Trail Boss powder..anybody try it yet?

[Char-Gar]

This new Trail Boss powder designed for the play cowboy set, sound like it might have some rifle cast bullet applications. Big, bulky stuff that takes up LOTS of room in the case, but fast. Anybody work with this stuff yet?

[No_1]

For those that have the canny ability to "cipher" the figures, take a look at this and then the link for the load data.

http://www.imrpowder.com/trailboss.html

[Char-Gar]

All I can gather from that it that it is slower than Bullseye, but faster than Unique.

[Dr. A]

Greg Musial will be working with this powder shortly in rifles. In talking with Hodgden/IMR, I was told there would be some rifle application, but that pressure spikes occur at very low and perhaps not useful velocities. They were vaugue about speed, but it is faster than Universal.

[Johnch]

I have loaded 100 45 colt rounds so far .
I loaded 5.0 gr with a 225 gr bullet .
I did not check the velosity but accurey was good

Johnch

[jethrow strait]

Friend just gave me a couple ounces of the them lil cheerios, while I was in the middle of working with a scoped BH 41 Mag and WC820 for long range sillywet. So I loaded up and shot some target loads--6 grainers with an old Lee 175 gr SWC---not so good, half dozen groups about twice the size as the same dose of Unique. But, I'm hoping it will have one rifle application in an old Uberti 1866 44-40; will try it in the 44-40 hogsleg as well.

Seems like a good thing for Kowboys(and IMR/Hodgdon), but pressure-wise, it seems to be a little meek for us 'normal' galena shooters.----jethrow

[David R]

I have been going to post a question about Trail Boss my self. Then I was at a gunshop and saw it , 9 ounces for $11.99. That would be $21.33 a LB. I pay $14 to $17 for canister grade now. Naaa.

[jethrow strait]

Good point, David R. The concept is fine---a super bulky fast burnin powder---but the price aint. That has never restrained them big spending Kowboys, bless their hearts, but being used to paying four dollars a pound for my slow burnin nitro manure(i.e. WC 860-872)I'm not likely to be spending twenty bucks plus for a fast burning version of same.-----jethrow

[BerdanIII]

I have burned up about a half a can (jar?) in the .303 British using jacketed (I know, I know) bullets and haven't had too much success. Muzzle velocity was about 200 fps slower than equal charges of Red Dot with 150- and 180-gr bullets and accuracy was hit-and-miss. 13.0 grains of Trail Boss (almost a casefull) and a .310" 180-gr bullet resulted in slightly sticky extraction, but no other pressure signs. 100-gr LSWC's and 3.5 and 3.8 grs. were a disaster at 50 yards, but now that I know that I need a little more powder for the same velocity, I'll goose the charge weight a little. I have to admit that I was really hoping for the perfect reduced load powder, but this probably isn't it. Dang.