Anyone using Trail Boss in a .44 Russian with a 240/246 grain bullet?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

The Hodgdon manual says 3.5 grains for 10,000 psi, but only about 600 FPS.  I'll be shooting it in an original second model No. 3 Russian.  The PSI seems well low enough, as a load of 23 grains FFFG would be a lot hotter.  These No. 3s have really thick cylinder walls, by the way, way thicker than a .45 Colt of the period.

Coments.

[Coffinmaker]

I have two cautionary thoughts.  First ... Trailboss is not a be all .. end all propellant.  It is not going to necessarily burn efficiently in every cartridge your trying to use it in.  Second.  Most Important.  Smokeless propellants have a much different pressure curve than Black Powder.  The thickness of steel in a cylinder is no indication of it's ability to contain pressure.

If the gun was originally designed around Black Powder and Proofed for Black Powder.  Shoot it with Black Powder.  You will enjoy a much more harmonious journey with the correct propellants.

Coffinmaker

[Professor Marvel]

Undercertain conditions, Trail Boss actually has higher pressures....

thus I concurr with CM to keep your Russian intact.

yhs
prof marvel

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[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   David Chicoine suggested { in "Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West", I believe } that
only BP should be used in S&W Topbreak Revolvers, after having repaired several loosened
revolvers that had been fired with "safe" smokeless loads.
   
   Please consider sticking with BP in BP Era S&W's!!

                 M.T.Marfield