Fun With Trail Boss

[Cosmoline]

I've been using Trail Boss with the .450 Marlin for the past year, but recently I've been discovering its utility for other rounds, even for non-cast bullets. There's a recent article in Handloader from a few months ago that gives data for .30'06, .308, and other cartridges not favored by cowboys. It's an incredibly easy powder to work with, and difficult to mess up unless you compress it or alter its shape. Looking back on it, I really wish I'd had this stuff when I first started reloading instead of Unique and the .45 Colt.

Anyone else using this stuff outside the confines of cowboy or former BP rounds?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I contacted Hodgdon and they told me you don't need published data to load any caliber with Trail Boss. They told me to make a line where the bottom of the bullet will seat, then fill the case to the line. Weigh the powder and that's your Max charge and reduce the charge by 10% to get your starting charge. Like said above do not break up the powder or compress it. Pressures will spike quite quickly if you do.

 

[sonier]

I REALLY WANT SOME TRAILBOSSSSSS been looking eerywhere seems no one near where i live has it in stock.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've been loading it in 30/06 using 150 g jacketed bullets.

16.0 g is my pet load and will produce 2" 100yd 5shot groups from my ruger m77 mkII

IMO using those old dangerious sub 50% density rifle gallery loads is just stupid since the advent of TB. I'm looking at you mr "the load"

 

[buck460XVR]

I've been using it in my .460 with jacketed bullets also. Fun stuff. I think I've posted this before, but here is the link to Hodgdon's site and the Trailboss reduced load data. It's very similar to what ArchAngelCD posted except they recommend using 70% of a full case for a starting load.

Trail-Boss-data

 

[Tacoma]

The 10% rule is actually listed on the trail boss web page. I just recently played around with it in a 6.5x55 Swede that was shooting 10" high @ 100 yds with battle sights. Figured this might be just the thing to get the group down. Unfortunately, any load between 75% and 90% loads produced groups that were now 6-8" low!
Of interest was that when I tried 70%, you could actually hear the round impact the target after discharge as it was moving that slow. Fun stuff though.

 

[Will-Seattle]

I have only tried it in a 45 Colt. No problems at all. I have toyed with the idea of using it in a 470 Nitro Express. I realize the odds of regulation are slim, but it would be fun to try.

Will

 

[Legionnaire]

Haven't shot it in a rifle load yet, but it's the cat's meow for light .357 and .44 magnum (cases) target loads. I've been shooting them with Missouri Bullet 158 gr and 240 gr SWCs respectively. Very good stuff!

 

[floydster]

One of my pet loads for the 45 ACP is 4.0 grs. TB pushing a 230 gr. cast Missouri bullet,
very accurate and fun to shoot.
Floydster

 

[Six]

I'd recommend it to any newbie to cut their teeth on and get an understanding of the basics of the reloading process. It's so easy to work with, and pressures are so low that you really have to try if you want to hurt yourself.

I use trail boss for my 38 plinking loads now.

Even if it costs a little bit more, it's just soo much easier to work with compared to Bullseye or Unique. I load much much faster with TB than any other powder, because a bad throw resulting in an error in a charge is immediately apparent.

If only there could be a similar powder for auto cartridges.

 

[dbb1776]

I love my pipsqueak 38 loads. 158 swc at less than 700fps is fun. It also meters well through my lee perfect powder measure.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Never used it for anything other than .45 Colt but I love it for that. Like said above, you really have to try to screw up with it. It meters well, and fills the case nicely. Great plinking powder and cheap. Only $16.50 a can here. I believe it's 9 oz, but it'll load a lot of em due to it's density. Haven't tried it yet for the '06. Don't know that I will.

 

[tango2echo]

Loaded up the .308 with TB and 150gr SST's and 130gr HCLFP's for the wife. VERY quiet and nearly zero recoil. During the big powder/ammo/primers rush TB was all I could find locally, so I loaded up. I've had tons of fun with the .45LC in a 1858 conversion revolver and TB. A side benefit is TB is cheap. I can load the .45LC with MBC 200gr RNFP's and TB for about what good .22LR ammo costs.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Yesterday I reloaded three hundred .38 Special rounds (MBC 158gr LSWC) and two hundred .44 Special rounds (OT 200gr LRNFP) with Trail Boss on my Lee Classic Turret. It sure is easy to see the powder level in the case after being dispensed with the Lee Pro Autodisk. Nice and consistent throws too.

 

[joneb]

TB can bridge in powder throws with less than a .35" diameter meter bar, giving charge weights of 50-25% of the intended charge.
A few years ago I asked IMR if I could load TB with plated or jacked bullets, they replied "Absolutely not" Now I see the Hodgdon web sight has rifle data with TB and jacketed bullets
I have found TB works well with my lead bullets, but I can get better accuracy using other powders.

 

[cottonmouth]

I use it with my 4" 500 S&W, between 8 and 10 grains with a 440 grain GC makes for a very pleasent load.

J.B.

 

[blindhari]

I use trail boss and lee dippers. The 3.1 scoop under a 405 grain lead slug is an absolute coyote/feral dog killer out to 100 yds. Soft recoil, not loud, cheap to shoot out of a 45-70 handi rifle with 18" barrel. I also use it to load for my 357 winchester trapper. If I am at the range, the range master makes me raise my target about 18" higher so bullet will impact berm. At 50 yds though it is plenty to varmint hunt with when using a 158 gr lead slug, and really, really quiet.

blindhari

 

[TonyT]

I use Trail Boss for all the ld blackpowder psitol cartridges and mild 357 mag loads. It has become my favorite powder for revolver loads. I have yet to try the reduced rifle loads with jacketed bullets.

 

[Cosmoline]

A few years ago I asked IMR if I could load TB with plated or jacked bullets, they replied "Absolutely not" Now I see the Hodgdon web sight has rifle data with TB and jacketed bullets

It's a new technology. When it first came out everyone was being cautious with it. But it turns out the stuff has a very wide range of applications.

 

[Ky Larry]

Trail Boss is my "goto" powder for lead pistol bullets. During our recent Obamanation I couldn't find any so I bought 8 lbs of AA#2. As soon as it is gone,I'm going back to TB. However, at the low load levels of #2,it may take the rest of my life to shoot up 8 lbs.

 

[Navy_Guns]

I'd like to try it in low-recoil 12 gauge slug loads in the < 1,000 fps range... Don't know where to start though.

 

[ustate]

A few months ago I figured I'd call IMR just to be sure about using TB with plated bullets in revolver rounds. They said it would be no problem, have since had very good luck with it in .45Colt, .44 Spcl and .38Spcl.

 

[Rick Finsta]

I'm working up a subsonic load for my (soon to be; c'mon ATF!) suppressed K-31 using TrailBoss. The instructions are awesome, and you really can't mess up (as long as you don't crush the powder) as the pressures will stay well below maximum levels.

 

[Ranger J]

It is my favorite powder for non hunting loads in both my 45/70 and 44 mag Handi rifle. It is a great powder for young and recoil sensitive shooters to use. Only down side is it kind of blackens the fired cases. No big problem as I usually spin them between wad of fine steel wool when resizing anyway.

RJ

 

[clone]

I have been working with it for my SKS useing Berry's plated .310 dia, 110gr bullet (rated for 1700fps max). 8gr seems to be the ticket so far. I really need a chronograph to see what speeds I'm am getting though.