Trail Boss

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

talked to Hodgon yesterday----they are still trying to figure out how to make TB again. I could really use a bottle if someone has one they'd be willing to party with. TIA East of Sac

[justMike]

I'd be interested in the story of how it came and went in such a short time frame, just like the Enduron line. I can understand difficulty right now
with 'supply chain issues' and the ramped up demand in the MIC, as idiotic IMO as the current global conflict situation is and will be for a while yet.

[4DSJW]

The problem that Hodgdon has in regards to Trail Boss is that the market is very small (the last time they were producing it). For the most part it was only the CAS shooters using it, and generally only the CAS shooters that used large caliber rounds (38-40, 44-40, 45 Colt). A very small market. Now, the the price spike is being driven not by CAS shooters, but by rifle shooters using 300 Blackout. They have driven the cost of Trail Boss into the stratosphere. Hodgdon only has the sale data for the earlier small CAS market, making production a very low priority. I'm sure that someone at Hodgdon is aware of the new demand and the high cost that reloaders are willing to pay, but whether or not that translates into a higher priority for production is anyone's guess.

[croue]

I have a bottle - was going to load some cowboy level loads for my Pietta (45 acp conversion cylinder) but my casting pot blew the heating element. :-( Had no idea I was so lucky to already have a bottle. What's a decent substitute? If you're really loading Cowboy Action, is there a triple 7 type powder for that?

[NapalmCheese]

At least part of the problem was TB being made by ADI in Australia and them having to reformulate a bunch of powders to keep up with some new environmental regulations. TB isn't in high demand, so it's reformulation and subsequent manufacture are lower on the list than say Varget or H4895.

As for a replacement, if you want a low density bulky powder the only currently manufactured replacement is black powder or one of the less energetic subs (Pyrodex, American Pioneer, Shooter's World Multipurpose Black).

If you want to stick with smokeless you're just going to have to get used to using small amounts of fast shotgun or pistol powder and developing a routine that prevents (and checks) for double charges. I use Red Dot for my smokeless loads, real black for my cap guns, and Shooters World Multipurpose Black for my black powder cartridges.

[4DSJW]

Saw this over on the SASS forum. The company that produces Trail Boss (ADI in Australia) put out this update some time back in October. https://www.adiworldclass.com.au/202...lant-update-2/


One of the Australian SASS shooters posted on 12/3 that Trail Boss is starting to show up on their shelves for sale… in Australia. Who knows when it will make it to the U.S., or how much it will cost, but at least they are making it again.

[Spyder]

I'm somewhat surprised Tin Star didn't make a return with the Trail Boss absence. I still have a bunch but would be happy to get more.