I'm considering using a C&B for cowboy action. Any suggestions?
Consider cartridges.
Before anybody gives me grief for saying that, I bought my first C&B revolver in 1968, so I do have a little bit of experience with them.
First question I will ask you is, have you shot any Cowboy events yet?
A lot of folks look at the price of a C&B revolver and think it is a reasonable low priced way to get into Cowboy shooting. The problem is, C&B is a bit more complicated then shooting cartridges. That's why cartridges were invented, after all. Shooting C&B in a cowboy match is certainly not impossible, there is an entire category devoted to shooting C&B pistols. But it is not for everybody. The main problem is, often times a new shooter will buy a pair of C&B revolvers, and bring them to a match without taking the time to become thoroughly familiar with them. Then a few caps falling off the nipples, or hangfires, or caps jammed in the action can spoil the stage. Have that happen a few times in a match and it can really spoil your day.
If you want to shoot C&B for Cowboy matches, take the time to get thoroughly familiar with them. Get to know them inside out. Get your loading procedures down so you can do it without thinking about it too much. Do what ever is necessary to make them reliable, whether it is putting on after market nipples, or cap guards, or what ever is necessary. There is nothing as discouraging to a new comer as fighting with guns that are not reliable. As I said before, that is why cartridges were invented.
That does not mean you are limited to Smokeless ammo. There are many of us who load real Black Powder into our cartridges for Cowboy shooting. Frankly, a 45 Colt bucking and roaring with a 250 grain bullet and 35 or so grains of FFg is much more exciting than a round ball in front of about 30 grains of FFg. There are lots of options for shooting Black Powder in cartridges.
I do occasionally show up to a match with a pair of 1860 Armys, but only once in a while. I would probably go nuts if I only owned a pair of C&B revolvers, because they do sometimes have problems. It's so much easier, and simpler to just load up cartridges at home, and then fire them at a match. I have never had one fail to go boom.
Just food for thought. If you want to try C&B, learn your guns inside out so you don't get frustrated at a match.