Trailboss question

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walterelm said:
While Hodgon just says "fill up (the free space of) the case" Vihtavouri insistes on load data. So it is not the same ...
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Never claimed it was the same. I said Tin Star was a competitive powder to Trail Boss, intended for the same market/uses. Hence the name Tin Star, it was marketed for the SASS/cowboy-action crowd same as Trail Boss. It has similar characteristics being an artificially-bulky (through large perforated grain shape) and a fast burning power. They are not interchangeable just similar in characteristics and uses.

ETA: Hodgon also does not say "fill it up" either, not with pistol ammo. You can get into trouble with Trail Boss and doing that in a few cases. 100% full case under some heavy 45 Bullets in 45 Colt will result in pressures above SAAMI MAP. There is guide lines for rifle cases that, in short, indicates you figure out what a 100% full case is for you give rifle cartridge and bullet and then back off to 70% of that and work up to 100% if desired. It also warns to not compressed Trail Boss.
 
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Ever since I started shooting a 480 Ruger, full house 44 magnums don't seem that bad. I shoot 275gr HP and 355gr lead bullets in the 480 and 180 to 240 gr. in the 44. World of difference.
 
Jack B. said:
Ever since I started shooting a 480 Ruger, full house 44 magnums don't seem that bad. I shoot 275gr HP and 355gr lead bullets in the 480 and 180 to 240 gr. in the 44. World of difference.
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I have shot just enough of those big mean revolvers to know that my moderately stout 44 Mag is about all I want. I shot ~180rds of 44 Mag last weekend and my wrist is still just a little stiff today.
 
Olon said:
I bet. 44 mag is the heaviest I've gone so far and I haven't maxed that out yet. Theres still time though
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I've loaded Hornady XTP in 180, 200, 240, and 300 grain projectiles (in my 7.5" super redhawk).

The 180g- 1819 fps ave
The 200g- 1622 fps ave
The 240g- 1448 fps ave
The 300g- 1224 fps ave
I also loaded some hard cast lead 240g to 1614 fps.

Of those, the 200g, 300g, and the 240 hard cast were by far the most punishing. So much in fact that I really don't want to shoot any of the three loads again.
 
Typetwelve said:
I've loaded Hornady XTP in 180, 200, 240, and 300 grain projectiles (in my 7.5" super redhawk).

The 180g- 1819 fps ave
The 200g- 1622 fps ave
The 240g- 1448 fps ave
The 300g- 1224 fps ave
I also loaded some hard cast lead 240g to 1614 fps.

Of those, the 200g, 300g, and the 240 hard cast were by far the most punishing. So much in fact that I really don't want to shoot any of the three loads again.
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My load right now is 240gr XTP going 1330 fps from my 6.5 inch M29 (1550 from the carbine). That's more than enough for anything I need to shoot or I will get a rifle. :D
 
mcb said:
My load right now is 240gr XTP going 1330 fps from my 6.5 inch M29 (1550 from the carbine). That's more than enough for anything I need to shoot or I will get a rifle. :D
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Goofing around with all 4 XTPs, for some reason the 200 and 300 were notably more punishing to shoot. I found myself flinching too much shooting those. I managed to get a bunch of the 180g XTP for $10/box, so I've been shooting them. That 25g of 2400 + 180g XTP load is a definite hammer...but it isn't punishing like others are.
 
Bill M. said:
One thing to note about Trail boss it that it not for jacketed bullets in handguns,
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....as per Hodgdon themselves, it is perfectly fine with jacketed bullets in handguns. Just stay above the 70% of case volume. I've only used it with jacketed handgun bullets in .357, .44 and .460. shoots okay, but in the long run, IMHO, Unique works just as well, is easier to find and is usable in more applications.
 
Typetwelve said:
A BFR in 460 is on my "to-get" list. I was going to make it my next project but a Henry lever in 44 mag caught my eye...
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Nice thing about a 460, you can shoot 45 Colt and 454 Casull as well. I never have, though, if I want to shoot something with less recoil, I pull out my 44mag. Go big or go home. :D
 
Typetwelve said:
Goofing around with all 4 XTPs, for some reason the 200 and 300 were notably more punishing to shoot. I found myself flinching too much shooting those. I managed to get a bunch of the 180g XTP for $10/box, so I've been shooting them. That 25g of 2400 + 180g XTP load is a definite hammer...but it isn't punishing like others are.
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I bought some Remington UMC 180 gr JSP cause I got them at a good price, mostly for the brass. The muzzle flash on those was obnoxious, huge yellow fireball with every shot!
 
