I'm so new......

[Muskrat Rustler]

Howdy,
I'm so new I've never been to a shoot. (I'll be fixing that soon)
The only gear I have is a pair of NV 38/357. Shot them for the first time Friday with cowboy loads and had a hoot putting holes in paper. Guy down the line came over to admire my new irons and I let him shoot a few. He enjoyed how they shot 'like his daughter's .22'. Well, ok.  Not quite the response one wants to hear about his new guns, but what the heck. Then he asked if I was going to load them with black powder? There was stupid all over my face when I politely said 'no, these aren't muzzle loaders'. He more politely recommended I do some research as he thought you could case load BP, 'unless you just wanted them to go pop all the time'.  I see now the error of my ways. I am going to study the posts here on BP and try it out. One question, I see reference to 'real' and the 'one true' black powder. Is everything else BP substitute? If I'm going to shoot BP and make the smoke I think I would want to use the 'real' stuff. Any reason not to, like having new guns or do you use substitute stuff in cases and 'real' in muzzle stuffers.
Any and all advice appreciated.
Muskrat Rustler

[Wes Virginian]

Welcome Muskrat Rustler,

     There is a wealth of information that you will probably receive here in CAS City. I usually shoot BP in my Ruger Vaquero's, but sometimes I use smokeless for a change. Don't be in a rush to shoot BP. Go shoot in a few shoot's and see what it's like just to shoot. By that time you will be in "information overload" and know more than you probably want. Just take it easy and enjoy yourself! Shooting the Holy Black will come to you in time!

Wes Virginian

[Stump Water]

Howdy Muskrat,

Welcome to the world of CAS.

Wes Virginian offers some sage advice.  Go with smokeless until you get "in the game".  Shooting BP or subs introduces another variable into a time when your learning curve will already be vertical.  Others may dispute that, but that's their opinon.

As for BP... there's "real" then there're subs such as Pyrodex, Triple 7 and APP.  All can be shot in front-stuffers or the metallic cartridge guns we use in CAS.  All have different properties that need to be understood before you begin to use them.  Head on over to the darksiders forum here on CAS city and check out the info on Captain Baylor's site here: http://www.curtrich.com/cowboyphotos.html

And 'Rat... please, please, please take the cowfolks up on the offers (that I'm certain you'll recieve) to shoot their long guns during a match BEFORE you decide which to buy.

[Howdy Doody]

Stump has good advise. It is so much easier to start out with smokeless and ease into BP. Like all of us you are getting ready to start out in CAS, best to not have to think about BP issues and concentrate on the other aspects like safety, shooting a stage and having some fun. Once you get the hang of it, get into BP by all means. Those new RVs might need a tad more clearance between barrel and cylinder, you don't want to do that right off with your new babies. It won't hurt to start compiling all the info on BP shooting you can now though. Welcome to a whole lot of fun shooting CAS.

[Muskrat Rustler]

Thank you all for the great advice. I'll follow it. Not sure if i'm ready to cut on the NVs yet.....
Busy club about 1 1/2 hrs from here, I'll visit them this month.
Muskrat