Lots of great info here, I just started using Trail Boss in my Uberti 73 .44-40, 5.5grs with Accurate 43-215 and I'm wondering if you had noticed an appreciable increase with temperature with it? This same load gave me a 1" group off the bench, cold, at 25 yards on our indoor range (I'm in Canuckistan, it's cold here) with my Pietta 7 1/2" SAA.
Howdy Dirty Dick!
First let me say, that is great shooting. Don't trade that Pietta. I have one in stainless, 4 3/4", 45 and it is the best pistol I own. I'd love to own one just like it in 44-40.
First of all, I have shot very little Trail Boss and that was during a summer several years ago. I pretty well started out with BP and the 43-215C bullet. These were shot with a velocity of 1300+. I graduated to heavier bullets and found that I could easily drive a 249 gr. bullet 1000 fps out of my 7.5" barreled 44-40 Ruger with BP. (I say easy. It was easy to load)
As you are well aware, the Hodgdon site shows a starting load of 5.5 gr of TB under a 200 grain bullet with velocity out of a 6" barrel @ 723 fps. Maximum load is 6.5 gr. with a velocity of 826 fps. and a pressure of 11.900 PSI. So, I knew this powder wasn't going to work well with my heavier bullets and I simply haven't tried to use it.
So, last week I loaded up 20 head using once fired Starline Brass and Winchester primers. 5.5 grains of TB under the 43-215C bullet. (Alloy: 50 / 50 WW & lead. They av. 220.5 grains) Crimped with a Redding Profile Crimp die. 1.600" COL.
On the 10th a Norther breezed in blowing some snow and I shot 10 of them at
34 degrees, 75 humidity. It was overcast, poor light but the chrony worked.
All shot out of a 24" barreled 1860 Uberti.
Hi: 923.9 fps - # 3
Lo: 902.7 fps
SD: 8.1
Av: 914.2 fps
ES: 21.4 fps
Group was 10 in 2.5" @ 50 yards.
Today, (15th ) I shot the other ten at
68 degrees and our usual humidity of 16. The days here are running in the 40s and early 50s (F) and I thought I had better not chance the "right now" vs a possible 3 degree warmer day tomorrow.
Hi: 942.4 fps. again # 3
Lo: 910.9 fps - # 4
SD: 10.4
Av. 928.9 fps.
ES: 31.6
Group was 10 in 1.9" @ 50 yards.
8 were touching measuring 1.5". Good light today.
Comments:
20 isn't much of a test.
There was an ES. Of 14 fps between the two groups and an ES of temperature of 34 degrees F.
So, that is a loss or gain of 1 fps. per 2.428 degrees. Quite a bit better than some of the 1 to 1 that it appears I have experienced with other powder.
I wasn't real pleased with either group so I went and got some ammo that I have shot 3 - 4" groups with at 200 M. The 6th shot made 2" at 50 yards and I said, "Well, it is only going to get worse; that's enough of that".
Hope this helps.
Billy