Trail-boss-for-mild-rifle-loads?

[Mike A]

The best - Sporting Shooter

ADI has produced an advance in propellant technology with Trail Boss, a specialist powder designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol cartridges.

www.sportingshooter.com.au

I have a .444 that likes it fast & 265gr heavy for cloverleafs at 100yds.
Yet I need a .44mag with .240gr bullets at let's say 1500fps not 2450fps.
Problem is I want my Marlin Rifle with a 24" BBL rather than trade for a Marlin .44mag.

I read about this powder, it's been described as little donuts that take up the large space in the .444 & the 45-70 cartridges.
Kaypok & Corn meal over a fast burning powder is danger ous, as hell. Gotta be a better way.

Anyone used this powder for safer reduced loads in large capacity cases? What ya think? Was it accurate at all?

 

[1Sgt_Jerry]

I've been batting around the idea of trying it in 45-70. I haven't touched the press for about a year. I have used TB in .38,.357. It seems to do fine in that. Made my wife some light 125 grain .38's she really enjoyed shooting.

 

[Mike A]

I've been batting around the idea of trying it in 45-70. I haven't touched the press for about a year. I have used TB in .38,.357. It seems to do fine in that. Made my wife some light 125 grain .38's she really enjoyed shooting.

I met a guy shooting a 45-70 at the range last RSO duty & he swore by it for his 400 gr loads.
His 45-70 was a single shot that seemed to be much easier to handle with Trail Boss than his IMR 4198 loads.

Before I spend $38.00 a pound for this powder I need to know if it's worth it. My IMR-4198 cost $8.00 a pound
& it works just too good, but kicks like a MULE!

 

[Mike Galway]

The best - Sporting Shooter

ADI has produced an advance in propellant technology with Trail Boss, a specialist powder designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol cartridges.

www.sportingshooter.com.au

I have a .444 that likes it fast & 265gr heavy for cloverleafs at 100yds.
Yet I need a .44mag with .240gr bullets at let's say 1500fps not 2450fps.
Problem is I want my Marlin Rifle with a 24" BBL rather than trade for a Marlin .44mag.

I read about this powder, it's been described as little donuts that take up the large space in the .444 & the 45-70 cartridges.
Kaypok & Corn meal over a fast burning powder is danger ous, as hell. Gotta be a better way.

Anyone used this powder for safer reduced loads in large capacity cases? What ya think? Was it accurate at all?

I use it in 45 LC , 44mag . 45 auto rim . It does look like tiny cheerios . Takes up a lot space in case . Impossible to accidentally double charge . Seems like a natural for 444 or 45-70 .

 

[Mike Galway]

I met a guy shooting a 45-70 at the range last RSO duty & he swore by it for his 400 gr loads.
His 45-70 was a single shot that seemed to be much easier to handle with Trail Boss than his IMR 4198 loads.

Before I spend $38.00 a pound for this powder I need to know if it's worth it. My IMR-4198 cost $8.00 a pound
& it works just too good, but kicks like a MULE!

I've never seen it in pound containers . My LGS sells 9 oz. containers for $17.00 .

 

[Mike A]

Your right it comes in 9oz & 2lb containers.

Hodgdon – Hodgdon Powder Company

hodgdon.com

 

[Mike Galway]

I like it , but per oz. it's pricey .

 

[Mike Galway]

The best - Sporting Shooter

ADI has produced an advance in propellant technology with Trail Boss, a specialist powder designed primarily for reduced loads using lead bullets in pistol cartridges.

www.sportingshooter.com.au

I have a .444 that likes it fast & 265gr heavy for cloverleafs at 100yds.
Yet I need a .44mag with .240gr bullets at let's say 1500fps not 2450fps.
Problem is I want my Marlin Rifle with a 24" BBL rather than trade for a Marlin .44mag.

I read about this powder, it's been described as little donuts that take up the large space in the .444 & the 45-70 cartridges.
Kaypok & Corn meal over a fast burning powder is danger ous, as hell. Gotta be a better way.

Anyone used this powder for safer reduced loads in large capacity cases? What ya think? Was it accurate at all?

