Info on Trail Boss

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Well, since it's getting late in the year, I wrote to Hodgdon to ask about Trail Boss.   Here's their response....

"We are working on getting this great powder back to the market soon."

 

Somehow, that seems promising to me.

No word from Alliant about Red Dot yet though.
 

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

The check is in the mail. 

 

It’s on the truck. 

 

You’re next on the list. 
 

 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Trail who?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blackwater 53393]

I’m retired! Got no boss!

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

same old story , for what 5 years now ? 

 

  CB 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

There have been at least 50 posts on this in the past few months.  Trail Boss is made in Australia.  Just a couple of weeks ago one of our Australian pards posted this response from ADI "Trail Boss, AR2205, AR2206(H), AR2207 – These propellants only account for a small proportion of our annual demand."

So in industry speak "We are working on getting this great powder back to the market soon" means they don't have any, aren't likely to have any any time soon if ever, but just in case we are stringing you along.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

YEPPER!!

 

BIG PLUS ONE for Larsen E. Pettifogger you betcha.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

On 11/5/2024 at 6:38 AM, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

There have been at least 50 posts on this in the past few months.  Trail Boss is made in Australia.  Just a couple of weeks ago one of our Australian pards posted this response from ADI "Trail Boss, AR2205, AR2206(H), AR2207 – These propellants only account for a small proportion of our annual demand."

So in industry speak "We are working on getting this great powder back to the market soon" means they don't have any, aren't likely to have any any time soon if ever, but just in case we are stringing you along.

 

They did mention in their August notification, that TB production would commence "Late 2024 or early 2025"  If you look on their website, that posting is still up, but I contacted them three times via their "Contact Us" feature and have received no reply.

So I guess there's no hope.

Oh well, I have lots of Starline's .45 Cowboy Specials now and loading them with Titegroup for the SAAs, 231 for the .45 Colt used in my '73 and a contact for a kit to modify the '73 to shoot Cowboy Specials.

I just hate losing those $mall ca$e$ in the gra$$.

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

I'll get yelled at but.....I don't get the whole powder thing. Someone will ask whats the best powder for a 38 special with a 125 grain bullet for my pistols. And 29 different answers later.

 

My response has always been, 'if it goes bang shoot it'!

Can we all just assume Trail Boss doesn't exist and we can all move along?

[Three Foot Johnson]

Trail Boss was discontinued on June 1st, 2018 - six and a half years ago. I still say, "It ain't coming back".

There are six 9 oz bottles on Montana Gun Trader right now for $30 each. A year and a half ago, I saw two 9 oz bottles go for $855, plus shipping & hazmat, on Gunbroker. 

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

Maybe it's false confidence but I believe TB & clays will come back...I'[m tipping 2025 !!

["Big Boston"]

On 11/10/2024 at 11:06 AM, irish ike, SASS #43615 said:

I'll get yelled at but.....I don't get the whole powder thing. Someone will ask whats the best powder for a 38 special with a 125 grain bullet for my pistols. And 29 different answers later.

 

My response has always been, 'if it goes bang shoot it'!

Can we all just assume Trail Boss doesn't exist and we can all move along?

 

Yes, moving on and using another powder vs stopping to shoot, hard to disagree with that. However, the safety aspect of a powder with a VMD of .21716 (not very dense, accidental double charges unlikely), is a feature that is hard to ignore. Powders that are dense in comparison can have powder position and reliable ignition issues as well. Moving on can be a challenge, especially for those of us that consider going bang as only one of the factors for considering a powder suitable for loading cowboy ammunition. 

 

Very often moving on means compromised performance. BTW, even when TB was available, I loaded some of my ammunition with other powder because it was better than TB for that particular load. 

 

For 38 Spl with a 125 grain bullet, 700X does a decent job, a bit dirty but powder position is acceptable and primer brisance doesn't seem to be a big factor. Try 3 grains and go +/- from there. Unfortunately availability is a bit sporadic on that one as well.  

 

BB

[Griff]

Those of you looking for a bulky powder to replace Trail Boss should consider this new product on the market:  While marketed under an old name, both it and the company making it are new the shooting market... you might recognize the name... Goex.  It's predecessors have been around for hundreds of years, basic formula has remained largely unchanged... yet still seems to harbor a certain mystique for the uninitiated.  It works in rifle, pistol and shotgun ammo.  Easy to load and clean... I don't know how much water costs in your part of the world, but even heated up, I find it less expensive than most any chemical.  

