Please Post Your Successes with Trail Boss!

[King Medallion]

My early Uberti 1876 45/75 likes it.

[Coffinmaker]

My good Perfesser 

I must admit I have achieved some success with Trail Boss.  I sprinkled the bottle I had over the Iris Flower Bed and none of the Irises croaked.  Bloomed just fine.

Caliber:  Garden
Cartridge:  OEM Bottle
Primer:  Good solid shake
Accuracy:  All landed on the Garden

Cautionary Note:  Do NOT attempt to duplicate this performance on a windy day!!!
Cautionary cautionary note:  Do NOT sprinkle on Mashed Potatoes either.  Yuck.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING - - - - POWER NAPS FOR ALLOFUS!!

[Dirty Dick]

  In .44-40 I like 5.5grs TB under 43-215, .429, with either Lyman graphite or Alox lube. Excellent results in my two Pietta SAAs and Uberti 1873 rifle. 

[hp246]

KISS.  I load for both .45 Colt and Cowboy .45 Spl.  I use Trailboss in both loads.  5.5 in the Colt (200 gr. bullet) and 3.5 in the Cowboy Special (160 gr. bullet).  I can consistently hit a 16 inch plate with either load at 15 yards.  End of story.  I've had absolutely no issues with TB.  I've shot it in extreme cold and extreme heat.  No problems.  It's a bit dirty, but otherwise not sure why it has such a bad reputation.

[Bryan Austin]

For those that don't like Trail Boss, you simply don't know what you are talking about. The powder performs just fine when used properly. Some say it was designed for use for the US Navy and applied to CAS.

This powder in NO WAY replicates original "Bulk Powders". This is a fast burning pistol powder and should be treated as such.

For the 44-40, 6.4gr is what I use for plinking. This powder has a high volume, high pressure nature. In other words, you get low velocities at higher pressures than with other appropriate powders.

I only tested two loads of Trail Boss because of what it was. I tested a normal 6.4gr charge (MAX LOAD) and a full charge to where the bullet sits firmly on top of the powder without crushing/compressing the powder. If using a 6.4gr charge, an accidental double charge would overflow the case and not go unnoticed.

6.4gr for the 44-40 is IMR's listed max pressure. The 75% rule does NOT APPLY to PUBLISHED max loads. The 44-40 has a published MAX LOAD!

6.4gr gives me great plinking results and is great for lobbing 200gr of lead down range to 265 yards with decent accuracy. The lack of sufficient velocity gives this distance a handi-cap of not being used for hunting. Barely getting 1,000fps at the muzzle, it could probably bounce off the hid of a deer at 265 yards.

Ballistics

20" MGM test barrel
Pressuretrace II Strain gauge
SAAMI Max Pressure 11,000psi

Test #12   6.4   Trailboss   200 LRNFP   Acme Magma   NA             7,224psi   38   Ref targets #242, #249   IMR Website Max Load 12,000 CUP
Test #19   9.3   Trailboss   200 LRNFP   Acme Magma   1,250fps   15,182psi   38     https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/trail-boss-reduced-loads-r_p.pdf

I think later chronographed rifle velocities were 950fps with 6.4gr


I have also used Trail Boss with the 45 ACP and the pistol cycled just fine.

[Major 2]

I just sold my 308 chambered M1916 Spanish Mauser, I did not need or particularly want to.
But a fellow liked it and my Trail boss loads so well, he insisted and poked a satisfyingly over sufficient amount of folding green, it was hard to say no ( I didn't )

Besides I have several other Milsurps to enjoy Trail Boss in....

[Coffinmaker]

  Harrumpff   

Aw contrarié Monsieur Austin.  I very well happen to know what I'm talking about.  Well versed in various powders for 50 years.  So:  Allow me to reiterate . . . .

I don't like and have no use for Trail Boss.  Without intimating others are ignorant.  My personal Opine and I happen to like my attitude.

[Bryan Austin]

  Harrumpff   

Aw contrarié Monsieur Austin.  I very well happen to know what I'm talking about.  Well versed in various powders for 50 years.  So:  Allow me to reiterate . . . .

I don't like and have no use for Trail Boss.  Without intimating others are ignorant.  My personal Opine and I happen to like my attitude.

The OP said to post your success, not your dislikes 

[Coffinmaker]

Had your sense of humor surgically removed at birth didja 

[Bryan Austin]

Had your sense of humor surgically removed at birth didja 

LOLOLOLOL!!!! I heaR YA!!!

[Froogal]

.38 special. 158 grain LRN. 4 grains TB. Bullet seated to give an OAL of 1.5". Wife shoots in CAS. Those .38s are as accurate as she is.

[1961MJS]

The OP said to post your success, not your dislikes 

I agree.  I successfully sold mine to someone who liked Trail Boss!!!   

I'm with Coffinmaker on the Tite Group wagon.

Later

[Dirty Dick]

I dislike Titegroup (ball powder) in my Dillon 1050 because every now and then, perhaps 1 in 200 or 300 rounds it fails to seat a primer, by the time the case gets around to crimping all the powder has leaked out gumming up the machine and must be cleaned up. With Bullseye, Unique it is much less, only a few flakes. With Trailboss there is NO leakage. And it works through my Dillon measure with no problem at all. I do use Titegroup and Accurate 7 in my 550b loader for .38 Super because I know immediately if the primer is seated or not. 

My $0.02

[RRio]

I've been using 6.0 gr. of TB topped with a 200 gr. Oregon Trail for over 10 years. It has suited me well, I've seen no reason to change anything.

