30-30 Trailboss

ultralightbackpacker · Sep 8, 2016

I decided to have some fun and l loaded up 40 rounds of 30-30, 150 grain Berrys plated.

Looking at the PDF that Hodgdon put out on Trailboss, it claims the formula is:

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/tips-and-tricks/low-recoil-loads

Find where the base of the bullet to be loaded is located in the case and make a mark on the outside of the case at this location. Then fill the case to that mark with Trail Boss, pour into the scale pan and weigh. This is your
maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum allowed for this cartridge and perfectly safe to use!

Take 70% of this powder charge weight (multiply the maximum load by .7), and that is your starting load.

Start with this beginning load and work up to your maximum charge.

I tried 8 grains for 20 rounds, and 9 grains for 20 rounds, all charges well below the base of the bullet, not even at the shoulder yet. All shot fine, granted I had to adjust the Williams Peep up on the Win94. It shot about 12-15" low at 75 yards.

Looking at the Hodgdon Reloading data on their website.

Hodgdon Trail Boss 6.5gr 997fps 20,500 CUP 9.0 grain 1,195fps 29,100 CUP

Lyman 49th and 50th states MAX 8.5 grains at 1102fps, at 37.400 CUP.

I have no idea what the actual fps was, I didn't bring a chronograph this time, my jeep was full.

Anyway, looking at the data and knowing there is still quite a bit of room in the case empty for more powder, if one were trying for the MAX load with the "formula", wouldn't it be pretty easy to exceed the Max CUP even though Trailboss supposedly is safe at Max?

I'm curious has anyone ever seen over pressure signs with Trailboss on a 30-30?

I must admit, it was rather amusing to hit the 8" gong at 75 yards with these low/no recoil loads. Without a doubt, I will continue to play around with this donut shaped powder.

Anyway, have a great night and sorry for the rambling.

SARuger · Sep 8, 2016

I haven't tried it in my 30-30 yet but I use TB in my .38spcl/148g DEWC's. It makes a great low recoil plinking round. My LCR recoils like a .22mag with TB. Its neat stuff!

LeftyTSGC · Sep 8, 2016

OP, i dont think it is an issue, you even showed the Hodgdon wording;

"Find where the base of the bullet to be loaded is located in the case and make a mark on the outside of the case at this location. Then fill the case to that mark with Trail Boss, pour into the scale pan and weigh. This is your
maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum allowed for this cartridge and perfectly safe to use!"

It states that a full case of powder to bullet base is the maximum. You did the correct thing and started at 70%. You should be able to use maximum "not compressed" without issues.

I have also used TrailBoss in a 7.62x54r Mosin Nagant. And yes it worked, a very light recoil round, and i also had to adjust my sights for the bullet drop. I did try a couple at Max charge, and did not feel or see any pressure issues.

But a chrono on hand would help to confirm and hopefully keep you out of trouble. Sorry i do not have any 30-30 info to share.

Leftytsgc.

Bullseye · Sep 8, 2016

Anyway, looking at the data and knowing there is still quite a bit of room in the case empty for more powder, if one were trying for the MAX load with the "formula", wouldn't it be pretty easy to exceed the Max CUP even though Trailboss supposedly is safe at Max?

My thinking is YES ... it's always yes for me that this is possible with every cartridge I load and with every powder I use. Go with the manual data always.

If we are using Trail Boss then I see no reason to go higher than 70% of the case capacity.
I mean we are using it for plinking and mild shooting anyway so what would be the point of compressing powder to make a faster more powerful load?

I have loaded 45-70 for my Marlin and even have a few .270 Win on the shelf loaded with Trail Boss, and they are loaded by the book.
I shot the 330 gr 45-70 lead RNHP in a Springfield trapdoor and also in my guide gun. Mild enough for the trapdoor ( which is why I made them in the first place ) and still shot pretty straight in the Marlin guide gun.
Made my 45-70 guide gun a whole different rifle. I guess there's a little room for tweaking with accuracy without compressing the powder but I just don't see much point in it.

ArchAngelCD · Sep 8, 2016

sigsmoker said:
My thinking is YES ... it's always yes for me that this is possible with every cartridge I load and with every powder I use. Go with the manual data always.

If we are using Trail Boss then I see no reason to go higher than 70% of the case capacity.
I mean we are using it for plinking and mild shooting anyway so what would be the point of compressing powder to make a faster more powerful load?

I have loaded 45-70 for my Marlin and even have a few .270 Win on the shelf loaded with Trail Boss, and they are loaded by the book.
I shot the 330 gr 45-70 lead RNHP in a Springfield trapdoor and also in my guide gun. Mild enough for the trapdoor ( which is why I made them in the first place ) and still shot pretty straight in the Marlin guide gun.
Made my 45-70 guide gun a whole different rifle. I guess there's a little room for tweaking with accuracy without compressing the powder but I just don't see much point in it.

Blindly going by the book isn't always easy. The OP is telling you the book does not match what Hodgdon is telling us.

OP, the only time I have seen pressure signs with Trail Boss was when a friend did not follow the Hodgdon instructions and he compressed the powder. You should never compress Trail Boss, it breaks the little donuts and the pressures can and will spike without the coating to control burn rate.

All that said, I have not been happy with Trail Boss because it can be hard to find accuracy with it. Boy do I miss SR4759.

GBExpat · Sep 8, 2016

Trailboss is what I exclusively use with my .32-20 lead revolver loads.

These revolver loads also do very well in my Marlin 27-S, but I load rifle-only jacketed HP (XTP) rounds with IMR4227 for better performance in the Marlin.

oldfortyfiveauto · Sep 8, 2016

I've been running Trail Boss in the 30-30, 45-70, 7.5 Swiss, 308, and 30-06. Great for plinking and generally shoots fairly well.

