GUNTALK S5: Black Hills Cowboys, Pt 1

Published on October 10, 2015
Duration: 7:00

This episode of Gun Talk focuses on Cowboy Action Shooting ammunition, with Jeff discussing the development and loading of traditional and historically accurate cartridges. The segment highlights the importance of listening to customer demand and adapting to safety concerns by offering shorter cartridges with reduced powder capacity. Several classic calibers are showcased, including .45 Colt, .45 Schofield, .38 Short Colt, .32-20, .44 Russian, and .44-40, with insights into their historical significance and modern applications in shooting sports.

Quick Summary

Black Hills Cowboys revived historical cartridges like the .45 Schofield and .38 Short Colt to meet demand for Cowboy Action Shooting. These shorter cartridges offer reduced powder capacity, enhancing safety when using modern, fast-burning powders and providing a more authentic shooting experience.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Introduction to the Black Hills
  2. 00:35Cowboy Guns and Loads on the High Plains
  3. 00:51The Toy Man and Cowboy Ammo Origins
  4. 01:48.45 Colt and the .45 Schofield Revival
  5. 02:55.38 Short Colt for Modern Firearms
  6. 03:23.32-20 Caliber and Load Details
  7. 03:44.44 Russian vs. .44 Magnum
  8. 04:20.44-40: The Popular Western Cartridge
  9. 04:46Shooting the .44-40 Load
  10. 05:18Why Shoot .44-40 Today?
  11. 06:01Deep Dive into the .32-20
  12. 06:45.45-70 Rifle and Sharps Rifle

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cowboy Action Shooting ammunition?

Cowboy Action Shooting ammunition refers to cartridges specifically loaded and designed for the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. This often involves using traditional calibers and sometimes historically accurate or reduced-power loads to mimic the Old West era while ensuring safety and firearm compatibility.

Why was the .45 Schofield cartridge revived?

The .45 Schofield cartridge was revived by Black Hills Cowboys as a historically correct and shorter alternative to the .45 Colt. This shorter case reduces powder capacity, making it safer to use with modern, fast-burning pistol powders and less potent loads suitable for Cowboy Action Shooting.

Can you shoot .38 Short Colt in a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver?

Yes, a .38 Short Colt cartridge can be safely fired in firearms chambered for .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolvers. The shorter case length is accommodated by the longer chambers of these modern cartridges.

What makes the .44 Russian cartridge unique for reloading?

The .44 Russian cartridge has the same diameter as the .44 Magnum but features a significantly shorter case. This shorter case minimizes powder movement within the cartridge, allowing for very good velocity uniformity even with smaller powder charges at lower velocities.

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