38 special & Trail Boss

[Nevada Ed]

Went to the Hodgdon (new) site and checked out their load data.

Has anyone loaded the 148 lead bullet with less than 2.6 grs of Trail Boss ?

Their minimum shows 2.0 grs.

My 2.6 gr load out of a J frame snuby is +/- 600fps.

Just wondering how low I can go, in my 2 & 6" barrels ?
Thanks for any info and accuracy reports.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I would think you would base minimum velocity on the 6" barrels. Then your 2" would be golden. (I assume same ammo for both guns)

Does the new Hodgdon web page list barrel length?

Just a reminder that Trail Boss has some strange properties, but 1) normally behaves as a slow burning powder. 2) Must never compressed! & 3) has always performed best when there is a 1/16" air gap between bullet base and the powder. The original loading information didn't give weight in grains, but instructed you to leave a 1/16" to 1/8" air gap and had the means to determine the way to figure this out. I would try a 2.2 grain charge in the case and do the simple math the leave the air gap for seating depth and try a cylinder to see if they clear the long barrel. Rinse & repeat for 2.0 grains. This requires case that are the same volume and same length. (Steve, I know you already know this, but for others, this is VERY IMPORTANT!)

Ivan