Trail Boss - Impressive

[JPB43]

I've been reloading a long time and I had heard of Trail Boss from some Cowboy Action shooters a few years ago. I never thought it would be good for target loads in .45 auto, 38/357 etc. until another shooter gave me a little to try. He claimed to get accuracy with TB .45 auto target loads as good as rounds loaded to factory ball velocity with Unique.

I began to do some research and found bits and pieces of info on Trail Boss and tried 3.5gr under a 200gr lswc and a 230gr lrn.
Both bullets shot well at 15yd with the 230gr providing the best accuracy.

I'm just beginning to use this as a substitute for other powder, what with the shortage of the more popular powders on the market, but was very pleasantly surprised at the inherent accuracy (at least in .45 auto so far). I almost forgot to mention, it is a soft shooting powder, and fills the case enough to make a double-charge very obvious as well. I intend to try working up target loads for my wheel guns as well.

Jim

 

[Nevada Ed]

It works in the long 357 magnum cases but all of my 38's
just love this powder in all the lead bullet weights that I have used so far....... from a snub to a 6" barrel.

 

[m657]

My favorite loads with TB are 45LC with 200g lead and 44 special. It's rather eery how much more soft the recoil seems to be.....not sure how that works out in the ballistic numbers.

 

[JBnTx]

I've been using Trail Boss with cast bullets in 44 special, 44 Magnum, 45 Colt and 454 Casull.

It works exceptionally well in the 44 Special and 45 Colt, but in the 44 Magnum and 454 Casull I just can't seem to get the accuracy I want with Trail Boss.

These are Missouri Bullet Co. hardcast bullets.

I use the data on the Hodgdon website, and my best loads seem to always be .2 grains less than the maximum listed load. I've read the warnings about compressing Trail Boss, so I don't want to go any higher.

While Trail Boss is my favorite powder for the 44 Special and the 45 Colt, I think I'll stick to Unique for cast loads in the 44 Magnum and the 454 Casull.

 

[Bart45]

In my 38 & 357 cast bullet loads, TB works great in all barrel lengths from 2" model 36 to 8" model 27.

 

[Smithboomer]

I'm another fan of Trailboss.

Each summer at the range I teach kids to handload .38 Special rounds. Using Trailboss instead of WW 231 has eliminated any danger of a double load. As JPB43 mentioned, the case overflows with a double charge of TB. It shoots great, too.

 

[chipking]

Great stuff for plinking/target loads. I have several friends who shot a lot of it but I always clung to my old tried and true Unique loads UNTIL. I bought another Model 58 from a IDPA shooter and being a little light on brass I also bought 600 rounds of his competition loads which were 6.5 grains of Trail Boss behind a 210gr LSWC. This load makes Major with a little to spare in the 4" 58 and is capable of sub 2" 25 yard groups in all of my 41 Mags PLUS it is the cleanest load I have shot in a long time. After several hundred rounds the guns and hands are still clean, most assuredly not the case with Unique or 231.
Also has worked well in my 44 Specials, 38 Specials and 45 ACP and 45 Colt.
Chip King

 

[jimbo728]

Jim, Which .45Auto was used. Just curious as I am tempted to try TB in my R1.
Thanks
Jim

 

[M3Stuart]

In my 38 & 357 cast bullet loads, TB works great in all barrel lengths from 2" model 36 to 8" model 27.

I know, right?

I scored 5 cans of this stuff recently when all else was unobtainium and just love it!

Oh, and 'magically' my leading problems went away!!!

I shoot the MBC 158 LSWC's and RNFP's mostly. Both BHN of 12.

Plus, you can't double charge it, it burns cleaner than HP38 or WIN231, doesn't create leading problems...oh, and it's AVAILABLE!!!

 

[Rex Goliath]

I know, right?

I scored 5 cans of this stuff recently when all else was unobtainium and just love it!

Oh, and 'magically' my leading problems went away!!!

I shoot the MBC 158 LSWC's and RNFP's mostly. Both BHN of 12.

Plus, you can't double charge it, it burns cleaner than HP38 or WIN231, doesn't create leading problems...oh, and it's AVAILABLE!!!

Now you have my attention; doesn't create leading problems...oh boy! Better burn rate than bullseye or unique. Okay. Almost sold.

I have been accumulating spent 357 brass for wadcutters just in case this kind of situation developed. Any Cali followers know where a fella in occupied kalifornia can get his TB fix?


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[Ivan the Butcher]

Trail Boss seems to be a replacement for Unique, except for the really small cases like 25 & 32 ACP. But it really excels at large cases like 45-70. But my best results have been with 38-55 in a High wall; 20 shot group under a dime! at 100 yards and globe and tang sights. That's .2 MOA or less. Ivan

 

[Vulcan Bob]

A bit of caution is needed at times with this powder. In my RCBS Uni-Flow powder measure it will bridge often, dropping light and then heavy powder charges, if you are not observant this can cause real problems. If you wind up with a compressed load the powder flakes will crush and break and according to the manufacturer this will increase its burn rate considerably and may have catastrophic results. I use Trail Boss in the 45-70 Government and .45 Colt with good results and I do rather like it.

 

[jmmitc06]

I use trail boss for low powered loads in older firearms, namely my Webley mkVI in 45acp. It provides excellent accuracy while burning cleanly at low pressures.

Those little donuts though are hard to get out of powder measures. I have an electronic lyman and those little donuts like to stick to everything! Unique doesn't do that at all, but it's worth it to be able to use trail boss.

 

[joeintexas]

Has anyone tried it in 9mm? It is available here but I passed on it thinking it was only a cowboy action load.

 

[Rule3]

Indeed a good powder and useful for most anything. Heck do not even need load data. If they could only manage to sell you 16 oz in the same container that only holds 9 oz it would be a bargain!

Smells funny but maybe that's what the Old West smelled like.

 

[98dynagld]

Makes a great powder for sub-sonic loads for a .223.

 

[glowe]

I love this stuff. I now load 32 S&W, 23 Long, 32-20, 38 S&W, 38 Special, 44 Special, 44-40, 45 Colt, and .455. The great thing about this powder is safety. You can not double charge or over-charge using TB. This powder can not be compressed, so measure your volume carefully.

I started using this powder shortly after it was available a few years ago. Started with 38 Special, 158 SWC and 3.5 grains of TB, which is a mid-load from the IMR load center data. It was too slow for me at 650 fps. I went to 4 granis and got 702 fps. I then went to the max load of 4.2 garins and found out why this number is important - you cannot get any more powder under the bullet! It registered a mild 744 fps. All testing was in a 38 Masterpiece with 6" barrel.

The fastest load I obtained was in a 38 S&W with max 4 grains TB behind a 145 RN. That speed was still safe at 781 fps. I have loaded 6 grains in a 44-40 and recorded a speed of 900 fps in a Henry Levergun, so you can get it up there with a long barrel.