Walkalong · Sep 8, 2016

I have tried Trail Boss for reduced loads in things like .35 Remington and .458 Win Mag. I decided that anything less than a 100% fill with no compression was a waste of time. You'll get in the neighborhood of 1000 to 1200 FPS and it will be very light for the caliber. YMMV, and it is still a good idea to start at the 70% level.

Wis-Harpo · Sep 9, 2016

I have a 32 Remington that I tried Trail Boss in. The max load is about 10 1/2 grains. The best groups at 50 yards were with 9 1/2 grains. I have not tried the max yet. Even at 50 yards, you hear the cartridge go off, then you can hear the bullet hit the back stop of the target.

EHCRain10 · Sep 11, 2016

I haven't seen any trail boss to purchase for a while now but love it for 30-30 and 45-70 as well as revolver rounds

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Wis-Harpo · Sep 11, 2016

A LGS in South Carolina has Trail Boss, but a limit of I can per customer per day.

GBExpat · Sep 12, 2016

Trailboss

At the beginning of 2015 I pounced on a 5lb jug (very briefly) listed at Recobs(?) ... and haven't seen any until last month when it showed up on Recobs again (snagged another 5lber

).

ssyoumans · Sep 12, 2016

My Marlin 336SS shoots reduced recoil loads with the Xtreme 150gr plated FN bullet fairly well. The downside is having to adjust the scope. About 4" low at 40 yards. That's a lot of click counting

Surprisingly, it shoots their 110gr carbine bullet even better, into a enlarged hole at 40 yards.

Wis-Harpo · Sep 12, 2016

To EC rain10----What were your Trail Boss loads for 45-70. I need some light plinking loads, because 45 to 50 grains of IMR4198 gets a little punishing !!! I can figure the loads out, but it is easier if someone else has them . Do you have any info on fps you get ? I mainly shoot Hornady 350 grain round nose bullets, Starline brass, and Win primers.

ArchAngelCD · Sep 12, 2016

Wis-Harpo said:
To EC rain10----What were your Trail Boss loads for 45-70. I need some light plinking loads, because 45 to 50 grains of IMR4198 gets a little punishing !!! I can figure the loads out, but it is easier if someone else has them . Do you have any info on fps you get ? I mainly shoot Hornady 350 grain round nose bullets, Starline brass, and Win primers.

Which bullet are you using with 45-50gr 4198?

Did you know you can use 4198 at much lower charge weights? Hodgdon's load data site lists data for 3 different power levels, Trapdoor rifles, leverguns and modern rifles.

What is the bullet type and weight? I have used 4198 at Trapdoor pressures and the ammo us not punishing.

Wis-Harpo · Sep 13, 2016

To ArchAngelCD--- I am using the Hornady 350 gr Round Nose because 300 gr bullets do not stabilize very well and give terrible groups. My45-70 is in the Siamese Mauser action, so I can use about any loads. Be it for Modern-- Lever Action-- or Trapdoor rifles.

I asked about Trail Boss because I have 2cans that I tried to use with my Rem Model 14 in 32 Caliber with MBC 170 gr flat nose Hi-Tek coated bullets that I got a sample pack of 100 bullets. I was going to use those bullets because I could not get any 170 gr Speer flat nose bullets. But then I scored 4 boxes of 100 online. So I have some TrailBoss to use up.

motorcarman · Sep 18, 2016

Whenever I create 30 Rem from 30 Win brass I fire-form the cases with a load of 10 grains TB and a 150 grain cast bullet. I fire them through my Remington Model 14 or my Remington Auoloading Repeating Rifle (Pre Model 8).

The load will NOT cycle the autoloader but I can work the bolt to eject/chamber the rounds.

The formed cases then get loaded with normal 'metal-patched' bullets or 170 grain cast, gas checked flat points.

I like it for light loads, plus it has an 'interesting smell' when fired.

bob

PO2Hammer · Sep 19, 2016

I use TB with 100 - 150 grain lead bullets in 30-30. My best load was a Magnus .309" 115 LRN over 6.0 grains Trail Boss. 1100 fps and just 20 fps extreme spread despite a load density around 60%.
I only use TB with lead, didn't get good results with jacketed in 30-30 or plated in .45 Colt.

GooseGestapo · Sep 19, 2016

I bought a can (11oz I believe) to try. No thanks.

1. It "STINKS". Like take your breath away! Loaded some Lee .457"/.459" 340gr in my .45/70. Wid was blowing in my face, so every shot was a gasp!

2. Velocity with a published max load was so slow, from a Marlin 1895GG with a reciever sight, the barrel time was such that it was ~8" high at 25yds with Williams Guide reciever sight at lowest position.
I'll stick with RedDot, Unique, BlueDot, and #2400, thank you.

Toprudder · Sep 19, 2016

Reading this thread has piqued my interest. I have a 30-30 and some of the Xtreme plated 150gn bullets. I may need to try TB with these bullets, they would be great for shooting at the indoor range.

DC Plumber · Sep 19, 2016

I bought some 130g lead bullets designed for the 30-30 and put some trail boss under them in my 30-06 for my son to shoot when he was 9 years old. Almost no recoil and he got the "big gun" feel for shooting. Now he is up to the starting loads for H4350 and H4895 in manuals and hooked. But trail boss lead lads were fun.

ssyoumans · Sep 21, 2016

Up until about 2 months ago, I hadn't seen Trailboss in 3+ years, so I switched over to Blue Dot for my light loads using 150gr Xtreme plated flat nose or 110gr Xtreme Plated round nose carbine bullets. Surprisingly, the 110gr carbine bullets shoot a little better (tighter group, perhaps even better than several factory loads). Both bullets shoot pretty low though. 5-6" low at 40 yards.

30-30 Trailboss

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