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ed etheridge
05-06-2008, 01:14 PM
does trail boss work better in handguns or rifles for cast bullet shooting ?

Shooter6br
05-06-2008, 06:41 PM
Tried TB with a 350 cast .Load was 12 g. It keyholed.I increased the load to 15.5 grains. It is a very low velocity powder in the 45-70. So far I am not impressed with the results. Unique seems to work better(no filler)

billyb
05-06-2008, 06:50 PM
Tried trail boss in 38 spl. 3.5 %158 swc nice easy recoil good for the grandsons to start with.Tried 4.0 in the 357 marlin 1894 very good load with the 158 swc no recoil to speak of,low noise level. I like it for theese two guns. Bill

JeffinNZ
05-06-2008, 09:37 PM
Shame it is so expensive per grain though. :-( Wouldn't buy it especially with the prices we are exposed to down here.

405
05-06-2008, 11:36 PM
J in NZ & ed
Too bad it's significantly more expensive there. Just marginally more expensive here. TB is about 24.00 per lb off the shelf while most other powders are about 20.00 per lb. It has its place tho. I've discovered it is excellent in certain applications and marginal in others. It is a very fast burning powder. Folks that say they don't get velocity out of it may be comparing apples and oranges. It is a fast burning powder and by all accounts fast burning powders won't give the highest velocities safely. Ditto for Bullseye, 700X, etc. TB is best used for low velocity type applications.

It seems, based on my experience with it, that it performs best in the cartridges/guns that have the very highest expansion ratios. For example: both the 45 ACP and 45 Colt pistols are 45 cal and more or less same diameter as a 45-70 in a rifle cartridge. BUT, the highest expansion ratio of the three is the 45 ACP, the lowest is the 45-70. OR for example comparing the expansion ratio of the 45 Colt in a pistol vs the expansion ratio of the 45 Colt in a rifle. The same cartridge. The 45 Colt in a pistol has a higher expansion ratio than in a rifle. Trailboss seems to prefer the highest expansion ratio applications. That is probably true of most if not all fast burning powders. I have had only so-so success with it in cartridges/guns like 45-70 rifle, 30-30 carbine, 32 Win Spl rifle, 357 carbine & pistol. I've had excellent results with TB in cartridges/guns like 44-40 rifle, 38-40 rifle, 38-40 pistol, 45 ACP pistol, 38 Spl pistol.

While it's bulk is a plus, for me the very accurate metering out of a measure was an even more postive surprise. Also, it tends to be a clean burning powder.

94Doug
05-07-2008, 01:47 AM
I haven't really done the math, but even though Trail Boss is more expensive per pound, I would think when you only use something like 12-16 grains in a 45-70 it works out the same or even less money per round. Am I off here??

Doug

ed etheridge
05-07-2008, 09:24 AM
is there a site that lists load for tb thanks for above imfo. Ed

KCSO
05-07-2008, 09:25 AM
Other than it's case fillinng abilities i can't see any thing special about TB. I have tried it in 38, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, 44 Special, 30-30, 45-70, 38-55 and 7.65 Argentine. In most cases accuracy is nearly as good as the other powders I was using, but nearly as good compared to the extra cost just doesn't work out for me. Yes with say PB in a 45 Colt i have to carefully check each case for powder level, but I have been doing this for years so i don't find it objectionable. In rifle cases TB is not sauited to hunting loads. In 45-70 for example the max load listed gives 1100 fps with a 405 bullet and that is only good for plinkinng and close range target shoooting, and for close range target shooting I actually get better groups from FFg Black. If I want a non positional powder for mid range loads in rifle cases AA5744 is a better powder and using pistol primers Red Dot is nearly as good as the AA. Where TB really shines is as a safe powder for the newbie reloader who hasn't got his case checking down yet, you can't double charge with it in most cases.

hs45/70
05-07-2008, 03:47 PM
I haven't shot Trail boss in any pistols ....but have loaded it in .222...223...243...308..30/06..338 win mag...444 marlin and 416 Rem Mag... mostly useing copper but some cast as well.

Trail Boss works very well in all these calibers and although velocity isn't high... excellent accuracy was found in each caliber tried. For those that like reduced loads for plinking like I do, TrailBoss is so good that after I shot up the first 2 pounds experimenting I ordered another 10 lbs of it. Excellent for some calibers in subsonic also. And at about 700 loads per pound in the smaller calibers it doesnt get much better for punching paper at 1800 fps and getting one inch and sometimes under groups at 100 yds (copper.. not cast)

We are fortunate up here to have a company that buys bulk IMR/Hodgdon powder by the truckload and then repackages it for sale to individuals. When you buy a $25 CDN./ pound of TBoss you actually get a weighed pound and not just the 10-12 oz's that fits into a standard Hodgdon/IMR plastic container.

405
05-07-2008, 06:57 PM
is there a site that lists load for tb thanks for above imfo. Ed

ed,
The current Hornady manual has some TB data. And, here's a link to Hodgdon data (Hodgdon owns IMR now so lists IMR data thru their site).