[Galloway]

Pure marketing bs. All they did was was put a cowboy on the can so people will pay more for less powder. A thread soliciting positive results proves it.

[Froogal]

.38 special. 4 grains Trail Boss under a 158 grain lead round nose. Does everything we need it to do for cowboy action. Revolver and lever action rifle.

[Professor Marvel]

Pure marketing bs. All they did was was put a cowboy on the can so people will pay more for less powder. A thread soliciting positive results proves it.

Ah My Good Galloway

I do agree that Trail boss is a specific marketing thingy.

It IS actually an interesting and laudable idea, to wit, to increase the physical volume of a a "safe" smokeless load in larger cases
by making it "much fluffier"; specifically aimed at the HUGE .45 Colt case.

I too am pisssed angered disconcerted by the cost vs amount.  Prior to shortages, the list price was nearly
double for a SMALLER container when compared to Unique. .

I personally dont use it because I am cheap frugal, and have excellent recipes for Unique and plenty of Unique.

I actually started this thread because there is SO LITTLE actual data.
And since this is the RELOADING subforum....
That and I was bored.

But at least I got some folks to share their different succesful loads.

A special thanks to Abilene, Slamfire, Major 2, River City John, Niederlander, David Battersby,
Cliff Fendley, swhiplash, King Medallion, Dirty Dick, hp246, Froogal and esp Bryan Austin for the detailed data including pressure data.

yhs
prof mumbles

PS and a shoutout to our various comedy teams ( ou guys know who you are)

[David Battersby]

The paper target . 250gr 20-1 alloy bullet, White Label Lubes 50/50, Starline 2.080 38-55 cases 7.5gr TrailBoss and CCI#350 primers. This is nine shots in what looks like 7 holes at 100 yards. The bullet in the image is a 290gr not the 250gr used. The rifle is a 1894 Winchester/Uberti with a 26" barrel, Lee Shaver globe front sight and MVA Silhouette Soule rear sight. Shot from a sandbag front rest. This bullet is screaming along at 950fps, but it easily knocks over full size 50 meter chickens, 100 meter pigs and 150 meter turkeys.   I use the 290gr bullet and H4895 for the 200 meter rams.

The gong. 220gr 30-1 alloy bullet, White Label Lubes 50/50, Starline 44-40 cases, 6.4gr TrailBoss and  CCI#300 primers.  I was fire forming new cases and just goofing around. I worked my way out to the 200 yard gong and was amazed. The rifle is a 1892 Winchester/Miroku with a 24" barrel, Marbles ivory bead front sight and Marbles tang sight. 200 yards shooting standing with the rifle and left hand against a post.  This load with formed cases is just as accurate. It has helped me make master class in pistol caliber silhouette .  I have a couple of shooting friends that give me the devil.  "How can you shoot a 40 round match with all of that recoil?"  "I'm putting earmuffs over my earplugs, your load is way too loud."   That slow moving fat, soft bullet whacks the targets.

I will also share this. I have tried loading the 357 magnum in two different rifles with Trailboss.  I could not get either to shoot accurately with several different weights and styles of bullets.  Green Dot  , Unique and TiteGroup all did better.   Odd hobby at times.

[Cliff Fendley]

Until recent inflationary times the small amount needed per case for CAS ammo was negligent to me for the cost difference. I first liked it on the fact if filled the cases more. I think the last 5 pound jug I'm finishing up has a price tag on it for something like 119 bucks but I will say I was stocked up a few years ago. Once this one is finished off my wife will be shooting Titegroup since I got a great buy on a case of that back before the pandemic.

After that is gone which should last her a while I'll decide where to go from there, maybe she will be in the notion to shoot black powder by then. Either that or this fad of this new smoky less powder will be over by then.

[Kormak]

The paper target . 250gr 20-1 alloy bullet, White Label Lubes 50/50, Starline 2.080 38-55 cases 7.5gr TrailBoss and CCI#350 primers. This is nine shots in what looks like 7 holes at 100 yards. The bullet in the image is a 290gr not the 250gr used. The rifle is a 1894 Winchester/Uberti with a 26" barrel, Lee Shaver globe front sight and MVA Silhouette Soule rear sight. Shot from a sandbag front rest. This bullet is screaming along at 950fps, but it easily knocks over full size 50 meter chickens, 100 meter pigs and 150 meter turkeys.   I use the 290gr bullet and H4895 for the 200 meter rams.

The gong. 220gr 30-1 alloy bullet, White Label Lubes 50/50, Starline 44-40 cases, 6.4gr TrailBoss and  CCI#300 primers.  I was fire forming new cases and just goofing around. I worked my way out to the 200 yard gong and was amazed. The rifle is a 1892 Winchester/Miroku with a 24" barrel, Marbles ivory bead front sight and Marbles tang sight. 200 yards shooting standing with the rifle and left hand against a post.  This load with formed cases is just as accurate. It has helped me make master class in pistol caliber silhouette .  I have a couple of shooting friends that give me the devil.  "How can you shoot a 40 round match with all of that recoil?"  "I'm putting earmuffs over my earplugs, your load is way too loud."   That slow moving fat, soft bullet whacks the targets.

I will also share this. I have tried loading the 357 magnum in two different rifles with Trailboss.  I could not get either to shoot accurately with several different weights and styles of bullets(same with my 223 ammo loads).  Green Dot  , Unique and TiteGroup all did better.   Odd hobby at times.

I've tried Trailboss for 357 too, multiple times(sadly no photos left, was a while ago). Never could get it right. Went back to Unique and been doing it ever since.