Hornady 140g .358" Cowboy bullets???

[Jerry Lester]

Have any of you fellows tried these bullets? I just got a box of them to try in my Blackhawk, and 1894C.

I can't find data for them yet. Do any of you have any loads you'd share? I'm not looking for anything more than an accurate plinking/small game load with these.

Thanks!

[Graybeard]

Hornady has the data in their manual and I think on their site. Contact them and they will provide you tested data.

The bullet is just a pure lead swaged 158 grain bullet. So data for any swaged lead 150-158 grain bullet would do fine with them. Keep them slow or they will lead badly as they are pure lead.

[Jerry Lester]

Thanks GB,

I called Hornady, and talked to a fellow there before I ordered them. He said that they were 95% lead, and 5% antimony, and to keep them around 1100 fps or lower, and leading shouldn't be a problem.

I guess these bullets are fairly new, because I can't find data anywhere for them. They are 140g, and basically a round nose flat point design.

[leverfan]

My Hornady 5th Ed. manual has loads for the 140 grain FP-Cowboy bullets.  3 or 4 grains of Titegroup would be a good, safe plinking load, in either .38 Special or .357 brass.  If there's some other powder(s) you prefer, give me a holler, and I'll see if they're listed.  You should really be pretty safe with any cartridge appropriate load data for a 140 grain lead bullet though, since you'll be loading them on the light side.  

These are some very messy, dusty bullets to handle, thanks to Hornady's lube process.  

I tried some of Hornady's 180 grain cowboy bullets in my 44s, but I wasn't too pleased with them.  It was my own fault, though.  I got light weight for caliber bullets, made of soft lead, with no crimping groove, and loaded light powder charges in well-used, work hardened brass.  Talk about the perfect recipe for inconsistent velocities and powder blow back around the case.  

That shouldn't be as much of a problem in your loads, as the 140 grain bullets are heavy enough for caliber to give the powder a chance to build up pressure, obturate the brass, and burn clean.

[Jerry Lester]

Thanks Leverfan!

That's perfect! I just recently bought me a pound of tight group to try out, but none of my manuals list it in the 32 magnum(what I really wanted it for), or the 357 magnum.

I loaded up some of these bullets with Unique, and they actually shoot pretty good in my Blackhawk. I'm curious as to how well they'll work on game. I may pop me a few coons, possums, and other assorted critters this season with them, and see.

Do you happen to have Tight Group data for the 32 magnum? I'll be loading 85g XTP-HPs mainly, but I'm also wanting to try the 90g Hornady SWC too.

[leverfan]

Do you happen to have Tight Group data for the 32 magnum? I'll be loading 85g XTP-HPs mainly, but I'm also wanting to try the 90g Hornady SWC too.

Hodgdon lists Titegroup for the .32 H&R magnum in their free booklets and their semi-annual manual.  My booklet lists cowboy action loads for a 90 grain RNFP lead bullet, but these should be safe for a lead SWC, too.  They call for 2.4 grains of Titegroup as a starting load, with 2.8 grains maximum.  These would make good plinking loads.

For the Hornady 85 grain HP, they list a single load of 3.7 grains.  I'd start with 3.3 grains, myself.  That's about 10% below their maximum (and only) listed charge weight.  You can always ease up to the maximum load, and keep your eyes open for any trouble signs.

[Jerry Lester]

Thanks!