Is trail boss more accurate?

[mickbr]

Folks for the lightest loads in longer old style cases like 44, 357, 38sp etc, do you find powder position with fast burning powders causes much velocity and accuracy deviations? Say if trying to get decent 50-60 yard shooting from a lever gun. Would trailboss assist accuracy potential being it fills more of the case than anything else?

[jonp]

I have not noticed an accuracy increase using 38sp/357 or 45lc in a pistol but have not tried it in a lever.

[veeman]

The only way to find out is to load several different loads and powders to compare.

[Texas by God]

My late CAS buddy went from Bullseye to Clays; then told me Trail Boss was the best thing ever; then he switched back to Clays. He loaded his .45 Colt ammo on a Dillon and his 73 Uberti was very accurate. I think the theory of TB was better than the reality( for him). Personally I have no use for a expensive niche powder. If I want low speed in ANY cartridge; Bullseye is my choice.

[EMC45]

Expensive niche powder and not even in pound cans (9oz)

[georgerkahn]

My main purpose/reason for using TrailBoss is its ease of use, safely -- with accurate, repeatable results! The "guide", if you haven't seen it, is to:
1/Place the bullet you're planning to load NEXT to the empty case you are planning to us, at EXACT seating depth.
2/Mark the exact bottom of bullet location on the case -- I scratch a mark with a safety pin tip.
3/Put Trail Boss powder in the case, filling EXACTLY to the same level as the scratch mark (2/).
4/Dump the powder onto a scale, and weigh powder used.
a) I do this three times, and average the weight, albeit it is mostly only +/- 0.1 grain
5/Multiply this weight by 0.70.
6/This product is your starting load weight.
NOTE: This WORKS for all bullets!!!

I generally have done as above, and added 0.1 grain to the starting weight as calculated above. It has worked tremendously!!!

I purchase it in two pound containers, at ~ $26.25 per pound. Agreed that "they're not giving it away" -- but, on the other hand, as a bullet caster with MANY cast bullets NOT having published load data available -- to me, its been a God-send.
geo

[dannyd]

29 clean matches in SASS with it. 357 Magnum 125 grain bullet. It's a little dirty but good powder.

[bedbugbilly]

Can't answer but set up and give it a try and compare - then let us know!

Personally, I've never had issues with powder position in any of my loadings - 38s, 357 . . . not have I in using reduced loads of BE, RD, Unique, GD in 30-30 or 8mm.

A few years ago, when TB was being lauded by all . . . I wanted to try it out. Everythime I went to the LGS where I usually buy powder, they could never get more than a few containers and evidently someone really liked it as they said they couldn't keep it on the shelf. One day they had one container on the shelf - I asked them to hand it to me (on shelves behind the counter) so I could take a look at the container and what was on it - then I noticed that it wasn't even a pound container but had close to a 2 pound price on it - no thanks. Far too many other powders out there that give excellent results, IMHO. I guess a lot of folks like TB because of the case fill and being able to take a quick look and not have double charges - but if you need to constantly worry about double charges . . well . . maybe you ought to be reloading at a different time when you can give things your undivided attention . . . just sayin'. If a person uses TB and likes it - that's great - we all have our preferences. As far as is it more accurate? I don't know, but if another powder is working well for me, I usually stick with it and don't worry.

[dannyd]

Because of the fluff 9 oz of TB will give you about the same number of rounds a pound of 231 will. I know it's had to believe but it's just the math. Good powder for use in light loads. Used about 20 lbs when I shot cowboy. They used to sell 5 lbs in a 8 lbs container from Hodgdon.

[Shuz]

7g of Trail Boss is a great load for 700-850fps loads from a .44 mag using boolits from 225 to 260g. One advantage with this powder is that gas checks are not ever needed even if the boolit design has a gas check shank. My theory is that all those little "donuts" act as a buffer for the boolit base and permits a good gas seal.
I buy it in 5 pound jugs and the cost is less than $25.00/pound.

[15meter]

I've used Trail Boss up to the 416 Rigby and think it is a great powder, got lucky and bought 5 lb. jug for $100. Wish I'd have bought 4 at that price.

