Trail Boss powder, Mike Venturino’s article in GUNS magazine

[Master Blaster]

Different powders /different bullets are optimum for different purposes.

For my reloading and shooting purposes:

Cast bullets are for target shooting and cowboy action/ steel plates.

Jacketed bullets are for self defense and hunting, and high velocity applications like high power rifle target shooting.

Trail boss does not give you maximum velocity for rifle or for hunting/defense pistol loads, other powders are better for jacketed bullet applications because they give you a much higher maximum velocity for the safe pressure level in your firearm.

Trail boss is the Bees Knees for cast bullet applications like target shooting.

 

[Rem700]

Never did buy the larger bottles couldnt remember if they where 4 or 5 lbs
But when figured per pound they compared equally to other powders, Never got past loading 2-9oz bottles. VV N320 runs me $21 a pound

 

[mothernatureson]

Trail boss

I would like to try this in 30-30 win. Currently I cast 115 grain lead. The IMR guide shows only a 160 gr lead. I'm thinking that my bullet would be safe in loadings if I kept to the low side or below max? Any comments? thanks

 

[ScottsGT]

Just got back from the range and shot 13 rds. of Trail Boss and 50 of Georgia Arms Cowboy loads. The GA ammo had a lot of really cool looking smoke with it, almost like black powder, but not as much. The Trail Boss was much cleaner as far as the smoke goes. But the gun is dirty, but 13 rds. could not be enough to do that. Had to be from the GA laods. I like it!

 

[mec]

The worst case scenario is that some reloader loses concentration briefly and gets two of those tiny charges inside a case.

Reason enough for its existence right there. some of the guys have been using it for low-end loads in their 500 Linebaughs with good results.

 

[BigCheese]

Price of Trail Boss

Master Blaster, you say Trail Boss is $11.25 for 9 oz. If my math is right, 16/9 X 11.25 = $20 per pound. Buying 5 pounds in 9 oz cans would be $100. What a bargain to buy the 5 pound caddy at $105. Is that the giant economy size? Or is the large plastic bottle worth $5?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Lets see.

My last 38/44 Outdoorsman set me back just shy of $1900 for a very nice pre-war with the box. One split second of distraction with some bullseye could turn that fine gun into a $200 box and a lot of spare parts. Trailboss is made just for guys like me who want to avoid the issues/risk of shooting fine collectible handguns but don't want to harm them. The additional costs are trivial in the grand scheme of things to me.

Besides, Trailboss can be quite accurate:

Here is 50 shots of 158 grn lasercasts SWC with trailboss at 15 yards. Darn good accuracy in my opinion for me.

 

[ScottsGT]

Peter, that is one suhweet Python! That's the one gun that has been itching me for years and I won't be happy until I scratch that itch....
I think I know what I'm getting next.

 

[Sistema1927]

I shot Cowboy over the weekend using Trail Boss, and it performed as usual, great.

Only problem I encountered was with my 1892 just back from Steve Young. Not a problem with his work, since it is slick as can be, but I discovered that it doesn't like CCI primers. Oh well, that 500 rounds that I just loaded can be used up in the pistols, and I will buy some Federal primers for the rest of my Cowboy reloading.

I also loaded up some .30-30 last night with Trail Boss, and I expect to get 1100-1200 fps with 6.9 grains behind a hardcast 165 flat point. Should make a fine plinking round.

 

[joneb]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but Trail Boss will bridge with some powder meters. Throughing a 1/4 to 2/3 charge, Peter what could this do to your Python if a slug got stuck in the tube ?

 

[ScottsGT]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but Trail Boss will bridge with some powder meters.

Bridge? Are you saying that you can get a partial charge? Is this due to its light weight or physical size on the grains? I've had no problems with my Lee perfect measure.

 

[joneb]

The micro pistol meter for the Redding mod. 3 has a hole dia. of .3" this is not anough for Trail Boss. The standard meter provides a 3/4" hole which solves the problem, but does not meter as accurately. I would need to find a meter with a cylinder dia. of .4"-.5" when useing TB.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Jibjab,

I use an RCBS Uniflow powder measure and I have never had a bridged charge. I guess it could happen, but I am not 100% sure how with my pro2000. I do a visual check when seating the bullet on my Pro2000 and with TB I can see the powder and look for over/unders/missed charges. With powders like 231/Titegroup, you can never see the powder down a 357 mag casing. Thus I think a squib is unlikely.

What would happen? Well, If I missed the powder charge and if I fired the round and if I did not realize the bullet did not leave the barrel and if I were dumb enough to pull the trigger again, then I would probably have buldged the barrel.

To me though, that is too many if's in a row to really worry about. By using TB, I solved the first 2 if's.

 

[Bull Jones]

Trail Boss. Good stuff.

I've found Trail Boss to be the answer in both my Ruger New Vaquero -and- my Winchester '94 Trapper. Both are .45 Colt. I drop 6.0 grains of powder, top with a Hornady swaged 255gr. Cowboy, and then tear the centers out of any target in front of me. Good stuff!

Now if I want to blast a swamp pig I'll load with another powder. Maybe 38grains of Goex fffG. That will get the job done in style!

With Trail Boss I've personally had no issues with it metering.

Bull, out.

 

[ScottsGT]

Went out again Saturday and used up some of my Trail Boss. I was shooting a dirt berm at about 50 yards with the 7 1/2" barrel New Vaquero. I was quite satisfied with the results. WOuld have shot a lot more if it wasn't 95 degrees out and I had just finished working out in the woods hanging a feeder.
Overall, the gun was fairly clean after 30 rds. A lot cleaner than after the Georgia Arms ammo.

 

[wanderinwalker]

'Nother happy Trail Boss user here. I load it in .44 Magnum cases with a 200gr RNFP (Northeast Precision Bullets is the brand, I think). Makes a great practice load for my Marlin and Smith. I can shoot until I can't squeeze a trigger any longer and not develop the bad habits that can accompany high-volume shooting of the big-boomers!

And it helps me shoot the big ones better because I have a good grip on my fundamentals. Sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, POP! Also works if it is a BOOM! instead!

Can't say enough good about the stuff. If you want full-house rip-snortin' maggie-numbs, switch to H110 or WW296 and get your kicks. If you wanna practice with something potent enough to put holes in paper and irrate groundhogs, take a look at Trail Boss.