Trail Boss for .44mag loads

skypilot1941 · Apr 19, 2014

I found some powder at my LGS today. 5lbs of Trail Boss and a lb. of Accurate No. 5. I only see a couple of loads listed for each of these powders with a 240gr Keith style bullet. Back when I used to reload in the 70s all I used was Unique and 2400. As you know, they are extremely hard to find. So, anyone have an suggestions on some beginning loads with these two powders?

Rule3 · Apr 19, 2014

Do you have manuals? I know you have a computer

Data for your 240 gr lead bullet

Hodgdon - The Gun Powder People

List data for 44 Special but not 44 Mag?

Load Data « Accurate Powders

ArchAngelCD · Apr 19, 2014

Sorry to say Trail Boss is not a powder you will get any real performance from in any magnum load. It will produce no more than slightly hot 44 Special loads, not 44 Magnum loads.

According to Western Powders AA#5 isn't suitable for loading the 44 Magnum. While AA#7 and AA#9 are of course better choices for the 44 Magnum I see no reason why AA#5 can't be used. It's in the same burn rate range as HS-6, Unique and even True Blue which is also a Western powder and they do supply load data for it. Of course you can safely use 44 Special load data but that will produce very anemic ammo especially in the slightly longer case.

Older Accurate data listed on the handloads.com site reports a load range of 12.6gr to 14.0gr AA#5 under a 240gr LSWC bullet. (always check the data for yourself, don't trust data on Internet forums)
44 Magnum Load Data - Handloads.Com

Hope this helps...

skypilot1941 · Apr 19, 2014

Thanks for the help Rule 3 and ArchAngel. I have Lyman #49 which was no help. I had looked at both the other sites and got a couple of hits, just as you indicated. I'll try the data from Handloads.com. Didn't know about that one. Until I can get Unique or 2400 or one of the other, that will just have to do. Thanks again and Happy Easter everyone! Christ is Risen Indeed!

Stephanie B · Apr 19, 2014

skypilot1941 said:
I found some powder at my LGS today. 5lbs of Trail Boss and a lb. of Accurate No. 5. So, anyone have an suggestions on some beginning loads with these two powders?

The Lee manual only lists lead bullet loads for Trail Boss. For a 240-grn bullet, 6.0 grains is the starting point for a .44 magnum and 7.3 grains is the maximum load. Not exactly a high-pressure load, according to the book's data.

skud_dusty · Apr 19, 2014

There is one thing to be extremely careful with in regards to trail boss, and that is compression. Compressed trail boss is extremely dangerous as far as burn rate and pressure. It's great for light to medium loads but don't try to hot rod it. Make sure if you are using a longer bullet not to seat so deep as to compress the load.

Sent from my ZTE-Z990G using Tapatalk 2

Cobbler · Apr 20, 2014

TB will not produce magnum loads but that's not a bad thing. I load TB for my .41mag reduced loads and it makes it very comfortable to shoot. Neither my gun or my hands are getting beat by magnum loads. If you want to practice and get good with the gun, use TB and shoot all day. Your gun and hands will love you. When you want to hunt or blow stuff up then go to the power loads, until then TB. BTW- it works great in my 1911 for low recoil plate shooting. Its case filling characteristics deliver very consistent groups. I love TB......

skypilot1941 · Apr 20, 2014

Thanks Cobble. I'm with you on the lighter loads. I plan to shoot a lot, at least as much as my wallet will allow. Back in the 70's I used to shoot 50-100 rounds a day, reload at night then do it again the next day. Things sure are a lot more expensive now days.

skypilot1941 · May 1, 2014

Just an update on my TB loads. Used 7.0 grains for a really pleasant load. Stiff enough to know you actually shot the gun, in this case a 6 1/2' model 29-2, but not enough to wear out my hands. I did shoot some factory Winchester .44's; been a long time since I've done that. Forgot how much recoil they produce. Used to love that in my 20's and 30's, not quite as much now. But still a lot of fun. Anyway, the TB worked well for me.

