HBWC's and TrailBoss

[db_tanker]

did a few searches on hbwc's and found a few good loads...got plenty of bullseye and 231...but has anyone tried them with Trail Boss yet?

I look at them and I am thinking that they would compress the charge of TB...but I am sure I am not the first to check on this...


standard 148 Speer HBWC bulk boolits, btw...nothing fancy...


D

 

[Master Blaster]

Go to the Hodgdon website look up their number and call them they have data that is not showing for Trailboss.

www.imrpowder.com

 

[db_tanker]

Hodgdon has a rather interesting website now...pull down menu's give you choices of rifle or pistol, caliber, manufacture (IMR, Hodg. or Win) and then bullet size and specific powder brand.


Neat.


And they DO have TB listed for the 148 gr WC....2.0 starting and 2.3 top...can't remember the specific velocity but in the neighborhood of 670 fps...which is perfect for what I am looking for...I am loading the majority of the WC's with 231 simply because I have more than I know what to do with this stuff...but the TB loads were simply a novelty at first...until I saw what they could do with 158 gr LSWC and 125 gr CFP's....now I am thinking that a bulk purchase of Cheerio's is needed here.

D

 

[GooseGestapo]

One of the writers for Handloader Magazine did a test/write-up on TrailBoss several months back.

It was "ok", but still didn't quite match the accuracy of #231 or Bullseye. Bullseye is still the reigning accuracy champ, but #231 is very-very close, and depending on particular firearm, component match, and various lot #'s, may exceed it on particular instances. I've tied or shot national records in PPC with both.

But, if you have a large lot of TrailBoss, it should do well. Be sure to check for accuracy at different pressures and velocities. Lead bullets often need adequate pressure to obturate to the bore to give best accuracy. This often occurs at higher pressures than you might expect. I suspect you may get best accuracy at or near the upper pressure range of the Hodgdon data. I normally run my match wadcutter loadings at about 700fps for peak accuracy.

 

[Sistema1927]

Trailboss is great in large capacity cases (like the .45 Colt) with light loads, but really isn't needed in .38 Special with a 148 HBWC due to the fact that the bullet takes up most of the case and small loads of W231/HP38 will fill the remaining space. Additionally, W231/HP38 is going to be much cheaper to load, since the "1 lb." can of Trailboss only holds 9 oz.

Not saying that you can't use it, but it probably isn't your best choice. I load TB in .45 Colt for CAS, and love it, but I stick to W231/HP38 for .38 Special.

 

[db_tanker]

To be sure, I have not had any issues with the 231 loads I have worked up in the revolver. And with the advice given, I will try some of the bullseye I have squirreled away as well...


thanks guys

D