What do ya think of "Trail Boss"

[Knarley]

Would like if you guys who have used this powder would share with me what you think of it. I have been to thier site but that don't tell me much. Have thier recipies but have no experience with it. Will be loading for .38 spl @ 105 grn. and a .45 Colt @ 160 grn boolits.
Thanks for your input
Regards'
Knarley

[dubber123]

Clean burning, extremely bulky, (great at filling cases), you won't build super powerful ammo with it, as you will likely run out of cse capacity before then. It should never be compressed, it gets weird quick if you do. I have gotten a .44 mag Contender pistol to shoot under 3/4" at 50 yards with it, and a 50-70 Contender to shoot in an inch at the same distance, so it can be an accurate powder too.

[Harry O]

It is good, but not great. I have tried it in several cases. In none of them was the accuracy outstanding. However, it was acceptable in all of them. I have regular loads with it for my 32-20, 44-40, and just did some shooting with it in a 38-40 this weekend. It has its place, but it is not for every cartridge.

BTW, the handloading data is strange. It shows increased pressure with increased case volume (keeping the powder charge the same and the bullet weight the same). Check the .32 Long, .32 Magnum, and 32-20. I have tried it (in a strong gun) well over what is recommended in the loading data without anything strange happening (such as variable pressure signs and flyers with some other powders). The thing is that it is fairly expensive around here (although the price is starting to drop a little) so if it does not offer something special, other powders can often do better. With the old BP handgun cases, though, nothing does as well.

[MT Gianni]

It was developed for straightwall cases with an eye towards BP velocities and bulky enough to prevent a double charge. With that in mind, I find Red Dot, Bullseye, Green Dot, Herco, Unique and a few others already in the cabinet meet my needs adequatly. My methods of avoiding a double charge are to keep cases in loading blocks facing down until loaded or load on a turret press where I size, fill and seat in succession. If it were the same price as any other instead of the same price for 9 oz as a lb of most others I may have an interest but I don't need any more powders that are duplicating what I have. Gianni

[Lloyd Smale]

I agree with Harry. Its a decent powder but never gave me guilt edge accuracy in any of my guns.
It is good, but not great. I have tried it in several cases. In none of them was the accuracy outstanding. However, it was acceptable in all of them. I have regular loads with it for my 32-20, 44-40, and just did some shooting with it in a 38-40 this weekend. It has its place, but it is not for every cartridge.

BTW, the handloading data is strange. It shows increased pressure with increased case volume (keeping the powder charge the same and the bullet weight the same). Check the .32 Long, .32 Magnum, and 32-20. I have tried it (in a strong gun) well over what is recommended in the loading data without anything strange happening (such as variable pressure signs and flyers with some other powders). The thing is that it is fairly expensive around here (although the price is starting to drop a little) so if it does not offer something special, other powders can often do better. With the old BP handgun cases, though, nothing does as well.

[Bent Ramrod]

I'm pretty underwhelmed by the stuff myself. It bulks up, but not all that much more than a number of more accurate cast boolit powders. The recommended loads are generally way light; just enough to get the bullet out of the barrel, across ten feet of space and to make a gong target go "clink." I've been able to get much more into a .32-40 than the manufacturer recommended, with no pressure signs, no great velocity increases and no improvements whatsoever in accuracy.

Just my usual outspoken opinion but Trail Boss seems to be a sort of toy powder devised mainly for a demographic who are not all that interested in reloading and want to whip through the process as quickly as possible in order to make toy loads for close-range quick-shooting games. The bulkiness relative to real dense powders and the wimp loads recommended would generate the maximum forgiveness to those who need it.

Too bad, because we badly need a good stable bulk smokeless powder for the old cases. One that has some accuracy potential.

[dubber123]

I'm pretty underwhelmed by the stuff myself. It bulks up, but not all that much more than a number of more accurate cast boolit powders. The recommended loads are generally way light; just enough to get the bullet out of the barrel, across ten feet of space and to make a gong target go "clink." I've been able to get much more into a .32-40 than the manufacturer recommended, with no pressure signs, no great velocity increases and no improvements whatsoever in accuracy.

Just my usual outspoken opinion but Trail Boss seems to be a sort of toy powder devised mainly for a demographic who are not all that interested in reloading and want to whip through the process as quickly as possible in order to make toy loads for close-range quick-shooting games. The bulkiness relative to real dense powders and the wimp loads recommended would generate the maximum forgiveness to those who need it.

Too bad, because we badly need a good stable bulk smokeless powder for the old cases. One that has some accuracy potential.

Different results by different shooters. I mentioned 2 guns that will shoot in an inch or less at 50 yards. This is from handguns, and I consider an inch at 50 pretty darn good. I followed the loading technique given to me by the lab, and they shot the best very close to 100% loading density. Before that, they shot like crap. In the 44 T/C, groups went from 4"+, to 3, to 2, to under 1", as the charge approached the boolits base. I don't want anyone to start this high, but the lighter loads aren't likely to impress anyone accuracy wise, in my experience with this powder.

