Trail Boss Expensive ?

[LOLBELL]

I read several threads on Trail Boss and a comment that is usually made is about how expensive it is to use. Soooooo while drinking my morning coffee I did the math to see just how expensive it is.

Started with Powder Valley's pricing to get results I Used HP38 and TB for comparison. HP 38 is $19.75 for a jug (16 oz) and TB is 14.75 for a jug (9 oz). This figures to $1.66 an oz for TB and $1.22 an oz for HP38. Using a max load from Hodgdons Data page a max charge for a 45 Colt loading a 250grn cast bullet, HP38 calls for 7.1 grns per load and TB calls for 5.8 grns per load.

After applying all the other necessary math I came up with 2.0 cents per load (powder only) for the HP38 loads and 2.2 cents per load for the TB loads.

It is a little more costly to use TB over HP38, I did not do any other comparisons. I will continue to use Trail Boss in 45c because I have found nothing that gives me the accuracy without leading in a couple of Vaqueros that I dearly love shooting. It is well worth the 20 cents a hundred for the satisfaction that TB gives. JMHO and YMMV

 

[Sistema1927]

TB is also worth the slightly higher cost for a couple of other reasons, especially with light loads.

1) You eliminate the possibility of a double charge.
2) Light loads still have positive ignition regardless of orientation.

 

[Dframe]

I love the stuff and use it in 45 Colt, 44 Special, and 38 Special. I've even used it in 45/70s.

 

[jmorris]

It can be cheaper too. I only use 11 grains of TB in my 308 loads, over 40 grains of rifle powders.

 

[LOLBELL]

It can be cheaper too. I only use 11 grains of TB in my 308 loads, over 40 grains of rifle powders.

I have not tried it in any rifle loads yet, but with retirement around the corner I intend to. To date I've used it with great satisfaction in .327, 41 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt. Mind you no such thing as a "barn burner" using Trail Boss but it makes one fine tin can, pine cone, or paper punching load.

 

[.308 Norma]

I read several threads on Trail Boss and a comment that is usually made is about how expensive it is to use. Soooooo while drinking my morning coffee I did the math to see just how expensive it is.

Started with Powder Valley's pricing to get results I Used HP38 and TB for comparison. HP 38 is $19.75 for a jug (16 oz) and TB is 14.75 for a jug (9 oz). This figures to $1.66 an oz for TB and $1.22 an oz for HP38. Using a max load from Hodgdons Data page a max charge for a 45 Colt loading a 250grn cast bullet, HP38 calls for 7.1 grns per load and TB calls for 5.8 grns per load.

After applying all the other necessary math I came up with 2.0 cents per load (powder only) for the HP38 loads and 2.2 cents per load for the TB loads.

It is a little more costly to use TB over HP38, I did not do any other comparisons. I will continue to use Trail Boss in 45c because I have found nothing that gives me the accuracy without leading in a couple of Vaqueros that I dearly love shooting. It is well worth the 20 cents a hundred for the satisfaction that TB gives. JMHO and YMMV

Thanks for figuring that out LOLBELL. I really like Trail Boss in my .45 Colt too. It's good to know the difference in the cost per round is so insignificant (IMO).

 

[reddog81]

To be fair the 7.1 grains of HP-38 also get you an increase of almost 200 FPS over the Trail Boss load. The starting load of HP-38 gets more velocity with less pressure then the max trail boss load.

I've never used Trail Boss, but I 'll probably have to try it once it's possible to find...

The real expensive handgun powders are the ones like Win-296 where you can use 15 grains in .357 or up to 25 grains in .44 Mag.

 

[35 Whelen]

I read several threads on Trail Boss and a comment that is usually made is about how expensive it is to use. Soooooo while drinking my morning coffee I did the math to see just how expensive it is.

Started with Powder Valley's pricing to get results I Used HP38 and TB for comparison. HP 38 is $19.75 for a jug (16 oz) and TB is 14.75 for a jug (9 oz). This figures to $1.66 an oz for TB and $1.22 an oz for HP38. Using a max load from Hodgdons Data page a max charge for a 45 Colt loading a 250grn cast bullet, HP38 calls for 7.1 grns per load and TB calls for 5.8 grns per load.

After applying all the other necessary math I came up with 2.0 cents per load (powder only) for the HP38 loads and 2.2 cents per load for the TB loads.

It is a little more costly to use TB over HP38, I did not do any other comparisons. I will continue to use Trail Boss in 45c because I have found nothing that gives me the accuracy without leading in a couple of Vaqueros that I dearly love shooting. It is well worth the 20 cents a hundred for the satisfaction that TB gives. JMHO and YMMV

Not really an accurate comparison.

