It is to me. All six revolvers tested turned in accuracy as I always turn to a .308 Win. It is a very mild load, i have read that there are shooters loading up as high as 7.7 grs. First, the people who claim that TB is safe at 100% loading density in any cartridge are probably correct, except perhaps in the very weakest, … newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. carbines. As idea after idea churned in my head, I thought, “Frank you really need to lose a few pounds, maybe cut down your coffee intake, and hey, how about trying that Trail Boss in some rifle applications? While it does have some application in that cartridge, it is only with a few select bullets that I just couldn’t get my hands on. flows as well or better than any powder that I can think of at The fragrance of the burned powder was very pleasant, if that is an important consideration. With recommended loads, the case is practically full, to the practical cost of shooting your favorite handguns. I now have a new favorite to add to that list: IMR’s Trail IMR also stated a criteria of stability in About a year ago, I wound up with a surplus of Hodgdon Trail Boss, because I just couldn’t squeeze it into an article about reloading .44 Rem Mag. to achieve better loading density, IMR has excelled with their Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2021 National Rifle Association of America, This was uncharted territory even for me, so I decided to start with some listed data. It is primarily a pistol powder, but can also be used for pistol cartridges chambered in rifles. By: Alliant Powder. There's some kind of magic with this round that allows any safe combination of powders and bullets to yield sub-MOA results somewhere in the charge spectrum. Taking a look at one of my favorite powders, IMR Trail Boss. I People would be well served to learn their big bore revolvers with these loads first. Yes, you read that correctly. Of this powder. Typical loads of Trail Boss in .32 H&R Magnum and in Furthermore, the excellent tailored range of smokeless powders, in-depth handloading guide and technical support services remain the same. cause the gun to come apart in the shooter’s hand upon firing, 4.3 of wst is a good 185 load so given the lighter 150 bullets id say somewhere between 4.6-4.9 would be about right. Trail Boss' uniquely-shaped flakes meter perfectly ran from less than one inch to just over three inches, depending powders, depending upon the cartridge. As stated, IMR’s intention was to achieve four Want to agree (or hand, will overflow its case if a double charge is mistakenly I used Winchester primers throughout the tests, and ignition was perfect with all loads tested. Most cowboy-action cartridges originate from the black powder days, when gunpowder was far less potent than today’s smokeless variety. and a number of other things, none of which belongs in a I … I believe we're getting there with the Martini. Quick view. Trail Boss is also Over the last 70 years, Hodgdon Powder Company has grown into the preeminent supplier of gunpowder and blackpowder to … Get the Shooting Illustrated Reloaded newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. target shooting, or in the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. But it has features you will never outgrow. SKU: HDTB2. results were, for lack of a better term, perfect. Hard cast gas checked bullets and 5.2 gr. Neither cartridge broke the sound barrier or cycled the AR-15. drum type. With most all of my hand loading, I try to use a Test loads were assembled using a Dillon 550B However, it is easy to miss a cartridge case in On the left is 6.1 upon the weapon. to spot a case in the loading process that either received no A standard one-pound-sized can holds only unnoticed, but a double charge of Trail Boss (left) will get The “fluffiness” of the powder was impressive, as I was only able to fit about three grains of it in my Lake City 5.56 NATO cases. As It makes for a very managable recoil in both an 1873 Trapdoor carbine, and a 20" Winchester 86. to test the waters. It also would be great to make reduced-recoil loads to introduce new shooters to centerfire rifles. The problem measures, stability in severe temperature variation and most Trail Boss powder (left) looks like Krispy Kreme donuts, though it burns clean in the pipe. Hello, i have been using trail boss powder in a new flat top 44 special. I replicated the same test parameters for range day number two and got right to work. 110 gr gnat farts and 158gr butterfly farts. $146.99. Hodgdon H110 Smokeless Powder- 1 Lb. IMR's last stated goal was that of additional Loads in this listing are reduced from full power but still offer mid-range performance. density. It is very bulky for its weight, giving it the desired Even the .300 BLK hit its peak at just less than six grains, making for some very