What Is Desperado Cowboy Bullets (DCB)?

Updated

Desperado Cowboy Bullets (DCB) is a bullet maker that produces only soft cast lead bullets for Cowboy Action Shooting and Old West applications. It sells through a Private Membership Association (PMA): you create an account, and each order includes a $1 membership fee and is treated as a private contract between you and Ed & LeAnn Kemmerer. If you shoot low- or standard-velocity lead loads in cowboy-action or vintage-style guns, DCB is built around that use; if you need hard-cast or high-velocity bullets, it is not the right source.

What DCB actually makes

DCB describes itself as the first bullet company since around 1953 dedicated exclusively to soft cast bullets. Its designs follow the shape and dimensions of authentic Old West soft lead bullets, including a crimp groove and a flat or plain base.

Key product traits from the company's own description:

  • Alloy: about 20:1, roughly 10 Brinell — soft lead.
  • Base: plain or flat base for gas sealing and accuracy.
  • Lube: soft lube, compatible with both smokeless and Black Powder.
  • Design goal: reduce fragmentation and shrapnel compared with harder alloys, which DCB ties to a safer, ricochet-reduced cowboy-action environment.
  • Claimed benefits: less recoil, better accuracy, less bore leading and fouling, and higher retained energy for knock-down targets.

DCB also offers, as a special order, plain-based soft cast bullets in "as cast" condition for shooters who prefer to apply their own lube and sizing.

Who it is for

DCB states its bullets are intended for active and competitive shooters using low and standard velocity loads. The company frames its design around SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) rules and Cowboy Action Shooting needs.

A practical way to check fit:

Your situation DCB likely fits
Cowboy Action Shooting with low/standard velocity loads Yes — core intended use
Black Powder or smokeless loads Yes — lube is compatible with both
You cast or finish your own bullets and want "as cast" soft lead Yes, via special order
You want hard-cast bullets for high-velocity or magnum loads No — DCB makes soft lead only
You want bullets for general hunting or modern defensive ammo Not the stated focus

How the PMA sales model works

DCB now operates as a Private Membership Association. According to the site, shopping works like this:

  1. Create an account on the site.
  2. Shop and place an order.
  3. Each order includes a $1 membership fee.
  4. By creating an account and buying, you agree the purchase is a private, person-to-person contract between you and the owners.

The site presents this as a members-only arrangement, so expect account creation to be part of the buying process rather than optional browsing and checkout as a guest.

What to verify before ordering

The page evidence does not list calibers, bullet weights, quantities, prices, shipping terms, or payment methods. Before you buy, confirm on the site or with the company:

  • Available calibers and weights for your firearm.
  • Sizing options and whether "as cast" special orders fit your loading setup.
  • Current pricing and shipping — none of this is stated in the source material.
  • Load data — use published data for soft lead bullets at low/standard velocity; the company's alloy is soft, so treat maximum loads with the same caution you would any lead bullet.

The main decision is simple: if your shooting is cowboy-action or Old West style at modest velocity, DCB's soft, plain-based, dual-lube bullets are made specifically for that. If your needs run to harder alloys or higher velocities, look elsewhere.