Contaminated Powder

[Cookie]

I'm (very) new to reloading, and I've run into a problem that I need help with. I don't see a dedicated reloading board, so I hope it's OK to post this here.

Long story short - I'm having all sorts of problems with my .45's loaded with Trail Boss. (I also reload with FFg Black Powder, and have had ZERO problems with those loads.) Given my inexperience, I'm assuming it's User Error. 

Most recently I've had several rounds fail to leave the barrel of my rifle. (I'm using 4.8gr of Trail Boss behind a 200 gr cast lead FN bullet, in .45 Colt Winchester brass, with a Winchester Large Pistol primer.)

My best guess is that this is because I reused some powder from some bullets I had pulled. The recycled Trail Boss 'donuts' were all clumped together because of the bullet lube, and that's keeping the powder from igniting properly and it's getting blown down the barrel instead. Does this sound possible?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Lube is grease and will contaminate powder. If it was mine I'd pull whatever rounds I loaded with the 'bad' powder and dump it.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Yup.

Bad powder makes good fertilizer. Spread it on the lawn.

[Jefro]

Lube is grease and will contaminate powder. If it was mine I'd pull whatever rounds I loaded with the 'bad' powder and dump it.

Yep, lube and powder don't mix. Plus 4.8gr of Trail Boss is well below the starting load for 200gr RNFP. Hogdon's starting load in Cowboy Load Data is 5.5gr @ only 706 FPS. Once you get started agaln with new powder might want to bump up your load a little. TB preforms better in the mid range. If you don't have any loading manuals I stronly suggest picking up a couple, Lyman's is a good one. Good Luck
TB Cowboy Data-Trail Boss 5.5 gr. 706 8,000.............. Trail Boss 6.5 gr. 855 11,000

Jefro

PS; or you can stick to real BP and forget about that heathen smokeless powder ........it's just a passing fad anyhow

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Jefro beat me to it, you just weren't using enough powder, here's the link to IMR,http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp check for yourself, and always go by a printed manual on loading powders. And remember you can only reduce a powder load to minimum suggested powder loading that is listed , anything lower and you might not have enough pressure to get the bullet out the barrel, which it sounds like what happened in your case. just redo your remaining bullets with the right amount of powder, I use between 5.7 and 6. grains of Trail Boss in my 45 long colts.

     tEN wOLVES  

[Cliff Fendley]

I have loaded the starting load at 5.5 of trail boss for 200 gr and they are correct on velocity. They spit out in the low 700's.

I agree that you just need more powder.

[Cookie]

Wow. Thanks for all the replies! 

This should get me on the right track!

@Jefro - nothing's better than the boom and smoke of BP, but I'm trying to develop a light load for my wife and kids. My .45 load's got a bit too much kick for them as-is.

[Jefro]

I'm trying to develop a light load for my wife and kids. My .45 load's got a bit too much kick for them as-is.

Howdy Cookie, bout the only way to safely develop really light loads for the .45 Colt is to buy .38sp. If you want to get your wife and kids interested they need equipment that fits them. As improtant as light loads may be so are the long guns. A shotgun and rifle cut to fit the ladies or kids is a must, anything less will be awkward and punishing no matter what the loads.  You could try the Cowboy .45 Special for the revolver with a 160gr or 200gr bullet, check under "User_data" at AJ's web site. AJ has also come up with a new hollow based 125gr called the "Barnstormer" for the .45sp. We usually shoot .38, but  use the .45sp for back ups. I use  200gr BL or 150gr EPP-UG and 3f BP, Heather uses 200gr RNFP with Red Dot in the .45sp. Both are still snappy loads. With the correct amount of Trail Boss the .45sp may be an option. Good Luck
http://www.cowboy45special.com/

Jefro

[Cookie]

Howdy Cookie, bout the only way to safely develop really light loads for the .45 Colt is to buy .38sp.

I have to tell you I really laughed hard when I read that.

I understand what you're saying. All the advice I read for starting out in CAS is to shoot .38's.

But....

1. Buying one set of CAS guns is pretty hard on the wallet. (I'm still only 3/4 of the way there as-is.)  The second set will have to wait.
2. I'm much more interested in the history than the sport. And big bore bullets with lots of boom are the only way to go for me. There's plenty of Rendezvous reenactors round these parts. I just wish there were Cowboy reenactors as well.

[Delmonico]

There's plenty of Rendezvous reenactors round these parts. I just wish there were Cowboy reenactors as well.

Well what's stopping you from recuiting and forming a group?

[Lumpy Grits]

I'm (very) new to reloading, and I've run into a problem that I need help with. I don't see a dedicated reloading board, so I hope it's OK to post this here.

Long story short - I'm having all sorts of problems with my .45's loaded with Trail Boss. (I also reload with FFg Black Powder, and have had ZERO problems with those loads.) Given my inexperience, I'm assuming it's User Error. 

Most recently I've had several rounds fail to leave the barrel of my rifle. (I'm using 4.8gr of Trail Boss behind a 200 gr cast lead FN bullet, in .45 Colt Winchester brass, with a Winchester Large Pistol primer.)

My best guess is that this is because I reused some powder from some bullets I had pulled. The recycled Trail Boss 'donuts' were all clumped together because of the bullet lube, and that's keeping the powder from igniting properly and it's getting blown down the barrel instead. Does this sound possible?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Why are you under loading this cart?
Where did you get this load data?
Respectfully,
LG