troubles with Trailboss

[bullethead]

I was trying to load some light .357 rounds yesterday using Trailboss on my red press. Filled the hopper with powder, gave it a few light taps, threw about a dozen charges, then adjusted it to throw 3.6gn. Loaded up 50 rounds, all seemed OK. Wanted to load up a few at 4.0gn. Readjusted, started to load and noticed that some of them were light charges, some just over 1 gn of powder. Stopped, checked adjustments, dumped the powder, cleaned everything, wiped the hopper and drum with a dryer sheet, and set off again. Same trouble, several light charges. Changed to Unique (4.0 and 4.2gn), and had no troubles. Is the powder bridging? If so, why at 4.0 and not at 3.6gn. Static bulidup? 48* with 50% humidity. I have loaded .45LC on my green press using Trailboss without any issues. Anyone have an idea what is going on here?

 

[Walkalong]

Hard to say, but yes, it sounds like bridging. Static is another possibility. Oil in the metering device is another.

Welcome to THR

 

[LightningMan]

I have been using TrailBoss almost sence it was introduced, and I have found the best way to insure consistant powder drops through my Dillon 550B powder despenser requires a little help. I shoot Cowboy Action using lite loaded .38 specials ( 3.2 grs. over a 125 gr. bullet gives me about 675-700 fps. out of my revolvers ) What I did was add a little vibration to the powder hopper, using clear packaging tape, attach a single fish tank air pump. This helps to keep the powder flowing by preventing it from bridging on itself. I have this Dillon set up for my .38's only and when I need to reload, I plug in the pump/vibrator, make a couple of powder throws/checks then begin to load away. This has worked very well for me. You may want to try it, good luck. LM

 

[PO2Hammer]

Trail Boss is moody in my experience.
Everything runs fine for months, then out of the blue I start getting bad charges, low and high.
I use a Redding 10X which is highly reliable with all other powders.
Now with TB I weigh each charge.

 

[bullethead]

My drum assembly is clean from oil. My press is attached to the metal on the bench, which is grounded, but I will double check the ground to eliminate any static charges. I read an old thread about a guy that was using his wife's "appliance" to keep the powder from bridging. (I think that is fodder for another thread.) I will try a few things and give it another try tomorrow.

 

[DickM]

I use Trail Boss in my .45 Colt CAS loads and had exactly the same trouble with bridging - first squib loads I've had in nearly 40 years of reloading. My solution was to use the rifle rotor instead of the pistol rotor in my Hornady LnL powder measure. The larger diameter cavity prevents bridging and even though I get a little less consistency in my charge weights it really doesn't matter for shooting large steel plates at short distance.

 

[Walkalong]

TB meters well through my Redding 10X. I have not had that problem, but I use a pretty good sized powder funnel from the measure to the case. What diameter hole are you trying to drop it through?

 

[bullethead]

I am using the small powder drum on my Hornady press. Maybe the trick is to use the larger one like DickM and Walkalong said. Seems odd that Unique would work just fine, although it is not as "fluffy" as Trailboss. Thought about putting a light weight on top of the powder. Not sure if that would do any good. To the bench tonight to try a few things. Thanks to all for your help.

 

[MMCSRET]

I just made up dippers for the loads I wanted with TB and never looked back. It is faster, easier and more easily managed than with any powder measure I have tried.

 

[RidgwayCO]

I use a lot of Trail Boss in .38 Special, .44 Special, and .45 Colt. I've never had a problem with bridging in my Lee Pro Auto Disk. YMMV.

 

[45taurus]

Could you run your tumbler while making rounds? My tumbler makes enough vibrations that it settles my powder pretty well. I assume running it next to your press/powder measure will help with the issue you are having

 

[jhansman]

I just made up dippers for the loads I wanted with TB and never looked back. It is faster, easier and more easily managed than with any powder measure I have tried.

I use dippers as well, but was loading some .357 with TB this weekend on my Lee single stage, and didn't notice til almost too late that the 'donuts' were not making it through my funnel completely. I just wasn't paying close enough attention, and began emptying my dipper more slowly from that point on. Then, I double and triple checked each case before the bullet seating step. Be careful with this powder.