Trail boss in a muzzleloader?

[s mac]

I wonder if anyone has tried loading Trailboss in a muzzle loading rifle.

[aspangler]

Don't do it! The pressure is too much for a ML. The only one it MIGHT work in is the Savage or the Remington designed for smokeless powder.

[Nobade]

I suggest you study Doug's message boards to learn what is required to shoot a muzzle loader with smokeless powder. The construction of them is completely different from normal black powder ones, and the powders and loads used are extremely specific. And Trail Boss is never used.

Do not try it! TB gives extremely high chamber pressures for the velocity generated in cartridge arms, and absolutely must not be compressed. If you could get a cap to light it off I am certain you would be sorry.

-Nobade

[451whitworth]

I wonder if anyone has tried loading Trailboss in a muzzle loading rifle.

I'm sure someone has tried along with every other smokeless powder

[Geraldo]

Time to revisit this video:

http://www.cva.com/Blackpowder-Videos.php?id=2

[bob208]

there is a reason muzzleloaders are stamped "use black powder only"

a few years back a local guy thought he would get a bigger bang out of smokeless in his cannon. well he got one dead and 2 messed up real bad.

[s mac]

Maybe I should not have started this, sure don't want anybody getting hurt. What is Dougs message board?

[KCSO]

USE ONLY BLACK POWDER in a muzzleloader!!!! I have Dupont bulk from 1890 and even it says NOT FOR M/L!!!

[Green Lizzard]

i dont know if its been tried or not, might check the local e.r. they would know.

[M-Tecs]

Maybe I should not have started this, sure don't want anybody getting hurt. What is Dougs message board?

http://www.sav10ml.com/pages/main.htm

[oldred]

People see the really anemic "pop gun" performance from TB and get the VERY MISTAKEN idea that the low velocity automatically translates into low pressures but it does not!

[mooman76]

With the variety of BP substitutes they have now, there is not any reason the try smokeless or even think (not that there ever was) about it. There are some that are noncorrosive and very clean burning.

[M-Tecs]

TrailBoss has surprisingly high pressure for the low velocity it gives. The two primary reason smokeless powder is a very bad idea in muzzleloaders is first the priming systems on side locks and inlines won’t handle the pressure. Next the steels used in most muzzleloaders is a leaded mild steel. Fine for black powder and subs but not so good with smokeless. There are a couple of exceptions like the Savage ML10 II that are designed for smokeless. They use 4140 barrels and vent liners to reduce the pressure to a manageable level at the primer.

Yes I am aware that some have done it successfully in the past but the same has been done with Russian roulette. Sooner or latter some will get hurt.

Give Blackhorn 209 a try http://www.blackhorn209.com/

Blackhorn 209 is muzzleloader safe smokeless powder.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/06/11/is-blackhorn-209-really-a-smokeless-powder/

"Western Powders has succeeded in producing a smokeless powder in a configuration and formulation that allows for volumetric measurement of loads without running the risk of high pressure. For that, they deserve credit and accolades from muzzleloader shooters."

[fouronesix]

First- study what Trailboss is. Second as most everyone else says, "don't"!

I knew a guy in the mid 70s who loaded his H&R Hunstman with Bullseye under a cast conical. I kept telling him don't! He never listened. I don't know if he ever blew the gun up but I know that in order to keep the SPIKY pressures down to where the gun could handle it, the ballistic performance of the load was very poor. I avoided him and moved so never heard any more about it.

Oh BTW- the burn rates of Trailboss and Bullseye are very similar.

[starmac]

i think I would pass on this being as my eye and face (that is the only ones I have) is directly behind the breechplug.

[MarkP]

I know a guy at work that tried it in a homemade cap & ball revolver, even after I advised against it.

[1Shirt]

Would not be a smart move!!!!!
1Shirt!

[MT Chambers]

trail Boss can build pressures fast in cartridges if you stretch it at all, no way I'd try it in a ML.

[waksupi]

Gee, Darwin ain't got a chance with youse guys!

[s mac]

I think I get your drift, thanks guys.

[Lead Fred]

Make sure you video your gun blowing up, always makes a good fail you tube

[10 ga]

Guys that SML do not use Trailboss. I have 6 SML rifles and there is no real use for it even in SML.

See link for dougs message boards. Good for most things SML.

http://dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/

10 ga

[Whiterabbit]

I think the answer is no.

Let's say I have no input from anyone and I have to just use common knowledge. here's what I know:

Trailboss is fluffy
Trailboss "rules" from the mfg say very clearly DO NOT COMPRESS.
Muzzleloading typically ends up with the ball right on top of the powder, and is often slammed down or FIRMLY seated on top of powder.
Doing so on fluffy trailboss is sure to compress the powder.

I think based on that concept alone, it's not wise to try trailboss.

[fouronesix]

It's simply a fast burnng, smokeless powder that happens to be fluffy. It's not a BP substitute.

http://www.lapua.com/upload/reloading/reloadingburningratechart2011.pdf