Anyone try the new Trailboss yet?

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CB posted this 27 November 2006

Has anyone tried the Trailboss powder yet?  It is really bulky anf it can fill a .38spec case with only 3.7g. I did try it in a 308 but you can't get enough into a case to get past 1200fps. Burns pretty clean from what I have seen. Anyone else have different results?

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CB posted this 28 November 2006

Jeff,

Ya, I tried it when working on loads for the National. Thought I might find the super, duper, all-winning secret powder for the .308?  WRONG!

DuPont doesn't have much to say about it for the .30-30, except not to load too much for fear of leading. (I thought they meant too much velocity!)

I couldn't get any velocity out of it niether. Gerry and I ended up filling a case full in the .308 and in the .30-06 with 170gr LBTs. We shot 5-shot groups with it and didn't get over 1,400fps, I think. Didn't bother to keep the data. It did lead the bore real bad, too. Wierd stuff.

Better leave it for the cowboys to mess with. Every magazine article I read about Trailboss just raves about it. Oh, well.

Wingnut

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CB posted this 28 November 2006

I hear it works pretty good for pistols.. Although I haven't tried it yet, got some loaded up. Just got to get to the range. Kinda hard with grand kiddies here all of the time. Maybe next Tuesday or Thursday or maybe both! I will let ya'll know what I find.

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CB posted this 05 December 2006

Well here is the range report.

Fired 50 rounds - recoil was about the same as my normal target load of bullseye (4.0g) Accuracy was about the same, nothing outstanding. Powder is very dirty. Lots of residue left in the cases. It may perform better in a 45 colt or long colt.

Overall Impression: I will stick with Bullseye, more load for the dollar, less dirty residue.

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LoLo25643 posted this 19 March 2008

Howdy ya'll, I,m a new member here looking at an older post but I'll relate my brief experience with it last fall loading the 10.4X38r Swiss round for the Vetterli. I normally shoot a load of Unique with 250 grain .429 pistol bullets but got in on a group buy from Lee for a more traditional 310 grain bullet. I worked up a good load using XMP5744 and ran across a can of Trailboss at a gunshow. I worked up a load using it and it shot into about the same group size as I get from XMP but is about 200 fps slower which puts it at about 1,100 fps. The XMP loads which give me about 1,300 fps with that bullet seem to be regulated very well with the issue sights of that rifle so I'll probably stick with it. Now that deer season is over and I'm getting to shoot a lot more I may do some more with it. I'ts a bulky soft shooting powder with a funky smell that may show promise in some other cartridges that I have so I wont leave it on the shelf yet.

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CB posted this 20 March 2008

Hi guys;

    A pound came to me for nothing, to try in some 44 target loads. Our game restricts velocity to under 850 fps and Chuck thought I might like the stuff. The little doughnuts cut better and easier than most other flakes in a Dillon powder measure. Yes it does have a smell that is different. It shot as well as any oyher powder and with a tight crimp wasn't any dirtier. For light loads it does a better job of filling the case, so stacking before each shot wasn't such a big deal. It takes about 15% more Trail boss to do the same as Red dot.  Considering what you get for what you use, I'll stick with Red dot or Bullseye, unless of course I get some more given to me. I don't mind being a reloading whore.

                                                                              Roy

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linoww posted this 20 March 2008

I shot 10.0 Trailboss in the 30-06 with 150g plainbase bullets.Accuracy was about 1.5-2” at 100 with the peep sighted 1903.Didnt run the speed-o-meter to check velocity,but it wes pretty quiet.Target on the left is two groups with Trailboss.I shot the first and clicked up and shot another group.The target to the rt side is with new 2400.

 

George

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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JeffinNZ posted this 21 March 2008

I would like to try it but when I am faced with paying the same $$$ for 9oz as for a lb I would rather buy a pound of something close in burning rate. 

The idea of Trailboss is great but the pricing is not.

Cheers from New Zealand

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CB posted this 21 March 2008

I have used it in a variety of rifles and pistol with good success as far as accuracy is concerned, but as with most the cost is prohibitive. The last bottle I bought was 15.00 for 9 oz.

I also had problems with it metering in my Dillon 550 with smaller calibers like the 30 carb, but that may be a problem with the powder funnel that I hope to have fixed by reaming it out. I havent tried it since I have reamed it out, but bullseye meters more consistantly.

I found the velocity in my 308 was a bit low with a full case right up to the neck and a 200 gr. gc'd LBT bullet. The accuracy wasn't too bad, aorund 3/4” @ 100yds if I paid close attention to the wind.

It shot very well in the 45 ACP and 44Mag, each with reduced recoil and less than 1.5” groups at 25 yards rested. I did notice a bit more dirt and mess than say bullseye or red dot. The fouling is also a bit sticky in my opinion.

Dollar for dollar there are more cost effective powders available that offer more bang for the buck.

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linoww posted this 22 March 2008

Dollar for dollar there are more cost effective powders available that offer more bang for the buck

I couldnt have said it any better.

