Anybody try trail boss?

[walker77]

Anybody try trail boss? Whats your thoughts on it? And what do you use it for?

[Yance]

Yup. Great light load powder designed for Cowboy Action .

Looks like mini- Cherios, so that's what we call it.

Velocities are amazingly consistent meaning very low SD numbers.

Burns really clean and can be used for good reduced loads in many bottleneck cases.

Great stuff if you use it like it was designed.

[walker77]

anyone else?

[AzShooter]

Tried it in a few different loads in .38 and .44. Great for light loads. Don't try to go for high speed.

Lightest recoil of any powder. Very clean. You do need to test a variety of loads to find the one that shoots best.

I almost gave up on it, then found what works and went through a 5 lb canister.

[DJ303]

I used it in my 44 Special. Works well for light loads. I like the way it fills the case, to help reduce the risk of a double charge.

[3006guns]

So far, I've used it in .303 British and 8mm Mauser. There was an article on a milsurp site where they established a 9 grain starting load using PB cast boolits and found the accuracy to be quite good in a number of military bottleneck cases. Several shooters are kicking that basic load up to the 10-11 grain level. If you go to the Trail Boss website there is a formula specifically for such cases.

Modest recoil, good accuracy and a very useful powder. If I had any complaint at all it would be that the individual grains (cheerios) are so light they blow around. I also found they would NOT feed through my RCBS powder measure reliably, so I ended up using a simple Lee dipper instead. Lots of fun!

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

I've only used it recently, (last 6 mo) just about used up the little jug (I think it is 13oz?) My wifes Security Six really like it with 153gr DEWC's, (2.7grs), I also loaded it for my 44mag, but in mag cases it is more like a Special load (7grs)

I call them "donuts", but yes it is light, you don't want a fan around, or try loading it at the range on a windy day!

I have not had trouble with it going through my RCBS powder measure.

It is more expensive than I like, but it works well for what it was intended, Hey you gotta pay someone to eat all those donut holes!

I just loaded these this afternoon - MiHecs 359-140gr designed for 9mm, but I sized them to .3587 and put them in 38spl cases for my wife's Marlin 1894 Lever, loaded 4.6 grains of TrailBoss, gonna take them out for a ride down a shiny barrel tomorrow!
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/ShawnTVT/Guns/MiHec359-14038spl.jpg

[Nobade]

It works well in everything I have tried it in, basically duplicated black powder velocity by using a case full to the base of the bullet with no compression. Usually is very accurate, and clean burning. It meters well through my Redding rifle measure, but not any of the others. Lee dippers work well.

[Ed Gallop]

I use it in my 45 Colt. It may cost more but I like the brass fill and performance. No complaints. Ed.

[saalfelder]

Tried it in .38 and 44 loads

It's everything everyone says it is and I really like that it fills the case too.

[JSAND]

I have used it in my .243Win, 7.62X54R and 40 S&W. Haven't had any problems with it going through my uniflow or my Lee powder measure. All weapons, even at max load with it were still so light in recoil that my 13 yr old daughter can shoot it. It is very accurate, clean burning and will push the .243 around 1800 fps, and with 15 gr in the 7.62 out of a Mosin if I remember correctly was clocking around 1900 fps. I have not chronied it with my 40 but I believe with 3 .3 gr it was very accurate at 10 yds and had no problems cycling, 3 gr would not always cycle the round completely (again if I remember correctly, my data is not with me right now, so not 100% on charges) Great powder, I will definately buy more when I run out. As others have mentioned, a very safe powder, your not gonna double charge without it pouring out the top of your case. John

[bigboredad]

lately I've been using it in my .45acp. It works great ans as everyone else stated it burns clean and I get no leading. I have also used it for light .38 loads for the wife in the .45 colt and in the .45/70 the only complaint I have is it stinks when shooting and it is a bit pricey

[Themoose]

I shot some today in 45-70... used 13.0 and 14.0 grs. with gr.Gould bullet... only shot a few and the 14.0 seemed to show enough promise to test further.

TheMoose

[Landric]

I use it for my .38 Special 200 grain RN IDPA load. Light recoil, and with that heavy of a boolit, not much velocity is needed. Its accurate and clean burning, but it does smell a little funny. I really like the way it fills the case, and it meters well for me in both my RCBS and Lee powder measures. The powder measure on my Square Deal didn't like it though.