[Adam10mm]

12gr behind a lead 405gr FP in 45/70 is a hoot for a small game load.

[Crash_Corrigan]

My convertible Ruger loves it. I disremember the load but trail boss under a 255 GR RFNL boolit is a joy to shoot and gets the job done. As I recall it come from a published source and is in the middle of the pack so to speak. The recoil on this big revolter is minimal, more like a serious .38 special rather than a magnum.

I can see the sense in a bulky powder like this to prevent double charging a casing as I have done once. I was really fortunate that the darned revolver held together with a double charge of bullseye. The primer fell out when I opened the cylinder and I had to pound out the casing with a rawhide hammer on the ejection rod to get the gun back into action. You can say what you want about Smiths but that 686 shoulda blown up but it did not. No ill effects at all.

[EMC45]

12gr behind a lead 405gr FP in 45/70 is a hoot for a small game load.

Small game? 405 gr bullet? Are you shooting dinosaurs?[smilie=1:

[dubber123]

Small game? 405 gr bullet? Are you shooting dinosaurs?[smilie=1:

You sir, have apparently never been accosted by a rabid Chipmunk![smilie=1:. Not a place to be packing a smallbore.:Fire:

[Adam10mm]

Small game? 405 gr bullet? Are you shooting dinosaurs?[smilie=1:
You haven't seen the size of the UP's rabbits and squirrels, have you?:-D

Only about 800fpe from a Guide Gun. Best way to learn a gun for hunting is hunt everything with it. 50y headshots on rabbits from my 45/70 with XS sights is great fun. No meat damage and gets the job done. Usually the head flies off somewhere and the body just slumps to the ground. It's over before they blink.

[bushka]

I like the stuff.Ideally,I would like a smokeless powder that was the same bulk and pressure as blackpowder so as to not worry much about overcharges.
It is equivalent to bullseye from what ive read,meaning 5 grains of each will give the same result,except for the volume.
I have loaded it in 40sw resulting in a very accurate low recoil loading with 180g lead swc that just above barely makes the slide function in my bull bbl STI edge.
My gun has fully supported chambers and 1/8"plus steel thickness on the bbl hood.
Empties eject 2-3ft.These are loaded out to 45acp oal because of the platform,and because of that I can get 4.5grains slightly compressed in there.Velocity I suspect is low,read creampuff.
In 38-40,also,nice powder cleanest burning on par with clays or bluedot.
nice smell too,like sweet shellac.

[Knarley]

COUNT ME IN!!!! Havent laughed that hard in quite a while, yee-haw!
Knarley

[Swagerman]

Well, call me wimpy, but I love the stuff. I shoot only moderate loads in my .44 special and .45 Colt HE, they are old like me...got to baby them with Trail Boss.

Plus, the powder is one clean burning propellant, which means clean guns.

Jim

[spurrit]

If you're just gonna shoot paper or do cowboy shooting with a little small game shooting tossed in for fun, Trail Boss is perfect for you. It's kinda the Ford Escort of powders. It does what it promises, but nothing more. If you wanna hot rod, you'll need a different powder.

I like it because if fills the case, shoots clean, and I can load for my wife and kid without beating them up.

[lovedogs]

Dubber... if your Contender is shooting that poorly I'd call T/C about it. Is that scoped or using irons? In rifle calibers they will guarantee MOA to 100 yds. In pistol calibers you can't realisically expect that but you should get close. I've got a Super 14" Stainless that shoots Speer and Sierra 240 gr. jacketed into just under an inch with 23 gr. H110 and cast Saeco 250 gr. RNFPGC's at 100 yds. using a 2X Leupold. That cast load is also 23 gr. of H110 but it also shoots almost that good with 18 gr. of 2400. All loads are between 1580 and 1630 FPS. Shooting an open sighted revolver at 50 makes sense but a Contender should do better than what you mentioned all the way to 100 yds. easily. I shoot silhouettes with it sometimes just for kicks and from a Creedmor it'll shoot into less than 10 inches at 500 yds. when I do my part. There's no reason a fixed chamber like a Contender shouldn't shoot like a rifle with good loads.

[dk17hmr]

I use it all the time in 32-20, 38spl, 45lc, 300 savage, 45-70, and 45 acp. It works well in all those for me. Regularly 1" at 50 yards with the 300 and 45-70, fist sized groups at 15 yards with my 1911 that needs a new barrel.

Everything is pretty slow but works well for target shooting and small game hunting.

[35remington]

Lovedogs, if some of your Contenders had throats like mine you'd wonder why they shot with anything.