I've used 2400 with good results for both 444 and 44 mag .

 

[Mike A]

I've used 2400 with good results for both 444 and 44 mag .

What is your charge and vel with 2400? I have some for my 300gr .44mag loads
Also do you use a filler for the .444?

Will be fun to shoot all day long.
I got this from Hodgdon Powder, Answer back the same day. Who needs a loading book these days? https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

Hodgdon

Hello Mike , thank you for contacting us.

Trail Boss will work perfectly for what you are wanting and turn that 444 into the 44 you desire. There is a formula for loading Trail Boss which is attached. Basically just fill the case to the base of the seated bullet, no compression on the powder and this is your max load. This can be reduced by 30% to start. Will be fun to shoot all day long.



Luke Otte
Technical support
6430 vista dr.
Shawnee, Ks 66218

 

[Mike Galway]

What is your charge and vel with 2400? I have some for my 300gr .44mag loads
Also do you use a filler for the .444?

Will be fun to shoot all day long.
I got this from Hodgdon Powder, Answer back the same day. Who needs a loading book these days? https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

Hodgdon

Hello Mike , thank you for contacting us.

Trail Boss will work perfectly for what you are wanting and turn that 444 into the 44 you desire. There is a formula for loading Trail Boss which is attached. Basically just fill the case to the base of the seated bullet, no compression on the powder and this is your max load. This can be reduced by 30% to start. Will be fun to shoot all day long.



Luke Otte
Technical support
6430 vista dr.
Shawnee, Ks 66218

44 mag I use 17.6 grns. 2400 , 240 grn. Kieth style LSWC . 444 , 38 grns 2400 , 265 grn jacketed soft point .
Used to use the standard Kieth load of 22 grns 2400 44mag . 17.6 is fine for target shooting and much easier on hands . Trail Boss even easier , 6 grns Trail Boss 200 grn RNFP is fun .
My old Hornady loading manual has loads for 444 using 2400 . The show 30.8 at 1900 fps - 40.0 at 2400 fps . Bullets are 240 JHP - 265 JSP . I use no filler .
I got turned on to Trail Boss loading for my S&W 25 in 45 LC . Needed something to take up more space in the case . I've used it in 44 , 444 , 45 LC , even 45 Auto Rim .

 

[Mike A]

Sounds great I'll just order some as soon as they get some in stock.
I wrote Hodgdon an E-Mail asking why Win 296, IMR 4895, the old favorites are just OOS ( Out Of Stock )
Primers I get but Powder like WIN,Hodgdon, IMR are OOS???

Primers I do not get as well as powder. I will never believe a wave of Snowflakes just all decided to start Handloading.
No Sir it's all about creating Shortages to inflate Price$ nothing else. CROOKS!

Must be a way to punish these crooks after this is over, if it does ever get over.

 

[Mike Galway]

Just did a little research . In a 44 with a 240 grn lswc , 6 grns of Trail Boss has similar velocity to 11 grns of 2400 . So , per ounce it's not that pricey . I use the same 6 ounce load for 44 - 200 grn rnfp , and 45 Colt -200 rnfp . both from Missouri Bullet .

 

[joepistol]

Tried many different powders for my 44 mag..pistols (S&W 29 & 629 ) and a Marlin 1894 .
This is the only pistol caliber that I found in my experience, that 1 powder worked better ( = shot consistently tighter groups) than any other.
That powder is H-110 (aka Win 296)..
It has provided what I call " clover-leaf" groups in my Marlin..behind LSWC & JHP pills weighing 240 grs.

Once I discovered this, I made sure I had a few # of H-110 in my powder supply. Don't shoot that caliber or rifle often,
but as chance would have it , was @ the range with it yesterday. Wanted to shoot some rds I'd loaded with A/A # 7, & # 9..
though loaded to an (estimated) same velocity of 1250 fps.. the loads were tighter with the #9 powder, but not as good as loads with H-110.
Going to see if I still have any 44 mag ammo loaded with H-110 & see if they are as accurate as I remeber.

I noticed the rds. I shot yesterday were loaded / dated in 1996.