[Erasmus]

But what if you're the kind of person that just has to shoot an imported powder?

On 11/14/2024 at 10:39 AM, Griff said:

Those of you looking for a bulky powder to replace Trail Boss should consider this new product on the market:  ...  you might recognize the name... Goex.  

 

[Dilli GaHoot Galoot]

On 11/4/2024 at 6:20 PM, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

The check is in the mail. 

 

It’s on the truck. 

 

You’re next on the list. 
 

 

We are just 2 weeks away from starting full production 

[Hells Comin]

18 minutes ago, Dilli GaHoot Galoot said:

We are just 2 weeks away from starting full production 

Production of what ? New bs

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

1 hour ago, Erasmus said:

But what if you're the kind of person that just has to shoot an imported powder?

 

Then there's Swiss and Scheutzen and Grafs and...

["Big Boston"]

I haven't seen any Black Powder for years in Canada. Blackhorn 209 is over $300 a pound, ($160 for an 8 oz). BP may as well be banned here, nobody will ship it, and I've considered making my own. BTW, does anyone know how many gallons of urine you need to make an ounce of saltpeter. 

 

https://survivalschool.com/using-urine-make-potassium-nitrate/

 

For Muzzle loader whitetail I was using decade old Black MZ, I only had one hangfire. And my son found two # of APP that are likely 20 years old, and one container has "NFG" written on it! We're using the other one. No issues with ignition with it.

 

Staying in the game has been a challenge. I think we'll see Trail Boss before there is any BP on the shelves. 

 

BB

[Texas Jack Black]

3 hours ago, "Big Boston" said:

I haven't seen any Black Powder for years in Canada. Blackhorn 209 is over $300 a pound, ($160 for an 8 oz). BP may as well be banned here, nobody will ship it, and I've considered making my own. BTW, does anyone know how many gallons of urine you need to make an ounce of saltpeter. 

 

https://survivalschool.com/using-urine-make-potassium-nitrate/

 

For Muzzle loader whitetail I was using decade old Black MZ, I only had one hangfire. And my son found two # of APP that are likely 20 years old, and one container has "NFG" written on it! We're using the other one. No issues with ignition with it.

 

Staying in the game has been a challenge. I think we'll see Trail Boss before there is any BP on the shelves. 

 

BB

 You Tube video called Everything Black Powder

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

8 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

I haven't seen any Black Powder for years in Canada. Blackhorn 209 is over $300 a pound, ($160 for an 8 oz). BP may as well be banned here, nobody will ship it, and I've considered making my own. BTW, does anyone know how many gallons of urine you need to make an ounce of saltpeter. 

Blackhorn 209 is sadly not SASS legal for some reason.  (Wish that would change.)

But, urine?   You don't need any urine.   You just need to find a deposit of coal, a deposit of sulpher, and a deposit of potassium nitrate.   You mix them together, stirring with a stick, and you've got functional black powder!   

Hey, it worked for Captain Kirk!

[Cholla]

27 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Blackhorn 209 is sadly not SASS legal for some reason.  (Wish that would change.)

But, urine?   You don't need any urine.   You just need to find a deposit of coal, a deposit of sulpher, and a deposit of potassium nitrate.   You mix them together, stirring with a stick, and you've got functional black powder!   

Hey, it worked for Captain Kirk!

You forgot the rotten hollow log.

[Sedalia Dave]

32 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Blackhorn 209 is sadly not SASS legal for some reason.  (Wish that would change.)

But, urine?   You don't need any urine.   You just need to find a deposit of coal, a deposit of sulpher, and a deposit of potassium nitrate.   You mix them together, stirring with a stick, and you've got functional black powder!   

Hey, it worked for Captain Kirk!

 Blackhorn 209 is not SASS legal because it is a duplex powder. I don’t remember which, but It contains either nitroglycerin or nitrocellulose in addition to a black power substitute. 
 

[Texas Jack Black]

42 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Blackhorn 209 is sadly not SASS legal for some reason.  (Wish that would change.)

But, urine?   You don't need any urine.   You just need to find a deposit of coal, a deposit of sulpher, and a deposit of potassium nitrate.   You mix them together, stirring with a stick, and you've got functional black powder!   

Hey, it worked for Captain Kirk!

Not my post?