A nearby powder wholesaler sells TB for $12.29 per jug ($21.84 lb.) and 700-X (one of my favorite powders for the 45 Colt) for $16.78 per lb. Not only is TB over 25% higher per pound than 700-X, it requires roughly 25% more TB to achieve the same velocity as 700-X. Additionally, according to Hodgdon's data, TB is capable of reproducing the factory 45 Colt load of a 250 gr. lead bullet @ ~850 fps without exceeding 14,000 psi.

I prefer fast burning powders for light loads as it's far more cost effective. Of course there's always the possibility of a double charge with relatively light charges of fast burning powder, but I for one don't ever want to lulled into NOT visually checking each case for the proper charge because I'm using something like TB.

35W

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I've found in cowboy action loads I use the same grains as other powder options, so yes Trail Boss does wind up costing more to use.

The big advantage is it fills the old black powder cases such as 45 colt and 44wcf so there is less chance of a double charge.

The disadvantage is even though it is usually accurate enough for cowboy action it is the least accurate powder in most loads and gun combinations I've tested.

That said I use Trail Boss a lot but I do keep some loads of Titegroup for side matches and longer ranges when the best accuracy is necessary.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I read several threads on Trail Boss and a comment that is usually made is about how expensive it is to use. Soooooo while drinking my morning coffee I did the math to see just how expensive it is.

Started with Powder Valley's pricing to get results I Used HP38 and TB for comparison. HP 38 is $19.75 for a jug (16 oz) and TB is 14.75 for a jug (9 oz). This figures to $1.66 an oz for TB and $1.22 an oz for HP38. Using a max load from Hodgdons Data page a max charge for a 45 Colt loading a 250grn cast bullet, HP38 calls for 7.1 grns per load and TB calls for 5.8 grns per load.

After applying all the other necessary math I came up with 2.0 cents per load (powder only) for the HP38 loads and 2.2 cents per load for the TB loads.

It is a little more costly to use TB over HP38, I did not do any other comparisons. I will continue to use Trail Boss in 45c because I have found nothing that gives me the accuracy without leading in a couple of Vaqueros that I dearly love shooting. It is well worth the 20 cents a hundred for the satisfaction that TB gives. JMHO and YMMV

And comparing to Titegroup, using Hodgdon's cowboy load, uses 6.2 gr. at $16.95/lb. Yields 1.5 cents per load.

 

[jmorris]

Not really an accurate comparison.

A nearby powder wholesaler sells TB for $12.29 per jug ($21.84 lb.) and 700-X (one of my favorite powders for the 45 Colt) for $16.78 per lb.

Yeah, it would have skewed the results less if he had picked a faster powder than TB vs a slower powder. That said where are you buying 1 lb jugs of 700-X?

 

[35 Whelen]

Yeah, it would have skewed the results less if he had picked a faster powder than TB vs a slower powder. That said where are you buying 1 lb jugs of 700-X?

Can't remember the last time I HAD to buy 700-X. 20 or so years ago I found a 3/4 full 12 lb.metal drum at an auction for something like $45. Used all of it, then a couple of years ago one of my Dad's buddies said "Hey, can you use this powder?" (Can Tinker Bell use pixie dust???) producing a 1/2 full metal drum. So I really don't ever have to buy it. It and Red Dot are my favorite powders for "standard" loads in the 45 Colt.

35W

 

[jmorris]

Ah, the price you found was for 14oz then, not a pound.

 

[35 Whelen]

Ah, the price you found was for 14oz then, not a pound.

No sir, the price I stated was the cost per pound, as calculated from a 14 oz. jug @ $14.69.

35W

 

[jmorris]

That's a great price who has it for that?

 

[35 Whelen]

That's a great price who has it for that?

Gene Sears in El Reno, OK. BUT, I think you have to have a FFL on file to get that price. I let my FFL go, but still have access to their website.

35W

 

[LOLBELL]

Not really an accurate comparison.

A nearby powder wholesaler sells TB for $12.29 per jug ($21.84 lb.) and 700-X (one of my favorite powders for the 45 Colt) for $16.78 per lb. Not only is TB over 25% higher per pound than 700-X, it requires roughly 25% more TB to achieve the same velocity as 700-X. Additionally, according to Hodgdon's data, TB is capable of reproducing the factory 45 Colt load of a 250 gr. lead bullet @ ~850 fps without exceeding 14,000 psi.

I prefer fast burning powders for light loads as it's far more cost effective. Of course there's always the possibility of a double charge with relatively light charges of fast burning powder, but I for one don't ever want to lulled into NOT visually checking each case for the proper charge because I'm using something like TB.

35W

That is a very accurate comparison between HP38 or W231 and Trail Boss, I got very good grades in math both years I went to school.