[Bezoar]

How do cowboy cartridges differ in recoil and ballistics from regular modern power level ammo? Say that nice 240 grain Ultramax 44 magnum load versus a regular 44 special/44 magnum?

[dracphelan]

They are lower pressure and speed (generally 700-800 fps). This adds up to less recoil.

[4fingermick]

Buy a couple of boxes of cowboy ammo, they are peasant to plink with and are handy to have on hand if you have a beginner or youth that wants a shot.

[timothy75]

Half the performance should be half the price, but in my area they cost more standard power loads. No thanks

[ADKWOODSMAN]

They are gamers and "old gun" loads!

[Dr.Rob]

Umax 44 Mag Cowboy load is a 240 gr flatpoint lead bullet at 750fps, compared to a mid-range lead Remington at 1000fps, or a full house at 1200 fps. The 'magnum load' is almost 2x as fast as the cowboy load.

"Cowboy loads are usally limted to well under 1000 fps by the Single Action Shooting Society rule book, you could load them hotter by hand and still make the rules. 240g @ 750fps is nothing to sneeze at.

[roscoe]

They tend to be less accurate, partially because the powder fills so little of the case that ignition can be less uniform that with a filled case. Also, they are cheaper and therefore QC is lower.

Also they are sootier because the cases do not expand as well as with heavier loads, alowing seot back into the cylinder.

[DWARREN123]

roscoe that is chaging with powders like Trail Boss. They can sometimes be a nice accurate easy recoiling round.
Not loaded as hot and usually with lead bullets.