There isn't a cartridge I load for that I don't have a trailboss recipe for. My favorite is the 45-70 with a 405 grain rnfp, soft shooting but still pretty powerful. I don't prefer it for 357 mag, other powders do fine for light loads. It does burn clean, not sure if it's normal but I always use magnum primers with trailboss. I even made up a couple trailboss loads for a buddy's 338 lapua mag, it was stupid and not accurate.
I can't get it to meter very well so I hand weigh each charge , kind of a pain.
I also really like it in a 454 casull case, with a 250 grain cast rnfp - feels very light and I get 900 fps from a 5" barrel- that's a load you can shoot all day and also is pretty powerful.
Trailboss is your friend.
 
Trail boss meters well enough to suit me. I get good results with my Lee Auto Drum. I doubt that it costs more to load with Trail Boss because the loads are so lightweight. And so what if it does. Does one "need to" load with Trail Boss? Heck no. But for me I like it.

I have not seen that Hodgdon suggests Trail Boss for jacketed bullets in handguns. I guess I will search their site again, I know some rifle shooters do it. Maybe someone could source that information? Probably not a powder I would use for that purpose anyway.
 
Bill M. said:
Trail boss meters well enough to suit me. I get good results with my Lee Auto Drum. I doubt that it costs more to load with Trail Boss because the loads are so lightweight. And so what if it does. Does one "need to" load with Trail Boss? Heck no. But for me I like it.

I have not seen that Hodgdon suggests Trail Boss for jacketed bullets in handguns. I guess I will search their site again, I know some rifle shooters do it. Maybe someone could source that information? Probably not a powder I would use for that purpose anyway.
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Here's some info regarding jacketed bullets from hodgdons site. This refers to rifle rounds but it's fine for handgun rounds too.
Screenshot_20200501-094358.png
Sorry it came out a little small. I'll add a link.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/tips-and-tricks/low-recoil-loads
 
Obturation said:
Here's some info regarding jacketed bullets from hodgdons site. This refers to rifle rounds but it's fine for handgun rounds too.
View attachment 913198
Sorry it came out a little small. I'll add a link.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/tips-and-tricks/low-recoil-loads
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As I said up thread using that rifle procedure documented in your linked info for Trail Boss with a pistol cartridge can get you in trouble with some older high volume low pressure pistol cartridges. Putting 100% case full of Trail Boss under a 250gr or heavier bullet in 45 Colt will frequently create a cartridge that runs several thousand PSI over SAAMI MAP for 45 Colt. Most modern 45 Colt Revolvers could probably handle the over pressure but but if you have an old Colt SAA, Taurus Judge or Charter Arms that is meant for SAAMI spec ammo it could cause problems/damage. Just be aware of the possibility. With modern 357 Mag 44 Mag and similar higher pressure cartridges that procedure will work fine.
 
Wing Rider said:
I am looking to make some light loads for wife to shoot in 357mag and 44mag. ...
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Absolutely LOVE TB for that. And I don't mind shooting TB reloads my own self in .357 and .44 mag.

Also, my old RCBS Uniflow powder measure doles TB out well enough that if powder drop variation exceeds 0.1 grain, I know I did something wrong with my technique.
 
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I read the Hodgdon link provided above. It says that TB was designed for lead bullets in handgun loads. But that it can be used for lead and jacketed in rifle loads and lists some rifle loads. It does not say that it can used in pistol loads with jacketed bullets nor does it list loads.

I suggest you read it again.

The danger with Trail Boss in a revolver is sticking a jacketed bullet due to the low peak pressure and the force to engrave the rifling grooves into the bullet.
 
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Bill M. said:
I read the Hodgdon link. It says that TB was designed for lead bullets in handgun loads. But that it can be used for lead and jacketed in rifle loads and lists some rifle loads. It does not say that it can used in pistol loads with jacketed bullets.

The danger in a revolver is sticking a bullet.
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I never see any data for it with jacketed or plated pistol bullets in my manuals; just lead.
 
I tried TB in a 7.62x54R for my Mosin Nagant. Very Soft shooting, but very inaccurate beyond 50yds. great for just wanting to shoot at targets.
Here is what I tried and chrono results: bullet/powder/OAL/ rounds and chrono fps.
7.62x54r 180/ Sierra SP TrailBoss 17gn 2.975 10/1475
7.62x54r 150gn/Sierra SP TrailBoss 17.4gn 2.87 10/1445

At 100yards I had severe bullet drop from a 180gn bullet.
A normal 7.62x54R round chrono around 2400-3000fps dependent on load, so gives a good idea of what TB will/will not do.

If you follow the TB instructions on Hodgdons site, you cannot overfill or exceed the limits of.45LC for lead bullets, unless you are compressing.
Be safe Y'all, warnings are there for a reason.
 
I use Trail Boss when I make 38spl loads for my wife's revolver; she's recoil sensitive. I also use it for 44 spl loads. I even use it for .270 loads for a lot of plinking, and have not noticed a trajectory problem even out to 200 yards.
 
I’ve used TB for 45acp plated bullets. Works very well, but might need a soft recoil spring in some guns. I did find that it is sensitive to primer size, it was one of those powders that lost a lot of velocity with small primer vs large.
 
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