Almost squib load in Model 19 with Trail Boss

[ryan3465]

Hey everyone!

I thought some of you might find this video interesting. I cooked up some handloads of a 148 grn Hornady Wadcutters over a starting load of 2.0 grn Trail Boss. Luckily I only loaded 4 rounds to function test. The first two shots seem fine, but at the third shot, if you watch closely you can actually see the wadcutters come out of the barrel and go sideways! Needless to say I stopped shooting, checked the bore for obstructions and then headed home. Back to the drawing board I guess.

Enjoy the video!

Ryan

http://youtu.be/4BKwLIWhjHY

 

[Mike 27]

Definitely a slow mover but I doubt a squib or a wad cutter, probably wouldn't have made it out of the barrel. I haven't used trailboss but I wonder if it is case sensitive and didn't completely ignite.

 

[ryan3465]

Definitely a slow mover but I doubt a squib or a wad cutter, probably wouldn't have made it out of the barrel. I haven't used trailboss but I wonder if it is case sensitive and didn't completely ignite.

Mike, I wasn't quite sure what to call it so squib was as close as I could come to a proper term to describe what happened. I had never seen a round where I could actually see the bullet in flight pretty clearly on video. I do know that the charge range for TB with 148 grn Lead Wadcutters is 2.0 min 2.3 max, so not much of a range. TB doesn't seem well suited for lead wadcutters but i could be wrong.

Ryan

 

[Mike 27]

I have had some bad luck with HS6 in a 38 snubby. Had a stuck bullet with it, and went back a few days later to ensure that I did not have a squib and stuck another. Some powders are sensitive to ignition in small quantities, and I would guess with 2.0 it was laying in the bottom of the case and did not ignite entirely. Just a guess. I use AA2 on my 38's now, although not as heavy of a bullet. It works great.

 

[joneb]

I would try 2.5gr of TB. But I might save the bullet and primer for a better powder.

 

[ryan3465]

Yeah I think I'm done with the wadcutters and TB. I have been loading those wadcutters before with 3.7 grn of HP38 and that worked great. I just have more TB on hand than HP38 so I was hoping that would work but unless I want bullets bouncing off the target I guess I'll stick with HP38.

 

[bensdad]

I don't honestly think of TB as a legitimate propellant. It's a fun toy that I use in my 30-30, 45lc, and 9mm one time just for the heck of it. I've always based my TB loads on volume, not wt.

 

[jacksgd]

I have had nothing but good luck with Trail Boss in .38 spl. using 158 gr. SWC.

I have noticed that you have to check each case very carefully for powder levels. Trail Boss will bridge in powder measures leaving an unsafe charge in a case.

I have better luck if I use the universal powder micrometer in my Reddding measure then when using the pistol micrometer.

 

[sbrader]

I enjoy working up TB loads for my wife's LCR. They are fun, light-recoil loads for her. I've never seen the issue you have encountered, but I would suspect that you had a powder bridge, or something, that kept you from getting a full load in the case. I always charge ten and then look at them under a bright light to verify that the volume in the case is what I expect and then I seat the bullets. I don't shoot WCs so I can't offer an opinion on that. I do load up 125gr LRNFP and 158gr LRN with no problems.

 

[anothernewb]

I run 2.3 under hornady 148 hbwc's. works perfect. even with a max (loaded to max without compressing, somewhere about 2.5 gr) load, the 148's are just plodding along. I've shot probably about 1.5k of them so far. with 2.3, with no issues. I use a lee perfect with TB - great combo. The only powder I have that the lee doesn't leak slightly, and the drops seem very consistent.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My records show that I fired 50 rounds of 2.1 grains of TB behind wadcutters that dropped at 152 gr. No problems.

 

[1KPerDay]

I tried the recommended starting load of 2 grains of TB behind 148s and they felt like blank cartriges.

 

[buck460XVR]

When loading TrailBoss, I prefer to use dippers. I mark a case where the bottom of the bullet will be and then trim that case to about 5-10% less. Glue on a handle and VOILÀ. While TB makes for a good plinkin' powder, my best accuracy from it always comes from 90-100% case capacity. That said, I use very little of it.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Trail Boss is the only powder that has 'bridged' in my Redding 10X meter.
It only happened twice, and hasn't happened in a couple years. I caught it because I check all my revolver cartridges in a loading block.

I use Trail Boss in .38, .357, .44 spl, 45 Colt and 30-30 with great results. I don't think it's a good choice in limited volume cases like .38 spl with wadcutters. HP-38 sounds like a better choice.