Who handloads standard pressure loads for their CAS guns?

[Virginia Gentleman]

Who loads real or standard pressure smokless loads for their cowboy guns and not the cowboy squib loads?  I tend not to load heavy, but not as light as CAS loads as it seems unrealistic when shooting at paper and not in competition.

[Gripmaker]

I do for one and I know others who load factory spec loads for CAS. I load a full case (36 gr by weight) of  3F Swiss powder and 205 gr. 427098 bullets for CAS in both revolver and rifle. It isn't hard on the guns and is quite accurate. I load 25.5 gr. of Reloader 7 behind 200 gr. Hornady JHPs for hunting and the rifle shoots even better.  Leave the sissy loads for those who choose to be sissys. If you have to shoot them for health reasons then have at it and have fun.

[Shotgun Franklin]

.45 Colt, I'm now using 6.75 gr of Red Dot Behind a 200gr RNLB. It gives me about 925 fps, I don't consider that a squib load.

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[Drydock]

I load standard weights at standard velocitys.  When I'm  not filling the case with FFFG.

[Sagebrush Burns]

I load 45 Colt using a 260 grain bullet at 850 fps in my revolvers.

[Gus Walker]

   45 colt,250 grain bullet spg lube, comressed load of Goex 2f. Otherwise i use the higher end using Trail Boss.

[pony express]

All my pistol caliber rounds are loaded to standard factory velocities. Only thing I load down is for centerfire smokeless RIFLE calibers used for GAF shooting. Those are lead bullets to just under 1300fps. For my 45-70 for GAF shooting I do download a little bit... to standard 45-55-405 with BP.

[Mean Bob Mean]

I am loading regular loads for one reason:  what cowboy would opt for light loads and small leads?  

If I were worried about my score/speed, I might set up a rig wherein I did just that (short barrels, lighter loads, tuned actions), and I totally get guys doing so because they are competetive shooters; but for me for now it is jsut fun so full loads a la real cowboy (and 7-8 inch barrels on pistols, 26" on shotgun, 24.5 on rifle).  I don't ever see me thinking of it as competition.  

I am already so unbelievably handsome that winning such an event is hardly on my chart of concerns.  

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

 I do for sure. I shoot .44 Specials and my day-to-day/practice load is a 260 gr. SWC at 850 fps. My hunting load (I do hunt deer with one of my CAS handguns) runs the same bullet right at 1000 fps.

 I totally agree with Mr. Mean. I've always found it odd that some CAS competitors obsess over the need of their fellow competitors to wear "period correct" attire, yet these same folks load their ammunition to unrealistically low levels of power so they can shooter faster and be more competitive.
 
 Cholla

[Trailrider]

I load .44-40 for both pistol (Ruger Old Model Vaqueros, with tight throats... .425", but .430" bullets in Winchester brass) and rifle. I use the same load for both, 213 gr bullet backed by a warm load of Hodgdon's Universal. MV from a 7-1/2" bbl is 950 ft/sec at 72 deg. F.  From a 24" bbl repro M1860 Henry rifle is 1210 ft/sec. After over 3,000 rds through the Henry's toggle-link action showed NO increase in headspace or signs of stretching the bronze receiver.

[jimbobborg]

I load .45 Colt for my Winchester 94 to +P levels but not for CAS.  They tend to frown on that for some reason, so I don't use .45 Colt for CAS since I forgot to label my rounds and can't tell them apart anymore.

I do load my 32-20 with the max load of Trail Boss and mid-range load in .38 Special.  I have not done any reloading for 44-40 yet.  I'll probably use Trail Boss for that.

[Mean Bob Mean]

I do load my 32-20 with the max load of Trail Boss and mid-range load in .38 Special.  I have not done any reloading for 44-40 yet.  I'll probably use Trail Boss for that.

Max loads of trail boss are not too hot for SASS as best I can tell. 

[cpt dan blodgett]

Basically load 5 grains of AA2 for 44 Spec 240 or 200 grn a warm load but ok for vaqueros  about 850 -900 FPS same load in 44 mag cases, wimpy by 44 mag standards but prolly about same velocities.  in 45 ACP behind 230 LRN about a starting range load and also in 45 colt with 200 or 255 grainier prolly in the 700 - 750 fps range (below starting pub data).  Even at 700 FPS it is a 178 PF load from the 45 colt with 255 grainers, not a warthog load but definitely not mouse phlatuence either.

[jimbobborg]

Max loads of trail boss are not too hot for SASS as best I can tell. 

That's why I use it.  Plus it puts less stress on the brass.

[Shotgun Franklin]

It's a joke when the Match 'Winner' is shooting .32s, wearing lace up work boots and tied down holsters that hang halfway between the waist and knee. I don't shoot against those folk anymore.