a mystery when using Trail Boss powder - The Firearms Forum

Throckmorton · 11-29-2012, 02:31 PM

I've just started using Trail Boss for my .45Colt cowboy loads,meaning wimp loads,lol.
funny thing is,even tho it's touted as being a 'low pressure' powder,my cases fired in the sixguns don't have NEAR the sooting or blackening I get with all other powders. for some reaon,the TB seals off the cases better in the chambers.
Less tumbling required,and prolly gain some accuracy with the round sealing better. win,win !
I'm shooting 200 grain cast boolist,over 5.4 grains TB,and life is good.

jim brady · 11-29-2012, 02:45 PM

Thanks for some great information. Dunno about Cowboy loads being 'whimpy'. I've found that accuracy from a 7 1/2" barrel SAA with factory 'cowboy' loads is pretty impressive and hard to duplicate . I'm shooting 250 grain cast SWC Lyman bullets and don't figure that if I had to use them 'for real' that the person on the other end would call them 'whimpy'. My Unique charged loads travel about 850 fps.

Might move out of the Stone Age and give that Trail Boss a try.

Oneida Steve · 11-29-2012, 06:59 PM

I recently switched from Unique to Trail Boss for my target .45 Colt loads. Trail Boss is a good powder for the .45 Colt case. I've tried it in .38 Spl. loads as well.

noylj · 11-29-2012, 07:11 PM

It could be just a "cleaner" powder. Your other powders may have had graphite coating and that was leaving more "soot."
Check case expansion about 1/4" above the extractor groove where you will an expansion "bulge." See if they are the same or not.
Pressure effects the "bulge," so if TrailBoss has a larger bulge, the load has more pressure.
Don't break the donuts and don't compress the powder.

11-29-2012, 02:31 PM	#1
Throckmorton Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	a mystery when using Trail Boss powder I've just started using Trail Boss for my .45Colt cowboy loads,meaning wimp loads,lol. funny thing is,even tho it's touted as being a 'low pressure' powder,my cases fired in the sixguns don't have NEAR the sooting or blackening I get with all other powders. for some reaon,the TB seals off the cases better in the chambers. Less tumbling required,and prolly gain some accuracy with the round sealing better. win,win ! I'm shooting 200 grain cast boolist,over 5.4 grains TB,and life is good. -->

11-29-2012, 02:45 PM	#2
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,075	Re: a mystery when using Trail Boss powder Thanks for some great information. Dunno about Cowboy loads being 'whimpy'. I've found that accuracy from a 7 1/2" barrel SAA with factory 'cowboy' loads is pretty impressive and hard to duplicate . I'm shooting 250 grain cast SWC Lyman bullets and don't figure that if I had to use them 'for real' that the person on the other end would call them 'whimpy'. My Unique charged loads travel about 850 fps. Might move out of the Stone Age and give that Trail Boss a try.

11-29-2012, 06:59 PM	#3
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: a mystery when using Trail Boss powder I recently switched from Unique to Trail Boss for my target .45 Colt loads. Trail Boss is a good powder for the .45 Colt case. I've tried it in .38 Spl. loads as well.

11-29-2012, 07:11 PM	#4
noylj V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 113	Re: a mystery when using Trail Boss powder It could be just a "cleaner" powder. Your other powders may have had graphite coating and that was leaving more "soot." Check case expansion about 1/4" above the extractor groove where you will an expansion "bulge." See if they are the same or not. Pressure effects the "bulge," so if TrailBoss has a larger bulge, the load has more pressure. Don't break the donuts and don't compress the powder.