Trailboss, 300 SWCGC and Ken o'Neill custom front sight

[david.bergen]

A quick follow up on my FA 83 adventure.
Untill my new front sight arrived I had big trouble testing my low velocity loads. I tried two bulls eyes. Aiming at the lower one and shooting at the highest . When the front sight from Ken arrived everything changed. I ordered his highest version and it works perfect.
This is a high quality part and I am very pleased with it.

I also tried to take a sightpicture photo but my camera was strugling with the focus. When using at the range I get a very sharp sight picture.


The loads I tested are the RCBS 300 SWCGC cast from WW with 3% tin added and lubed with LBT blue.
Sized with a Lee .452 sizer they are a slip fit in my cilinder which many on the forum advised as being best.

8.5 grains Trailboss gives 890 ft/s and an ES 17
9.5 grains Trailboss gives 944 ft/s and an ES 29
Brass is Starline and cheap Magtech small rifle primers
The 9.5 load gives excellent accuracy at 50m. (3 shots touching other two also touching but 1.5 cm lower  from rest with open sights)
At the 25 m line the load  shoots one hole groups . Everybody that shoots it  has a big smile afterwards. (that wasn't the case with the 360 wfn at 1480ft/s) Most off the ammo was used for plinking at various distances and was great fun.

I also tested a load with 11 grains Unique and the same bullet. It gave a velocity off 1155 ft/s and was also very enjoyable to shoot.
Accuracy off the Unique load wasn't as good as the trailboss load. ( groups double the size).

Would the trailboss load be a good hunting load?  It's so enjoyable and accurate to shoot, but I think it's to low on velocity to make a good hunting load. (rainbow trajectory, not enough energy,....)

Maybe an opportunity is coming for me to test the load on a Sika Deer. Should I used it or use the Magtech factory ammo I have?

Factory Magtech 260 sjfp at 1700 plus ft/s  on the left or the RCBS 300swcgc at 944 ft/s on the right?
I am open for suggestions;
David

[swampthing]

There will be a load of unique that groups with the trailboss. Just takes time to find it. 950fps is plenty fast and will harvest game, but,  I would want that bullet moving closer to/around 1200fps for a [hopefully] quicker kill , or, a bigger meplat for hunting with the trailboss velocity, LBT WFN's and the like.

[Ken ONeill]

David,
Either load will work fine on the small Sika deer. If your shots are likely to be within 50 meters where you are hunting, I probably would be inclined to use the Traiboss load @ ~ 950 fps.  If shots are likely to be any further than that I would be inclined to use a load with greater velocity and thus flatter shooting - something in the 1200-1300 fps range. I've never been satisfied with Unique, personally.
Obviously the 1700 fps load is not necessary for Sika, but it will shoot a couple inches flatter than the 950 fps load @ 100 meters. For a high- mid power load I use 28 gr. of Win 296 with a 300 for 1350 fps from a non-ported 6" FA .454

My high end loads from a  7 1/2" ported 83 run a 260 @ 1725 and a 300 @1550 fps.

Thanks for your comments on the front sight.

[david.bergen]

"Thanks for your comments on the front sight."
You're welcome. I like it a lot

Ken & swampthing
What do you think about an 250 xtp at 1100-1200 ft/s.
Would that be a better choice or do I need more velocity with that bullet?

[swampthing]

250g is fine, just don't get the XTP-MAG 's. Those particular ones would be a little hard for what you are doing.
I gotta say though, I'm a bit like you. I don't run even my .44 at full tilt, not necessary. I use LBT WFNGC's from montana bullet works. Your 950fps load with these 280-300g slugs would be my pic. 280g @1175 or so is more than enough, taken a few HOGS with that combo, all went down within sight. {30 yds} Might even try Hodgdon Universal to get the velocity down another 100fps.

[david.bergen]

I also have a 320 LFN and a 360 WFN from LBT but haven't tried them at the low velocity.
The meplat at the WFN is the biggest one. The LFN one is similar to the SWC

[Ken ONeill]

The 250 XTP @11-1200fps is the equivalent of a Ruger .45 Colt load. It will do fine on sika deer and similar size game.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont let anyone tell you different a 300 grain bullet like the rcbs design at 900 fps will do alot of killing. I doubt youd ever notice the differnce in killing power using the same bullet shot faster at under a 100 yards and most dont have bussiness shooting past that anyway so trajectory isnt really a factor. By the way that rcbs 300 is a great bullet and probably my all around favorite 45 colt bullet.

[david.bergen]

Yes
I like the bullet if you see the performance at the target.
At first I was bit worried about the dimensions off my barrel, but if n ot cast very hard it works great.
The only minor point I see: The mould isn't easy to cast with. fill out is ok but the bullet aren't easy falling out the mould.
I have to tap the handles 3-4 times before the bullets fall out. If you are used to LBT moulds with there easy release
it's really hard casting the swc