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

ed etheridge
05-08-2008, 08:05 AM
thanks for the link

Tomkitty
01-28-2009, 06:11 PM
I would like to try Trail Boss in 30-06. Can you give me some advice on loads for Lyman 31141 0r 311284?

VintageRifle
01-28-2009, 07:36 PM
Excellent article on trail boss from surplusrifle.com

http://www.surplusrifle.com/articles2008/trailbosskiss/index.asp

Here is my 50 yard 130gr RCBS 7.62mm .309" 9gr of trail boss target from a Swiss K31. I believe it actually will shoot better. I was using a wiggly front rest. I believe this is the case as I had 3 shots in just about the same place. The other two went off a bit.

http://vintagerifle.net/images/targets/K31-9grtrailboss50ydsRCBS130gr.jpg

johnly
02-02-2009, 05:39 PM
I would like to try Trail Boss in 30-06. Can you give me some advice on loads for Lyman 31141 0r 311284?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=44726

The loads for the 311291 will work for the 311041 bullet.

John

sargenv
02-06-2009, 10:58 AM
I've been using about 8.5 gr of Trail Boss in a Marlin 336 (30-30) with Lasercast bullets for approx 1150 fps. I have yet to start casting my own 30 cal flat points, but I have an ample supply of lead and copper plated stuff that I use for plinking. I have one of the older models that has the right kind of rifling for lead bullets. I haven't really shot groups with it, but with a peep sight I can reliably hit 8" plates at 50 yards off hand. I'm plenty happy so far. I think I'm paying $.021 a round for just the powder. I traded the bullets for some lead 158's I bought several years back, so call them $.04 per bullet, primers are $.03, so I can't complain about $.091 a round all that much. :)

1Shirt
02-13-2009, 09:12 PM
Bottom line, works for both, but need to work up in all cases. Just keep it out of drafts as you load, it is about as lite as feathers.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

tomiswho
02-27-2009, 08:46 PM
I bought Trail Boss for one load. I had trouble cleaning the cylinder of my SRH .454 after firing the shorter .45 Colt ammo - so I now load a 250g RNFP over 7g of Trail Boss in a .454 case. I got the Trail Boss because of it's bulk per grain, so even this light load fills up a pretty decent portion of that big .454 case. The chart tells me I should be getting about 900 fps - but whatever it make for a nice target/plinking load.

Tom

marsofold
03-13-2009, 11:00 PM
My .454 Casull plinking load uses 9.5 grains of Trail Boss over a 255 grain LSWC for a "guesstimate" of 1100fps.

Throwback
03-14-2009, 08:50 AM
It is a special purpose powder and I happen to have a special purpose for it. I have found the .41 Magnum to be really fussy with light loads, whereas the .44 Magnum is not (in my experience). I have a bunch (1,500?) of commercial bevel-based bullets that I inherited and they lead badly at traditional magnum velocities. I figured to use them for a plinking & small-game load at sub-800fps and 6.0gr TB/210-215gr bullets certainly delivers that. It is also very accurate and I expect this will be my load. Actual velocity on 3/14/09 835 fps - sure didn't feel like that much:)

I still intend to try Titegroup as it is also frequently listed in cowboy loads. But Bullseye and Accurate #2 worked poorly with low charges consistently failing to expand the case enough to seal it and thus prevent smoking the case.

I am utterly mystified that Trailboss works so well in the .41 while other fast-burners do not, even though their use has been proven in other high volume cases. Someone smarter than me may be able to explain it.

TNsailorman
03-14-2009, 02:36 PM
Has anyone tried Trail Boss in a .43 Spanish rolling block? I have been thinking about trying it but would like to have some info to start ball rolling if possible. Thanks, James

theperfessor
03-14-2009, 02:52 PM
Haven't used TB much but in a chrono session last year it gave my the best accuracy and lowest SD of any powder I tried in .44 spcl w/several different 200 gr cast boolits, although velocities were in the 700-750 fps range.

MT Chambers
03-14-2009, 07:27 PM
Trail Boss is better in handguns cartridges, where it fills the case and there is no chance of double charges, in rifles it's good too unless you want to up the velocity, even a little as you will run into pressure problems quick. Funny too, how Trail Boss is so expensive according to a New Zealand member, it's made in Australia, then shipped to the USA for less then if they just kept some there and sold it.

postman
04-08-2010, 09:05 PM
Hi There:

Anyone have any experience with trail boss in a .470 nitro express? I have 500 grain cast bullets and 650 grain cast bullets from an RCBS and a custom mould....

I am currently messing with heat treating and lightly loaded smokeless powders in the RL-19 class, but am wondering if trail boss can help me reduce velocities, leading, etc, and avoid the KA-BOOM factor??

madsenshooter
04-09-2010, 04:43 AM
Wow, had to look that one up on ammoguide, that's a monster of a case! From the Hodgdon website: "Fill the case to the bottom of the bullet and weigh it. That's your maximum load. Then take 75 percent of that as your starting load. You can't get in trouble that way." No compression of the powder should avoid pressure problems. Closest thing to it I could find on Hodgdon's site was the 45-120 with 500gr bullet, max is 29gr TB at 1105fps and 24,300CUP pressure. Seems to me the .470 ought to be right up TBs alley and well suited to what you are looking for.