Trailboss alternatives

PapaG said:
Sixty years of loading and shooting Unique and I never realized the problems I must have been having. Guess I will stay ignorant and happy.
Click to expand...
Ignorance is indeed bliss, Papa G. ;)
A late buddy started some of this trouble; we split the price of an Ohler chronograp, 35 years ago.
Such is not my experience; a buddy had a 6gr U'que/115 9mm load that is a real heller; my results were all over the landscape. You probably don't want to fire that load in a P38; no need to ask how I know this.
Sad thing, really love the burn rate.
Did a quick check of %age of case filled with 10-something of #5, and 8-something of U'que, and the Unique actually filled the case pretty well; not much space between powder and bullet bottom, which really surprises me, considering past position problems. Too, Dillon has upgraded their powder measure; it now has a built in 'bump' when the powder measure shuttles. I think I did experiment with both the large and small bars previously.
Anyway, headed to a local shop for primers tomorrow, at a not too usurious price (1k @ $74), so I'll check on U'que while I'm at it.
Thanks, gang.
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
Ignorance is indeed bliss, Papa G. ;)
A late buddy started some of this trouble; we split the price of an Ohler chronograp, 35 years ago.
Such is not my experience; a buddy had a 6gr U'que/115 9mm load that is a real heller; my results were all over the landscape. You probably don't want to fire that load in a P38; no need to ask how I know this.
Sad thing, really love the burn rate.
Did a quick check of %age of case filled with 10-something of #5, and 8-something of U'que, and the Unique actually filled the case pretty well; not much space between powder and bullet bottom, which really surprises me, considering past position problems. Too, Dillon has upgraded their powder measure; it now has a built in 'bump' when the powder measure shuttles. I think I did experiment with both the large and small bars previously.
Anyway, headed to a local shop for primers tomorrow, at a not too usurious price (1k @ $74), so I'll check on U'que while I'm at it.
Thanks, gang.
Moon
Click to expand...
Oddball question, if you don’t mind: are you shooting cowboy competition using the two-handed right-hold/left-cock method? I have seen some folks do that to improve their speed. The result is the cylinder stays level and the recoil goes into the right thumb. That would explain the difference in results vs someone like myself who shoots one-handed and lets the gun roll back into the cocking position. It’s not as fast with super light loads but I get less felt recoil and get back on target/lead faster with hunting loads.
 
PapaG said:
Sixty years of loading and shooting Unique and I never realized the problems I must have been having. Guess I will stay ignorant and happy.
9mm, 38,357, 44 spec, 45 auto, 45 Colt, cast in 222, 223, 30-30. 30-06,45-70. All were fine.
Click to expand...
It’s been my experience that Unique “just works” in about everything, and pretty well at that. Only problem is finding it, but it is out there.
 
There aren't many disciplines I haven't tried, aside from the national high power matches at Camp Perry, real Bench rest, and Cowboy. (can't handle the dress up). Traditional bullseye, small bore three position, pins (right shoot, left cock the hammer), cast bullet assn, trap, skeet, black powder bullseye, offhand, musket, trap and skeet. I've loaded personal and commercial, built muzzle loaders, accurized rifles, done light gunsmithing, had a store, hunted with bow, shotgun and black powder.
I've sampled most of it. Succeeded in some, failed in others. Held a national record, written a couple instructional books and will say, unequivocally:
There is more that I don't know than I ever will. I have some experience, and many opinions but I continue to learn even at the feeble age of 79 (in a few days). I don't make big changes, never try for the top load, have all my fingers and both eyes, have hearing aids, and believe Unique is God 's gift to the reloader. Not the best for anything but good for a little bit of everything.
I doubt that anything I have, aside from my muzzle loaders and rimfires, has escaped Unique loads, dirty or hard measuring regardless.
Apologies for the long winded post and no gripes intended. Halloween night and a blast handing out treats to about a hundred sweet kids leaves me high and wordy.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
YMMV but No.5 in my 5” Ruger is strictly for Hi-Vel loads. It is not very good at lower pressure in the massive case. Silhouette (the powder formerly known as WAP) is better.
Click to expand...
One set of data only gave a single load, no 'start' or 'max', though another did offer a lower load. Yeah, it does sound like it is to be more intensive.
That ginormous .45 Case is the issue.
Moon
 
