Trail Boss Smokeless Powder

"Trail Boss"

Absolutely the best powder to be used by someone new to reloading, Trail Boss offers "bulky" powder with no chance of a double charge going unnoticed. A lot of people don't like Trail Boss but there is nothing wrong with this powder when used correctly. IMR's max load for Trail Boss in a revolver is 6.4gr which gives me a very mild 7,224psi. Velocities are low, but again....this powder is intended for the low velocity cowboy sport. IMR does not offer published loads for rifles but claims that one can fill the case to the base of the bullet and remain safe for all firearms chambered for this cartridge. My testing with this "forumula" resulted in 9.3gr charge with a 200gr Acme Magma bullet sitting firmly on top of the powder, producing 1,250fps but comes at a cost of a high pressure of 15,200psi.  Plenty safe for any rifle in a safe condition to shoot BUT could cause trouble in weak old timers and black powder frame revolvers. I believe 13,000-14,000 psi to be normal original black powder pressures before the much higher spiking Dupont No.2 Smokeless powder was introduced in 1894.

Tread light on using "case capacity" loads of this powder. Again, using the TrailBoss' "formula", 9gr gave me 15,200psi with a 200gr lead bullet.