Yes it does ok for me,but for the velocity levels i would use it for I'll just wait until about any shotshell type powder shows up at the shows cheap. 

 

George

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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shooter93 posted this 23 March 2008

I haven't had it work best or in most cases as well as anything I currently use in anything. I gave 3 cans away.

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AzShooter posted this 15 August 2008

I haven't tried it in my rifles yet but I think for revolver shooting it's the best powder I've shot in years.

I shoot 3.8 grains in my .38 and have found groups to be 1.5 inches at 25 yards.  About the same as my Bullseye or Solo 1000 loads.  The biggest difference is I find the powder exceptionally clean.  During an entire pistol match I don't have to clean my cylinders between stages.

This includes using it in the 625, .45ACP revolver.  Recoil is extremely soft which helps for quick shot to shot split times.

It may not be for everyone but at least I have found a good use for it in ICORE Revolver shooting.

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RicinYakima posted this 15 August 2008

AzShooter,

I think it is a great powder for you and the Cowboys, as that is what it was designed to do: minimal residue, soft push and hair splitting accurate not required. Sportman's Warehouse says they are selling a lot of it, so it must be filling a need.

Ric

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leigh merriman posted this 16 August 2008

i am shooting it in 44special cases in a 10in contender,4.9gr,429421 boolit cci300 at 25yds with a 30.00 cheap cabelas dot scope.

my results are one hole,soft recoil,no leading with wheelweights.

i was trying to make the cheap scope last;i think it will.

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Notlwonk posted this 16 August 2008

I tried a can and didn't like the way it metered. It was inconsistent with the pistol insert ( Redding powder measure ) and a little better with the rifle insert. I used it in a 45 auto, with 50 in a loading block several were noticeably light. My recollection is that these were maybe 2/3 of the desired load weight. I used it all up but it was inconvenient.

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NoDakJak posted this 17 August 2008

In my fiddleying around with Trail Boss I have used a half dozen different powder measures.  It doesn't seem to flow well in most of them.  However!!!!      Much of my shooting is testing loads and to facilitate this I normally remove the hopper from my Redding measure.  This allows me to dip tiny pinches of powder to add to the pan rather than use a powder dripper.  Much faster and usually more precise.  I use the rifle insert in this measure exclusively.  Used in this manner Trail Boss has been one of the better measuring flake type powders, at least for me.  I can only conclude  that  Trail Boss does not like much head pressure and measures much better when only a small amount is in the hopper.  It also seems to measure much better with the large rifle cavities rather than the pistol measures with their narrow orfices.  Hope this helps.    Neil

 

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Notlwonk posted this 17 August 2008

NoDakJak wrote:   I can only conclude  that  Trail Boss does not like much head pressure and measures much better when only a small amount is in the hopper.     Neil

  I use a bottle adapter on my Redding, so I had any where from a little bit up to 9 ounces. I can see where that can make a difference. Too late now, I've taken a vow not to try it again!

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specops posted this 23 August 2008

Remember the original purpose for Trail Boss.  Cowboy action shooters were getting lots of KABOOMs in handguns and rifles from double charges of fast pistol powders like Bullseye, Reddot, etc.  Going through 10, 000 to 12,000 rounds per year is about average for serious competitors so most reload on progressive machines.  Trail Boss fills the case in 45 Colt, 44/40, 38/40, 44 Russian and Special, even 38 Special to the point you can't double charge it.  It even works in 45/70.  And it stays within the CASS, SASS and COWS velocity limits for cast bullets.  It wasn't really meant for any other purpose.  I dabble at CAS since a local range holds events 4 times a year.  Trail Boss makes sure my 45 Colt 1897 and 1901 single actions stay in one piece to be passed on to my children.  :fire

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kidwalli posted this 20 September 2008

I have only used it in Vaquero 45 Colt. Burns absolutely clean, great accuracy, meters well through Lee Pro 1000 with old style powder disc measure. I love the stuff. For reduced rifle loads I have been following the advice given in Joseph Brennan Jr.'s book “Cast Bullets for Beginners and Expert".

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bpd303 posted this 14 August 2009

I've had good luck with Trail Boss in my 45/70 Taylor's Sharps. Other BP cartridges I load with it are: 577/450 Martini Henry 10.4X38R Swiss (41 Swiss) 11.5X57R Spanish Reformado No Fillers to mess with and duplicates BP velocity. It likes Magnum primers and a tight crimp.

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jhrosier posted this 15 August 2009

I 'salvaged' about 500 .44 bullets that were too soft for full loads in the .44 mag by using a full load of TB. Velocities were in the .44 Spl range and accuracy was acceptable for short range plinking, but not outstanding. There was no leading. In fact the leading from the hotter loads was removed and the bore was perfectly clean after 500 rounds of these plinker loads. This was in a 7-1/2” SBH Hunter. Accuracy was better in a 5-1/2” Redhawk, about 2-1/2” groups at 25 yards.

Jack

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