Never tried it when I was shooting cowboy in my 45 Colt revolver/Model 73, don't know if there is a difference, it would be nice to hear what others have seen in their experiences.

[stubshaft]

I have tried it in a number of cartridges and have not been able to equal the accuracy of my regular loads. I ended giving away 3 cans of it to my friends.

[Texas by God]

Accurate enough for Cowboy Action shooting is a lot different than accurate enough for Bullseye or small game.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[richhodg66]

I got a can of this from my Dad's stuff, he never opened it. I also got enough 700X and Unique that I won't have to buy powder for an awful long time.

Just can't see that stuff being real useful. I'm sure it works Ok, but so does Unique, 700X, Bullseye, etc.

[bmortell]

in my lever action 44mag with mid weight boolits 7gr trailboss gave same size groups at 25yds as magnum powders 2400-h110 ect. but was an inch higher, which is a good thing I guess because it will drop faster.

[john.k]

The only fact I can see in all the opinion is that I should buy the large plastic jug.........which I do,and its then the cheapest regular price powder on the market.......Are there more accurate powders .....for sure....but a different one for every load and gun......Trailboss is one size fits all,and works OK too.

[MT Gianni]

Because of the fluff 9 oz of TB will give you about the same number of rounds a pound of 231 will. I know it's had to believe but it's just the math. Good powder for use in light loads. Used about 20 lbs when I shot cowboy. They used to sell 5 lbs in a 8 lbs container from Hodgdon.

I first googled a load for a 38 special and came up with 5 gr trail boss. My next search was for 231 and 3.8 gr. 7000 gr per lb, divided by 3.8 equals 1842 shots per lb.
7000 divided by 16= 437.5 x 9=3937.5 gr in a 9 oz trail boss can. 3937 divided by 5 gr = 787.5 loads per can or less than half. I think you have it backwards, TB only cost you more $$$ per shot with a safety factor of not over charging the case. I still don't see it's use in the winning loads in the Fouling Shot, CBA matches. If it were more accurate they would flock to it.

[dannyd]

[QUOTE=MT Gianni;4671389]I first googled a load for a 38 special and came up with 5 gr trail boss. My next search was for 231 and 3.8 gr. 7000 gr per lb, divided by 3.8 equals 1842 shots per lb.
7000 divided by 16= 437.5 x 9=3937.5 gr in a 9 oz trail boss can. 3937 divided by 5 gr = 787.5 loads per can or less than half. I think you have it backwards, TB only cost you more $$$ per shot with a safety factor of not over charging the case. I still don't see it's use in the winning loads in the Fouling Shot, CBA matches. If it were more accurate they would flock to it.

In a Cowboy load for 357 magnum with a 125 cast bullet TB. 3.5. The starting load for HP-38 or w231 is 4.6 it's way to fast for cowboy. When you used TB you may have had a different result?

[Four-Sixty]

I was curious if you bought Trail Boss in the bulk sizes, if it could be more economical to load with. Here is a breakdown using today's prices, and the sizes offered, from Powder Valley.

Trail Boss
9 Oz. $15.35, or $27.34 per Lb
2 Lb $52.65, or $26.33 per Lb
5 Lb $113.50, or $22.70 per Lb

Let's compare these prices to Unique, also priced by Powder Valley. I'm comparing to Unique as I think one of the attributes of Trail Boss is that it works well for pistol and rifle - as Unique is like wise used by many.

Unique
1 Lb $19.95
4 Lb $74.95, or $18.74 per Lb
8 Lb $136.95, or $17.18 per Lb

Assuming an equivalent 38 Special load uses 5 grains of Trail Boss, or 3.5 grains of Unique. How much more would it cost to load 100 rounds of that 38 Special load using Trail Boss versus Unique if you could buy either of the aforementioned powders in bulk? (Trail Boss at 5 Lbs, and Unique at 8 Lbs)

100 rounds with Trail Boss using 500 grains at a cost of $.0032 per grain would cost $1.62 in powder to load 100 rounds.

100 rounds with Unique usining 350 grains at a cost of $.0025 per grain would cost $0.86 in powder to load 100 rounds.

