No Trail Boss, what's close?

[RRio]

Well Ha!! 

I have also chosen One Powder for ALL of MY CAS needs.  Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun.

APP.  APP bis geshund you betcha!!

Play Safe Out There

How is cleanup on that stuff?  Inquiring minds want to know.

[Bearskinner]

Code Select Expand

I need to try some of this in some newer guns, before loading for antiques, but I was given 4# + 1# of SR4759, which is a bulky powder ( not as bulky as TB) for lighter loads. If nothing else I can use it in my mixers cartridges, in place of Trail Boss, and save the TB for fragile guns. Can't complain about 5 extra pounds of powder.

[Froogal]

I did some research a couple of days ago, and it looked like CLAYS was the next best thing to TrailBoss, but guess what? There is no Clays to be found anywhere.

[Crow Choker]

Well....Ifin you can find any Red Dot, I've loaded many many (1000's) of lead bullets all the way from 38's, 44 Specials, and 45 Colts with Red Dot with great success and good accuracy in the power level that CAS is shot. I've never used it myself, but have read of loaders using Green Dot also. Can't recall if its faster or slower in burn rate than its Red cousin, but in the ball park.

Winchester 231 works well also (many many rounds loaded with it) if it is still available or Hodgdon HP38 which it and 231 are basically the same powder. As I mentioned in an earlier post Titegroup works well, have loaded it some in 38 Spec, mostly in 45 Colt and 45 ACP. It is regarded to be position insensitive which works well in large cases. I never noticed any problems back in the day with light loads of Bullseye, 231, Red Dot, HP38, etc in 38 Spec rounds, esp shooting in any of my Police Combat or PPC days or any CAS type ranges/shooting. These ranges and the type of shooting isn't like trying to get real tight groups as if paper punching from a rest. If any of these powders can be found, you won't be disappointed. (edited) 

[Abilene]

...One thing about HP38 is that it is considered by Hodgdon to be insensitive to position in that it burns well wherever its laying in the case. Works well esp in bigger cases like the 45 Colt...

I've never heard that about HP38 (or 231).  You're not thinking of Titegroup are you?  They definitely say that one is not position sensitive.  I've used it and it is okay but a little "snappy".

[Coffinmaker]

RRio 

Clean-Up is a breeze.  When using it in Suppository Shooters, I wipe down the Breach end of the Barrel/Frame with PAM, swab out the barrel with a wet PAM patch, dry patch, oily patch.  Same routine for the Cylinder.  Easy Peasy.

Will need to drop the fired cases in some water cut about 25% with White Vinegar, rinse, dry, I dry tumble, reload.  Also really easy.

Play Safe Out There

[Crow Choker]

I've never heard that about HP38 (or 231).  You're not thinking of Titegroup are you?  They definitely say that one is not position sensitive.  I've used it and it is okay but a little "snappy".

MY BAD  , believe yer right Abilene, had a brain seizure of some kind.  Was thinking of Titegroup which I've shot alot of in various calibers. I do like Titegroup though. I believe yer right, it is a bit 'snappier' than 231/HP38, but not enough to hinder shooting IMO. I did research HP38 on Hodgdons site before posting this, no mention of it being position insensitive. I DID go back to my last post before this and edited it to prevent any confusion by any readers.

[Bryan Austin]

The best high volume powder is holy black

Not really, but that is best kept for a different thread! 

[Professor Marvel]

Once again, I would like to reference this thread from "leverguns"

https://levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=27410

it shows actual pressure data for BP, Trailboss, and SR4759

please read the whole thing.

they make a valid point based on real data that TrailBoss
is a fluffy smokeless and IS NOT a BP sub or for older guns.


SR4759 has an almost identical pressure curve as Black Powder, and apears to perform somewhere between FFFg and FFg

as always, YMMV

yhs
prf mumbles

[Coffinmaker]

  For RRio 

I need to add an addendum.  Have been playing with some Suppository Shooters of late and have found very little fouling on the Cylinder Face.  Run a whole match without a wipe-down.

For Fun and Frivolity with your pistoles, APP be your Huckleberry.  just skip that fad heathen smokeless stuff 

[cpt dan blodgett]

I have used A2 in .38 spec 38spec level loads in  357 mag medium range loads in 9mm cowboy action loads in 44 spec 44 spec level loads in 44 mag brass 45 colt and reasonably stout 45 acp loads sufficient to meet WB power factor  for years  one must be careful as 2x or 3 x charges will fit in a case with disastrous if not catastrophic results. To avoid this and eliminate squids I batch charge cases into a loading block visually inspect to ensure all cases are charged and powder levels are the same before seating bullets

[Rube Burrows]

Will we ever see Trail Boss again? Are they even making it?

It has been my "go to" for cowboy loads for many years and I would hate to see it go away for good.

I am getting real low on it also.

[RRio]

Will we ever see Trail Boss again? Are they even making it?

It has been my "go to" for cowboy loads for many years and I would hate to see it go away for good.

I am getting real low on it also.

I spoke to a person at Hodgdon last May, I believe it was, who said they would not begin making it again until the first of the year. Best thing to do is keep sending emails, and let them know there is a market for it.   

[Rube Burrows]

I spoke to a person at Hodgdon last May, I believe it was, who said they would not begin making it again until the first of the year. Best thing to do is keep sending emails, and let them know there is a market for it.   

Can't email them from their site anymore. Says it's limit has been reached. I messaged thrm through their Instagram and Facebook pages.

[Bunk]

Coffinmaker has one good solution.
Also I have over the years run a lot of Unique through my .45 Colts and it seems to be bulky enough for the .45 Colt case.
Respectfully
Bunk

[Froogal]

For what it's worth, 9 grains of 4227 under a 158 grain lead bullet in .38 special seems to be just as pleasant to shoot as 4 grains of TrailBoss, and might be a tad more accurate.

[Cliff Fendley]

For what it's worth, 9 grains of 4227 under a 158 grain lead bullet in .38 special seems to be just as pleasant to shoot as 4 grains of TrailBoss, and might be a tad more accurate.

There are many many options for 38 special and really no need for Trailboss in that cartridge. It's the big old black powder cases that it was it's main intent with it's bulkiness.

[David Battersby]

In my Uberti 1894 Winchester, 38-55 with 250gr bullet this is what 7.5gr of Trailboss does at 100 yards.           
I really, really hope Trailboss is back on the shelves in 2023.
The bullet in the image is 290gr, just grabbed it for showing scale/size of group and holes.

[Sedalia Dave]

Trailboss is made by ADI in Australia as was imported into the US by Hodgdon.

Because of changes to the REACH standard ADI was forced to reformulate all of their pistol powders including Trailboss. To date there is no reliable information as to when or if TB will ever be available. ADI has been saying next year for at least 3 years in a row.

All the shooters in OZ are struggling because of the multi-year drought of available pistol powders brought on because they signed on to comply with the REACH standards imposed by the EU