I've also used it in .45-70, where it makes a fantastic plinking load, reasonably quiet and almost no recoil.

I tried it in .45 ACP, and while it worked fine, I had trouble getting velocities high enough to make power factor in IDPA. I might do some more testing there.

Its fantastic for plinking loads in .44 Special and .44 Russian also.

[223fan]

I use it for my plinking loads for my 357 handi rifle.I use a max charge under a 158gr. cast bullet.

[Doc Highwall]

I am going to try it in my Browning 1885 30-30 with the 311041PB group buy bullet, just need to figure out how much to use.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

I am going to try it in my Browning 1885 30-30 with the 311041PB group buy bullet, just need to figure out how much to use.

This will get you started . . . http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/trailboss-oct2005.php

But you can basically just fill it up, but don't compress it!

Edit to add:
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

[cardonasharp]

45 acp very light recoil 1911

[Thecyberguy]

Yep, in 223 with jacketed bullets and cast.
In 243 with both, and in 270 with J words and 44 mag in 44 spec. cases......

It is a blast to shoot.....MILD recoil and far less noise and muzzle blast. I am going to keep playing with it in other cals as well......Just follow the formula...
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

Have a good 'un, Guy

[Jon K]

I am going to try it in my Browning 1885 30-30 with the 311041PB group buy bullet, just need to figure out how much to use.

Doc,

8.5 gr works good with the 311041......but works a little better with the 311291. Just a bit more accurate. Both will shoot accurate.

Jon

[Hang Fire]

It has become my favorite for reduced loads for cast boolits in all CF cartridges.

Starting loads by volume recommended by IMR are super easy to calculate and hard to screw up:

Just never crush or compress the powder.

[.38 Special]

I use it for practice loads in dangerous game rifles. It has made my .416 a pleasure to practice with, even at the local indoor range.

I have been disappointed with it in handgun cartridges. It has not been accurate in any of the half dozen handgun cartridges with which I have tried it. I am sure it is adequate for the large, close targets found in cowboy action shooting, but for the 50 yard targets in NRA action or PPC, it has not provided the necessary results.

[wallenba]

I used it in .223 Remington with 52 gr Hornady J. I used the reduced load formula IMR posts on their reloading data site http://www.imrpowder.com/ highlight 'DATA', and look at the bottom for reduced Trail Boss loads. It was just the light recoil plinker I wanted and less than 1/2 '' groups at 50 yards. I loaded them 75% of max per formula.

[AzShooter]

[QUOTEI have been disappointed with it in handgun cartridges. It has not been accurate in any of the half dozen handgun cartridges with which I have tried it. I am sure it is adequate for the large, close targets found in cowboy action shooting, but for the 50 yard targets in NRA action or PPC, it has not provided the necessary results.[/QUOTE]

I played with it for USPSA and ICORE loads but was unsatisfied overall. I did find some loads that worked and managed to use up the 5 lb jug but I doubt I'll buy any more of it.

With my last testing of 180 grain LBT bullet in .38 cases it only produced 650 fps at maximum loading. Not enough for what I needed.

4.5 grains was a good ICORE minor load in the .38 shooting just at 125 power factor with a 150 grain cast bullet.

[.38 Special]

What's funny is that despite the fact that I don't use it for handgun loads I still burn more of it than any other powder. Those Rigby cases...!

[cajun shooter]

I played with it about 2 years ago. First thing I found is that you can go from a very safe load to a high pressure make your primers flat load very fast in 45 Colt. I also found that my guns a Colt and a Taurus SAA and then 2 USFA'S did not shoot the best targets with it. I had better accuracy with Clays and Titegroup.

[Shooter6br]

Tried it in my 45-70. All my pistols 32 mag 41mag it works O.K. but not outstanding. It measures poorly thur my Hornaday pistol measure and my Redding BR 30 I do use Lee dippers. I feel the Unique or Universal Clays work as better. I will use up my jar of it and most likely never buy it again. Again I dont have any problems with it just it doesnt seem to be better than other powders. Just my 2 cents