Trail Boss in 45-70

[HEAD0001]

Looking for a light load for a Contender Carbine in 45-70. 17" barrel-including muzzle tamer. Don't need a hot load. I have a 405 Lyman mold. I was going to order a smaller mold for this 45-70. But I think the 405 would do alright in this carbine?? Wanting a load in the 1100-1200 fps range. A few guys mentioned TB. However I have never used it in a rifle carbine. What do you guys think about it. I use 40.0 grains of RL-7 for about 1600 fps in my longer barreld 45-70. But IMO that load is too stiff for what I want here. Should I drop down to a 300 grain bullet in the carbine?? Tom.

[ReloaderFred]

I've used Trail Boss with a 328 gr. cast bullet in my Marlin 1895CB. It's the most accurate load I've ever used in that rifle, but I swear I could run to the target faster than the bullet gets there. I started out at 50 yards, just to see what it would do. It puts 3 rounds into a cloverleaf, but you can actually hear the bullet hit the target.

For what you want, Trail Boss will do the job. It gives the accuracy and light recoil you're looking for. Hodgdon lists loads for it under their Cowboy loading data.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Nobade]

I have been shooting 17.0gr. Trail Boss under the RCBS 325-fn-u in my Marlin 1895CB. As Fred says, it is incredibly accurate, and soft shooting. The load workup is easy - fill the case to the base of the seated bullet. That is your max load. 70% of that is your start load. I never saw any reason to not use a full load in the 45-70, it shoots so well there.

[d garfield]

You might try IMR 4759, it works very well. I use 24-26 grns.

[wellfedirishman]

I have had very good luck with lower charges of Trailboss (13-14 grains) in 45-70 with a Lee 330 grain boolit lubed with Alox. This is in a Contender 14" barrel pistol.

Shoots great, light recoil. I don't have a chrony so I don't know the velocity out of the muzzle.

[Gunlaker]

I sometimes use Trail Boss for off hand practice, the muzzle velocity might be a tiny bit lower than what you are looking for. I chronographed some 405 gr bullets at around 1000fps or so out of a 22" barrel. Based on the sound, I think they are subsonic in my 28" barreled Browning 1885.

SR-4759 is also a good choice if you want a little more velocity. I've had better results with this than Re7 accuracy wise.

chris.

[mattbowen]

I am using 15.9gr. of trail Boss behind a 405 gr. HBFP and out of mu handi it is running between 1100 and 1200fps and I love it.

[HEAD0001]

I am using 15.9gr. of trail Boss behind a 405 gr. HBFP and out of mu handi it is running between 1100 and 1200fps and I love it.

How much of the case is filled with that load?? Thanks, Tom.

[NVScouter]

I tried TB and its OK. My T/C liked 12g of Green Dot over 340g LEE Cast. It was about 60% of the 4198 felt recoil and did well to 200y out of a 16" pistol.

It was a bit much so I traded it here for a 7-30Water barrel that suites me much better.

[mattbowen]

Head0001:

About 80% of the case is filled I can hit a 32oz bottle at 100 yards with my handi and am going to work up a load with Trail Boss for my Pedersoli sharps.