Trail Boss in the .44 Magnum

[Green Mountain Shooter]

I joined the Smith and Wesson Forum a week or so ago and have been shooting and reloading for over 25 years. Over this time period I have owned various S&W revolvers. I first got into shooting and reloading the .44 magnum when I bought a Ruger 77/44 all weather. Being left handed I found the safety not very user friendly. I sold it and purchased a Ruger Redhawk with the 7.5 inch barrel….a real hand cannon. Problem was that it was a lot to tote around and shooting full house magnum loads in it with any accuracy required more range time than I had available. I traded it for a Marlin 1894 lever gun in .44 magnum and have been reloading and shooting it since. Do you see a pattern here? Actually I cast for this caliber and have always found it to be accurate with both cast and commercial jacketed bullets. I enjoy punching paper with cast bullets and decided I wanted a .44 special revolver for target shooting. As I researched what was available on the internet auctions I realized I might as well purchase a .44 magnum and down load it as needed. For easy of carry I wanted a four inch barrel and decided on the Model 29.

For target shooting I wanted to stay below 1000 fps. I have always sought to keep the loading density as close to 100% as possible but did not want to shoot .44 specials in the M29 as I already had hundreds of magnum cases available. I remembered reading numerous articles over the last few years that discussed reduced velocity cast bullet loads using Hodgdon Trail Boss. I got out the latest Hodgdon reloading magazine and found just what I was looking for. Trail Boss was originally formulated to provide reduced velocity loads for Cowboy Action Shooting. Due to the size of the powder grains it is next to impossible to double load a charge of Trail Boss in a handgun case. Anticipating problems getting the sixteenth inch diameter "donuts" to meter through my powder measure I got out my old set of Lee powder dippers. To my surprise I found that Trail Boss consistently measured within a .10 of a grain using the dippers. I found that the 1.6 cc dipper measured out 6.9 gr. for an estimated velocity of ~875 fps with the 240 gr. Lyman 429241. It is a pleasure to shoot and accurate in my four inch Model 29. When I want to get the full throttle experience of the .44 magnum I have plenty of full house loads using H110 or IMR4227, but when I want to target shoot or take my daughter to the range Trail Boss is my favorite powder.

 

[32dgrz]

For reduced loads I use unique. Around 8 to 9 shoots well.

 

[625smith]

I like Trail Boss. I have used Trail boss in 45 colt, 41 magnum, 44 magnum, & 44 special all with very good results.

 

[Titegroups]

Used to use the stuff for cowboy in .44mag. load was 4.0g with a 180g LFN bullet. Velocity was around 650-590fps from 4 5/8" barrel, IIRC. Keep in mind those 1lb bottles only hold 9oz. Burns well.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I have posted nothing but complaints about the stuff. None of the three bands of powder meters I own will spit the stuff out even. When I "dip" the Lee dippers into a jar of the stuff, it starts to compact it down so it doesn't fill the dipper even each time. I try to wipe off the top with a piece of note card and when I measure the dipper I see a lot of variation in amount. So I started just using a dipper as a scooper and pour it slowly onto the scale. It's slow but it's the only way I can get an even amount from one cartridge to the next. I swear I can even measure out Unique with more success than I can with the Trail Boss. Once the TB is gone I will just use HP-38 or Win 231. You will find that they both have published loads that are in the sub 1K FPS range and will meter like quicksilver.

 

[Rule3]

I have posted nothing but complaints about the stuff. None of the three bands of powder meters I own will spit the stuff out even. When I "dip" the Lee dippers into a jar of the stuff, it starts to compact it down so it doesn't fill the dipper even each time. I try to wipe off the top with a piece of note card and when I measure the dipper I see a lot of variation in amount. So I started just using a dipper as a scooper and pour it slowly onto the scale. It's slow but it's the only way I can get an even amount from one cartridge to the next. I swear I can even measure out Unique with more success than I can with the Trail Boss. Once the TB is gone I will just use HP-38 or Win 231. You will find that they both have published loads that are in the sub 1K FPS range and will meter like quicksilver.

Plus it is just plain not cost effective to use. I think the only advantage it has is eliminating double charges and not blowing someone up.

