[Bacchus]

Is the brass used by the major manufacturers for cowboy loads the same as the non-cowboy loads?

I'd like to reload some cowboy brass with non-cowboy loads.

[charleym3]

I seriously doubt that there is any difference at all. I have figured out that when you slap the name "cowboy" on anything, it gives you the right to raise the price by 25%.

I do not know this first hand, but it makes sence that the ammo manufactures would run just 1 line of brass rather than retool and revamp to save a small fraction of a cent on using less material in the brass.

[EJ]

It should be easy enough to weigh the same caliber cartridges on your powder scale--
If they weigh within 10% of each other or heavier -- they're basically as strong--

[Mal H]

charleym3's logic is sound to my thinking. Why make 2 different types of casings? Besides, they know that a good deal of the cases will be reloaded and maybe loaded heavier than the original loads. So why take the chance of harming your customers gun or indeed your customer?

[Detritus]

no difference, except in a few case where only the head stamp is different.
one BIG motivation for makers to NOT use weaker brass, is the fact that probably 80-90% of cowboy shooters reload. and weakening the brass would shorten case life and as Mal said there is too high a possibility of the buyer using the "Cowboy" brass to house a load WAY beyond the limits set by SASS and NCOWS.

[EJ]

Just weigh the durn case--

Then you KNOW

Easy

[stans]

If it were real cowboy brass, then it would be balloon head cases. I seriously doubt that any brass manufacturer is going to start making these. I expect it is just a marketing ploy.

[Mal H]

Marketing ploy? Ya reckon? :D

Same case, cheap lead bullet, smaller amount of powder - of course they cost more! Actually, it's probably the old economic supply-and-demand thing. As pointed out, a large percentage of CAS folks reload, so there probably isn't as large a demand for the rounds as there is for target ammo, for example.

[Detritus]

Surprisingly, the Black Hills i used to buy was witint a dollar or two of the standard loading.

adn then i discovered the products of a local comercial (re)loader, and found out that i could get my CAS ammo through him (actually through my local dealer who carries his wares) for about 3/4 the cost of standard 45colt ammo. only times i touched BH after that (still don't have my reloading bench set up) was when i'd shot up my supply but the dealer hadn't restocked from my last trip to buy up every box of 250gr they had.

[Dr.Who]

About the only brass that I have found to be a little stronger is starline brass. At least in the .38/.357 rounds that I load. These cases are a little more robust. As stated above, cowboyer's are only loading between 800-1000 fps pistol rounds. The brass will last a bit longer... :p

[Topgun]

but also honest, hard-working, fast on the draw, and handsome.

:D

[Mal H]

... and the best ones are to be found only in black and white. :)

[TallPine]

So just what is a "balloon head" case, anyway?

I am guessing that it is a case with no "web" - that is, the primer pocket is just an indent in the case head and is not surrounded by metal all the way out to outside of the case.

So how did I do with my guess ...?

[Topgun]

A "balloon head" case is one that has the rim made from a fold at the bottom of the case.

Sorta like taking a case that has one end closed but no rim and then squashing that closed tube to force the closed end to form a rim.

So instead of having a rim that is AROUND the case, it is formed from FOLDING the case. Thus leaving the possiblity of that rim UNFOLDING either enough to rupture or bulge.

Like squashing a beer can. You can have the can straight but pootch out the bottom to make a rim.

[TallPine]

Thanks, Topgun!

I guess I am never too old to learn.

But I still wonder ... how are the primer pockets made? Are they also just sorta "folded in" ....?

[Detritus]

a question was asked, by tallpine, and only a partial (and slightly erroneous) answer was given.

Tallpine, you got it right...

"balloon head " brass IS brass where the primer pocket is simply a pushed up place in the base of the brass. it can be formed inteh manner topgun descibes, or it can have the rim made around the base of the case, instead of the rim being formed from a fold in the brass.

early centerfire cartriges, esp the early copper case rounds, were formed using both methods (ballon head style primer pocket and folded rim). eventually it was discoverd that a solid (ie NON-folded) rim was better. but the primer pockets were still of the balloon head style. though solid head cases eventually over took the older meathods (i think Smokeless powder and it's increased pressures lead to the change over to the solid head)

[Majic]

Yall are wrong.
Cowboy brass is way heavier than the brass we have today. It adds extra weight for when you throw your gun at the BG once it's finally empty.

[J Miller]

Here is a diagram of case heads.

[Navy joe]

Depends on if it has been drinkin' or not. Unfortunately at that point it's also 10ft tall and bulletproof so sizing and seating can be a real bear. ;)