Trail boss

[Laserbait]

Ok, this stuff doesn't seem to meter worth a damn in my Dillon powder measure, so I'm using my PACT powder dispenser and scale. It's pretty slow moving.

What do you guys use?

 

[6gun]

I use My Lyman #55, Trail Boss meter's great :D

 

[jbntx]

Gravel meters better than Trailboss.

I know a lot of people like that powder, but I just don't care for it.
Outside of Cowboy Action type shooting, it's usefulness is questionable.

 

[Rclark]

I use a Hornady powder message. Use the big drum (Hornady comes with rifle and a pistol insert) and the big spout so it won't hang. No problems with TB. I felt it measured ok.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Trail Boss is one of the best metering powders there is. I use a Redding #3 measure and find it to be the easiest powder to use. Just set it and forget it . I only weigh the first couple charges and lock the drum down and load away.
Remember,Trail Boss was designed to be used in bulky volume cartridges like the .45 Colt and not intended to be used for match rifle competition or varmint shooting. I have loaded and fired thousands of loads for cowboy action without a single issue. Love it!
Call Dillon, some of their measures are better suited to ball powders and do not work well with large flake powders.

 

[6gun]

Trail Boss aint flake powder it's donut powder that's what the guys call it at my LGS. :P

 

[mhblaw]

I use RCBS Lil' Dandy rotors. No problems. I think is a nice clean burning powder, but the smoke smells different.

 

[gster]

After I got into the rythym of tap first and tap after I run the handle on the PPM, it did just fine.

 

[eric conrad]

Call Dillon. They will get you set up. You could try using the large powder bar.
Eric

 

[Kanook]

Gravel meters better than Trailboss.

I know a lot of people like that powder, but I just don't care for it.
Outside of Cowboy Action type shooting, it's usefulness is questionable.

It works great for sub sonic loads for suppressor use.

I also use it in my 1873 Trapdoor and in my Ruger No1 45/70

 

[6gun]

Gravel meters better than Trailboss.

I know a lot of people like that powder, but I just don't care for it.
Outside of Cowboy Action type shooting, it's usefulness is questionable.

Gravel? :? your doing something horribly wrong then or have a seriously bad powder measure Trail Boss is one of the best flowing powders ever made.

And it's not just for cowboy shooters it is great powder for shooting paper at the range, making low recoil rounds, or using with cast lead bullets and excellent for shooting in old guns of questionable straight so you don't blow the gun up.

Also you can mathematically figure out much to fill the case and have a safe round when no reloading data is available for a round, this is something no other powder I know of can be used for.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

A case full of Trail Boss to the base of the bullet ( WITHOUT COMPRESSION ) is the maximum load for any cartridge ,according to Hodgdons. 70% of that load is the recommended starting charge.
I have used this data in many calibers from .38 special up to .50-95 Winchester.
A 300 gr. cast bullet over 13 gr. Trail Boss in the .444 Marlin or the .45-70 is the sweetest shooting plinking load you will ever shoot. A 10 year old girl could shoot it all day long.
I find I rarely go beyond the 70% starting charge in any caliber I load with it.
Trail boss has a sharper pressure spike than black powder so I would keep the charge mild when using it in any antique gun.

 

[Rclark]

A case full of Trail Boss to the base of the bullet ( WITHOUT COMPRESSION ) is the maximum load for any cartridge ,according to Hodgdons. 70% of that load is the recommended starting charge.

Add that is this maximum load for a 'safe' load. TB can be compressed however, but only for certain cartridges. For example 9.6g (almost to top of case) under 240g bullet is max for .44Mag . I loaded up to 9.5g for my .44Mag round of tests, but found 8.0g worked the best for me.

Here is my test results (and other users comments) in the Trail Boss thread : The Trail Boss Thread if anyone is interested.

 

[frontsight]

No problems metering Trail Boss in my RCBS Uniflow (or whatever they call it) bench mounted measure. After the first 6 or 8 rounds, thrown and weighed, it settled down to boring accuracy. 5.4 grains - .45 LC

 

[jsh]

Gravel?? Evidently have never used anything but ball powders. Try some 4198,4831 or H1000.
Trail boss measures fine for me.

 

[Pistolero]

I would like to try Trail Boss for fun plinking loads but I haven't seen any around in New Mexico since I started looking for it two years ago.

 

[gster]

Trail Boss meters great in my ppm. You just have to get into the tap rythym.

 

[stevemb]

I bought a lb of it a while back and haven't cracked the lid yet. Was to be 44spec play load powder, but 44spec play loads easy to load with many powders,so, haven't yet. But now, with .480 nearly inbound and looking at some lighter side lead bullets, hmmnnn...any one using Trail Boss in a 480 ?

 

[Pal Val]

I've had no problem dropping Trail Boss charges. It works well in my Lyman meter. Problems finding some to buy, though. I haven't seen any in more than 5 months.

 

[6gun]

I bought a lb of it a while back and haven't cracked the lid yet. Was to be 44spec play load powder, but 44spec play loads easy to load with many powders,so, haven't yet. But now, with .480 nearly inbound and looking at some lighter side lead bullets, hmmnnn...any one using Trail Boss in a 480 ?

Um.... Did you buy two canisters of it? if you haven't noticed a full can weighs less than a pound it's 9oz. so you need two cans to make a pound and end up with 2oz. more than a pound. :mrgreen:

 

[stevemb]

Yeah, thought, typed "lb" outta habit. Fluffy stuff ! Have one container of it here.

 

[greenmtnguy]

I've only used it in 45/70 subsonic loads and some light 45 Colt loads. It was kinda fun - it can be accurate, relatively speaking. It is entertaining to squeeze the trigger on the 45/70, hear the loud "pop" and still hear the thwack come back at you when the 400 gn lead bullet at just over 960 FPS hits the 100 yard target.

 

[6gun]

I've only used it in 45/70 subsonic loads and some light 45 Colt loads. It was kinda fun - it can be accurate, relatively speaking. It is entertaining to squeeze the trigger on the 45/70, hear the loud "pop" and still hear the thwack come back at you when the 400 gn lead bullet at just over 960 FPS hits the 100 yard target.

I have a 45/90 I never loaded for it cause I never could find any reloading data for it, I have been thinking of trying some Trail boss loads if I find ever find dies and brass.

I have loaded rounds using Trail Boss for my old original Winchester 73 in 38/40 and they were very accurate.

 

[opos]

Use it all the time....a favorite....I use the Lee dippers, a 5-0-5 RCBS scale and an RCBS trickler...I can dip within a very close margin with the correct dipper..a few trickles to balance the scale and I'm done...I do this with lots of powders...not a big volume loader so no rush no fuss.

 

[eric conrad]

6Gun. Take a look at www.reloadammo.com M. D. Smith site
Eric