Trail Boss 32-20 (Quiet Loads)

[98s1lightning]

I haven't used Trailboss yet but am considering it for 32-20. I want to develop the quietest yard plinking load possible.

Right now, I have bullets running at 900fps from 24" barrel and its about equal to a 22lr. I believe I'm running over Unique powder now but would have to pull one and check it was a while ago when I left off with this project. Or see if I can dig up a paper record.

Anyways, looking to see about trying some loads between 700 and 900fps from the rifle.

School me on trailboss.

BUT I have 800-x on hand that could be up to the task also.......

 

[Random 8]

I've dabbled with TB in a couple of different calibers. .308, .41 mag, and a couple of foreign military rounds all in the sub to slightly supersonic range with cast lead. It produced good powder puff loads, but was no fun to run through a measure.

I found no superiority in accuracy vs Red Dot or Unique, so I scrapped the project. With the small case capacity you're working with, I doubt you'd find any improvement vs Unique or perhaps a faster pistol powder known for producing good accuracy in large cases such as Bullseye, TG, or HP-38. I think 800x would be going in the wrong direction unless you're using quite heavy bullets.

 

[98s1lightning]

Ok. Obviously accuracy is important but I will give up a slight amount of accuracy if the noise level is significantly better. I have a 8" gong at 100yds possibly 125yds I will be using for this project.

(I can hit it at 80yds with 22 shorts from a 20" bbl no problem.)

 

[whughett]

It’s specific reason for development, low velocity soft recoil in cartridges with larger capacity cases.Its bulkiness takes up space. I use in in 45Colt with bullets from 200 to 250 grain loads. A one pound size container only contains 9 ounces.

 

[Random 8]

It should work just fine for your purpose, I just found it not worth the bother as I couldn't run it through a measure and got no improvement vs powders I could meter.

So long as your velocity and bullet weight are the same per load, there should be almost no difference in report with TB vs other powders.

 

[98s1lightning]

What do you guys think about the 800-x I have on hand? Looks like 4.5 grains would be a start. Have to dig thru manuals to look for some published data though.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Internet expert here...
The OP wants a quiet report, so it seems to me he should be looking for low pressure.

 

[Obturation]

I haven't found trail boss to be especially quiet, just case filling and low recoil. If I were heading down this road I would find a dead soft lead ball sized correctly with a couple grains of fast burning powder under it. Try that, watch for squibs.

 

[RealGun]

32 caliber has a high frequency report, perceived as "loud". I am skeptical whether anything you try will be "quiet" enough. I gather that you want this to work with powders you already have. That may preclude finding a real solution. Hodgdon Cowboy shows subsonic loads with HP-38 and Universal.

Others are citing problems with measuring Trailboss, but I have accurate loads with a Lee autodisk or Hornady LnL with the baffle removed from the hopper. I caught that the powder was bridging at the baffle. Perhaps some expect too much of volumetric measuring and need to concede a decimal point or two. A precision rifle mindset requires precision rifle equipment and components.

 

[Obturation]

32 caliber has a high frequency report, perceived as "loud". I am skeptical whether anything you try will be "quiet" enough. I gather that you want this to work with powders you already have. That may preclude finding a real solution. Hodgdon Cowboy shows subsonic loads with HP-38 and Universal.

Others are citing problems with measuring Trailboss, but I have accurate loads with a Lee autodisk or Hornady LnL with the baffle removed from the hopper. I caught that the powder was bridging at the baffle. Perhaps some expect too much of volumetric measuring and need to concede a decimal point or two. A precision rifle mindset requires precision rifle equipment and components.

I use lee dippers for my trail boss loads. You're right on, this isn't intended for precision shooting. Minute of soup can/squirrel is great at 25 yards.

 

[Farmer Dave]

I use Bullseye for my .25-20 (the smaller cousin to .32-20) and it sounds about like a .22 LR report. TrailBoss is more useful in larger cases when lower velocities are desired. It's a high volume powder so it fills a case up enough to look like there's powder in it (like Cowboy .45 Colt loads) when you're looking for poof-loads (low velocity). I'd stick with Unique or move to Bullseye. You don't need a high-volume powder and both Unique and Bullseye can give you poof-loads that are no louder than a .22 (in a rifle).

 

[25-20 WCF]

The OP hasn’t mentioned the bullet weight he is using, that could range from 60 grains to 120 grains or more. Is he using a rifle, if so which one? Pressure matters. I had a very accurate load in my 22” .32-20 Contender using W-231. Moa and pretty quiet. Low charge weight, low gas volume and low muzzle pressure.


