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Alliant Unique Substitutes, ATF 4473 Records & Cowboy Action Shooting
[0:23] Sixth Anniversary and a Call from Leon the Motorman
The show opens on the sixth anniversary of Gunslingers on the Gunslinger Syndicated Radio Network, and the crew gets an unscheduled gift in the form of a call from Leon the Motorman, the veteran automotive radio broadcaster who served as a mentor and role model for the Gunslinger crew in their early days. Leon watched them prep from the sidelines before they ever went to air and has been watching ever since. He calls to congratulate them, tells them they deserve a third hour, and gets the expected horrified reaction. He mentions he will be back on for a Motors Slingers segment on the 24th. Jeff closes the loop by reporting that alternator advice Leon gave him off-air worked, and the car is running right. The whole crew is grinning through the entire call.
[4:13] Ed in Riverside on the Show’s Sixth Anniversary
Caller Ed from Riverside calls in to mark the anniversary and ask about a topic that came up in the first hour: the ATF coming to collect paperwork from Gunslinger’s Gun Shop. He is surprised and concerned. He remembers being assured when he bought firearms years ago that the paperwork stayed at the store and never went to the federal government. Jeff confirms that things have changed, and not for the better, and walks through what that process actually looks like from the dealer’s side.
[5:08] ATF Collection of Form 4473 Records: What Changed and What It Means
Jeff explains the situation plainly. The ATF Form 4473 is the two-page firearms transaction record filled out by every buyer at a licensed dealer. It used to be yellow, now it is white, but the function is the same. Dealers were historically required to hold those forms for twenty-five years, after which they could be destroyed. The forms stayed at the store. That was the deal.
The deal changed. Now, when a dealer closes, transfers their FFL, or changes the business name, the ATF comes and collects all of it. Jeff did not hit the twenty-five year mark at Gunslinger before the rules shifted, so his entire archive of 4473s is subject to collection. He describes the physical scope of what that looks like: approximately thirty four-drawer metal filing cabinets, with each drawer holding at least a box to a box and a half of forms. The California paperwork, which has only a three-year retention requirement, is already gone. What remains is the federal stack. Jeff says he plans to hold the door open and not lift a single box. Ed’s original understanding, that this information was not supposed to go to the federal government, was accurate when he bought those guns. It is not accurate anymore, and there is now effectively a microfiche record of everyone who has purchased a firearm through a licensed dealer in this country.
[8:03] Rick from Gardena: Alliant Unique Powder Substitutes
Caller Rick from Gardena has been using Alliant Unique powder for reloading for decades and is running into availability problems. Alliant Unique is among the most versatile propellants ever produced, used successfully in everything from light pistol loads to heavy revolver cartridges to shotgun shells. Rick wants to know what to reach for when he cannot find it.
Jeff’s first answer is Alliant Bullseye, a faster-burning powder that covers a lot of the same ground as Unique. The caveat is that Bullseye is faster, so you would not want to use it in large cases where Unique shines in part because of its slower burn rate. Tight Group is another option with a similar burn rate to Unique and a good track record in handgun calibers. Rick confirms he has been running Tight Group in 45 ACP, 45 Colt, and 38 Special with good results.
Jeff widens the conversation to the supply chain behind these powders. Getting lead for cast bullets has become genuinely difficult. Bear Creek Supply, where Jeff’s contact Steve works, is now mining lead from old shooting ranges because domestic primary lead smelting in the United States was shut down under the Obama administration. That single regulatory decision pushed the entire reloading community toward recycled lead and imported materials. Rick adds that a resource worth bookmarking is the NSSF’s list of the top 100 gunpowder manufacturers for 2025, which is current and gives reloaders a broader map of what is actually available when the familiar names are out of stock.
[10:07] Cowboy Action Shooting: 45 Colt in a Lever Gun, Small-Target Practice, and the Castaway Cowboys
Rick from Gardena is also a cowboy action shooter, and the conversation rolls naturally into the discipline. He shoots 45 Long Colt out of both a handgun and a lever-action rifle, running a 165-grain bullet through both. Out of a lever gun, that round moves with authority and almost no felt recoil, which matters when you are trying to put ten rounds on steel in under four seconds. Rick says he is not in the same league as the top competitors but is running a consistent four-second string, which is respectable.
