Any suggestions?

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GordyFJ

GordyFJ

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New member to the forum but have searched it many times before for info
I have about 500 Speer 98 gr Hollow base wadcutters that are looking for something to do. .312 diameter.
It occurs to me that they would work in my old 32-20 and that Trail boss may be the right powder, and I have lots.
Haven't been able to find a load anywhere however for this combination.
Found loads for 98 gr lead in the 32-20 using 231 and bullseye, both options, but Trail boss fills the case so nicely as to not have position issues. I like it.
I can use the Trail boss "fill the case to the bottom of the bullet X .70 to start", but something from someone who may have been there is helpful.
Don't plan on inserting the bullet in past the neck so as to avoid expanding the skirt.
Anybody have some insight?
Thanx and Aloha
Gordy
 
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Welcome to the forum Gordy.

In my opinion you just asking for trouble by arbitrarily filling the case that way. Trail Boss is NOT black powder.

If Trail Boss is a good choice for 32-20 then Hodgdon’s would have put in their online data sheet. It is not on sheet that I looked at.

While Trail Boss CAN be used in small bore calibers, Most cowboy action shooters that I have talked to agree that Trail Boss is great for big bores, but disappointing for small ones.

I have never tried it in 32 cal, but I did not care for it in 38.

Good Luck
 
I have not tried that combination in .32-20, but it should work great. AA #2, Bullseye, or WST should also work well if you have any. I have shot plenty of Berrys 83 Gr plated HBWCs in .32-20.

Welcome to THR
 
Reinz said:
While Trail Boss CAN be used in small bore calibers, Most cowboy action shooters that I have talked to agree that Trail Boss is great for big bores, but disappointing for small ones.
Click to expand...

Trail Boss with plated in .32-20 was erratic for me, but it likes lead over plated in the pistol calibers I tried it in. Loves lead, hates plated.
 
Reinz said:
In my opinion you just asking for trouble by arbitrarily filling the case that way. Trail Boss is NOT black powder.
Click to expand...

The “...” part of his post looks like he’s on the right track as far as following the mfg’s suggestion 1)&2).

4E082D6B-3CFD-4081-861D-214D420F0FE4.jpeg

Looks to be on the right track, might be interested in this thread. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?46228-Trail-Boss-32-20-revolver-loads

I have never found anything trail boss does great but it can be used in lots of stuff to send lead down range even if if won’t cycle actions.

Welcome.
 
I've used Trail Boss, Win231, Universal and Unique in my 30-30 with 115gn and 150gn bullets. I would think any light/flaky powder like Red Dot and Bullseye would also work as there is a lot of data floating around the web for powder puff gallery loads for rifles. Unique would probably be my first suggestion for your 32-20. Trail Boss should work ok too.
 
First off, I do not load for that caliber. I use Trail Boss for a lot of loads with lead bullets making plinking loads. I think you will be OK doing this as long as you follow their instructions and check the barrel for skirt separations after each shot when working up your load.
 
Hodgdon web site has data for 32-20 using Trail Boss...

When it was fairly new I bought/tried some Trail Boss in my 44 Magnums. At that time the mfg recommended to "fill to just below the bullet base" method and it worked quite well.
 
Thanks guys for all the input!
Just for giggles I tried the Trailboss measure trick, and came up with about 3.1gr of trailboss for this bullet.
Haven't tried it, but of note, that is right in line with the loads for my Nagant with a 98 gr bullet.
The cases dimensions and caliber are very close. I actually use 3.5 gr of the powder in the Nagant.
I do use a Hodgdon load of 2.4 grains trailboss with the 115 gr cast RNFP. A good bunnyfart load and as accurate as this old gun and my old eyes will ever be.
To be continued... Have published loads for 231 and Bullseye. Think I'll try them first.
Thanks again
Aloha
 
I tried 4.1 Grs of Trail Boss (99% load density) under a Ranier 100 Gr HP @ 1.585 OAL.

Powder back gave me an average 597 FPS with a 479 FPS ES

Powder forward gave me an average 804 FPS with a 67 FPS ES

Backwards from what 99% of powders do. Most do poorly powder forward away from the primer, not forward away from the primer, not to mention having such good powder fill it should have been very similar PB & PF. Weird, or like I posted, erratic with plated. I tried it in .38 Spl with similar results using plated, but substitute lead and it loves it.

Nov 2011 @ 76 degrees.

3.2 Grs Trail Boss under a Hornady 90 Gr lead SWC gave an average 760 FPS powder back and 670 powder forward. Powder back ES was 44 and powder forward was 111.
 
jmorris said:
The “...” part of his post looks like he’s on the right track as far as following the mfg’s suggestion 1)&2).

View attachment 975459

Looks to be on the right track, might be interested in this thread. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?46228-Trail-Boss-32-20-revolver-loads

I have never found anything trail boss does great but it can be used in lots of stuff to send lead down range even if if won’t cycle actions.

Welcome.
Click to expand...


Thanks for that info Morris! I learned something.

And my apologies to Gordy for being a negative Nancy.
 
I use 3.0g Titegroup with CCI-500 primers, 95g Cast Performance RNFP bullet set at 1.580" for 32-20 lever action that works very well. Use nickel plated starline brass.
 
Walkalong: I am curious about the 479 FPS extreme spread reported above. What were the actual low and high velocities for that group? That does sound like a huge variation.
 
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