I shoot handguns at a local indoor range every Thursday night. We have a no magnums allowed rule because our backstops probably couldn't take it for long. So I shoot .38 special in my 686P S&W. We are just punching holes in paper so I load light for practice. I have been loading 3.0 Grains of clays behind a 158 gr. SWC. I have been getting unexplained fliers that I know were not me. I kind of figured that since 3 grs. of powder just lays in the bottom of a .38 spl. case, that ignition might not be uniform all the time. You know, primer flame blowing across the top of the powder and all that. So I got me a can of Trail Boss and looked up the load data for .38 spl. on their web site. It says 3.0 grs. is a good practice load with a 158 gr. lead bullet. When I loaded the rounds the powder level was right at the base of the bullet. Wow, no fliers and better accuracy over all. I like this stuff, now to load some .44 spl.
If you can't find Trail Boss, you might look at trying some Hogdgon's Tite Group. It was designed for light loads in comaratively large areas where powder position can be a problem.
It seems to offer very consistant, and tight, groups.
It has been very popular for Cowboy Action Shooting.
In my area, a one pound container sells for $14.95.
I don't like the very lightest loads so I use 3.3 grains behind a 125 gr bullet.
I think you're right David... my experience with Trail Boss is ok but nothing that makes me want to change from Titegroup in the revolver cartridges.
I am going to try some Trail Boss in the .45-70 this afternoon and that just may be a different story.
A friend at Hodgdon tells me that they sold out of Trail Boss much faster than they expected and it will be september before they get more. I'm sure some shops have it, but it's just a matter of finding them.
Charlie,
The .45-70 should give you plenty of case capacity to play with.
I'd be curious as to how the Trail Boss works for you.
We have several shooters at our cowboy club who shoot this cartridge. I always suggest that they look into Tite Group but I don't know if works well in this chambering.
Since most of the guys shoot black powder, I'm not certain it will even matter, but I would like to give "GOOD" advice, not just advice.
I shot a load of 12.0 gr. Trail Boss with a 405 gr. cast bullet yesterday and was able to hit the smallest gongs @70 yd. with regularity. I loaded some more for Thursday. Did not bother to chronograph it-- IMR says ~950-
I'm also going to try it in .32-40, .30 Remington and .32 Remington when time permits.
Titgroup would not be a good choice to the .45-70.
Are you going to try to put groups on paper to measure them?
For me, I don't care. I would rather see/hear the reactive targets, but I just know you will get people who will ask.
I'm also glad I suggested that people "look into Tite Group" rahter than "use" it. I am curious why this would not be a good choice. I don't beleive the .45-70 uses a high a pressure round...or is that the problem? Too high pressure will result.
I know people who use Tite Grouip in shotgun shells for trap shooting and they are very happy with it. I don't think there is a pressure issue there.
Maybe some reason other than presure?
Titegroup works well in things like .45 Colt even though charges are relatively small but the .45-70 case is so much larger that it would probably get creepy. A big heavy bullet with lots of empty space behind it might just end up with a bullet stuck halfway down. If you put enough powder in there to generate more gas then pressure might become an issue. Hodgdon does not give loading data for Titegroup in the .45-70.
I will chronograph it just to see but if I can hit an 8" plate at 70 yds. every time I don't think accuracy is a problem.
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