PapaG said:
Apologies for the long winded post and no gripes intended. Halloween night and a blast handing out treats to about a hundred sweet kids leaves me high and wordy.
Click to expand...
PapaG, I have a somewhat similar relationship with Bullseye, it's the maid of all work for most of my handgun loads (smaller cased, mind you.)
I may give U'que another try.
Moon
 

GeoDudeFlorida said:
Oddball question, if you don’t mind: are you shooting cowboy competition using the two-handed right-hold/left-cock method?
Click to expand...
This is all for my personal entertainment...like you, thought about Cowboy Action, but the Halloween thing didn't sit with me, either. Really like the vintage guns.
I'm just after mild loads in a big bullet caliber.
I have done some experimenting with position issues, because I'd read about it in magazine article. That is how we learned things, once upon a time.
Again, may be worrying too much about non-issues. Trail Boss just seemed such a painless solution to large, BP cases, especially after battles with the .45-70.
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
Due respect, Charlie, but I've been reloading for noticeably longer than that
Click to expand...

No offense taken... and I got you. It really depends on what you expect out of your handloads. Your OP suggests you are looking for a substitute for a Cowboy-level handload in .45 Colt, not a match-grade, Camp Perry (or, I guess, Atterbury these days...) competition load. Unique will get you there. I have heard complaints about metering, and particularly with the Dillon... and I got that, too. I'm merely suggesting that you put away the chrono and look at the target.

I was going to suggest TinStar as well, but it has largely been MIA, too... very likely because the TrailBoss users are hitting that up.

Best of luck.
 
Charlie98 said:
No offense taken... and I got you. It really depends on what you expect out of your handloads. Your OP suggests you are looking for a substitute for a Cowboy-level handload in .45 Colt, not a match-grade, Camp Perry (or, I guess, Atterbury these days...) competition load. Unique will get you there. I have heard complaints about metering, and particularly with the Dillon... and I got that, too. I'm merely suggesting that you put away the chrono and look at the target.

I was going to suggest TinStar as well, but it has largely been MIA, too... very likely because the TrailBoss users are hitting that up.

Best of luck.
Click to expand...
From Vihtavuori: The Tin Star Powder has been discontinued and is no longer in active production.

https://www.vihtavuori.com/powders/...nsistent performance and absolute reliability.

It looks like Tin Star is no more as well.
 
Charlie98 said:
There was a recent post about the low availability of TinStar... now I know why no one can find it. :confused:
Click to expand...
It’s looking like Red Dot might be out of production as well. There’s been some Promo available but Red Dot has been off the market for some time. I haven’t seen anything official from Alliant yet but they tend to lag behind on public information - probably due to a longer term decision making process. Maybe there’s some hope of bringing it back?
I’m afraid we’re going to see the retirement of quite a few favorites in the near future. Gird your loins, Lads!
 
Charlie98 said:
I actually saw some Promo on the shelf last week... I don't know if I've seen any RedDot, however. I'll have to keep me eyes peeled, just for curiosity sake.
Click to expand...
That was one of the powders I recommend typically for lighter .45Colt loads. Red Dot fills a case nicely and I’ve never found it to be position sensitive - never thought Unique was either though so what do I know?
For heavier stuff I like Blue Dot or Herco. I stopped using Herco for the most part after I found Blue Dot but it is a good powder and it is available. Herco places between Unique and Blue Dot for me in terms of potential power loads - not quite magnum, not quite mid-range, not quite a does it all powder but what it does, it does well.
 
Charlie98 said:
No offense taken... and I got you. It really depends on what you expect out of your handloads. Your OP suggests you are looking for a substitute for a Cowboy-level handload in .45 Colt, not a match-grade, Camp Perry (or, I guess, Atterbury these days...) competition load. Unique will get you there. I have heard complaints about metering, and particularly with the Dillon... and I got that, too. I'm merely suggesting that you put away the chrono and look at the target.
Click to expand...
Not a problem, Charlie, and you do have it figured out. :)
Like the chrono as a check on my loading procedures and loads; my marksmanship isn't the proof it once was. :( Too, it's interesting to check the effect of individual guns' barrel length and configuration. As an example, a Schofield generates noticeably lower velocities than an SAA clone; suspect Uberti found a way to lower pressures in that top break design.
I'm off to buy some primers today, and I'll check for U'que as well. Saw some references here for Red Dot as well.
Thanks,
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
Saw some references here for Red Dot as well.
Click to expand...

