ballman6711
Member
I finally got around to loading some 370gr Acme coated bullets with the Trailboss powder I purchased, and made it to the range today.
Anyway, I loaded fifty rounds, ten each at 4.5gr - 5.3gr of Trailboss, at 0.2gr increments.
Shot thirty rounds into the first target at ten yards with three rounds in the eight ring and the rest were in the nine ring or better. Sorry, didn't take a picture of that target.
Put up a new target and fired the last twenty rounds, again at ten yards. All rounds were in the nine ring or better. All shots were fired standing, two hand grip, single action through my 5" Taurus. I could make excuses for my poor shooting, but I just don't shoot as often as I used to and could really use more practice.
Here's the picture, twenty rounds at ten yards.
Initial impressions with my starting load of 4.5gr was that these are absolute bunny fart loads in this gun. First round was in the eight ring, the rest were in the nine or better. Recoil was pleasant and rather mild, more of a push than a hard slap compared to factory Hornady 325gr XTP's. Accuracy was ok with these first ten rounds, but nothing I would sing praise about.
As I moved up to the 4.7gr and 4.9gr loads, accuracy improved and recoil increased. Nothing dramatic with either load, but I wouldn't load this light again unless it's to let someone try the gun with mild loads.
Next I moved up to the 5.1gr and 5.3gr loads (see above picture). Accuracy improved again and recoil increased a bit more. The recoil felt like it was less than my mid range .357 loads although I would have to shoot the two guns back to back for a real comparison.
Then I shot my 45acp. That's when I realized how quiet the Trailboss loads were. I wouldn't say they were "no hearing protection" quiet, but I could barely hear them vs the 45acp which had a loud and sharp report in comparison.
And the last thing was the muzzle blast/flash/fireball. Almost non-existent. The factory Hornady 325gr XTP's throw a real fireball out, these Trailboss loads had almost no flash. I always expect a lot of flash with this gun since it's got a ported barrel, and was very pleasantly surprised at the lack of muzzle flash.
So now I have another gun to clean. But it was worth it. I would recommend Trailboss for anyone looking to shoot light loads in a large caliber pistol.
chris
Anyway, I loaded fifty rounds, ten each at 4.5gr - 5.3gr of Trailboss, at 0.2gr increments.
Shot thirty rounds into the first target at ten yards with three rounds in the eight ring and the rest were in the nine ring or better. Sorry, didn't take a picture of that target.
Put up a new target and fired the last twenty rounds, again at ten yards. All rounds were in the nine ring or better. All shots were fired standing, two hand grip, single action through my 5" Taurus. I could make excuses for my poor shooting, but I just don't shoot as often as I used to and could really use more practice.
Here's the picture, twenty rounds at ten yards.
Initial impressions with my starting load of 4.5gr was that these are absolute bunny fart loads in this gun. First round was in the eight ring, the rest were in the nine or better. Recoil was pleasant and rather mild, more of a push than a hard slap compared to factory Hornady 325gr XTP's. Accuracy was ok with these first ten rounds, but nothing I would sing praise about.
As I moved up to the 4.7gr and 4.9gr loads, accuracy improved and recoil increased. Nothing dramatic with either load, but I wouldn't load this light again unless it's to let someone try the gun with mild loads.
Next I moved up to the 5.1gr and 5.3gr loads (see above picture). Accuracy improved again and recoil increased a bit more. The recoil felt like it was less than my mid range .357 loads although I would have to shoot the two guns back to back for a real comparison.
Then I shot my 45acp. That's when I realized how quiet the Trailboss loads were. I wouldn't say they were "no hearing protection" quiet, but I could barely hear them vs the 45acp which had a loud and sharp report in comparison.
And the last thing was the muzzle blast/flash/fireball. Almost non-existent. The factory Hornady 325gr XTP's throw a real fireball out, these Trailboss loads had almost no flash. I always expect a lot of flash with this gun since it's got a ported barrel, and was very pleasantly surprised at the lack of muzzle flash.
So now I have another gun to clean. But it was worth it. I would recommend Trailboss for anyone looking to shoot light loads in a large caliber pistol.
chris
