Trail Boss in the 38-55

[Vaquero]

I've had this is some notes as something to try for a long time and while loading some 38-55 this past week.
I decided to load a few using 7.5 grs. of TB over a 255 gr. cast.
Well, yesterday I decided to try them out...
Oh my, lest recoil than the 180 gr. Pugnose over 2400.
I put 6 out of 6 on the 10" gong at around 35 yds., missed the 3" twice. 🫢
Then 5 out of 5 on the big gong at 45 with 2 in the center, the 2 at the bottom were the first 2 rounds, then one on the 8" there on the ground.
Definitely be loading up some more of those.

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RP

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[Sir Henry]

Nice gongs. I like the one with the smaller flapper.

[Vaquero]

Nice gongs. I like the one with the smaller flapper.

Thanks.
I do too Gene, and it makes a different sound when you hit it verses the larger part.
The 444 has broken 2 of the bolts that hold it in place before.
But I keep some spare bolts around.

RP

[daytime dave]

Nice shooting. I also like the gongs. I have some steel I need to set up this spring.

[Hatchdog]

Nice you have some Trail Boss on hand. Around here if you can find any it’s $60+ for the 9 oz bottle. Gotta love shooting those big calibers with little recoil. I can see your grin from here.

[Vaquero]

Nice you have some Trail Boss on hand. Around here if you can find any it’s $60+ for the 9 oz bottle. Gotta love shooting those big calibers with little recoil. I can see your grin from here.

I've had this 9 oz. bottle for a long time, not even sure what I bought it for.
Never used it much so it's pretty full, and you'll die when you see the price on it.

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RP

[BigAl52]

Nice you have some Trail Boss on hand. Around here if you can find any it’s $60+ for the 9 oz bottle. Gotta love shooting those big calibers with little recoil. I can see your grin from here.

You need to shoot a 38-55 Hatch. Even with other powders one of the lowest recoiling calibers out there. Another reason why I like it so much

[fortyshooter]

Looks like it shoots well! I have never tried that powder but had thought about it in 45-70. So did that amount of powder fill the case? I think Unique and Trail Boss give about same speeds in the large cases but the TB takes up a lot more space so you can't get a double load.

[Vaquero]

Looks like it shoots well! I have never tried that powder but had thought about it in 45-70. So did that amount of powder fill the case? I think Unique and Trail Boss give about same speeds in the large cases but the TB takes up a lot more space so you can't get a double load.

I loaded both some with this 7.5 grs of TB and 10.0 grs. of Unique.
The TB load looked to be near half of the case and the Unique just under that.
I use the longer 2.125 vs the 2.080 brass as that was what the previous owner used.
Seeing how he shared his data using it I just stayed that course.
The Unique load slaps the gongs with more authority and just a smidge more recoil, still laughable.

RP