Some of their calibers are dogs with cast.

In my experience, there are many reasons why some Contenders won't shoot with cast.

It's no fun to be a wet blanket, but sometimes there is every reason a fixed chamber like the Contender won't shoot well with cast rifle loads. And some jacketed.

He did say things got a lot better when he increased the charge. If I got those groups with cast and I had a Contender I'd count my blessings.

[KCSO]

IN my 45 acp revolver 4.2 of bullseye runs 825 Fps and 5.2 of Trail boss is about the same. So I can't buy that they deliver the same energy. As to accuracy I have gotten some very accurate loads with T/B but not as many or as good as some other powders. Lke any thing else in reloadinng it depends on the gun, I have one 38-40 that loved T/B but I couldn't get that load to group in the matching rifle. It's a new different powder and I have tried it some, but still fall back on the tried and true loads.

[spurrit]

Bullseye is position sensitive, and seems to be a lot more snappy than TB.

[xtimberman]

It's a good choice for a beginning pistol/revolver handloader who is starting off on a progressive press.

They're frequently in a hurry to spit out a volume of ammo to justify their big purchase, and not experienced enough to take in everything that is happening on their reloader. They can crank away on the press lever and not worry too much about a double charge. The big powder spill will alert them to a booboo.

xtm

[dukers65]

the most i can say is igot some. nothing spectacular,but will suffice.

[gcf]

Well, call me wimpy, but I love the stuff. I shoot only moderate loads in my .44 special and .45 Colt HE, they are old like me...got to baby them with Trail Boss.

Plus, the powder is one clean burning propellant, which means clean guns.

Jim

Well, I like it - but need to be in the mood. Kinda like light beer, if that makes any sense....

I have been shooting a bit of it in my SW 624 44spl. 4.8 (240swc / 260wfn) - 5.5 (220 lbt wc) seems to make for good, high volume, off hand plinking. Good accuracy, & easy on the revolver, but a long way from full power potential.

Thinking about trying out in my 45 Colt MG, for the same purpose.

Wondering if you have found this stuff to be sensitive (good or bad) to crimp, heavy bullets, different lubes, etc.?

[spurrit]

Nope, not sensitive to anything I've found.

[flinchnjerk]

In all five of the loads that I've worked up with it (2 in .44 Mag, 3 in .45 ACP) it's shown a marked preference for WLP over Fed. 150. 5-10% greater velocity; much smaller ES and SD.

[gcf]

In all five of the loads that I've worked up with it (2 in .44 Mag, 3 in .45 ACP) it's shown a marked preference for WLP over Fed. 150. 5-10% greater velocity; much smaller ES and SD.

Figures - & I just stocked up on Fed 150's....

[dubber123]

Dubber... if your Contender is shooting that poorly I'd call T/C about it. Is that scoped or using irons? In rifle calibers they will guarantee MOA to 100 yds. In pistol calibers you can't realisically expect that but you should get close. I've got a Super 14" Stainless that shoots Speer and Sierra 240 gr. jacketed into just under an inch with 23 gr. H110 and cast Saeco 250 gr. RNFPGC's at 100 yds. using a 2X Leupold. That cast load is also 23 gr. of H110 but it also shoots almost that good with 18 gr. of 2400. All loads are between 1580 and 1630 FPS. Shooting an open sighted revolver at 50 makes sense but a Contender should do better than what you mentioned all the way to 100 yds. easily. I shoot silhouettes with it sometimes just for kicks and from a Creedmor it'll shoot into less than 10 inches at 500 yds. when I do my part. There's no reason a fixed chamber like a Contender shouldn't shoot like a rifle with good loads.

Sorry, I didn't see this before, the .44 is a 10" and has a 1.5X scope. 3/4" for 5 shots at 50 is not the best it will do, but that is with Trailboss, The powder that some claim is inaccurate. It was also with a 180 grain full wadcutter mould I had never tried before.

I had a Super 14 before, and that extra 4" of barrel makes group shooting a breeze, it's just when they get that long, I think they should have a stock attached.

The crappy shooting 50-70 will average an inch for 5 shots at 50, (when I don't screw up). BUT, it is a 6-1/2" custom barrel, with IRON sights. Thats including the cartridge, so figure about 4-3/4" of actual barrel.

It has the small early grips, and weighs 2-1/2 pounds. and is under 10" in length. I say an honest inch is still pretty good at 50 yards for this one.:-D

[unclebill]

i bought 5 lbs. for $82 of trail boss and as a beginner handloader i really like the fact that it is so bulky.
i just use it in my henry big boy and pietta 1873 S.A. 45l.c.'s

[Frank V]

I like Trailboss, it's not a powder to get max velosities with, but is accurate,shoots clean, & a double charge will almost overflow the case. For everyday practice loads in a large capacity case, I like it very much. Frank