Cowboy 45 special brass, where can I find it?

[Corvette]

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.

[Wayne Smith]

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

[Char-Gar]

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.

[StrawHat]

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

[Wheelgun]

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.

[scattershot]

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.

[StrawHat]

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/index.php?topic=35690.0

Kevin

[scattershot]

Well, that clears it up some. Thanks for the info and the link.

[rbertalotto]

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!

http://images20.fotki.com/v113/photos/2/36012/10360662/red-vi.jpg

http://images54.fotki.com/v104/photos/2/36012/10360662/withwords-vi.jpg

[GLL]

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 (https://exchange.pasadena.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=d639e3ffc0c94d5ebc85f21d7e7d2a04&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ACAmmo.com)

Thanks for your interest!"

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

Jerry

[W.R.Buchanan]

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

[StrawHat]

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

[Tackleberry41]

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.

[ddixie884]

This is close to the stillborn .45S&Wspl. or as it is sometimes known the .45 Fankford 1906.

[Dale53]

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

[Knarley]

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

Knarley

[WALLNUTT]

Schofield is too long. Needs trimmed quite a bit.

[rwadley]

Starline now offers this brass.

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/45-Cowboy-Special/

[mart]

I just got a batch this week from Starline.

[woody290]

I just heard about these - can they also be used in the lever action rifles?

[Nueces]

The Marlins can be made to work with shorter cases through knowledgeable smithing. The 73s need a custom fitted stop in the carrier to limit feeding to single rounds, and then they won't work with 45 Colt lengths.

[white eagle]

I have some I don't need

[Outpost75]

I wish that Starline would also offer the Cowboy Special with the heads turned to 0.040 rim thickness and with the case OAL trimmed to 0.087" for the .455 Webley Mk 1, they would sell a bunch of them...

[woody290]

The Marlins can be made to work with shorter cases through knowledgeable smithing. The 73s need a custom fitted stop in the carrier to limit feeding to single rounds, and then they won't work with 45 Colt lengths.

Thanks!

[Ramjet-SS]

Star line has it

[Johnny_Cyclone]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=203758&d=1505051217
45 Colt, 45 Schofield, 45 Auto, 45 Auto Rim

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=203759&d=1505051348


Hornady 45 Colt FXT Brass vs 45 Colt Brass
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=205360&d=1507387367

(Pic's I hijacked from the internet like a bad boy, but It was done in the name of science)

[sd95B]

I sent Starline an email several months ago asking if they had any plans to introduce .455 MK I or MK II brass but got no reply.

[ddixie884]

I got an answer from Star-Line about .455 MKI. NO!

[white eagle]

I just got rid of all I had