Patrick Sweeney and Trail Boss for 45acp

[jimherb]

Hello, Patrick Sweeney writing in the latest Hodgdon's reloading annual has an article about .45 acp reloading with Trail Boss. It's a good article, but I have a question. He says that one should not use jacketed bullets with Trail Boss. I wonder if that also applied to copper-washed bullets like Ranier or Berry? I like light 45 loads for bullseye, but the indoor ranges around here won't let you use lead bullets, so I have been using copper-washed for both indoor and outdoor. As of late, I have been using Tightgroup, which works well, but would like to try the Trail Boss power in a light .45 acp. So, can I use copper-washed bullets with Trail Boss?
Jim

 

[LordDunsany]

There has been a warning about jacketed bullets and TB since the powder was introduced. After using TB for a while I determined that even with max loadings the velocity might be so low that the bullet could shed its jacket.

Even if it kept its jacket on, I have found that max loadings of TB were not terribly accurate, so never pursued any experiments with jacketed bullets. However, a copper wash shouldn't be a problem and could prevent leading.

Definitely worth a try and I can't conceive of any harm to the gun or user, other than bad accuracy. If you try it, let us know how it works out...

Ron in Texas

 

[918v]

How does a bullet shed it's jacket?

 

[calaverasslim]

How does a bullet shed it's jacket? Depends. With buttons, you just unbutten but with a zipper? unzip. Either way, remove first one arm and then the other.



OK, smart butt answer dun. You asked that question be fore I cud.

 

[Walkalong]

There has been a warning about jacketed bullets and TB since the powder was introduced

Speer warned against reduced velocities with half jacketed bullets long before Trail Boss was introduced. It's not the powder, it's the bullet.

 

[jhansman]

I squibbed a .30-30 with TB and jacketed bullets before I knew better, early on. Now I only use it with lead, and it's one of my favorite powders. Particularly fun in a .357mag, but I'm glad to know I can try it in my XD45.

 

[Shmackey]

I load .308 lightweight rounds with TB more than I load regular .308 rounds these days. They're always jacketed bullets, and never a problem. Not sure if this is a handgun-only issue or what.

 

[bigedp51]

Another Internet myth put to bed right from the Hogdons website.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

Below from the 2010 Hogdons Annual Manual
"The Versatility of Trail Boss"
"Light loads with less recoil aren't just for Cowboy Action shooters"



I have to go now and find my impact hammer, all my "reduced" loads with Trail Boss are no good because my Enfield is going to blow up.



"All the information in the world is written in books and all you have to do is read"

 

[Walkalong]

One of these days I am going to get around to trying some reduced loads using TB and .357 bullets in my .35 Remington. One of these days.

 

[threefeathers]

I have some but have been using lead punkin balls in 45 Colt.

 

[TonyT]

I have used Trail Boss with 185 gr. Berry's HBRN and 230 gr. Rainier bullets. One has to increase the charge slightly for the plated bullet over the same weight all lead bullet to obtain similar velocities. Hodgdon has published jacketed bullet data with Trail Boss in rifle cartridges. When I spoke to the people at Hodgdon they cautioned against using Trail Boss with jacketed bullets in handguns stating the velocity would be too low and would be inaccurate in all probability.

 

[Walkalong]

Trail Boss doesn't work all that well with plated bullets in handguns either.

 

[joneb]

I tried TB with plated bullets for 38spl and 357 mag. I could not find a accurate load.
With lead bullets TB is ok but I can do much better with Bullseye or W-231.

 

[floydster]

One of my pet loads for the 45 ACP, is 4.0grs. Trail Boss and 230 gr. cast RN.

 

[unknwn]

That 230gr RN pet load, would that work out the same if I substituted a 230gr TC?