trail boss/45 colt question

[jimster]

Over the years I've tried different powders for 45 colt, and always go back to Unuiqe and about 8 or 8.5gr for 250/255gr bullets for all around use in guns that are not Rugers.
I have been reading a lot about trail boss and how it fills the case up more.
My question is for those who have loaded this in 45 colt, can trail boss be loaded so it equals what 8.5gr of Uniuqe will do? Or would i be asking this powder to do something it was not designed to do? I hear a lot about how it's great for cowboy loads, but I wanted a few more FPS than a cowboy load. I don't see much load data out there for trail boss, and don't have any experience using it, I could use some advice before I try to buy some.

Thanks

Jim

[bigjeepman]

Good question jimster... the .45 lc is my favorite caliber but I have had so much Unique on hand and a little H-110 that I want to use that I haven't tried the Trail Boss yet. Hope you get a lot of feedback.

[Jerry Lester]

The only caliber I've loaded it in is the 32 magnum. From what I've seen of it's performance in the 32 magnum, I'd say it'd work very well for the 45 colt. I honestly don't think you could get enough of it in the 32 magnum to ever reach high pressures. I had to go up to around 2.5g of it just to keep the cases from stove piping. At that charge with a 97g Cast bullet, and standard primers, it's still only running around 700+ fps. I went up to 3g with absolutely no pressure signs, and cases still pretty much dropped out of the cylinder. This was as much as I could load without starting to compress slightly.

I've decided that for my small game, and plinking loads, this is going to be my powder of choice unless something even better comes along. This powder also burns extremely clean wich is also a big plus. I can't wait till I've shot up enough 357's to load some back with this powder!

[DWTim]

Probably not, if IMR's published figures are to be believed. I'd guess that 8.5 gr. of Unique has a good 100 f/s on 5.8 gr. of Trail Boss (the listed maximum) with a 250 gr. bullet. A fella in the Sixgunner forums chrono-ed some T.B. loads under a 265 gr. Keith bullet, and came up with data that is similar to IMR's figures.

If you're looking for low-recoil, accurate loads with reduced muzzle-flash, then Trail Boss is your powder. I really don't know what else to say about it.

[Rum River]

I loaded up several hundred rounds of .45 Colt with a 250gr. RNFP and 5 grs. Trail Boss. I've only shot a hundred or so, and I have not yet run them on the chronograph. They are accurate out of my Blackhawk convertible and my standard frame Redhawk. In my Navy Arms (Uberti) Henry replica they will make one-hole groups at 50 yards.

I'll try and get some chrono readings and post them here, but it probably won't be for a couple of weeks at least. Offhand, I'd agree with what another poster said, that it could be tough to equal the velocity and performance of the Unique load.

[PlacitasSlim]

I have been using Trail Boss every since it came out for SASS. Does what you want to do in competition. For Defense loads, I still use Unique.

[jimster]

thanks for the replies everyone.  Trail boss sounds like good stuff for what it was intended for, and I like what I've read about it taking up more space in the 45 colt case.  I'll probably try some and play with it some.
RUM RIVER...if you ever get around to shooting some 45 colts loaded with trail boss through the chrony, I'd be real interested in what you come up with out of a rifle and a handgun both.

Thanks everyone