Cassalong Hopidy Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I have several bottles of Trail Boss, so I am going to use that powder in making up some 45C loads for my Vaqueros and Renegade rifle. I will experiment to find a good charge, but my question is what bullet weight to go with. I am inclined to a 200 gr RNFP but interested in any real life experience you may have with that and bullets of other weights. Thanks. Cassalong Hopidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I mostly use the 200 gr RNFP with TB and have had nothing but good experience with that combo. I am not shooting puff loads (not sure if that is possible in a 45 Colt anyway... ) and the recoil is slight and very manageable, especially in my big old clunky tank- like Vaqueros. I have used 250 gr as well and that also works great, perhaps with just a bit less blowback. Good luck. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I have several bottles of Trail Boss, so I am going to use that powder in making up some 45C loads for my Vaqueros and Renegade rifle. I will experiment to find a good charge, but my question is what bullet weight to go with. I am inclined to a 200 gr RNFP but interested in any real life experience you may have with that and bullets of other weights. Thanks. Cassalong Hopidy I use Missouri bullets 250 gr LRN, loaded with TB : Left side is 250, right is 180! My sights are unaltered as a result of choosing the 250, I'd have to file for a lighter bullet - and besides - the 250 is righteous on KD's. Shadow Catcher p.s.- in my Rossi rifles the POI is two sight clicks different than when I use Tite-Group - a hundred F/S faster load! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 ............ 200 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Pot SASS#55659 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 200 Gr RNFP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 ...and besides - the 250 is righteous on KD's. Amen to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Buscadero, SASS #73085 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hey Cassalong, I've settled on 200gr LRNFP w/TrailBoss. I use same load for my pistols and rifle. 250gr works well also, see no appreciable difference at the distances shot in a CAS match, so opt to save a few dollars per thousand rounds using the 200gr. Bucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 TB is a great powder -- mid range per Hodgdon data. 180 or 200 RNFP for pistols, 250 for the rifle. The heavier bullet in the rifle results in less blowback, plus you use less powder. I don't notice much difference in recoil with the 250s, but then I'm relatively insensitive to recoil in long guns. If you want light loads and minimum recoil in pistols and rifle, that's a whole different story. What's your objective (other than using your bottles of TB)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Solo Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Missouri Bullet #4 (200 grain rnfp) handles all my 45 cowboy needs including 45 ACP for wild bunch. I use TrailBoss in both 45 colt and 45 acp. I bought a big can of it and don't like having too many different kinds of powder in my house. The 200 grain bullet handles KDs just fine. I wouldn't use the 200 grain lead bullet deer hunting, but that is a different issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throckmorton,23149 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 200 grain,and don't be skimpy on the powder charge.TB is very wimpy at the low ends,I'd suggest going straight to the middle charge and working up from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Fingered Fred 59408 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 250 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 200g here. Middle of the road....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 200gr at .454 Dia....or 250gr at .452. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txmac Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Ive tried 200gr and 160gr. My Ruger NV seems to feel better 200gr (if that makes any sence) and my Winchester chokes on the 160's. I'll stick with the 200gr from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hondo Tucker Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I have used 200 gr with Trail Boss since day one of my reloading. I have gone up and down the published data scale, with mixed results. When I went to the minimums, I got inconsistent ignition. They all went off, but one would be loud, one quiet, ect. For the last year and a half I am exactly in the middle of the load data on the websight for 200 grain bullet. They work really good, accurate and recoil is such that I can shoot them as fast as I can run the lever. My only problem is my 73 gets a little dirty after about 150 rounds. When 2 or 3 people use my rifle for 5 stages, it can get sticky by the end of the day. Tight crimp helps, or saying "no" to people that want to borrow your stuff. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I have used 200 gr with Trail Boss since day one of my reloading. I have gone up and down the published data scale, with mixed results. When I went to the minimums, I got inconsistent ignition. They all went off, but one would be loud, one quiet, ect. For the last year and a half I am exactly in the middle of the load data on the websight for 200 grain bullet. They work really good, accurate and recoil is such that I can shoot them as fast as I can run the lever. My only problem is my 73 gets a little dirty after about 150 rounds. When 2 or 3 people use my rifle for 5 stages, it can get sticky by the end of the day. Tight crimp helps, or saying "no" to people that want to borrow your stuff. YMMV Yup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bull Skinner Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 200 grain,and don't be skimpy on the powder charge.TB is very wimpy at the low ends,I'd suggest going straight