCC and Kaltron with the complete data. I will also post the pertinant findings here at Cast Boolits as to whether such low end Cowboy action loads are practical with Tin Star powder in those cartridges. I am working this project with 2 of the top Cowboy Action shooters; Evil Roy and Rattler John and wish to thank them for all the information and assistance at the EOT.

Larry Gibson

[Ben]

I don't shoot cowboy action, but if you're considering the Lee 125 gr., I can highly recommend it !



Here they are sized .3575 ", lubed and ready to load :



7 rounds at 50 yards into roughly a 3/4 " group ( + or - ) with the Lee 125 gr. RF bullet, sized .3575 ", using Wolf small pistol primers and a mild crimp. Powder charge was 5.5 grs. of Russian Unique ( Salute ).

[felix]

It would be interesting and challenging for Olin/StMarks to bring out the same cowboy powder in ball form. Naturally, the balls would have to be large with a clean burning, full temperature range deterrent to be anywhere close to the IMR or VV versions. ... felix