Cowboy 105gr data

[flashotter]

Hi all, I bought a box of Cowboy #16 TCFP 105gr .358 bullets and am having a hard time finding the reloading data for it. Anyone using them? I have Accurate #5 powder. Thanks.

[CCrawford]

In .38 Special or one of the Colt cartridges or some other cartridge? Any other details you want to mention for a better crafted answer from the community?

[flashotter]

Sorry, .38 special. The lightest bullet listed is 110gr. I assume since its .358 it is made for 38 special. Also, is there a cross reference for the different types of powder? I see in the book they may list only 5 powders for a particular bullet. Do the different brands of powders equate with each other?

[Bastard]

I am going to make an assumption here... you are talking about the Missouri Cast, non-coated, Cowboy #16 right?

first you really should get the Lyman Cast book, also making an assumption here, as they do have a 105gr SWC listed in that book but nothing with that powder listed... while not the same bullet it may give a place to start.

2nd place to start, and this is probably just out of habit on my part pick up the Lyman M die or the Redding equivelant if you don't have it already as it will make loading cast so much easier.

3rd I would look for a different powder, 700x or bullseye are always good to have on hand, possibly even unique and some trail boss just for fun.

4th I forgot where I was going with this so yeah... I must be getting old

[flashotter]

Thanks, Im going to get that book, and whatever powder I need. These are Missouri Hi Tek (red) coated bullets, do you think cast info will still apply, and would I still need that die? I really appreciate you letting me pick your brain, Happy Thanksgiving.

[NeilMo]

I shoot gobs of cast Lee 105-SWC's in 38 special and have settled on two best powders/loads. 4gn of Bullseye @725fps avg, or 3.7gn Hodgdon Clays @855fps avg. Both of those are capable of picking the pills off a Gnat out to 25 yards. Some other powders to look for are AA#2, Titegroup, Red-Dot, Green-Dot, Sport Pistol, and Win WST.

[Cowboy T]

I shoot gobs of cast Lee 105-SWC's in 38 special and have settled on two best powders/loads. 4gn of Bullseye @725fps avg, or 3.7gn Hodgdon Clays @855fps avg. Both of those are capable of picking the pills off a Gnat out to 25 yards. Some other powders to look for are AA#2, Titegroup, Red-Dot, Green-Dot, Sport Pistol, and Win WST.

You, too? That's the cast bullet I also use! Used Lyman's 49th Edition to get my loads for it, extrapolating with graph paper between the 90 grain, 110 grain, and the 120 grain data. Worked out very nicely.

My loads for the 105gr Lee cast bullet are 3.9gr Bullseye or 4.2gr Titegroup. Both of these have chrono'd right around 850 ft/sec out of a 4" barrel. Note that my cast bullets actually weigh 108 grains, on average. These are sweet-shooting loads that are easy on both firearm and shooter and replicate standard .38 Special in-flight ballistics, so they're good for marksmanship practice.

[Bastard]

Thanks, Im going to get that book, and whatever powder I need. These are Missouri Hi Tek (red) coated bullets, do you think cast info will still apply, and would I still need that die? I really appreciate you letting me pick your brain, Happy Thanksgiving.

the die is basically a two step expander die, and will help prevent shaving and deforming of softer lead and also shaving of the coatings off as well... the coated bullets use the same load data as cast bullets I have all but switched to coated for easier clean up and less smoke

You, too? That's the cast bullet I also use! Used Lyman's 49th Edition to get my loads for it, extrapolating with graph paper between the 90 grain, 110 grain, and the 120 grain data. Worked out very nicely.

My loads for the 105gr Lee cast bullet are 3.9gr Bullseye or 4.2gr Titegroup. Both of these have chrono'd right around 850 ft/sec out of a 4" barrel. Note that my cast bullets actually weigh 108 grains, on average. These are sweet-shooting loads that are easy on both firearm and shooter and replicate standard .38 Special in-flight ballistics, so they're good for marksmanship practice.

that mold, the 105 lee, is listed with published data in the Lyman cast book

[dmy]

My result are similar to CowboyT's. out of a 3" 686+. 4.2 grns of Bullseye and 4.8 grns of HP-38 result in 725 fps. 4.7 grns of Bulleye gives me 812 fps. 3.7 grns of W231 were bunny farts at 531 fps.

From a 6" barrel, 4.2 grns of Bullseye ran 924 fps. I also used 3.2 grns of TightGroup, which was very mild, but I didn't chronology them.

All were seated to the crimp line at 1.43" - 1.45" COAL.

[NeilMo]

You, too? That's the cast bullet I also use! Used Lyman's 49th Edition to get my loads for it, extrapolating with graph paper between the 90 grain, 110 grain, and the 120 grain data. Worked out very nicely.

My loads for the 105gr Lee cast bullet are 3.9gr Bullseye or 4.2gr Titegroup. Both of these have chrono'd right around 850 ft/sec out of a 4" barrel. Note that my cast bullets actually weigh 108 grains, on average. These are sweet-shooting loads that are easy on both firearm and shooter and replicate standard .38 Special in-flight ballistics, so they're good for marksmanship practice.

It's nice to punch holes and use much less lead at the same time, isn't it. I also save my cracked brass, both 38Spl and 357, and cut it down to a 38 Short and load with 3gn of Green-Dot. These are loads of fun, very accurate and have the recoil of a .22lr.

[bigbossman]

I couldn't find anything specific in my reloading books for a 105gr bullet, but the following pages will give you enough to work with. Nothing with Accurate #5, though:

[Bastard]

cast book

[flashotter]

Thanks, I ordered some Titegroup, couldn't find anyplace that had Bullseye in stock. I also ordered the Lyman cast manual so as soon as I get them I should be set.