Trail Boss

[Paul Harm]

I've read that even though the manufacture recommends you don't use Trail Boss for shotgun shells many guys do use it. They claim the only reason it's not recommended is because it hasn't been pressure tested it for some reason. Has anyone here tried it ? I may buy a pound of it and try it in brass hulls.

[Daryl Corona]

Paul;
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. You might want to try the Cowboy Action shooters website (I think they have one) as I believe they use it in their sport.

Good luck and tell us how you make out.

[wayne goerres]

Paul you may not be aware of this but that one pound bottle only holds nine ounces of powder. I beleave it is going to be pretty expensive to use. I have a bottle of it but as now I havn't used it.

[Paul Harm]

Wayne - then I would think a one pound bottle isn't a one pound bottle if it's only nine oz. What does it say on the bottle ?

[William Davis]

I shoot a lot of Single Shot Rifles. New shooters always ask "why not Trail Boss" Fact is it never works well if accuracy is the objective. It's formulated to fill big cases, avoiding double charges, and produce light recoiling low velocity loads. Perfect for Cowboy action, not useful for much else in the Rifle world. Very inconsistent velocities shot to shot. Most consider it very expensive too.

Bottle that's the same size as other pound packages won't hold a pound of Trail Boss due to its bulk, not a big issue they are looking for bulk to prevent double charges anyhow. 4759 was packaged the same way. 12 oz in a pound can, too bulky to get 16 oz. in the package. 4759 was labeled "12 oz"

It's possible Trail Boss would work well in large shotgun hulls. Make the right stack height easier to obtain. But have never used it and can't say what kind of pressure it produces in shotgun shells.

William

[wayne goerres]

William is correct. The plastic container is the one pound size but there is only 9 oz of powder in it. The powder is light and fluffy and takes up a lot of space.

[William Davis]

Not a Cowboy Action shooter, do know some guys that shoot Cowboy at our club.

Light loads with big cases like 44/40 45 LC 38/40 etc. designed for Black Powder, when using smokeless, work best with light charges of Unique or other fast pistol powders and cast bullets. Risk of double charging is a concern though. You could probably triple charge a 45 LC with Unique. Double would be a problem with most Single Actions or Lever Action Rifles. Triple much worse.

Trail Boss fills the case giving low recoil and velocity action shooters want, while avoiding the risk. That's its purpose and from what I hear pretty good for the job.

If I was going to try TB in a shotgun would load some up with stacked wads, and test for velocity using a beater 12 G single shot held in a rest. Real question is to what end ? 2 F Black is probably the optimal stacked wad shotgun powder might as well use it instead of substitutes

William