Trail Boss

TrollGRG

TrollGRG

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Location
Lacombe, AB
I just acquired a beautiful Pedersoli Sharps in 45-70. I came with 100 rounds loaded with Trail Boss (bullets - 340 gr).

Do any of you have any experience with that combination? Speculation means nothing - I can do that. Do you actually know? have you tried it? What kind of results did you get?

My initial thoughts were for 4198 but because the rounds came with this combo I am curious. I am not hard stuck on the bullet weight.

Any input would be appreciated

Gerry
 
I got around 2.5” at 100m with my 95 Marlin Cowboy with trailboss. I think it was 12.5 grains under a 405 grain flat point. It had a really mild report and though I never cronied the load I expect it was really slow. Quite a bit slower than a black powder load.

It’s not the most accurate load in my rifle, but it’s certainly good enough for new shooters who might be recoil shy, and it’s certainly good enough for gong duty.
 
Trail boss is fine in the 45-70. The only thing you can’t do with it is compress it. I’ve done mild enough loads that you can barely feel the resistance when resizing. They will have mild recoil
 
I have a pedersoli long range creedmore here on the island, trailboss is giving me all sorts of vertical stringing with 350 and 405 grain bullets, my rifle is shining with 20.5 grains of AA5744 and 500, 525 and 535 grain bullets, this combination is giving me MOA groups out to 300 yards, the farthest I have shot it so far with the soule sight and target globe sight.......so what part of the island??
 
hatman1793 said:
TrailBoss is way too fast for 45-70.

In the Hodgon 2019 Reloading manual, TrailBoss is #21, slighly slower than WST.
"TrailBoss was designed specifically for low velocity lead bullets suitable for Cowboy Action shooting."

Seek light reduced loads with IMR4198 or H4198.
Click to expand...

read up on just what trailboss was designed for.........large bore straight walled cases such as the 45-70.......
 
Trailboss is little fluffy cherrios, designed to fill a case for mouse fart loads...gallery/cowboy action reenactment. The sort of load you let a 8 year old try, so they have a story about shooting the buffalo rifle. Velocity is very slow, good news is, if it isnt accurate....just run after it and nudge it back on target.

You of course know this. Have some fun before doing the trapdoor to snorter progression.

Trailboss is very forgiving, and great fun with cast loads. The only thing it doesnt forgive is compressed loads.
 
nowarningshot said:
Trailboss is little fluffy cherrios, designed to fill a case for mouse fart loads...gallery/cowboy action reenactment. The sort of load you let a 8 year old try, so they have a story about shooting the buffalo rifle. Velocity is very slow, good news is, if it isnt accurate....just run after it and nudge it back on target.

You of course know this. Have some fun before doing the trapdoor to snorter progression.

Trailboss is very forgiving, and great fun with cast loads. The only thing it doesnt forgive is compressed loads.
Click to expand...

Exactly, follow the instructions about measuring case capacity and start at 70% of that and work your way up.
 
Trail Boss is fine for loading 45/70 but,
unless I was present and paying close attention while buddy was loading those round, there's no way I would chance using them.
Take them apart and re-use the components to load them yourself.
IMHO
 
I found 15.5 gr of TB drove a 350 gr lead bullet with fine accuracy in my 1885 Uberti Hi-wal.
Coincidentally, that load also works well in my Sharps.
 
I know you asked about lighter bullets, but 12.2 of Trailboss, 405 gr cast, CCI 200 and Winchester brass was 940 fps from my 18.5” non-ported Marlin Guide Gun. Definitely very mild and and good fun to shoot.
 
13 gr Trail Boss with a 405 gr. plated Campro was just over 1000 fps in my 24" Marlin. So mild it was actually too wimpy to shoot. A load to have around for recoil shy friends or small kids.

A very useful powder in many rifle calibers but very hard to find out on the West coast these days.
 
You could always break them down and verify that it’s 70% case volume. As described it’s flakes are tiny Cheerios and very easy to
Identify. A Rare powder right now with none being produced.

Probably a good set up for trapdoor
 
I worked up some nice rounds of Trail Boss with 405gr and 350gr lead bullets, but finding Trail Boss is impossible to find right now. My next choice would be H4198, but not finding any of that either. I have worked up some nice loads using Clays and Bullseye that shot fairly soft out of my Chiappa Sharps. I used large pistol magnum primers to ensure complete ignition.
 
I have used Trailboss in two rugers a #3 with 22"and a #1 24".Had full power loads worked up but had a shoulder operation so 11 grs.and 13grs.under a 405 hard cast and 350gr.hard cast were fun to shoot and worked great on a 160 lbs 7 pointer.Velocities were both 1120 fps for 405 and 1294for 350s.Happy shooting. I Would pull some bullets to make sure of the loads though,Safety first.
 
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