Using Trail Boss in an application where you could use Unique would cost you %188 of the price of just using Unique.

This is not to say don't use Trail Boss. Trail Boss is another fun powder to exoeriment with. It affords a margin of safety making reloaders more comfortable. It can also be used across a wide range of cartridges.

If, however; you're miserly, a chronic shooter or you relish building ammo better performing and cheaper than 22LR, Trail Boss may not be the best choice for you.

[dannyd]

I was curious if you bought Trail Boss in the bulk sizes, if it could be more economical to load with. Here is a breakdown using today's prices, and the sizes offered, from Powder Valley.

Trail Boss
9 Oz. $15.35, or $27.34 per Lb
2 Lb $52.65, or $26.33 per Lb
5 Lb $113.50, or $22.70 per Lb

Let's compare these prices to Unique, also priced by Powder Valley. I'm comparing to Unique as I think one of the attributes of Trail Boss is that it works well for pistol and rifle - as Unique is like wise used by many.

Unique
1 Lb $19.95
4 Lb $74.95, or $18.74 per Lb
8 Lb $136.95, or $17.18 per Lb

Assuming an equivalent 38 Special load uses 5 grains of Trail Boss, or 3.5 grains of Unique. How much more would it cost to load 100 rounds of that 38 Special load using Trail Boss versus Unique if you could buy either of the aforementioned powders in bulk? (Trail Boss at 5 Lbs, and Unique at 8 Lbs)

100 rounds with Trail Boss using 500 grains at a cost of $.0032 per grain would cost $1.62 in powder to load 100 rounds.

100 rounds with Unique usining 350 grains at a cost of $.0025 per grain would cost $0.86 in powder to load 100 rounds.

Using Trail Boss in an application where you could use Unique would cost you %188 of the price of just using Unique.

This is not to say don't use Trail Boss. Trail Boss is another fun powder to exoeriment with. It affords a margin of safety making reloaders more comfortable. It can also be used across a wide range of cartridges.

If, however; you're miserly, a chronic shooter or you relish building ammo better performing and cheaper than 22LR, Trail Boss may not be the best choice for you.

Let reverse the load TB 3.5 and unique 4.5 for a 158 swc cast. For what TB was intended 2.7 would be okay in a 38 special. Unique is a great powder to.

What matches are you using TB for?

[Nick Adams]

The CB pros use Unique or Bullseye. 8-)

Rich retired guys use Trail Boss. :-D

[Tripplebeards]

Every rifle I’ve tried it in gave unacceptable groups. It has great accuracy at close range (25 yards) in my vaquero with 5.2 grains and a Lee 255 grain boolit.

[dannyd]

Been using Unique and Bullseye for 30 years. But I like to try new things. That way I'm old but still Hip. 8-)

[KVO]

I'll echo some of the above statements about not matching the accuracy of my standard pistol loads with Trailboss. I have a friend who swears by Trailboss for heavy jacketed bullet subsonics in 308, specifically loading for accuracy. I still have most of thr first container I bought years and states ago. I do see myself buying more when the kids get old enough to start reloading as a safety measure / double charge check.

[dannyd]

I'll echo some of the above statements about not matching the accuracy of my standard pistol loads with Trailboss. I have a friend who swears by Trailboss for heavy jacketed bullet subsonics in 308, specifically loading for accuracy. I still have most of thr first container I bought years and states ago. I do see myself buying more when the kids get old enough to start reloading as a safety measure / double charge check.

Never looked at from the kid reloading angle good idea. The accuracy thing for cowboy is over rated for SASS 25 yards is there "F" class. ;)

[dverna]

I smile when Cowboy Action shooting is used as an indicator of accuracy. Anyway....

When I tested my . 38 Spl mouse fart loads, I found that 2.7 gr of Clays with 125 gr Magma bullets was very accurate. 1” at 30 yards. So I never tried Trail Boss....or anything else for that matter.

[fecmech]

For accuracy and ballistic uniformity in mild target loads I've never had to look any further than Bullseye.

[Elkins45]

I tried to use it for subsonic rifle loads but I just couldn’t get the accuracy I wanted out of it.