Really dumb questions....

[Stuart C.]

I'm new to reloading for handguns, so please bear with me.

If you have a modern single action revolver in .45 LC (New Vaquero for example)...

- Can you load and shoot the black powder loads in it AND smokeless?

- If so, are the primers the same?

- Is one cheaper, more fun, more accurate  (BP or smokeless)?

- What bullet construction/types do you use?

- Did you start with smokeless and progress to BP or vice versa?

- Are all the Cowboy Action shoots done in BP, or do participants shoot smokeless as well?

Thanks.

[Dand]

They aren't dumb questions but I suggest you read a bunch of the threads, including beginner reloading ones here, also find the Cowboy forum and read up there.  Usually black powder requires a lot of scrubbing and clean up - there are a lot of reasons smokeless was developed.  Still black powder can be fun if you don't mind the work.

I can't answer all questions but hope this helps a little.

[LaOtto222]

No dumb questions here, just dumb answers I will try to answer some of your questions. Cowboy action shooting I believe does not require Black Powder (BP). I think some people shoot BP to be more authentic. I do not shoot Cowboy action, just done a little reading about it. There may be some meets that require BP. If you shoot BP you will want to shoot soft lead bullets, not jacketed or even hard cast, there just is not enough pressure developed for the latter bullets to upset in the bore and shoot real well. As pointed out BP can be a pain as far as clean up. It is highly corrosive (attracts moisture) and it gets every where, even inside the action. When you are done shooting BP for the day you want to clean it up that same day, do not even let it set over night. If you shoot very much BP you will want to give it a swab down the bore and cylinders every so often to keep the fouling from building up too heavy. Use lots of grease to help keep the fouling soft. So your question about cleaning up between BP and smokeless is correct. BP can be a lot of fun, billows of smoke, the low bang instead of a crack, low recoil and the nostalgia but the down side is the clean up. I experimented with BP early and have pretty much abandoned it because of the clean up. That was a long time ago before Triple 7, Pyrodex, etc. I can not think of it right now, but there is a brand new one that just hit the market that is supposed to be cleaner burning and more consistent than the earlier BP substitutes and non-corrosive. As far as cost, I think you can shoot lower powered modern powder cheaper than buying BP or BP substitutes and the other costs should be the same (primer, bullets, etc. Unless you get into the magnum loads that take more expensive bullets and more powder. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

[Graybeard]

There are CAS classes for both BP and smokeless so yes both can be and are used. Folks who shoot BP will tell you clean up is easier and faster but they will NEVER EVER convince me of that. If you fail to clean up promptly after shooting your gun will become a pile of rust using BP not so with smokeless.

For CAS you must use lead not jacketed bullets regardless of propellant. Yes same primers work fine for both I think most users of BP use magnum primers. BP is probably cheaper by a little bit but the difference isn't great and at least around here real BP is almost impossible to locate as stores just do not sell it. For me smokeless is much more fun as it requires less clean up. I HATE cleaning guns.

You can start with either and move to the other. I suspect most start with smokeless and some later move to BP. There is no set way to do it tho.

[stimpylu32]

I'm new to reloading for handguns, so please bear with me.

If you have a modern single action revolver in .45 LC (New Vaquero for example)...

- Can you load and shoot the black powder loads in it AND smokeless?

- If so, are the primers the same?

- Is one cheaper, more fun, more accurate  (BP or smokeless)?

- What bullet construction/types do you use?

- Did you start with smokeless and progress to BP or vice versa?

- Are all the Cowboy Action shoots done in BP, or do participants shoot smokeless as well?

Thanks.

1)  Yes .

2)  Yes .

3)  Smokeless is cheaper most of the time , Both can be fun , with the right load both will shoot very well .

4)  For BP & Subs you will want a soft cast bullet , for smokeless it depends on the powder type and charge - soft cast , hard cast , jacketed .

5)  You can start either way but BP can be a pain to clean up when your done .

6)  Some shoots are PB or sub only but most are either / or and most shoot smokeless .

I happen to like Pyrodex Select for both my 45LC and 45/70 , the clean up is not as bad as True BP but the smoke factor is not as neat either . 

SAFETY NOTEWhen loading with PB or Subs , you must have no air gap between the powder and the bullet !

stimpy

[Stuart C.]

Excellent.  Thanks to all.

[jhalcott]

  One of the worst fouling you can get is using the WRONG LUBE on your bullets. Black powder requires a lube that will keep the fouling soft. MOST smokeless lubes are made with a petroleum by product. Those wil turn your BP fouling into hard tar.