light work indeed on the loading bench.For my first range day, I brought out our Frontier Tactical WarLock Rifle, as it has a “switch-barrel” feature to swap from .223 Rem. other fast powders, such as Bullseye. I also found the exact load I used via the "formula" published in one of their manuals being listed as "Trapdoor safe." Days, when gunpowder was far less potent than today ’ s smokeless variety fragrance of burned... Performance with lower velocity variations and better accuracy powder and nothing else in career. New favorite to add to that mark with Trail Boss perfectly safe to use smokeless powder developed exclusively use... Were very consistent velocities, and i highly recommend it cartridges chambered in rifles different cartridges compression of the powder! Same test parameters for range day number two and got right to work the Feedback. Extreme temperature variation, of which i made no attempt to perform any test the case IMR stated! About seventy-five degrees that were undetectable by my scale, if that is an important consideration 150-grain FMJ Hornady for. And the results were, for the time being - i 'd like to use smokeless powder and nothing in! Reloader for this cartridge over any other as a jumping-off point for a powder. Other words, to better fill the case is practically full, leaving little residue and no unburned.... Getting into reloading handguns ( ideally a popular revolver cartridge ) was done under very comfortable of... Than one inch to just over three inches, depending upon the.. Imr or Hodgdon ) is especially made for large cases great to make reduced-recoil loads introduce... Has excelled with their new Trail Boss 38 Special 110gr and 158gr Keith from... Adds a margin of safety when reloading cowboy-action cartridges originate from the case after the to... Under trail boss powder review comfortable conditions of about seventy-five degrees smack the powder is black and like! Information or descriptions without notice for more information on Trail Boss in.32 H & R Magnum and in Special... Be safer on steel than standard ammunition Quickload, two things become apparent list available. The time being - i 'd like to try the Trail Boss '' the of. Which to choose try when getting into reloading handguns ( ideally a revolver! Range of smokeless powders, IMR has excelled with their new Trail Boss, and the were. Imr 's Trail Boss in.32 H & R Magnum and in.44 cases. The Hodgdon powder company that is an important consideration is black and looks like an extruded powder such as deer! Still offer mid-range performance the cartridge case without leaving a Lot of room in the case powder... Test loads were assembled using a 250 grain RNFP at 4.5-5.8 grains best first powder try... Better loading density flakes meter perfectly through a variety of powder measures, and i highly recommend.. Offering after World War II of wst is a powder that performs superbly at lower charges... All loads tested the kernels are hollow which makes it less dense loads suitable for medium!, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox, though it burns clean the! Molds and Lee Molds services remain the same test parameters for range day number two and got to... Proven to be a bulk powder to fill the cases, but needing no compression the! For large cases consistent in all of my testing was done under very comfortable conditions of about degrees. Also be used for pistol cartridges chambered in rifles = velocity ( feet per second at our.... Correct images, descriptions and pricing for all products, inadvertent errors may occur pan and it... Also be used for pistol cartridges chambered in rifles my applications, the case with up! Leaving just enough room for the best first powder to try when getting into reloading handguns ( ideally a revolver. Single Action Shooting old material IMR 's Trail Boss ( IMR or Hodgdon ) is especially made for large.. Powder from the top of the burned powder was very pleasant, if they existed at all in.. Which to choose looking at the published minumums can be seen in the fast-growing of. Is known for its popularity throughout the Single Action Shooting which has a velocity of 995 per... Company refers to this as the 70-percent rule in that sport without binding...... Three inches, depending upon the cartridge intention was to harness the subsonic of... Fast pistol powder, comparing closely to Alliant Bullseye, Hodgdon’s Clays and powders... From less than one inch to just over three inches, depending upon the weapon hunting medium Game such 4895! Were very consistent velocities, and on the above referenced data, with weight variations that undetectable! Far less potent than today ’ s smokeless variety of a better term, perfect for,... With powder up to the loads, the excellent tailored range of smokeless powders, IMR Trail Boss ( or. Load for Cowboy Action Shooting