Just FYI... RedDot and Promo are the same basic powder, but Promo is only sold in larger quantities... 8#'ers I believe... where RedDot is 1#, etc. Be aware, the Dot powders are fluffy powders not unlike Unique... if your Dillon measure doesn't like Unique, it's prolly not going to particularly care for RedDot, either.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Herco places between Unique and Blue Dot for me in terms of potential power loads
Click to expand...

I've always considered Unique the line of departure between mid-range powders, and Magnum powders. You can download Unique reasonably well, BlueDot turns into a handful if you don't have it under pressure, not unlike IMR4227 or 2400, et al. Further, Alliant has published warnings against using BlueDot in the .41MAG completely, and certain combinations in .357MAG... so since I load a lot of .41, I've just decided BlueDot and I will just part company, and be done with it.
 
Charlie98 said:
Just FYI... RedDot and Promo are the same basic powder, but Promo is only sold in larger quantities... 8#'ers I believe... where RedDot is 1#, etc. Be aware, the Dot powders are fluffy powders not unlike Unique... if your Dillon measure doesn't like Unique, it's prolly not going to particularly care for RedDot, either.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up; the guy suggesting it (here) claimed it meters pretty well, but your point is taken. I'll have a look in my manuals, and give it some thought. May depend on what the shop has in stock.
Best,
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
claimed it meters pretty well
Click to expand...

It does... at least for me. I've heard of the Dillon not liking flake powders specifically... so just a heads up. RedDot meters fine for me... out of my Hornady drop. RedDot/Promo is a worthwhile powder to look into, and particularly as a fairly fast powder in the big bores... it works pretty good.

Happy Trails, and let us know how things shake out...
 
Charlie98 said:
I've always considered Unique the line of departure between mid-range powders, and Magnum powders. You can download Unique reasonably well, BlueDot turns into a handful if you don't have it under pressure, not unlike IMR4227 or 2400, et al. Further, Alliant has published warnings against using BlueDot in the .41MAG completely, and certain combinations in .357MAG... so since I load a lot of .41, I've just decided BlueDot and I will just part company, and be done with it.
Click to expand...
Herco was blended to push heavy loads that would be over pressure with Unique but it is still a mid range powder. Blue Dot is the lowest level magnum shotgun blend I’m aware of but maybe IMR800x holds that title.
I can’t speak to the issues of droppers or progressives. I load using completely different methods. As far as available powders goes, Tin Star, Trail Boss, and Red Dot are off the list. Promo, Herco, True Blue,Unique and Silhouette are on the list but aren’t exactly the same as Trail Boss. If Unique is off the list because it “meters poorly” and lacks accuracy then No.5 and No.7 should also be off the list because neither runs well at low pressure. If the goal is a powder puff load then Herco is also off the list. I’m not a fan of True Blue in the .44 but haven’t tried it in the .45Colt.
So that leaves Silhouette and Promo - neither of which I have or use.
I have used Red Dot and WAP - the updated versions of each - in the Colt with good success but I hand dipped and weighed every load.
 
I've often wondered about Herco... and particularly for the 9mm. It's in the same burn range as WAP and Silhouette, as you mention. I didn't include WAP when I was doing my 9mm test powder workups, and maybe I should have added Herco, too...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

scallop
  • Locked
Loves me some Trailboss
Replies
8
Views
481
armarsh
armarsh
H
  • Locked
Trouble with Trailboss?
Replies
18
Views
1K
TonyT
T
M
  • Locked
Black Powder .45ACP and .45LC loads?
Replies
4
Views
1K
snuffy
S
S
  • Locked
Loading my own .45ACP CONVERSION CYLINDER LOADS
Replies
6
Views
271
GeoDudeFlorida
GeoDudeFlorida
Tallinar
  • Locked
A basic guide to BP cartridge loading?
Replies
2
Views
444
Tallinar
Tallinar
Back
Top