Trailboss

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FarmerJohn

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I like my .45LC guns. For the last several years, I've been using Trailboss. I like light loads.

Trailboss is great because it is easy to see - fills the case pretty good. I always look into the case before I seat my bullet. Haven't had a squib in decades.

My problem is that it is filthy. I've been told to crimp more, use heavier bullets (I typically load 180/200gr lead), use magnum primers, etc. My problem isn't unburned powder, just dirt and grime. Is the powder just plain dirty?

Yep, I have all the other powders - Unique, 231/HP38, even tried 4227. I don't shoot many full power loads - have some older guns and a pristine 25-5 that I like to baby. Only my Vaquero and the rifles get the full-power stuff.

With anything but Trailboss, I have to tilt the brass in the press to see the powder and that slows the process down considerably.

Suggestions?
 
I have found that 45 Colt rounds need the maximum charge listed to reduce case blackening and blowback. My Marlin 94 gives me a bit of blowback into my face if I reduce the loads. I do not notice it in my revolvers but do get really dirty cases. I suppose the cases are not expanding enough for a tight seal with lighter charges.
 
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I don't get any blowback, at least since I sold my Taurus Thunderbolt, it's just that 50 rounds make it look like I've shot 500 and never cleaned my guns. The point of using the trailboss is that it is so easy to load the cowboy-type loads. Same velocity charge with Unique is much cleaner, just harder to load. I've been putting up with it for years, might just be the way it is.
 
According to the maker's data, that is not far from the starting load. Try their max load with that bullet and see if it improves things. The max load only shows about another 100 f/s increase in velocity above what you are loading. I ran a test several years ago with Trail Boss in 45 Colt and found that the max load listed was still a mild load but was not nearly as dirty as lighter loads. Generate enough pressure to seal up those cases.
 
In every powder I have tried, they all burn cleaner as you move up in charge. The higher the pressure, the more complete the burn. That is why I always recommend a fast burning powder in the upper charge range for reduced loads, rather than light charges of slow burning powder. The fast powder will hit peak pressure quicker, but also drop off in pressure quicker - the velocity is about the area under the curve, not the peak pressure.
 
Toprudder said:
In every powder I have tried, they all burn cleaner as you move up in charge. The higher the pressure, the more complete the burn. That is why I always recommend a fast burning powder in the upper charge range for reduced loads, rather than light charges of slow burning powder. The fast powder will hit peak pressure quicker, but also drop off in pressure quicker - the velocity is about the area under the curve, not the peak pressure.
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I understand that. I've been loading .45LC since the mid-eighties. I have a couple guns that I just don't like to shoot full power loads. I have a pristine 25-5 with virtually no top strap wear after several thousand rounds for instance. I'll live with dirty if that is what it takes to 1) reload easily - trailboss fills the case well and is easy to double check in the progressive press and 2) keep a couple guns from getting wear. I don't like to not shoot my guns - light loads are the next best thing.

I never, ever seat a bullet without a visual check of the powder level. The days of beating a squib out of a barrel with a brass rod are long gone for me. Trailboss, which I discovered during a short stint shooting SASS, allows that because of its high VMD. If I go with another powder, tilting the brass in the press takes too long. I'm a couple hundred rounds a week shooter, so I like to speed up the reloading process. The lower pressure also allows me to get dozens and dozens of reloads out of a case. Some of mine are 30 years old, and who knows how many times they've been reloaded.
 
Have you thought about trying VV N32C? (TinStar). It is a low bulk density powder, similar to Trailboss.
 
Blue Dot works fine for filling a case. Of course, the internet Karen’s tales might scare you away. It costs less than most, fills cases fairly well, and doesn’t need magnum primers. I use it for 9mm, .44 Special and .45 Colt, all with heavy-for-caliber SNS Coated lead bullets.
 
Speaking of TrialBoss- has anyone found it in-stock? I had a big jug from a few years ago that I'm still using, but I don't think I've seen it in a couple of years? And yes- it is dirty..
 
Replying to my own post- I still can't find it in any place reputable (two sites which had it required bitcoin. riiiiigggght)..

Brownells had 4350 in stock (for like $55/#! yikes!) so took a look for Trail Boss. Cabela's had something similar, that it's 'not available online' (while other powders are) and no photo anymore.

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After a hitting a few more fake gun stores, I found some posts for Australian loaders. The post is a year old, and references an even older one, but Australia Munitions (ADI) quit making Trailboss (Hodgdon is their USA distributor)

www.adiworldclass.com.au

Propellant Update

Dear Sporting Shooters, It has been quite some time since our last propellant update. We would like to assure you, the factory continues to run at maximum capacity, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and we’re supplying as much propellant to the market as possible. Any difficulty in accessing our...
www.adiworldclass.com.au

Trail Boss – This propellant is unlikely to be released in 2022 as there continues to be an active research and development project associated with its manufacturing optimisation.
 
Sasquatch said:
After a hitting a few more fake gun stores, I found some posts for Australian loaders. The post is a year old, and references an even older one, but Australia Munitions (ADI) quit making Trailboss (Hodgdon is their USA distributor)

www.adiworldclass.com.au

Propellant Update

Dear Sporting Shooters, It has been quite some time since our last propellant update. We would like to assure you, the factory continues to run at maximum capacity, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and we’re supplying as much propellant to the market as possible. Any difficulty in accessing our...
www.adiworldclass.com.au

Trail Boss – This propellant is unlikely to be released in 2022 as there continues to be an active research and development project associated with its manufacturing optimisation.
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Well, that makes it sound like it won’t be available for a while, but should come back after they figure out how to “optimize” the manufacturing process.
 
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