300 WIN MAG Trail Boss Lite Hunting Load

[T Bran]

Hey folks I was looking for a very gentle load to shoot hogs at the feeder. My feeder is 40 yards from the stand at one location and 60 yards at the others.
HODGON'S 2012 manual lists a load with Trail Boss and150grn SIERRA SP bullets. Low end is 18.0 grains for 1302 fps high end lists 25.5 grains for 1687 fps.
These loads are for a very lite and lankey young lady her reach is as long as mine but she weighs in the 120 lb range so I dont want to make her recoil shy or develope a flinch.
I have no experience with this powder and dont want to buy any if it doesnt do what I need it to do.
She does very well at the range with my 10/22 and if she enjoys hunting I'll find a more suitable rifle for her but for now this is only a test.
If you have a more suitable load please post it as I do have quite a few powders in stock.
Thanks for your input
PS: This load is for a 300 WIN MAG
Troy

 

[Walkalong]

I tried TB in .30-30 with a 110 Gr JSP carbine bullet using 100% load density (13.5 Grs), and got 1216 FPS.

I tried it in .458 Win Mag with a 350 Gr JSP at 100% load density (24.3 Grs), and got 1190 FPS. What a hoot to shoot in a heavy rifle, but similar to .44 Mag power on the receiving end.

I haven't shot the .35 Remington load using a 150 Gr JSP yet. Gonna try one in .308 as well. .22 Hornet drives a 34 Gr Dogtown JHP at about 1475 FPS.

I would think that the .300 Win Mag case should hold enough TB to drive your 150's fast enough to kill at that short distance, but there is only one way to tell.

With 100% load density you get a super clean burn and the cases look 99% as clean as before you pulled the trigger.


TB can be erratic if the case is not full when using plated or jacketed bullets in pistol calibers. VERY erratic. So I have not tried anything but 100% load density in rifle cases.

TB loves lead in pistol cases, and doesn't seem to care where in the case it is, but not with plated or jacketed.

90% load density in .32-20 did very strange things powder back vs powder forward. Bang, Poot, Bang, Poot, Poot, Bang. SO strange I did it again with the same results. The bangs were in the 800+ range and the Poots were in the 3 to 4 hundred plus range. (ES of 479) With the powder forward all the shots were in the 800+ range. Strange, normally powder do better powder back. Very strange.

 

[Blue68f100]

I'm not sure I would load down for hogs. You need to read the tread in the hunting section. Most are going as heavy as they can. If you get a big one 300+ you will want all the fire power you can get. I would not drop below a 150 gr bullet. I have a 308 Win that I'm going up on the bullet weight and velocity. All my shots will be less than 100 yrds. I'm also going up in my 7mm Rem Mag a little. I'm all ready at max velocity so I'm going to a heavier bullet. My optics are better on my 7mm but the 308 is a Auto with scope and laser. So I can get multiple shots off if need. I seam to see them when I only have my 22 rifle with me. Looking to change that this year.

 

[T Bran]

I definately agree that hogs can be pretty tough critters to kill if they are not hit just rite. Looking at the data in my 300 WM Trail Boss at a max load is a couple hundred fps slower than a 30-30 while not ideal not to shabby either. Im not worried about an attack since she will be shooting from an elevated platform under my well armed supervision. My concern was more about a humane kill as I dont want an animal even a nuisance one to suffer a slow death.
WALKALONG
I will definately heed your warning as to using as full a case as the data allows. Since this is a new powder to me I do want to stay within the lines. If there is room for a higher charge I'll work up slowly. From what I've read this is a very bulkey powder so the listed max is more than likely a full case load.
Thanks for the replies looks like some load development in my near future.
Troy

 

[Walkalong]

IMR says 100% load density is max, back off 10% for a start charge.

They also say to NOT COMPRESS TB. I am careful to get 100%, or just a hair over, when the powder is settled. I am sure a teenie tiny bit of compression hurts nothing, but do be aware of their warning.

I have not shot a hog in 30 years, although that may change soon. We shot them with .30-30's and .44 Mags from Winchester 94's. Both killed them just fine with any reasonable shot placement.

I have seen people laying 100/150 pounders out with .223 on video, but am sure it takes more oomph for the big ones.

For a step up from TB power in rifle calibers, AA 5744 will get you a good bit more power. Another step up is "youth" loads with IMR 4895.

I am loading .458 Win Mag with TB, AA 5744, and H322 with 350 Gr JSP's for around 1200, 1750, and 2450 FPS.

It is looking like I will get a chance to try it on pigs soon. I would be comfortable taking my Marlin .35 Rem or my Sako .308 as well.

 

[rcmodel]

Low end is 18.0 grains for 1302 fps high end lists 25.5 grains for 1687 fps.

There was a very good test report in Handloader mag about a year ago.

It seems most calibers they tested would not stabilize bullets at the starting load charge.
Best results were obtained with a case full of Trail Boss just to the base of the bullet.

I really see no reason to mess with the starting load, as you can't get in trouble with Trail Boss if you tried.

But I do think if I were you, I would bypass Trail Boss and go straight to the Hodgdon "Youth Loads" using H-4895.
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf

rc