Trail Boss?

[Ranger J]

While I am having excellent results accuracy wise shooting cast bullets loaded with Trail Boss in both my .44 and 45/70  it really seems to burn dirty.  This seems to be especially so in the .44.  The outside of the spent cases have dark stains and after 25 or so shots they start sticking in the chamber after being fired.  The barrel is one of the new ones with the extractor.  I am shooting 180 gr OT hard cast at about 1000 fps and perhaps this doesn't expand the front of the case enough to seal it??  After running the empties through the tumbler I still have to steel wool them to get stain off.  Has any one else had this experience?

RJ

[dpe.ahoy]

Haven't tryed it yet but with the low pressure you are running with it, that is what will happen.  Have you recharged or changed your media, that might help clean them up better.    DP.

[jager]

I'm using 5.8gr of Trail Boss behind a 255gr SWC  in a .45Colt SAA with excellent results. The load burns relatively clean and shoots POA!

[SlimPigguns]

RJ, I was pleased with the fact that Trail Boss left no unburnt powder ( compared to my previous AP70 loads) with 200 & 240 gn swc bullets. I am using 7.2gns of TB. I have made up some 405gn 45/70 loads with 12.5gns of TB, but have been unable to try them due to a torn bicep. What loads are you using ? Pete

[PHATINJUN]

I get the same thing as you with my .32 H&R mags both the rifle and the revolver I have decided to just live with it til all the TB is gone... now that I've gotten over my full case phobia I will use some thing else when it's gone.Kurt

[Ranger J]

I'm using 7.6gr with the 180 gr OT and I use 14 gr with a 300 OT cast in my 45/70.  Both shoot extremely well.  I might try some other powder that will give me about the same fps (1000) and see if it would shoot any cleaner in the 44.  Does anyone have any suggestions.  The thing about this .44 barrel is that it shoots lighter bullets (slow twist) much better than heaver bullets.  With a full load of H110 and 180 gr Hornady bullets if I concentrate I can put five in one ragged hole at 50 yds.  It will shoot the Hornady 240s again with a full load of H110 well but not quite as well.  In other words it will shoot Hornady bullets (but not other brands) at high speed great to fairly well.  It will allso shoot the OT 180s at about 1000 fps great and the 240s not as well.  Anything in between you can forget about.  That doesn't bother me as I had one of the old .44s that wouldn't shoot anything well.  If I chose to I could go deer hunting with the heavy load and the light one is good to punch paper with.  If it didn't shoot so dirty.   What I really like about Trail Boss is even with the light loads I can not double load a cartridge.

RJ