45 Colt, Trail Boss load?

00Buck2

00Buck2

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
911
Reaction score
1,168
Location
Hoosier State
Can anyone suggest a starting load for 45 colt with Trail Boss under a 200g Cast LSWC.

I have been loading this bullet over 8.6g of Unique in my 25-5, 4". I've had really good results and no problems with this load other than REALLY DIRTY.

I heard that Trail Boss is not any cleaner but is really good for lead bullets, so I bought a pound of it today. Well I can not find a starting load in my Speer#11 or Lyman 3rd edition for this bullet/powder.

Any suggestions?
 
Register to hide this ad
Hodgdon has data in their Online Reloading Center.

I like to start near the maximum charge listed for Trail Boss. It is a very bulky powder, and as long as you don't compress it and crush the little "donuts", Hodgdon says it is impossible to overcharge this powder. Velocity will be very low, light recoil, it's somewhat clean but it has a weird smell when fired.
 
Thanks, I looked online and IMR showed loads for 240g and heavier bullets. I would guess (going off my previous reloading experience) a starting load for 240g LSWC would be safe for 200g LSCW.
 
This is the advice that I got from Mike Daly who works for Hodgdon: "Mark the case where the base of the bullet will end up when seated, fill to there with Trail Boss and that is your maximum load. Reduce by 10% for a starting load."

Seems that you cannot go wrong with info like that. Rule 3 found it on their website I think.
 
Yeah, the big thing with TB they promote is that you can create a safe load for just about any cartridge using that technique. Personally I find minimum TB loads too light, little more than a pop. Mid-range to max loads are more suitable to my tastes, and they are still very light compared to regular powder choices.
 
00Buck2 said:
Can anyone suggest a starting load for 45 colt with Trail Boss under a 200g Cast LSWC.

I have been loading this bullet over 8.6g of Unique in my 25-5, 4". I've had really good results and no problems with this load other than REALLY DIRTY.

I heard that Trail Boss is not any cleaner but is really good for lead bullets, so I bought a pound of it today. Well I can not find a starting load in my Speer#11 or Lyman 3rd edition for this bullet/powder.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Sir, the reason you can't find a starting load in Speer No. 11 is that Trail Boss didn't exist in 1987 when that manual came out.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
6.5 grns is pretty mild load with trailboss. I am using that in my 45 colt (Cimarron) and it is just enough recoil to be interesting. I was thinking of going to unique to get a bit more "umph" out of it.
 
Trail Boss was developed for cowboy shooters specific needs, I used to shoot it, you can load pretty much as light as you care too, I ran 4g in 44 mag cases for matches and my loads were not really that light. Loadwise you can treat it like black powder, impossible to overload it. Keep in mind that 1lb. container only hold 9oz. so its not cheap to shoot. If you like really light loads it will do the trick.
 
Thank you all!

I am going to try the method Sackett advised and start by reducing it by 20%.

I really like Unique but it is kinda a pain because it tends to hang in the powder dispenser so I pay a little closer attention to it when using it.

I found the 8.6 load very good in my 25-5 by loading 6 separate cartridges at 8g, 8.5g and 9.0g and I shot them at 25y from a rest. The 8g shot lousy group, 8.5g good group, 9g good group but not as tight as the 8.5, but I didn't like the recoil.

Thanks now I'm going to get to working up a TB load.
 
As Titegroup mentioned, the container is the same as other powders but it is not 16 oz.

I bought some to try and see no real reason for it other than filling up a case. It is not cost effective, floats around, smells funny and is expensive.

The only real advantage is you do not need any load data for any caliber, and can not over charge a case unless you compress it, by using the IMR pdf method. I guess the Cowboy action shooter like it.

In a bowl with lots of sugar it's a tasty breakfast.:D
 
The only real advantage is you do not need any load data for any caliber, and can not over charge a case unless you compress it, by using the IMR pdf method. I guess the Cowboy action shooter like it.

In a bowl with lots of sugar it's a tasty breakfast.:D[/QUOTE]

You guys hit the nail on the head!!
I just finished up 100 rounds of it, I shot 6 groups of 3 different loads 7.0g,7.5g and 8.0g under the 200g LSWC.

I went with the 8.0, fired 100 rounds at my 6" and 4" swinging target off hand, hit 50-70% of the time at 25y. I then ran at a hard sprint from the barn to the back of the house to clean my gun! Whats up with that smell?

That was different, I don't think it is for me but I had to try it and now I have a whole can to get rid of. I guess I will buy some nose plugs for next time.
 
I LIKE THE SMELL OF IT! Guess I am just weird!

Another powder that smells similar to it is WST. Not as strong but, same smell.
 
00Buck2 said:
The only real advantage is you do not need any load data for any caliber, and can not over charge a case unless you compress it, by using the IMR pdf method. I guess the Cowboy action shooter like it.

In a bowl with lots of sugar it's a tasty breakfast.:D
Click to expand...

You guys hit the nail on the head!!
I just finished up 100 rounds of it, I shot 6 groups of 3 different loads 7.0g,7.5g and 8.0g under the 200g LSWC.

I went with the 8.0, fired 100 rounds at my 6" and 4" swinging target off hand, hit 50-70% of the time at 25y. I then ran at a hard sprint from the barn to the back of the house to clean my gun! Whats up with that smell?

That was different, I don't think it is for me but I had to try it and now I have a whole can to get rid of. I guess I will buy some nose plugs for next time.[/QUOTE]

That's the Honey Frosting on the Cherrios that smells:D

No worrys we all had to try it, you will use it up quick. It's a good powder for it's intended use, about as safe as you can get and not blow up your gun.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Power Pistol in .38 +P loads...357 Magnum brass, 357 Magnum pistol?
Replies
11
Views
595
38SPL HV
38SPL HV
J
45 colt
Replies
13
Views
1K
Wyo
Wyo
H
Reloading .455 Webley Mark II
Replies
6
Views
286
minconrevo
M
L
Hard Cast and Bottle Necks
Replies
13
Views
451
mtgianni
M
elpac3
Model 53 Jet, Unique / BE86 loading
Replies
2
Views
563
Flyingliver
F

Latest posts

Back
Top