.223 loads with Trailboss versus other powders...

[lezmark]

I noticed on the Hodgdon web site a maximum load for .223 with Trail Boss is 4.0. Most other powder loads are north of 15 grains! Really! Just doesnt sound right. Thats a HUGE spread....

 

[kdunn]

That doesn't sound right at all... I've never reloaded with Trailboss, but I have reloaded .223 with about 5 different kinds of powders - minimum for any of them was 17 grains. Right now my favorite is Varget at 22 grains for 75 gr BTHP's

 

[ironworkerwill]

Consider the base of the bullet seated in the brass the full line at what ever COL you use. Start with a full case of TB WEIGH that load and DO NOT COMPRESS, its the max do not exceed. Use 75% of the max load for the starting load.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Here is the link to Hodgdon (now IMR) Trail Boss load formulation in bottle neck cases. http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-Reduced-Loads%20R_P.pdf I assume you'll use this in a rifle. I did not use 70% of the max to start for fear of lodging a bullet in the bore as I intended to shoot it in an AR15 with a 20'' barrel.

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Trail Boss is an extremely bulky powder in proportion to its weight. 4.0 grains will almost completely fill a .223 case. You pretty much can't pack enough TB into ANY cartridge to exceed the SAAMI pressure specs for it.

 

[JO JO]

trial boss is very bulky and is somewhat a fast burner
I believe, I use it in .357 3.5gr trailboss and 158gr swc
works nice for me, my normal 357 is 13.5gr 2400 just
using this as an example.
its a bulky light powder

 

[ironworkerwill]

You pretty much can't pack enough TB into ANY cartridge to exceed the SAAMI pressure specs for it.

Yes you can! It is a VERY FAST powder. If you pack it, it will misbehave.

It is a bulky powder. I can't remember how much I use or for what projectile. The above formula will get you where you need to be.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, don't compress Trail Boss.

As posted, it is extremely bulky and was designed to fill pistol cases full and still be safe. Kind of like popcorn as it is full of air, but shaped like donuts. Vihtavuori's N32C is a similar powder, both of which were designed for the Cowboy Action shooting.

My .458 Win Mag cases loaded to 100% Load Density only hold right at 24.0 Grs of Trail Boss.

 

[Greg Mercurio]

lezmark: You need to do your homework on TB if you intend to use it. As stated numerous times above, it is light for volume, very fast, and it is load developed by volume then converted to grains.

Use Hodgdon's guidance for load development and you'll stay healthy. I like it for just about everything north of .30 caliber for practice rounds. It's a great powder for aged shoulders and big bores. .458 Win is a hoot with TB.

Not too keen on it for .223, as there's no appreciable recoil with that round.

 

[lezmark]

I have been playing with it in 357 and it sure is nice and easy on the metering. I know it is high volume, and figured there was no way Hodgdon would make an error, but wow, that just really surprised me when i saw it. In theory if one is looking for economical powder it cant get much better. It is almost a five to one ratio - five times as many rounds per pound!

 

[Greg Mercurio]

Fill a .223 case to the bottom of the neck and weigh it. It'll probably be very close to what Hodgdon printed.

My .44Mag play loads are right at 6.5 grains.

 

[joem1945]

I like Trail Boss powder. Can't double charge anything with it. Works nice in cowboy loads and doesn't need fillers.

 

[joneb]

For some reason Blue Dot works very well in my .308 Win bolt action, I use 16gr with 125gr Nosler BT. A buddy of mine uses it in a .223 bolt action with very good results. I like that it does not heat up the barrel and it burns clean.
I have not tried Trail Boss with jacked bullets for rifle, my testing with copper plated in pistol was not favorable.

 

[valleyforge.1777]

The Hodgdon website also list loads with Titegroup (3.1 grains of Titegroup with 55 gr Hornady FMJ at a COL of 2.2 inches, yielding 1,064 fps and 4,000 CUP). When I've gone searching in the past for answers about why they list low-weight pistol powder loads for 223, the answer I finally stumbled onto is that those loads are ONLY for suppressed 223 shooting and not for use without a silencer.

 

[Tech Ninja]

This is why:

10 grains in each tube.

 

[Ccctennis]

I love trail boss for exactly this reason. No way to double charge! But like others say do not compress it.

 

[Joea132]

It's a subsonic load probably. I've been wanting to fool around with subsonic 223 loads for a little while now. Trailboss is incredible in 308. And I use 9.4 grains in that.

 

[Liquidring]

It is indeed a subsonic load. I use TB loaded in both .223 & .308 to take care of critters when I don't want to "disturb" the neighbors late at night. A little tweaking of the load to suit your barrel length to keep it SS, attach your suppressor, and have fun.