Atomic's 200-grain LRNFP is a plain lead round nose flat point loaded mild for cowboy-action matches. It leaves at 800 fps with 284 ft-lbs, and its power factor of 160 sits under the 165 major floor but well over the 125 minor floor. From a 25-yard zero the bullet is 3.1 inches low at 50 yards and 20.8 inches low at 100. Brass case, standard pressure, reloadable.

It is the lightest bullet and the softest shooter among the cowboy loads. Fiocchi Cowboy Action 250-grain LRNFP and Winchester Super-X 250-grain LFN both run 750 fps, so the Atomic is 50 fps faster but carries 28 ft-lbs less energy and produces about 29 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. Black Hills 250-grain RNFP at 725 fps is 75 fps slower with 8 ft-lbs more energy. The three 250-grain loads all make major, at 188, 188 and 181; this is the only one of the four that scores minor.

This is the cowboy-action load for a shooter who wants the least recoil in .45 Colt and is fine scoring minor, or who has a new shooter or a light single-action revolver to feed. Its exposed lead bullet is the reason some indoor ranges will turn it away. A competitor who needs major should look at the Fiocchi Cowboy Action 250-grain LRNFP at a power factor of 188. Anyone wanting a real step up for steel or woods use should look at Underwood 255-grain LSWCGC at 1,000 fps and 566 ft-lbs, which recoils about 134 percent harder, or at a jacketed hollow point like Corbon +P 200-grain JHP at 1,100 fps, a +P load the maker restricts to revolvers rated for it.