Trail Boss - I get it

[cindynles]

I finally get the advantage of Trail Boss powder. I just recently started loading 38 special. I have been using W231, and while the performance has been great, it kind of freaks me out that there is so much open space in the case (3.3gr). It seems like it would very, very easy to double charge. Its also hard to see a single charge in the case.

I picked up a bottle of Trail Boss (even though it is about 30% more expensive on a pound per pound basis) and gave it a shot. It takes up about 2X as much case space. Much easier to see in the case and a double charge would overflow. Now to see how it shoots.....

[Javi]

Wow, that's very little W231 haha. I plan on making my very first rounds out of .38 spl with Trail Boss.

[sofbak]

I just got into reloading, and started with 45 LC. I chose trail-boss for my first venture for the same reason as your observations on volume and the possiblity of letting a double get by.

TB is a good powder. Burn rate is slower than 231, so you get more of a "push" than a "pop", with very mild recoil. Even at the max listed loads, it was a pleasant experience instead of a "handful" to hold. Accurate enough for me, but YMMV.

It sure metered through my Lee pro auto-disc a lot more consistently than unique.

I think you are going to be pleased with it.

[CalTeacher]

Trail boss is also great for reduced velocity cast bullet loads in rifles. Ive used it many timesbwith good results in 45/70 from my Marlin 1895.

[Clownpuncher]

Unique also works well for filling the case. Although, as referenced a ton on here lately, it is pretty tough to meter out at times.

[XDRoX]

Trail Boss is one of my favorite powders.

It's been very accurate in my guns. I pay $11.65 a bottle at powder valley. My ony complaint with it is I wish it would function in my semi auto 9mm's

Here a pic of a recent indoor range trip grouping shot with TB.

[cindynles]

Nice 586. I will be shooting it through the same gun....

[XDRoX]

That's funny, you don't see too many. I have a matte black version.
My pet load is 2.3gr of TB under 148gr LWC. Feels like a 22 out of that 586. Accurate, clean, and soft to shoot. Super fun to shoot.

[LexLuther]

I use it in 38s and have recently started using it in my 45, super soft recoil, and the cleanest powder I have found...

[sofbak]

Interestingly, IMR claims you can't overcharge a case with trailboss-as long as you don't compress it. Read their "three step formula" here:

http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

[CGT80]

100% loads of trail boss don't seem as consistent and accurate as lower charges. I load 45lc and 460 with tb. I think 8.5 grains was a 100% load in the 45lc case, but the books list 45lc charges that are less than that. I other words the IMR generic formula isn't perfect for 45lc. I went over published book data, but followed the general IMR data. I also used a smith 460 xvr, so I knew the gun was very stout. Now I know why the book had lower loads listed.

In 460, 14 grains of TB is max by the general formula. 9.8 is 70%. 9.8-11.0 works great with 200-270 grain bullets.

One of these days I will try shooting some paper, if I ever run out of steel targets to shoot. Steel is so much fun.

[M27]

Love trail boss.

Use it with 90gn bear creek round nose in a 380 feels like a squib

Use it in my 45 with bear creek 200 gn swc feels like a hard 9mm

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Such a great powder. I love it for regular reloading, as well as load development. I will be using TB to develop some 41 Special loads in a few months. That way, my nephew can shoot his great-grandpa's pistol without having to worry about the ridiculous recoil of 41 Mag loads.

[CGT80]

Has anyone tried loading rifle cases with trail boss? I was thinking about some 30-06 loads with it. I like the 30-06 and have a ton of jacketed bullets for it, but the recoil gets old after a while with a bolt gun. I used to shoot a 3lb coffee can of loaded 30-06 at full power in a day when I was a teen, now not so much. IMR says it's ok to run jacketed, and I have done so in pistol cases, but not rifle.

I am going to give it a shot, but I was just wondering what anyone else thought. TB is a great powder.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Unique also works well for filling the case. Although, as referenced a ton on here lately, it is pretty tough to meter out at times.

Unique is another one of my favorites. I probably use more unique than anything. It loads well for both 45 ACP and 41 Mag. Love that stuff.

It seems to meter okay for me in a lil dandy but I have yet to try it in my dillon. So does Trailboss...

For those of you who are on the fence about this powder, I cannot saw it enough times: Trailboss powder is fun!!! Get yourself a 9oz can and give it a try. Next time, I'm buying in bulk...