 

[Titegroups]

No problems with metering in my lee autodisk. As bulky as trail boss is it reduces the need for high precision in measuring. If it wasn't metering consistently through my equipment I never noticed it in its performance, cowboy shooting doesn't require gilt edge accuracy and the powder was intended as a one trick pony and fits the application very well. Specific tools for specific purposes. The use of 231, titegroup and like powders at very low case fill volumes can give erratic results. Enter Trail Boss.

 

[Maximumbob54]

No problems with metering in my lee autodisk. As bulky as trail boss is it reduces the need for high precision in measuring. If it wasn't metering consistently through my equipment I never noticed it in its performance, cowboy shooting doesn't require gilt edge accuracy and the powder was intended as a one trick pony and fits the application very well. Specific tools for specific purposes. The use of 231, titegroup and like powders at very low case fill volumes can give erratic results. Enter Trail Boss.

I'm using the Auto Disk that has the white rubbery wiper and the TB donuts get stuck in it and block flow making squib specials. Does yours have the wiper? Maybe that is a difference. My Uniflow is the one that came with the RC kit and I don't know what size it is. That may be my problem with that one. But my Lyman Ideal #55 makes everything flow even and smooth and yet chokes on TB. Maybe my can is just cursed...

 

[Rule3]

I never had a problem with it metering through the Lee Pro Auto Disc. As Titegroups states a little here or there will not make a difference and it is good for what it was designed for.

It's actually pretty neat that you do not even need load data for loading any caliber with it. Just fill the case to where the bullet will seat, take 70% of that and you have a start load from little handgun up through big arse rifle loads.

I think they should sprinkle sugar on it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

While Trail Boss meters fairly well in my Pro Auto-Disk I'm not completely sold on it being worthwhile using it. I try different powders all the time and always seem to come back to W231/HP-38.

 

[Green Mountain Shooter]

Reply to Maximumbob54

"I have posted nothing but complaints about the stuff. None of the three bands of powder meters I own will spit the stuff out even. When I "dip" the Lee dippers into a jar of the stuff, it starts to compact it down so it doesn't fill the dipper even each time. I try to wipe off the top with a piece of note card and when I measure the dipper I see a lot of variation in amount. So I started just using a dipper as a scooper and pour it slowly onto the scale. It's slow but it's the only way I can get an even amount from one cartridge to the next. I swear I can even measure out Unique with more success than I can with the Trail Boss. Once the TB is gone I will just use HP-38 or Win 231. You will find that they both have published loads that are in the sub 1K FPS range and will meter like quicksilver."

What I found that works for me is to fill a small jar and when I dip the measure down into the powder I shake it from side to side slightly allowing the powder granules to "settle" in the dipper. When it comes out, if there is a slight mound of powder I shake it slightly once and end up with a level measure.

Thanks for the comments from all.

 

[Black_Talon]

I messed with it for a while in my M-29 but was just never too impressed. I could never find a load as accurate as what I can get using similar type midrange loads with 231 and Unique, but the real pisser was that the Trail Boss left my brass badly stained with powder/soot marks that I've never been able to remove, no matter how much tumbling I've done. And to top it off, it ends up being more expensive than using similar weight (7-ish grains) loads with 231 and Unique.

 

[mtgianni]

Another one that is not sold on TB. In my area a 9 oz can sells for the same price as a 1 lb can of IMR's other powders. Try 6.5 gr Red Dot or 7 gr Green dot under that 429421 for accurate, cost effective loads @ 1000 fps. Both are "fluffy" enough to notice a double charge.

 

[ChefJeff]

I too recently bought a 4" 44 magnum Model 629 for backcountry use. I received my dies in the mail today and tomorrow I'll get my primers, cast bullets, lee trimmer gauge, and of course............Trail boss. I love trail boss with cast in 38 specail, 357 mag, 30-30, and I'm sure it will be great in my 44 too. I also plan to use H110 with some Beartooth Bullets for woods protection.

 

[Bomberman]

I use Unique for most of my .44 mag loads. Using a 429421, target loads get 7.5 grains and other loads get up to 10.0 grains...that's enough for me and my M29. When I want some boomers, I switch to 2400.