Powder drop for Trailboss?

Sasquatch

Sasquatch

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I've worked up an accurate load for subsonic 308 using heavy coated bullets. It works great- and they're fun to shoot. And that's the problem- we shoot a lot of them, and it takes a long time using my electronic dispenser to do each one by one.

Trailboss just doesn't meter well in my traditional drops (Dillon, Lyman), but I'm working on trying to get my Lee Disk to do it- some progress there.

Any recommendations if that doesn't work out?
 
Have you considered just making a scoop?
 
I think it will be hard to get any volumetric powder measure to work really well with Trailboss, but I think the Lee measures with the elastomeric wipers will do better than most, in my experience.
 
Yeah, I just get a cup that is pretty close to measuring what I want. I use it in my 30-30 lead subs and it is a blast I agree. I also put a i ply square of toilet tissue in before the bullet to keep the powder close to the primer.
 
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If I recall correctly, Trail Boss can be used in reduced loads for about anything as long as you fill the case up to the base of the bullet. Check the maker's web site to make sure their formula is as I think it is. If that is the case, making a scoop could be just as easy as cutting a case down as far as the bullet is seated. You could fashion some sort of handle for it if you wish. I hear tell that compressing Trail Boss is not recommended.
 
To make a scoop you cut a case off close to what you think you need. Dip it in to fill with powder, swipe across the top to level, measure weight. repeat a few times to help learn to dip and swipe consistently. trim case until you get to where it provides the charge you want. Take a piece of bare solid copper wire, wrap it around the case a couple times and make a loop to use as a handle, use a touch of solder to secure it to the case.

Tada, scoop.
 
@Sas quatch What’s your charge weight?

Found a guy online who, using lee dippers and the volumetric displacement of TB calculated and checked how much TrailBoss powder would be in each size Lee dipper:

Lee Dipper / TRAIL BOSS / Calculated to:
0.3 / 1.4 grains / 1.38121547
0.5 / 2.3 grains / 2.302025783
0.7 / 3.2 grains / 3.222836096
1 / 4.6 grains / 4.604051565
1.3 / 6.0 grains / 5.985267035
1.6 / 7.4 grains / 7.366482505
1.9 / 8.7 grains / 8.747697974
2.2 / 10.1 grains / 10.12891344
2.5 / 11.5 grains / 11.51012891
2.8 / 12.9 grains / 12.89134438
3.1 / 14.3 grains / 14.27255985
3.4 / 15.7 grains / 15.65377532
3.7 / 17.0 grains / 17.03499079
4 / 18.4 grains / 18.41620626
4.3 / 19.8 grains / 19.79742173

Trail Boss VMD = 0.2172
Calc for CC gn*vmd=cc
Calc for gn cc/vmd=gn
Calc for VMD cc/gn=vmd
 
11B CIB said:
@Sas quatch What’s your charge weight?

Found a guy online who, using lee dippers and the volumetric displacement of TB calculated and checked how much TrailBoss powder would be in each size Lee dipper:

Lee Dipper / TRAIL BOSS / Calculated to:
0.3 / 1.4 grains / 1.38121547
0.5 / 2.3 grains / 2.302025783
0.7 / 3.2 grains / 3.222836096
1 / 4.6 grains / 4.604051565
1.3 / 6.0 grains / 5.985267035
1.6 / 7.4 grains / 7.366482505
1.9 / 8.7 grains / 8.747697974
2.2 / 10.1 grains / 10.12891344
2.5 / 11.5 grains / 11.51012891
2.8 / 12.9 grains / 12.89134438
3.1 / 14.3 grains / 14.27255985
3.4 / 15.7 grains / 15.65377532
3.7 / 17.0 grains / 17.03499079
4 / 18.4 grains / 18.41620626
4.3 / 19.8 grains / 19.79742173

Trail Boss VMD = 0.2172
Calc for CC gn*vmd=cc
Calc for gn cc/vmd=gn
Calc for VMD cc/gn=vmd
Click to expand...

8.6 grains- so the 1.9 dipper?
 
Sas quatch said:
8.6 grains- so the 1.9 dipper?
Click to expand...

would be pretty close

I’d grab the set, or just a few individual ones if possible, and I would practice scooping/leveling off the scoops and averaging maybe 10 Individual scoops on a scale, seeing what they weigh out to. You’ll get a feel for how accurate they are and how close to your chosen load they can get you. Seems like a pretty good option once you get the hang of it
 
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