Recent content by Crunchy Frog

A truncated cone flat point is a good choice but in .44-.45 you’re more likely to find round nose flat points.

Even setting aside the current Uberti retractable firing pin issues, there are a couple of points I like on the Pietta. Comparing stock guns the Piettas are usually a little smoother out of the box. I replaced the two position basepins with Uberti “one groove” pins. They have a groove all...

Cimarron is an importer. They sell SAA replicas (Colt 1873 type) made by Uberti and Pietta. Most of the current Uberti 1873s have the Cattleman 2 passive safety, a retracting firing pin. I think Uberti still recommends keeping the hammer down on an empty chamber. The Piettas are pretty true...

A very nice box lock double. SKBs are lightweight and well made. SKBs in 12 and 20 gauge are well regarded in cowboy action shooting. It’s hard to find one in good condition under $1000 now. What we do to these shotguns would make an upland bird shooter cry.

I’m a cowboy action shooter and handloader. I have single action revolvers in .38/.357, .45 Colt and .44 Special. All are fun to shoot. You mentioned black powder; any revolver can digest black powder ammo but you pretty much have to load your own. I am aware of one source for black powder...

Others have mentioned this but there are two different Blackhawks available in .45 Colt. The standard New Model Blackhawk is built on the large cylinder frame. It is suitable for the “Ruger only” category of handloads. Ruger also makes the New Model Flattop in .45. Some if not all of these...

That two position basepin is one of the ways that imported SA revolvers could be imported. Some people grind them from the back to eliminate the rearward groove/notch. Pietta basepins usually have a notch that engages the retention latch. Most other brands have a groove around the...

I’ve been shooting cowboy action since 2010. It’s a lot of fun. I strongly recommend checking out a local match before buying anything. .38 Special is most popular because it’s cheaper to feed than .45 Colt (the number two in popularity) especially if you don’t load your own ammo. That said...

I’m a cowboy action shooter. We have a lot of experience with light loads in .38 Special cases. Fast burning powders seem to do well. As was stated, Titegroup is advertised as not being position sensitive but I find it to be snappy. I used a lot of Clays in the beginning; I like it except in...

I like Universal for midrange pistol loads. I worked up a load for .44-40 in my rifle and exhausted my single pound of powder. My local Cabelas had a pretty good stock of Winchester 244 which is adjacent to Unique on the 2023 Hodgdon chart. When I find time I will load up some ammo and clock...

I have been shooting SASS for 13 years. I don’t see people cheating. Does it happen, ever? Sure. If I were willing to cheat to win I would pick a game where there is a reward for winning. There’s no money or valuable prizes in CAS. It is something of a myth that only people with highly...

I’m sorry you had this experience. Assuming you were at a SASS match the fellow was dead wrong. The winner of the first End of Trail match used a Ruger Blackhawk. EOT begat SASS, and Blackhawks and other adjustable sighted revolvers have always been legal under SASS rules. There are some...

Here’s the applicable SASS rule governing bullets: “May not be jacketed, semi-jacketed, hollow point, plated, or gas checked. It must be all lead. Moly-Disulfide, polymer coated bullets, or equivalents are acceptable.” Coated bullets are clearly allowed and have been for years. They are...

I find Titegroup to be more “snappy” than other similar powders but I chronographed some .38 Special cowboy loads recently and found TG to be very consistent. Here in the US I can buy cast bullets at a lower cost than the swaged bullets made by Hornady and Speer. Many vendors offer coated cast...

You are overthinking the powder choices. I’ve been shooting cowboy since 2010 and loading .38 Special with lead bullets for longer than that. If you want a case full of powder, shoot black powder or a black powder substitute. I’ve shot 158 grain bullets in .357 cases full of Goex black...