Trail Boss + Clays powder gone? 45 colt reloads

[Sound Tribe]

Hello

I have been looking everywhere for some Trail Boss or regular Clays smokeless powder. But after doing a bit more research and realizing it was sold out everywhere with no backorders in sight and a bit of research it seems these are gone...forever?

I know a lot of Cowboy Action shooters like these powders because you can reload 45 colt using the powder and get a very very mild load without losing any accuracy so I feel like everyone who uses it bought it up in large amounts and is hoarding it.

Is there ANYWAY I could somehow find any? Preferably Trail Boss... if not, what is the best alternative?

I've been researching 45 colt loads as I wanted to shoot smokeless powder out of a few of my cap & ball revolvers. I'd rather avoid the cleanup with black powder plus it just seems like a good time!

I've got pretty much everything needed and according to load data I've found that either Winchester 231 or Hodgdon HP-38 (apparently the same?) are probably the next best bet as the cap & ball revolvers say to keep fps in the 800 range.

I am just looking for plinking fun at the range, I have some .452" 200grain cast lead round nose flat point bullets, brass, primers and everything needed along with some Winchester 231 to start loading my cartridges... but basically I just want to make sure before I load them all up, there is no magical way to find some Trail Boss or Clays first, or if anyone has heard when they'll be restocked?

If anyone is in the same boat as me and uses Winchester 231/HP-38, how did it work for you? And what is your load data? I hear this powder doesn't do that well unless loaded on the hotter side, so I guess I'll have to see what happens when I load a mild plinking/target shooting cartridge and hopefully it works out okay.

I also hope I posted this in the right section. I have read these forums for years now, but just registered recently.

Thanks for any types of advise!

[JimB..]

Powder is nearly impossible to ship legally, so indicating your location might help.

[Half Dog]

I don’t think you will find the powders you mentioned from a store. I would suggest getting the powder you find available and trade, locally, until you find the powder you like. Perhaps after you’ve met the criteria for trading on this site, someone will be willing to trade powders with you.

[Hondolane]

OP check your PM.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I read recently on another forum a post that noted Hodgdon had talked about TB and 700X being available again around the end of the year or beginning of next. I'm not sure I'd count on it though with all of the talk of nitrocellulose being unavailable. Go take a look at what TB is fetching on GB.

[racepres]

Seriously Consider the New, Nitro 100 NF...bulky so it does Not fit 1 pound in a 1 pound container...and I am very much enjoying it
Yes...Hodgdon has Data, as well as a few others...but, double check you are looking at 100NF data

[Moleman-]

I'm hopeful that Hodgdon will have more trail boss produced. It's still listed in their current Hodgdon lineup where as you'd think they'd of removed it by now if they weren't going to have any more made.

[dverna]

Do not get hung up on a particular powder especially for light pistol loads. It isn't rocket surgery. I bought 30 lbs of powder I had never used when I found it on sale for $15/lb delivered. I did not need it and still have not tested it.

I have used a lot of W231/HP38 in 9mm and .38 Spl and it works well in CF pistol loads if that is what you have. Its use in cap&ball does not sound like a good choice IMO but I don't travel that path...seems like the chance of a double charge is high.

[gc45]

With all the cowboy shooters one would think TB readily available, if the goal is selling product and making money..

[jdgabbard]

My understanding is that Trailboss is no longer in production, it was discontinued. Thus the outrageous prices, even in comparison to other hard to get powders right now. There really isn't a good substitute for it, as I understand - 2nd Hand knowledge, as I don't use it. But if you need to, Alliant has cowboy loads for the 45 Colt on their website. Bullseye and Unique are right there in the listed data. You might not be able to get those super light recoiling loads you get with Trailboss. But you can get valid cowboy load data...

[Hick]

Can you find Clay Dot (Alliant)? It is Allliant's answer to Clays for 12 Gauge, and is nicely bulky like Clays, and the loads published by Alliant for shotgun are very much like Clays. I know of SASS shooters using it in place of Clays. I have tried it also using load data for Clays and the results are consistent. Of course, I have stayed down near starting loads for Clays. BIG CATCH: Alliant has not published load data and says "not for metallic cartridges" So, if you use it you have to use judgement.

[racepres]

Can you find Clay Dot (Alliant)? It is Allliant's answer to Clays for 12 Gauge, and is nicely bulky like Clays, and the loads published by Alliant for shotgun are very much like Clays. I know of SASS shooters using it in place of Clays. I have tried it also using load data for Clays and the results are consistent. Of course, I have stayed down near starting loads for Clays. BIG CATCH: Alliant has not published load data and says "not for metallic cartridges" So, if you use it you have to use judgement.

And yet...Nitro 100NF has published Load data, and appears to be Bulkier!!! Cheaper Too!!!! Even if you don't get 16oz.

[gwpercle]

In the 45 Colt with 200 grain cast boolits ...
If you can't get Trail Boss or Clays ... see if you can find :
700X
Bullseye
American Select
Red Dot
TiteGroup
AA #2 (Accurate Arms )
N320
231
HP-38
Zip
Unique ... is not the best for Light loads , faster powders are better , but is workable in lower mid-range loads ... if it's all you got it can be made to work .

Hope this helps ...
Gary

[Tall]

Winchester 231 / Hodgdon HP38 (they are the same) works great for 45 Colt. It's all I use. I use the published data with a .454" cast powder coated SWC.

[john.k]

Ive seen claim by those who know that Trailboss is almost identical to whats knows knows as "Smokeless Initiator" ,a blckpowder substitute in artillery propellant ......and for this reason ,I see no problem with Hodgdon sourcing a supply ...........Incidentally ,Hodgdon owns the 'Trailboss' name and logos ,even though the powder was made by ADI.

[K43]

SASS rules limit velocity for safety with the steel targets being fairly close. Preventing both splash-back and target damage.
Traditional pistol powders can safely be used. People just need to adapt and move on. Some just wring their hands and won't let go.

[RogerDat]

Not sure which is worse. Being the guy who has spent a good amount of time finding a load and bullet that worked well only to find their powder of choice is unobtanium. Or being the guy starting out who finds massive amounts of information and suggestions online to use that same unobtainable powder.

There is more than 1 pound of powder on my bench shelf that is there because it had load data for what I load, so it would work and more importantly it was available. Hopefully I'll get around to playing with it because learning new things helps keep one young. Even learning I don't like it all that well is still learning eh?

[K43]

Well, I've always wanted Hi-Vel to come back. Now I have to change from Trailboss in my CAS loads and Clays in the regular pistols and Trap loads. Survived droughts by changing from IMR to Accurate and then Vihtavuori. Flex and bend, don't break.

[stubshaft]

I've been revamping my loads that used TB and Clays and a few other powders that are virtually unobtainium nowadays to WW 231 solely because it is more readily available.

[GhostHawk]

For me Red dot in the 6 grain area works in my H&R Handi Rifle in .45 colt.