Out of Trail Boss for .45 Colt rounds out of 1858. Suggestions?

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Cayuga

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I have a Pietta 1858 with a Kirst cylinder for .45 Colt rounds. While I have no shortage of 3f Goex, I am out of Trail Boss, which seems to be unavailable everywhere locally. Seeing as the weather isn't favorable right now in MN, indoor shooting seems to be the ticket, and that is what takes my black powder off the table.
I do shoot 200gr RNFP bullets, as well as .454" round ball (I've only used the round ball in .45 Colt over BP, so far). I use the lighter bullets as i want to ensure the longevity of the gun itself, and I've been told that running lighter weight rounds are going to be easier on the Pietta than a 250-255 gr bullet.
With this in mind, what powders that may be more available in this area (pretty much everything else) is going to be safe and functional through my New Army model? I have heard good things about Unique, but don't really know much beyond that. I've so far only had experience with TB and BP.
Any and all information is appreciated.
 
I've seen a lot of Titegroup floating around and it works great in 45 Colt. Unique is great too if you can find it.
 
Lots of powders will work in .45 Colt. Pretty much any pistol or shotgun powder out there.

Just keep to lower end or midrange (not midrange ruger, but SAAMI midrange) loads and you're golden.
 
N32C is Vihtavuori's version of Trail Boss. Very bulky etc. But as posted, many powders will work.
 
8.5 grains of Unique is what I use in my Kirst conversions with a 255 grain Hornady bullet. Works like a champ and stays around 950 FPS. Even Unique is getting hard to find and I will be picking up some HS-6 the next time at cabellas.
 
Red dot, around 6gr under 200 to 230 gr bullets were used a lot before Trail Boss came out. I turned to Green Dot and 6 to 7 grains under the same bullets during the recent shortage. Bulky shotgun powders work well for large pistol cartridges when loading light to moderate loads.
 
I too thought of Tin Star. A good substitute should have case fill similar to Trailboss. There certainly aren't many within that VMD range. 700-x, Green Dot, SR4756, and American Select are among the higher below it, while admittedly a few are especuilly hard to find. Tin Star though is pretty obviously aimed at the Cowboy market.
 
RealGun said:
I too thought of Tin Star. A good substitute should have case fill similar to Trailboss. There certainly aren't many within that VMD range. 700-x, Green Dot, SR4756, and American Select are among the higher below it, while admittedly a few are especuilly hard to find. Tin Star though is pretty obviously aimed at the Cowboy market.
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I've never used either one but I know several CAS in these parts who use both.
 
Trail Boss replaced Universal in some of my loads. Universal is similar to Unique (#31 on the burn rate chart to Universal's #32) and may have better availability, it seems to be on the shelves lately.
 
New member here.
Just posted asking questions about powder and was asking about anyone's experience with Ramshot Silhouette, can purchase it here locally. There load data looks good for the 45 acp and was just curious.
 
Ramshot silhouette is a good powder but from what ice seen is a little slow to really perform well in 45 Colt. There is load data for it though, it will work, even if not optimum.
 
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Cayuga: I have used Unique and Win 231 for loading 250gr & 255gr LRNFP bullets in all of our 45LC in both Pistol`s & Rifle`s for the last 25+ years. Both powders work great for my Son and I. They are both our go to powders of choice.
ken
 
I've got a New Vaquero and keep my loads within tier 1.

255gr RNFP and 8.0grs of Unique.
 
Everyone seems to be telling the OP which powder they use for loading the 45 Colt. I might be wrong but I think he is asking about a replacement for Trail Boss with its characteristics.

Like said above, Tin Star was produced to directly compete against Trail Boss. I didn't know about VV N32C but Walkalong does know his VV powders. Thanks for that info... There aren't many on the market that will produce similar results as Trail Boss. I would not use Universal, it will produce higher pressures and can spike pressures too. I would search for Trail Boss, Tin Star or N32C if it were me.

I use W231, HS-6 and a few others for loading the 45 Colt but they are shot in a modern Ruger Vaquero and I don't think that's what you are looking for.
 
Walkalong said:
Tin Star = N32C. And yes, it is fluffy and very bulky just like Trail Boss.

https://www.uslapua.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VN32C1

It is the only substitute for Trail Boss with those characteristics that I know of.

It also is erratic with plated bullets like Trail Boss, but loves lead, like Trail Boss.
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It seems to me that if a person could live without the bulky case fill they would be better suited with something like AA#2 or the like. I know I'm a broken record on #2 but there is a reason for it.
 
Lots others without the case fill aa#2, titegroup, red dot, hp38, green dot, list goes on and on...

But maybe triple 7 ffg. It loads to base of bullet like a max load of trail boss also could use a filler If you didn't want full loads
 
AA #2 in .45 Colt.

12 shots total, 6 powder forward and 6 powder back. Target at 7 yards with chrono at 5 yards.

attachment.php
 
Any of the available powders mentioned will work but with Unique 231, etc you have to watch for double charges that can be hazardous.

I believe that hodgdon posts load data for Cowboy action loads for their powders, they are reduced loads.

I have had good luck with W231, bullseye, unique, but love Trailboss for lead in .357 mag, .44mag. and .45 colt. Stick to the starting loads for published data or look for cowboy action data.
 
Case-filling fluff isn't so necessary as that velocity and pressure are kept low enough to not put excessive wear on a revolver frame/barrel that I have to assume is a milder steel than the conversion cylinder itself. I will be using nothing but lead bullets, so I'll keep an eye out for that Tin Star.
Otherwise, it sounds as though Unique, Universal, W231 and AA#2 are all viable options.
Thanks, all.
 
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