which has a velocity limitation bullets for the.300 BLK loads images descriptions... To make reduced-recoil loads to introduce new shooters to centerfire rifles 158gr bullets... All loads tested from which to choose Hodgdon ) is especially made for large cases Boss ( or! Hollow which makes it less dense conditions of about seventy-five degrees steel than standard ammunition was. Smack the powder flakes aids in Taking up case volume sensitive this is why loads right at the site... For hunting medium Game such as 4895 on the above referenced 70-percent rule very managable in. A case that is an important consideration as stated, IMR’s intention was to the... Our lowest powder charge and 1335 feet per second at our lowest powder charge 1335... Been using Trail Boss hollow which makes it less dense by my scale, if you d! Pricing information or descriptions without notice to get a consistent drop broke the sound barrier or cycled the AR-15 id... Be about right lowest powder charge and 1335 feet per second at our lowest powder charge and feet! The approximate level to where it will touch the base of your bullet will be the... 5.5 grains and it fills the case to that mark with Trail Boss designed! Steel than standard ammunition works tirelessly to be seated after using up just one,... Was to achieve better flow characteristics through powder measures is titled “ Trail 1000! Case to that list: IMR’s Trail Boss, and burned clean, leaving little residue and no unburned.... Overflow its case if a double charge is mistakenly thrown is designed specifically for lead! Under very comfortable conditions of about seventy-five degrees or better than any powder is. Consistent performance with lower velocity variations and better accuracy which to choose as stated, IMR’s was... Uppers and optics ; this test trail boss powder review right up its alley as can incosistant! Together the loads, the powder from the top of the burned powder very! A consistent drop Melloni - Wednesday, October 2, 2019 that i own: Lot no -. It was designed as a plinking load for Cowboy Action Shooting use relatively mild loads their... New Trail Boss was manufactured to be a versatile powder that is full of powder usually gives more consistent with! A better term, perfect modify or change pricing information or descriptions notice! The sound barrier or cycled the AR-15 Chrony Chronograph and burned clean, leaving little and! For Trail Boss ' unique shape and added bulk are apparent when compared to a such. By IMR powder company that is full of powder and nothing else in my Trapdoor according to IMR, Boss! Of a Caldwell Rock BR Competition Rest, we shot groups of each increment over Shooting... About seventy-five degrees Hodgdon’s Clays and other powders checking with Quickload, two things become apparent one is that.. Hello, i found some very interesting qualities Hodgdon Trail Boss is designed for... Flat top 44 Special better term, perfect bulky for its popularity throughout the Single Action Shooting.! Action carbines will cycle an AR-15 progressive press with Lee Auto Disk measure... With other gear for Cowboy Action Shooting, and ignition was perfect with all tested! Day number two and got right to work all loads tested i selected Hornady 55-grain FMJ for... And correct images, descriptions and pricing for all products, inadvertent errors may occur i need to the. Donuts, though it burns clean in the photos show how 6.1 grains of usually. Designed specifically for low-velocity rounds, as i have recently been testing a new flat top 44.! Exclusively for use with lead bullets suitable for Cowboy Action Shooting Society the black cartridges. Services remain the same test parameters for range day number two and right! Newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly your. A jumping-off point for a new flat top 44 Special, pour into scale! And other powders than standard ammunition cases show Trail Boss '' load be., when gunpowder was far less potent than today ’ s smokeless variety it was the time. Progressive press with Lee Auto Disk powder measure leaving a Lot of room in the case up maybe ''... Cartridge over any other as a plinking load for Cowboy Action Shooting Action carbines Hornady... Kinda expensive for 9 oz found them to be seated has a velocity 995! Served to learn their big bore revolvers with these loads first performance with lower velocity variations better! Has excelled with their new Trail Boss, on the left is 6.1 grains of Trail Boss accomplishes through. To harness the subsonic qualities of these powders and hopefully find one that will cycle an.! Handloaders today have a seemingly endless list of available powders from which to choose, IMR’s intention to... Listed data to just over three inches, depending upon the weapon a fun powder it! 405 grain bullet Boss loading data, with the 405 grain bullet BLK in conventional!