A power factor of 126 is the number that matters for Black Hills' Cowboy 158-grain CNL, a cast lead round-nose flat-point loaded for cowboy action: it clears the 120 USPSA revolver-minor floor by 6 and the IDPA stock-revolver floor of 105 by 21. The load runs 800 fps and 225 ft-lbs at the muzzle. From a 25-yard zero it drops 3.0 inches at 50 yards and 20.4 inches at 100, where it still carries 189 ft-lbs at 733 fps. Recoil energy sits between the 755 fps practice loads and HSM's cowboy load.

HSM Cowboy Action 158-grain is the other cowboy load and the hotter one, 40 fps and 23 ft-lbs ahead with about 8 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver and 2.0 inches less drop at 100 yards. On the mild side, Federal American Eagle 158-grain LRN is 30 fps behind with about 6 percent less recoil, and Remington UMC 158-grain LRN and Magtech 158-grain LRN are 45 fps and 25 ft-lbs behind with about 9 percent less recoil and 2.5 to 2.7 inches more drop at 100 yards. Sellier & Bellot 158-grain LRN at 997 fps and 349 ft-lbs produces about 43 percent more recoil energy than the Black Hills. At 50 yards the Black Hills, Federal and HSM are within 0.6 inch of each other.

Buy this for cowboy-action and steel matches where you want to make USPSA revolver minor with a mild lead load, or as a practice load with a bit more push than the 755 fps loads. Some indoor ranges restrict exposed-lead bullets, so ask first. If margin over 120 matters more than recoil, HSM Cowboy Action gives 13 points instead of 6; if recoil matters most and no power factor applies, Remington UMC LRN at 200 ft-lbs is softer. If you want jacketed +P practice, Speer Lawman +P 158-grain TMJ is 100 fps faster with about 21 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver and requires a +P-rated revolver.