to the middle charge and working up from there. +1.....exactly my thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 200 RNFP, and I downloaded the Trail Boss until I was getting ~600 fps on the chrono. Easy recoil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Missouri Bullet #4 (200 grain rnfp) handles all my 45 cowboy needs including 45 ACP for wild bunch. I use TrailBoss in both 45 colt and 45 acp. I bought a big can of it and don't like having too many different kinds of powder in my house. The 200 grain bullet handles KDs just fine. I wouldn't use the 200 grain lead bullet deer hunting, but that is a different issue. Big +1 to everything Bart said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rio Brazos Kid Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 It's been my experience that Trail Boss is the dirtyest burning powder you can use in the 45LC. Maximum loads w/200 grn. bullets arent too bad, but the use of the 250 grainers is much cleaner. I have found that using the fastest burning powders works best with this caliber. Powders such as Clays, Nitro 100, or HP38 at near max loads, will burn cleanest with moderate to little blowback. RBK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hashknife Cowboy Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Here is my pet load..... Pistol Colt SAA 5.5 barrel Rifle Uberti 1873 205 Gr RNFP moly coated lead from Bear Creek Bullets in CA Trail Boss x.x grains WLP Primers 676 FPS Pistol / 836 FPS Rifle I use a Dillon 550 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassalong Hopidy Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 200 RNFP, and I downloaded the Trail Boss until I was getting ~600 fps on the chrono. Easy recoil. Okie Mind sending me a PM (assuming I getit) with the charge you used? I like my pistols shooting around 650 fps and can translate from there. Shot with some reloads lower than the stated minimum and did not seem to have any problem. Cassalong Hopidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassalong Hopidy Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 Hey Cassalong, I've settled on 200gr LRNFP w/TrailBoss. I use same load for my pistols and rifle. 250gr works well also, see no appreciable difference at the distances shot in a CAS match, so opt to save a few dollars per thousand rounds using the 200gr. Bucky Bucky Can you send me a PM with the charge you use? Thanks. Cassalong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Okie Mind sending me a PM (assuming I getit) with the charge you used? I like my pistols shooting around 650 fps and can translate from there. Shot with some reloads lower than the stated minimum and did not seem to have any problem. Cassalong Hopidy PM sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Buscadero, SASS #73085 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Bucky Can you send me a PM with the charge you use? Thanks. Cassalong You have mail Bucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Howdy- Find that yes, 250s with a midrange load are cleanest w TB from my rifle ( LONG Uberti '73), but 200s and even 185s so little difference in accuracy IF enough powder is used along with a healthy crimp. For my handguns I was using 200s in 45 Colt cases until I tried 45 Schofield cases, which fit in my Original size Vaqueros just fine, bigger rims and all. What a pleasent experience! Since anything lighter than 200gr bullets wasn't listed, I of course tried out some Bear Creek moly coated 185s and 165s. Found I gained nothing but inconsistency by going too light on the powder- had much unburned stuff blowing out of the guns ( 5 1/2 " barrels). When charge wt was increased a bit, viola! I was using around 3 grains less powder with the 165 in the Schofiled cases compared to my lightest "clean" loads in 45Colt cases. The 185s hit to the same point of impact as the 200s for me, though the 165s hit a bit lower. My front sites are trimmed- I have a couple of Blackhawks if I really need heavy lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeak Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 200 RNFP, and I downloaded the Trail Boss until I was getting ~600 fps on the chrono. Easy recoil. Oki: Can you PM me on your low end TB loads? I am right there with you and wordering what your findings were. Zeke SASS 89367 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anvil Al #59168 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Bunch of the CC shooters are using the 170gr. Loads out longer than the 180. They tell me they run through there rifles better than anything else they have tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Newt # 7365 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I use 200 gr in rifle and pistol. I use 250 for long range. I haven't put them on paper, but I've convinced myself the 250s fly truer at a distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Been using 250 grain for 12 years, 1 grain below powder manufactor's maximum recomendation with a healthy crimp IMHO 45s were made to go BOOM not puff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Oki: Can you PM me on your low end TB loads? I am right there with you and wordering what your findings were. Zeke SASS 89367 PM sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Whiskers Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I cast my own, so the amount of lead I use matters to me. I have a mould for 200 gr. and loaded them with TB and they worked just fine. However, I thought I could do better and went with a 160 gr RNFP (Lee mould) under 5.4g of TB. I get 5 rounds with the same lead as 4 rounds from the 200 gr. They are accurate, cycle well in my "66, have no problem with the primer staying put and as they have a beveled base they slip into the case with no problems. Nothing wrong with the 200 gr, just like the 160 gr better. WW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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