Trail Boss .44-40 loads chronigraphed

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I had seen published data for .44-40 loadings with a 200 grain RNFP over 6.5 grains Trail Boss giving 1015 fps, and 6.0 giving about 960ish from a 24" Uberti barrel..  I thought I would try my 7.0 grains Trail Boss (with a 200 grain bullet).  Average was  for 5 was 1092, with a low of 1025 and a high of about 1130.  It is about what I expected.

Since I am no longer shooting 44-40 from pistols, I think I will bump it up to 7.5 grains.  That should be about 1130 fps.  That duplicates 44 Henry in my Uberti 1860 Henry, and also about duplicates Black Hills 44-40 ballistics.  It is well below maximum using their "full case of Trail Boss to bottom of bullet without compression" being max (and then back off 30% for starting load) method.

[Cliff Fendley]

I've never seen published data for higher than 6.5 grains of trail boss under a 200 grain bullet.

[August]

An ES of over 100 tells you that you are already well outside the useful range of loading intensity for this powder. 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Possibly.  But I have been shooting 7 grains and whacking 75 yard gongs at every match.   Hodgdon own Trail Boss web page has an alternative formula of filling the case to the base of the bullet (Maximum), weigh, back off 30% and work up from there.  7.0 grains isn't even close to filling the case....  In fact, I think 6.0 grains was 30% less than full.

I have zero signs of pressure issues.   Even with 45 Schofield 7 grains with a 200 grain bullet shoots very tight groups, though I load 6 grains for my pistols.

[Abilene]

I wrote Hodgdon once asking about why their two methods listed of loading trailboss do not match eachother.  Did not get a response.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Yep, I did the same.  Well I have used it, and only found that case full loads are less accurate.  7.0 works awesome from my rifles.

[Bryan Austin]

Hodgdon own Trail Boss web page has an alternative formula of filling the case to the base of the bullet (Maximum), weigh, back off 30% and work up from there.  7.0 grains isn't even close to filling the case....  In fact, I think 6.0 grains was 30% less than full.

I have zero signs of pressure issues.   Even with 45 Schofield 7 grains with a 200 grain bullet shoots very tight groups, though I load 6 grains for my pistols.

If you will notice, and it is missleading, it says if a load for your cartridge is not listed. Technically the 44-40 is not listed on that particular rifle chart but a MAX load is listed.

I have tested a full caseload to where the bullet seats and sits firmly on top of the powder with no compression. Avg chamber pressures was 14,000psi and could possibly be about 16,000cup.

On a side note, I played with 6.4gr of Trail Boss today in my Winchester 73' at 265 yards.
Here is the youtube video I made. Stupid me spelled "Warriors" wrong though.....