The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

It is not the only process for ensuring there is a the correct charge, Trail boss is a vary expensive powder and consequently a very expensive process, a dowel dip stick is pennies.

Shame your processes limit you to only one kind of fast burning pistol powder.

Vihtavuori N32c Tinstar and Alliant Red Dot are far more economical powders if the bulky route is your choice.

But then of course they may not be in "fashion".

dromia wrote:It is not the only process for ensuring there is a the correct charge, Trail boss is a vary expensive powder and consequently a very expensive process, a dowel dip stick is pennies.

Shame your processes limit you to only one kind of fast burning pistol powder.

Vihtavuori N32c Tinstar and Alliant Red Dot are far more economical powders if the bulky route is your choice.

But then of course they may not be in "fashion".

actually, I use Unique, the cost only becomes an issue if you are loading in bulk, and I don't, as to fashion? if I was worried about that, I wouldn't be using TrailBoss as its just not fashionable in these parts Guv'nor

dromia wrote:It is not the only process for ensuring there is a the correct charge, Trail boss is a vary expensive powder and consequently a very expensive process, a dowel dip stick is pennies.

Shame your processes limit you to only one kind of fast burning pistol powder.

Vihtavuori N32c Tinstar and Alliant Red Dot are far more economical powders if the bulky route is your choice.

But then of course they may not be in "fashion".

Tin Star = £45 / 1 lb
Red Dot = £40 / 1 lb
Trail Boss = £25 / 9oz which is £44.44 a pound
All about the same to me given how long a tub lasts in these cartridges.

The “magic” of this powder is really it’s ability to make powder position sensitivity in these cavernous cases a non-issue. Take a .44 mag or .45 colt round, position “normal” pistol powder at the front of the case, chrono and do the same with the powder at the rear and watch the velocity and SD vary dramatically.

I’ve performed this experiment with .45 colt and and 10 or so powders. None give the consistency of Trail Boss. Still keen to give Tin Star a go....

ATB,
Kev.

I also hear trail boss is one of the powders that will soon fall foul of the new EU laws on hazardous substances.

safetyfirst wrote:I also hear trail boss is one of the powders that will soon fall foul of the new EU laws on hazardous substances.

Unfortunately it is and I'm down to my last 4 tubs :O

Beer Hunter wrote:

dromia wrote:It is not the only process for ensuring there is a the correct charge, Trail boss is a vary expensive powder and consequently a very expensive process, a dowel dip stick is pennies.

Shame your processes limit you to only one kind of fast burning pistol powder.

Vihtavuori N32c Tinstar and Alliant Red Dot are far more economical powders if the bulky route is your choice.

But then of course they may not be in "fashion".

Tin Star = £45 / 1 lb
Red Dot = £40 / 1 lb
Trail Boss = £25 / 9oz which is £44.44 a pound
All about the same to me given how long a tub lasts in these cartridges.

The “magic” of this powder is really it’s ability to make powder position sensitivity in these cavernous cases a non-issue. Take a .44 mag or .45 colt round, position “normal” pistol powder at the front of the case, chrono and do the same with the powder at the rear and watch the velocity and SD vary dramatically.

I’ve performed this experiment with .45 colt and and 10 or so powders. None give the consistency of Trail Boss. Still keen to give Tin Star a go....

ATB,
Kev.

Prices seem to be a bit different in your part of the country.

In my area:

Trail boss is £30 a 9oz tub so £53.33/lb
Red Dot £40/lb
N32C £42/ 1/2 kilo so £38.20/lb

I have used N310 and N320 for decades in large pistol and rifle cases and have never found them position sensitive, yes I use a chronograph, also all such loads in our range have to be chronographed to ensure range certificate compliance so there is a lot of data on the use of these powders none of which indicates position sensitivity in large cases with these fast pistol powders. The lack of position sensitivity is one of the reasons why fast pistol powders are used by cast bullet shooters. The main reason for variable velocity spreads is usually inconsistent bullet retention.

I have also found the extreme spread is not the end all or be all, in many cases the most accurate loads aren't the ones with the lowest SD.

dromia wrote:Prices seem to be a bit different in your part of the country.

In my area:

Trail boss is £30 a 9oz tub so £53.33/lb
Red Dot £40/lb
N32C £42/ 1/2 kilo so £38.20/lb

Even at those prices, the cost difference isn't going to break the bank for a morning shooting at a club - say 100 rounds with 7 grains in them (powder cost only):
Trail boss - £5.33
Red Dot - £4
N32C - £3.82
Even if you were to shoot 100 rounds a week, every week (5200 bangs), the price differential between cheapest and most expensive is only £79 a year and I doubt that would be a major concern for many.

I think we are both singing from the same hymn book here though - experiment, measure, evaluate and use what you know works :)

ATB,
Kev.

dromia,

Forgot to ask - where are you getting N32C from? Been trying to buy some to test with, but cannot find it in stock anywhere.

Cheers,
Kev.

The fact still is that Trail boss is still the most expensive fast pistol powder out there for no extra gain, if it was the only "fluffy" powder then perhaps it might have a niche for those people that feel a need for such powders, but as it isn't then to me it just seems another disingenuous marketing ploy that once again re-invents the wheel and charges a premium for it.

Beer Hunter wrote:dromia,

Forgot to ask - where are you getting N32C from? Been trying to buy some to test with, but cannot find it in stock anywhere.

Cheers,
Kev.

I currently have it in stock.