cowboy ammo

[catken]

Asked for 45 cal cowboy ammo and was given 45 colt ammo for my Rem. 44 conversion. Is this the same thing. Ken

 

[nalioth]

When speaking of "cowboy ammo", one is not talking about any specific caliber, but a modern cartridge loaded to the same power levels that existed with black powder. This is done so you can safely shoot your antique Colt w/o shooting it apart (also comes in handy for your Italian replicas of unknown character).

As to your question, we'll need a lot more info to give you a good answer.

Hint: load data on your "45 colt ammo", for one.

 

[noyes]

.....

 

[catken]

Winchester 45 Colt ammo

Thanks for your reply. This is what it says on the box.Winchester Commemorative 45Colt 250 GR LRN. It also has X45CBOFW on the box. I have no idea what all these letters mean. I just want to take out my 44 rem. conversion. out and shoot.. Please reply swiftly as my friend wants to take me out Wed. To shoot for first time. Thanks Ken

 

[rcmodel]

If the stock number is X45CBOFW.
It is standard pressure .45 Colt ammo loaded to commerate Oliver F. Winchesters 200th birthday.

I imagine the CBOFW in the stock number stands for
Cowboy, Oliver F. Winchester.

It's not +P.
Shoot it, or collect it.

http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/sellsheets/Oliver Winchester Sell Sheet.pdf

rc

 

[rcflint]

ammo

So far, nobody has answered his question.

A 44 Remington cap & ball, converted with a Kirst or R&D cylinder, or an Italian Uberti factory "conversion" are chambered in 45 Colt.

44 is a reference to the pre-cartridge era bores, where the caliber was determined by the bore before rifling, or the land diameter. Since the advent of metallic cartridges, caliber has been designated by the groove dimensions.

The groove diameter of a "44" cap & ball or conversion is 451-454, usually, and will handle 45 Colt or 45 Schofield ammo.

The code numbers on the ammo box is most likely a lot number so the ammo can be identified according to when it was made in case there are quality issues, or other liability questions.

 

[wobble]

Cowboy ammo will very specifically say "Cowboy Load" on the box. It's a lighter load than the load you bought.

 

[catken]

If a cowboy load is 250 and the load on the box I have is 250 it should be safe to use should it not. Ken

 

[nalioth]

If a cowboy load is 250 and the load on the box I have is 250 it should be safe to use should it not. Ken

The "250 GR" denotes the weight of the bullet, and has nothing to do with how much (or what type) of powder is behind it.

It's the powder load that makes a load "mild" or "wild" (and you want "mild").

 

[wobble]

Generally, there won't be enough information on the box to determine if the ammo is safe to use in your gun -- except for the "Cowboy Action Load" designation.