Are Desperado Cowboy Bullets Compatible with Black Powder and Smokeless Powder?

Yes. Desperado Cowboy Bullets (DCB) states that both its bullets and the lube used on them are compatible with smokeless powder and Black Powder. That compatibility applies to the company's soft cast bullets intended for Cowboy Action Shooting and Old West applications, including low and standard velocity loads. The practical condition is that you are using DCB's standard lubricated product; if you order the "as cast" special-order bullets to apply your own lube and sizing, the powder compatibility of the finished round depends on the lube you choose.

What the compatibility claim covers

DCB describes a single product line built around soft lead, plain or flat-based bullets with a crimp groove, sized and lubed before shipment. The company says the lubricant on the final product works with either powder type, so the same bullet can be loaded behind Black Powder or smokeless charges without switching bullets.

The bullets are cast from a soft alloy, which DCB puts at roughly 10 Brinell. The company positions this as a deliberate departure from harder alloys: softer lead mushrooms at the target, stays put rather than fragmenting, and reduces ricochets — qualities DCB ties to a safer cowboy action shooting environment and to the SASS rules the design was researched against.

Why the flat base and soft lube matter for both powders

The flat or plain base is the authentic Old West design DCB follows, and the company credits it with better gas sealing and less leading and fouling in the bore. Better sealing matters with either powder: it helps keep pressures consistent and reduces the blow-by that deposits fouling.

The lube is the other half of the compatibility story. Black Powder fouling behaves differently from smokeless fouling, and a lube that only suits one can leave the bore hard to manage with the other. DCB's claim is that its lube handles both, which is what lets a single bullet serve a shooter who loads black and smokeless side by side.

Where the loads fit

DCB explicitly targets low and standard velocity loads and says the soft cast, plain-based design will increase accuracy and improve scores for active and competitive shooters using those loads. The compatibility statement should be read within that envelope — the company is not describing magnum-pressure or high-velocity applications.

The one exception to check before ordering

DCB offers, as a special order, plain-based soft cast bullets in the "as cast" condition for shooters who prefer their own lube and sizing. With those bullets, the powder compatibility of your finished load is set by your lube and sizing choices, not by DCB's. If you want the off-the-shelf both-powder compatibility, order the standard lubricated bullets.

Membership condition

The site states that DCB now operates as a Private Membership Association (PMA). Sales are described as a private contract between the customer and Ed & LeAnn Kemmerer, and each order includes a $1 membership fee; creating an account and shopping is presented as agreeing to those terms. Plan for that step before ordering, since it applies to any purchase, including a first order placed to test both powder types.

Quick reference

If your goal is to load one bullet for both a black-powder and a smokeless cowboy action load, DCB's standard lubricated soft cast bullets are presented as fitting that use. If you plan to lube and size your own, treat powder compatibility as your decision rather than the manufacturer's.