His training method is straightforward and transferable. For years he has used a 5-by-8-inch index card as his practice target at standard distance. If you can hit that card consistently and quickly, the regulation cowboy action steel targets look like billboards by comparison. Jeff endorses the approach immediately: train hard to win easy. He notes that Rick ran one of his cards over with his truck recently, which says something about how long he has been at this.
The conversation shifts to the gunfighter category, where competitors shoot two single action revolvers simultaneously, one in each hand. Rick shoots gunfighter and recommends watching Molasses Moose, a standout competitor in the category, particularly on a Texas Star target. The Texas Star is a five-plate spinning steel target that requires the shooter to account for the star’s rotation as plates are knocked off and the balance shifts. Watching a top-level gunfighter clean a Texas Star in real time is the kind of thing that reminds you what dedicated practice actually looks like. Rick finished third in a recent gunfighter match. He notes there were three competitors that night, which he acknowledges freely.
Rick’s club, the Castaway Cowboys, holds their next match on August 24th, a Hawaiian shirt theme. A September match is planned for the 28th. New shooters are welcome at the September match, no personal firearms required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best substitutes for Alliant Unique powder in handgun and rifle reloading?
Alliant Bullseye is a common substitute for Unique in lighter pistol loads, though it burns faster and should not be used in large cases where Unique’s slower burn rate provides better pressure control. Hodgdon Tight Group has a similar burn rate to Unique and has been used successfully in 45 ACP, 45 Colt, and 38 Special by experienced reloaders. When familiar powders are unavailable, the NSSF publishes an updated list of the top 100 gunpowder manufacturers that can help reloaders identify currently available alternatives. Always consult a current reloading manual and start below maximum loads when working with any substitute propellant.
What happens to ATF Form 4473 records when a gun dealer closes or transfers their FFL?
When a federally licensed firearms dealer closes, transfers their FFL, or changes their business name, the ATF collects all Form 4473 records from that dealer. Historically, dealers were required to retain these records for twenty-five years at their own location, after which they could be destroyed. That retention-at-store arrangement has changed, and the ATF now takes physical possession of those records upon any qualifying change in the dealer’s license status. The result is a centralized federal archive of firearm transaction records spanning the operating life of closed or transferred dealerships.
How long must a California gun dealer keep firearms transaction paperwork?
California state firearms transaction records have a three-year retention requirement for dealers, which is shorter than the federal Form 4473 retention period. When a dealer’s California paperwork ages out at three years it can be destroyed, while the federal 4473 forms remain subject to the longer federal retention rules and ATF collection requirements upon any FFL transfer or closure. This means a long-running California dealer’s archive at the time of closure will consist primarily of the accumulated federal 4473 forms rather than state paperwork.
What is the best practice target for cowboy action shooting training?
Experienced cowboy action shooter Rick from Gardena recommends using a 5-by-8-inch index card as a practice target at standard stage distances. If you can reliably and quickly hit that small target, the standard-sized steel plates used in cowboy action competition will feel comparatively large. The principle is to make practice harder than the match so that competition feels easier by comparison. This approach applies to both rifle and pistol stages and is one of the more cost-effective and portable training tools available to the competitive shooter.
What is the gunfighter category in cowboy action shooting?
Gunfighter is a competitive category within cowboy action shooting in which the shooter uses two single action revolvers simultaneously, firing with both hands rather than shooting one gun at a time. Competitors engage steel targets with alternating shots from each hand, and the category rewards both speed and the ability to shoot accurately with the non-dominant hand. It is considered one of the more demanding categories in the sport. The Texas Star, a spinning five-plate steel target, is a particularly challenging prop for gunfighter competitors because the target’s balance changes as each plate is knocked off, requiring continuous adjustment of aim and timing.
Sources, Credibility, and Continuing the Conversation
Jeff’s account of ATF Form 4473 retention and collection procedures reflects his direct experience as a licensed firearms dealer operating Gunslinger’s Gun Shop in Azusa for many years. Reloaders seeking substitutes for Alliant Unique are strongly advised to work from a current edition of a recognized reloading manual such as those published by Lyman, Hornady, or Speer, and to start below maximum published loads for any new propellant. The NSSF list of top gunpowder manufacturers referenced in this episode is available online and updated for 2025. Cowboy action shooters interested in the Castaway Cowboys club can reach out through the Single Action Shooting Society network for match schedules and new shooter information.