I have a question

[J-cat]

I know Trailboss was developed for lead bullets.

I know IMR does not want people to use Trailboss with plated bullets.

But I want to use Trailboss with plated bullets.

Has anyone tried Trailboss in their 38 Special with 125gr plated bullets? How was the accuracy? I figure the velocity will be pretty low, but I'm not a king to shoot these out of a rifle.

[pdq_wizzard]

I know Trailboss was developed for lead bullets.

I know IMR does not want people to use Trailboss with plated bullets.

But I want to use Trailboss with plated bullets.

Has anyone tried Trailboss in their 38 Special with 125gr plated bullets? How was the accuracy? I figure the velocity will be pretty low, but I'm not a king to shoot these out of a rifle.

From http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail%20B...oads%20R&P.pdf

As noted in the powder description section, Trail Boss was designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol
cartridges. However, Trail Boss offers superb versatility in rifle cartridges producing reduced loads using lead or jacketed bullets.
These reduced loads make firing such cartridges as the 300 Winchester Magnum or even the 458 Winchester Magnum pure fun!
Listed below we show a few examples of such loads throughout the Reloading Data Center, but the fun doesn't stop there. If you
don't see Trail Boss data for your favorite cartridge we have a formula for developing loads for all cartridges and it's simple to
follow. This formula may be used in both rifle and pistol applications:
Find where the base of the bullet to be loaded is located in the case and make a mark on the outside of the case at
this location. Then fill the case to that mark with Trail Boss, pour into the scale pan and weigh. This is your
maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum allowed for this cartridge and perfectly safe to use!
Take 70% of this powder charge weight (multiply the maximum load from step 1 by .7), and that is your starting
load.
Start with this beginning load and work up to your maximum charge, all the while searching for the most accurate
reduced load. Once found, the fun begins!

['ol shooter]

I use Trail Boss with plated 250 gr. Berry's for my .45 colt, and the results are great. I like how the case is nice and full of all those little gray cheerios. I tend to load to the lighter end of the scale anyway for pleasure loads.

[BruinGuy]

I've used Trail Boss with plated bullets in 7.62x39, using the method pdq wizard posted. It was very light; it worked but obviously wouldn't cycle the action. I don't see how it would be a problem using plated bullets in .38spl, but I would use lead bullet data.

What issues do you foresee using plated bullets?

[J-cat]

From http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail%20B...oads%20R&P.pdf

As noted in the powder description section, Trail Boss was designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol
cartridges. However, Trail Boss offers superb versatility in rifle cartridges producing reduced loads using lead or jacketed bullets.
These reduced loads make firing such cartridges as the 300 Winchester Magnum or even the 458 Winchester Magnum pure fun!
Listed below we show a few examples of such loads throughout the Reloading Data Center, but the fun doesn't stop there. If you
don't see Trail Boss data for your favorite cartridge we have a formula for developing loads for all cartridges and it's simple to
follow. This formula may be used in both rifle and pistol applications:
Find where the base of the bullet to be loaded is located in the case and make a mark on the outside of the case at
this location. Then fill the case to that mark with Trail Boss, pour into the scale pan and weigh. This is your
maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum allowed for this cartridge and perfectly safe to use!
Take 70% of this powder charge weight (multiply the maximum load from step 1 by .7), and that is your starting
load.
Start with this beginning load and work up to your maximum charge, all the while searching for the most accurate
reduced load. Once found, the fun begins!

Thanks, I was award of that, however that formula should be used in the context of rifle cartridges.

[J-cat]

I've used Trail Boss with plated bullets in 7.62x39, using the method pdq wizard posted. It was very light; it worked but obviously wouldn't cycle the action. I don't see how it would be a problem using plated bullets in .38spl, but I would use lead bullet data.

What issues do you foresee using plated bullets?

20,000+ PSI pressures due to the added friction of the copper plating. Maybe if I use 158gr lead data with the 125gr plated? I read people did it but they were using .357 Mag

[pdq_wizzard]

From http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail%20B...oads%20R&P.pdf

As noted in the powder description section, Trail Boss was designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol
cartridges. However, Trail Boss offers superb versatility in rifle cartridges producing reduced loads using lead or jacketed bullets.
These reduced loads make firing such cartridges as the 300 Winchester Magnum or even the 458 Winchester Magnum pure fun!
Listed below we show a few examples of such loads throughout the Reloading Data Center, but the fun doesn't stop there. If you
don't see Trail Boss data for your favorite cartridge we have a formula for developing loads for all cartridges and it's simple to
follow. This formula may be used in both rifle and pistol applications:
Find where the base of the bullet to be loaded is located in the case and make a mark on the outside of the case at
this location. Then fill the case to that mark with Trail Boss, pour into the scale pan and weigh. This is your
maximum load. Pressures will be below the maximum allowed for this cartridge and perfectly safe to use!
Take 70% of this powder charge weight (multiply the maximum load from step 1 by .7), and that is your starting
load.
Start with this beginning load and work up to your maximum charge, all the while searching for the most accurate
reduced load. Once found, the fun begins!

Thanks, I was award of that, however that formula should be used in the context of rifle cartridges.

it says rifle and pistol.

[J-cat]

Have you seen Hodgdon's Trailboss data, 38 vs 357? There is some wildly conflicting data, leading me to believe the eyeballing approach is not safe for .38 Special applications.

[checkenbach]

I use T.B. with plated Berry's or Extreme with superb results. Lead bullets also.

[J-cat]

Have u tried the 125gr in the 38 Special?

[stilly]

Have u tried the 125gr in the 38 Special?

Don't you load that **** with Blue Dot powder. In case you did not see any of my other posts on a similar topic, KEEP BLUE DOT AWAY FROM 125GR .38/.357 loads... You are asking for trouble...

[Ferrum]

I've used Trailboss in .357 mag and loved it...

Back in two minutes with my load data....

Update:

I loaded Extreme 158g LRNFP to 1.610 COL
I started loads at 3.2g up to 4.0g. I got the best results at 3.4g...

Was using this load in a Ruger Blackhawk.

Got my load data from here http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss.php

Link has info for 125g boolits also.

[J-cat]

Don't you load that **** with Blue Dot powder. In case you did not see any of my other posts on a similar topic, KEEP BLUE DOT AWAY FROM 125GR .38/.357 loads... You are asking for trouble...

I tried BD with 110's. Wanted to hit 2000 FPS. Broke my GP-100.

[checkenbach]

I've only loaded 148 grn HBWC's, or 158 grn RN,RNFP's with T.B.

[Bt Doctur]

Don't you load that **** with Blue Dot powder. In case you did not see any of my other posts on a similar topic, KEEP BLUE DOT AWAY FROM 125GR .38/.357 loads... You are asking for trouble...

Care to explain that. Blue Dot is listed for the 357 load.
13.7 to 14.6 MAX LOAD @1600FPS
Hornady 4th Edition, Vol 1