Nevada Ed · May 2, 2014

TB was designed for "Cowboy" action shooting at black powder speeds.

For target and light loads it is a great powder and you will get lots of accurate, light recoil loads with a little testing.

I have had get success with 60 to 95% case volume loads but you will have to see what your gun likes.
Hot loads are not always the best..........I have had several light loads in several revolvers out shoot the high vel. loadings,
although there are some faster target loads that are also accurate.

Glad to see you have a LOT of it...........
Have fun developing loads for your enjoyment.

jaymoore · May 2, 2014

I did some load work-ups with Trail Boss in .44 Mag a while back. Using the "no powder compression" rule described in Post #6, I measured the depth to which the bullet would be seated and then filled the case with Trail Boss to that intersection as a way of determining the abosulte maximum load. Measured that weight and backed of a wee bit just for safety. However, the maximum loads weren't what ended up being best. Depending on the lead bullet, "best" was usually one to 1 1/2 grains less than 100% loading density. Accuracy has been fine. It's just a somewhat expensive powder. (The containers I've bought look like one pounders, but are actually much less!)

Cobbler · May 2, 2014

Here' is a target from last Saturday at the range. The top center shot was the first one from a clean barrel, then the rest settled in. It's 3.8g of Trail Boss, Bearcreek 200g LSWC moly coated @ 45' off bags with my Sig 1911TME 12lb. recoil spring, 6 rounds, open sights. Great "creampuff" load for fast recover and at 25yds will knock a plate over. No bullet splatter with this load, you can see is fall to the ground after it hits the steel.....Lol! Where I shoot steel plate match there is no power factor to hit so it all good.

Yorkie Man · May 2, 2014

I loaded up 6.0 grains with the Lyman keith bullet and tried them in my 69 and 5" 629-4 last week. Both shot real nice round 1 1/2" groups at 25 yards.

buck460XVR · May 2, 2014

Simple.......

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

H Richard · May 2, 2014

Be careful with Handloads.com, as I read that site, anyone can input their loads. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't particularly trust just anybody's loads from unknown sources. I would much more trust what a member here lists or best, from the book or factory website.

Ceapea · May 2, 2014

H Richard said:
Be careful with Handloads.com, as I read that site, anyone can input their loads. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I don't particularly trust just anybody's loads from unknown sources. I would much more trust what a member here lists or best, from the book or factory website.

I agree.
You can't be too safe.
I ALWAYS recheck loads/data found online, with reputable sources...the powder manufacturers.

Cpo1944 · May 2, 2014

A LGS has a 5 lb keg of Trail Boss for $120 is that a good deal?
I wanted to get a 1 lb just to try it out , but I`m not sure I want to buy 5 lbs .

buck460XVR · May 2, 2014

jack oconnor said:
A LGS has a 5 lb keg of Trail Boss for $120 is that a good deal?
I wanted to get a 1 lb just to try it out , but I`m not sure I want to buy 5 lbs .

TB does not come in 1# jugs....because of it's bulkiness the small cans are only 9oz. That's why the big jugs are 5# and not 8#. Not a bad price for the TB if you know you like it and will use 5#.

M3Stuart · May 2, 2014

I too picked up 5 cans of TB just recently for loading .38 special and really like it for target loads.

As if by magic, my leading problems vanished - so it's really good for that!

But I don't think you'll ever get anything more than a moderate load in any magnum with TB...you just can't fit enough in the case.

FWIW: as the powder situation gets more desperate, my next plan is to go to FFG Black Powder for .38 Special

which you can actually do - since .38 was originally developed with black powder.

If you find yourself in the same situation: Hodgdon lists loads for .44 Mag with 200 & 240 gr with Triple Seven 2F at 30 & 25 gr respectively.

skypilot1941 · May 3, 2014

Thanks Buck460 for that link; very helpful. I paid just slightly more than $120 for my #5's of TB so that isn't a bad deal and I do plan on using that much in days to come. Very helpful thread here. I appreciate all the input.

Trail Boss for .44mag loads

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