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[98s1lightning]

24" browning 53.
123gr pointed 303 bullets, fed single shot only. (0.3105 or 0.311)

 

[Bfh_auto]

The lower the powder charge, the less pressure you should have when the bullet exits.
This means bullseye, 700x, titegroup etc would be my choice.
I tested this using a 30-30 win 760 and benchmark. There was nearly 10 grains of powder charge difference for the same velocity.
There was a huge difference in muzzle blast.
Your difference will be on a smaller scale. But may still be noticable.

 

[40-82]

I like Trail Boss in the 32-20 and a light cast bullet. The only sound out of a rifle is the hammer falling and a bit of pushed air, completely silenced, accurate at close range, and it brings more killing power than a .22 with CB cabs or the Quiet Hunter CCI's. If I miss a squirrel's head by shooting over it, he doesn't even know he was shot at.

Plus, if you see something bigger or further out, you can keep a heavier load handy for those shots.

With faster burning powders, like say 700-X, Red Dot, or Bullseye, I don't necessarily get the consistent accuracy you might come to expect from say a .38 Special. Some listed loads work. Some don't.

There's this too: with a lot of powders in the 32-20 a tuft or two of Dacron helps. With Trail Boss, it's not recommended, but it's not needed because it comes close to filling the case with light loads due to its bulk.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My use of Trail Boss in 32-20 has been limited to revolvers and 100 gr. lead bullets.
2.2 gr. Powder puff recoil, very good accuracy.
2.7 gr. Mild recoil, excellent accuracy.
I don't record sound levels. Let us know what you learn.

 

[TTv2]

OP, what you're looking for is the reason I got into the .32 S&W family of cartridges with the Henry .327 rifle being one of the guns I am most proud to own.

Trail Boss in .32 S&W Long in that Henry produces velocities around 900 fps and is VERY quiet, while the .327 American Eagle is pushing 2200 fps in that same rifle.

Quite a range of power options good for any hunting within 100 yards.

 

[98s1lightning]

I'm also shortening my brass some to decrease surface area of neck tension on these 123gr pointies.

 

[jmorris]

I have used trailboss for backyard plinker 308 rounds and did try it for 38 spl but I prefer faster powders like N310.

 

[RealGun]

To review, if I used a 22 LR in town where I live, I expect it would get attention for hundreds of yards. In fact, legal shooting on private property within a mile of town can be heard clearly, although probably 9mm. My point is that "quiet as a 22" would not rule out concern from neighbors.

 

[98s1lightning]

I don't get complaints shooting centerfire rifle, or centerfire pistol (which I shoot the most) so complaints isn't a problem. I just want this load as a courtesy, so I can shoot more often and not be worried about being rude. I'm on almost 100 acres, in a "rural" but populated area.

 

[98s1lightning]

I guess my point is, shooting centerfire pistol one day every couple weeks is a lot different than shooting "22 short" (or quieter) level noise every day after work

 

[98s1lightning]

The lower the powder charge, the less pressure you should have when the bullet exits.
This means bullseye, 700x, titegroup etc would be my choice.
I tested this using a 30-30 win 760 and benchmark. There was nearly 10 grains of powder charge difference for the same velocity.
There was a huge difference in muzzle blast.
Your difference will be on a smaller scale. But may still be noticable.

I can get 700-x local!
Is it bulky at a low charge weight? (Any more than Unique?) Where will I begin for charge drop??
AND I want to make sure I can use it in another caliber before I commit.

Should I grab 700-x or hold out for the case filling trail boss.

 

[RealGun]

I can get 700-x local!
Is it bulky at a low charge weight? (Any more than Unique?) Where will I begin for charge drop??
AND I want to make sure I can use it in another caliber before I commit.

Should I grab 700-x or hold out for the case filling trail boss.

700-x is my powder for 44-40, based upon Lyman's best results with 200 gr bullets. My 1875 Remington Uberti Outlaw is one of my best shooters with the load using 700-x. It does help that the trigger is very light.

Before anyone jumps in, 700-x is coarse but measures well for me using a Lee autodisk measure on my turret. Never has jammed nor bridged. 800-x is much worse, I understand, but my jar of that has never been opened and will likely get used in shotgun.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I can get 700-x local!
Is it bulky at a low charge weight? (Any more than Unique?) Where will I begin for charge drop??
AND I want to make sure I can use it in another caliber before I commit.

Should I grab 700-x or hold out for the case filling trail boss.

700x is similar in density to 800x. You could weigh a charge of 800x to see and approximation of what 700x would look like before buying it.
Speer shows 2.7-3.1 of 700x under a 98swc hard cast.
Any of the flake powders are terrible in low charge weights using a volumetric measure.
I recommend using a dipper if you use them. I also have each case facing down until I put powder in it and immediately seat a bullet. This minimizes the danger of a double charge.

I used 700x in 7.62x38R, 38 special and cast bullet loads in my rifles.
I'm not saying it's the best. Just that it's an option.