Trail Boss metering

[WestKentucky]

Today was my first time loading with the little gray cheerios known as trailboss. I tried running them through my Lee Perfect Powder Measure and they just flat out didn't want to meter at all. Very inconsistent and impossible to trickle in. I gave up quickly and switched over to a dipper.

Has anybody found a good way to run this powder?

Looking at all the info I could, I aimed for 12 gr and my dipper was consistent at 11.7 so I ran with that. If I can find a way to meter it and do any better I might do a true work up, but as much trouble as I had today I'm not looking forward to it. Should be around 1350 fps and 26000 psi, so it should be well within safe operational range of the old GC Spanish Mauser (1916 mauser arsenal converted to 7.62 "NATO")
The bullet is an unknown manufacture fmj military pull bought in bulk.

NATO in parenthesis because they were ran at 7.62 Cetme pressure and are known to blow up at true NATO spec pressures.

 

[Rodentman]

I am not an expert, but I can't run TB in my 3BR powder dispenser. It is just too light, airy, and fluffy. I find a dipper that "approximates" the charge I want. I know that may sound like a bad way to reload, but the powder is forgiving as long as it is not compressed. I load according to the published loads but I don't worry about the variance of the dipper with TB. Others may disagree with that approach as too casual, but I have never had an issue doing that.

Note that I am speaking to large caliber pistol rounds like 500 and 460 mag where I want a low power load.

 

[Cannibul]

I love TB for marshmallow loads. But it doesn't meter worth squat.

Best thing I've found is dipping it. You can make a custom dipper with a empty case.

 

[BigBore45]

I had pretty good luck with my lee Auto disk with the adjustable charging bar. I loaded around 200 rnds of 45 colt for my 1858 conversion without a hiccup. My notes say 5.0 Gr. under a 250 gr. It was on a turret press auto indexing so that may have something to do with it. it was spinning around and having small shakes in between powder dumps.

 

[WestKentucky]

I had pretty good luck with my lee Auto disk with the adjustable charging bar. I loaded around 200 rnds of 45 colt for my 1858 conversion without a hiccup. My notes say 5.0 Gr. under a 250 gr. It was on a turret press auto indexing so that may have something to do with it. it was spinning around and having small shakes in between powder dumps.

That turret press connection seems like a really good point. Even dipping it into a funnel I had to tap the funnel a time or two so that constant jiggle might have worked it enough to make it flow. Now I'm going to have to test a theory and build a tiny cement vibrator to attach to my drop and see if it works any better. It could theoretically make extruded rod powders meter better too...hmm. Wish we still had RadioShack to build such critters.

 

[GBExpat]

re: Auto Disk w/.Charge Bar --- I have successfully used a couple of cellphone vibrators rubber-banded to the hopper ... the battery pack is velcroed to the hopper lid.

 

[Shaq]

Trail Boss works well in my RCBS measure.

 

[BigBore45]

I have heard of using a cheap electronic toothbrush to settle powder. Maybe an idea.

 

[FROGO207]

Over time I have acquired several of the Lee dipper kits. I just take the next larger size dipper or so and fill the bottom with some epoxy. Use a large diameter drill bit (by hand) and remove (after checking weight) the cured epoxy little by little until the weight scooped is what you want. Label the handle as to the propellant type and bullet weight/caliber. Or use an appropriate sized brass casing add a wire handle and do the same or file it down to hold charge weight. This method of measuring the charge works the best for me with Trail Boss.

 

[SARuger]

It meters very well in the Lee Auto Drum.

 

[RugerBob]

I have had good luck with the Lee PPM and trail boss. But I only use it for light 38spl loads for my wife when cowboy shooting.
2.9 is my goal, and get it most of the time. Some will be 2.8, never had a 3.0 drop.
Do you tap the side of drum at drop and return to top.?

 

[SARuger]

I have had good luck with the Lee PPM and trail boss. But I only use it for light 38spl loads for my wife when cowboy shooting.
2.9 is my goal, and get it most of the time. Some will be 2.8, never had a 3.0 drop.
Do you tap the side of drum at drop and return to top.?

Mine is on a turret so bump on drop and the rotation of the turret fulls the dump hopper consistently