IMR Trailboss & The .44 Light Loads

[forsyth793]

I bought some IMR Trailboss and .44 200 grain RNFP Oregon Trail Bullets

and after trying some light loads in my two .44 S&W's I think I will continue

The powder burns very clean and meters well in my RCBS powder measure but not in my Redding measure. Case volume is excellent, no way to double charge with this powder. In the .44 Special I am using a .5 lighter load than in the .44 Mag. I will be trying 6 grains next in the .44 Mag. The 13 year old girl that tried it didn't have any issues with recoil or blast.

What are your experiences??

 

[Biginge]

I have used 5.7 grs in .45LC for cowboy action shooting pushing a 200gr rnfp. Somewhat less than 800fps. I don't particurally agree with how clean this powder is though.

 

[m657]

I shot 45LC for years with 200 g FNL and something around 5.5/.6/.7g Trail Boss if memory is correct. It was absolutely wonderful, reliable, very clean and as accurate as anything. There would be times where 2 or 3 matches a month where other than a light exterior wiping down, cleaning was simply unnecessary.

I came to use TB as my only cowboy load, and used it for nearly a decade.

That said for 45LC, I tried it extensively in both 44 mag and 44 special, as well as 38/357 loads, and 45-70.

I didn't particularly care for it in the other chamberings. It has such a gentle recoil I felt guilty not having some form of flinch or anxious anticipation of a large issue....which was just fine. In reality, I didn't find loads that were as accurate for my style as I wanted for those other calibers.

No complaints, I'll get back to further recipes as time allows.

 

[Titegroups]

Used it in 44 for cowboy matches 4g behind 180 lead.many thousands of rounds with no leading. I woildnt say the powder itself burned all that clean. About 650fps from 4 1/2" barrel. Keep in mind its sold in 9oz container not 1lb. So it aint cheap. Designed for cowboy shooters and works well for shooting big steel close.

 

[chipking]

TrailBoss has become my range and plinking powder of choice for ALL of my revolvers. I have CLEAN accurate cast bullet loads worked up with 38 Spec 158 swc, 357 mag 158 swc, 41 Mag 215 and 233 swc's 44 Spec 240 and 250 swc's, 44 Mag 240 and 250 swc's and my 45 ACP with 200 swc. When I find the 45 Colt I want it will be fed TrailBoss as well.
Some of the loads in a couple of calibers would work well even for hunting but all work great for punching paper, bouncing targets and knocking down plates.
Chip King

 

[Krogen]

I really >want< to like Trail Boss. So far it hasn't produced the accuracy I've had with other powders.

One thing that bugs me: It stinks!

Literally, I think it reeks! I will continue to experiment with it, though. Probably one-handed; the classic bullseye stance, except with the other hand holding my nose.

 

[Nevada Ed]

A max load in my 6" 686 with a lead 158gr Lswc is 4.7grs that puts out 780 fps and is 1" low at 25 yards with 6 @ 1.35 inch group.
In a 38 special case 4.2grs put out 770 fps with 6 @ 1.28 inch groups.
My M49 snub nose with the 158gr Mag-tech LRN with a starting load gets 5 @ .54 off a rest at ten feet.

I have LOTS of lead loads that give good accuracy with this powder even the 148 hbwc with just 2.5grs at 550 fps that is a great X-Lite recoil load. 2.7grs of Bull is at 628 in the same 6" and a fac. dup load.
I like being able to "See" the powder in a case and know all is well in reloader city and have not had any problems with it being dirty as such or noticed a bad smell, either.
Burns cleaner than most.....no unburned flakes all over the table and never stopped the cylinder on my snub nose as other powders have done in the past.
It's a keeper.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When developing a load, absolutely DO NOT compress the powder charge. IMR recommends the top of the powder be no more than 1/8" below the bullet bottom and 1/16" is better. Using this method, I developed a 38-55 load for my 1885 Winchester (recent manufacture) standard octigan 28" barrel, globe front and short tang rear, a 255 gr. Bear Creek put 5 in 1/2" centers group @ 100 yards. See where a recommended charge puts the powder level, compared to the bullet with the bullet seated to the cannelure, and adjust powder from there. (This works for any metallic rifle or pistol cartridge). As far as "dirty" burning goes, I had a 231 load for 9 mm, that was filthy in my S&W 39, but clean in a 6" MAC 10 and Dad's 2 1911's, and filthy in 2 different High Powers. Don't worry weather it's clean or not, worry if it shoots well. At the very worst, it is not as bad as black powder, or even Pyrodex! Ivan

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I like Trail Boss for its intended use.

A very interesting powder for sure. The DO NOT COMPRESS warnings about it are to be well heeded from what I read. However, otherwise it is pretty benign.

I thought some of the charges listed for it in the load manual seemed way too light after trying them. I started working it up in a couple of straight pistol cartridges and found that if you kept it below the base of the seated bullet, there was no apparent possibility of approaching high pressure or overcharge. In fact, many loads burned cleaner at higher charge levels, although velocity only crept up slowly.

Good powder..... Just please don't squeeze the TB!

 

[GLV]

Never had a bad experience withTrail Boss,

If I can get to it , I'll try using TB in my suppressed .308 this summer.

Nevada Ed, thanks for your fine post.

A max load in my 6" 686 with a lead 158gr Lswc is 4.7grs that puts out 780 fps and is 1" low at 25 yards with 6 @ 1.35 inch group.
In a 38 special case 4.2grs put out 770 fps with 6 @ 1.28 inch groups.
My M49 snub nose with the 158gr Mag-tech LRN with a starting load gets 5 @ .54 off a rest at ten feet.

I have LOTS of lead loads that give good accuracy with this powder even the 148 hbwc with just 2.5grs at 550 fps that is a great X-Lite recoil load. 2.7grs of Bull is at 628 in the same 6" and a fac. dup load.
I like being able to "See" the powder in a case and know all is well in reloader city and have not had any problems with it being dirty as such or noticed a bad smell, either.
Burns cleaner than most.....no unburned flakes all over the table and never stopped the cylinder on my snub nose as other powders have done in the past.
It's a keeper.

 

[WPWarhawk]

As soon as I get my loading bench set up again, I plan to put together some "fun" loads for the 500 S&W.