Trail Boss 32-20 (Quiet Loads)

[98s1lightning]

These 124's I will be using soon.

I'm very much hoping to get a good load setup with these and the Trail Boss.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I also don't have experience with fast powders and do not want any powder that is not bulky. For ease of visually seeing no double charge, that's why I picked up the TB "fast" and bulky.

If trail boss doesn't work out. You can always try Black MZ.

 

[98s1lightning]

0.3 grains of Trail Boss is approx (37) "donuts"/granules of powder in my measure. I'm happy with that as a safety buffer.

 

[98s1lightning]

I bumped up to the 124gr FMJ's.....dropped my 3.3 load (from 85gr XTP) to 3.0gr with these 124's and its a shame I gotta pull this little batch because they were too weak. I watched the bullet in flight and shot very low.

Looks like these bullets want 3.2 grains. Will report back with results.

I like the way they look, I hope they are performers at 3.2gr!

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I mostly shoot black powder but for smokeless 32-20 I like titegroup. We shoot a lot of Trail Boss, my wife uses it in her 44-40 smokeless main match CAS loads. It's dirty powder and when put on paper seldom groups best it's just good for minute of aim on steel targets at under 40 yards. The biggest advantage to TB is it is fluffy so you can't accidently double charge one of the old large black powder cartridges like 44-40 or 45 colt.

 

[Walkalong]

they were too weak. I watched the bullet in flight and shot very low.

I did a how low can you go velocity/function test with a 1911 and .45 ACP one time. I watched a bullet bounce off the top of the chrono at 5 yards.

From the link...

2.5 Grs gave 276 FPS. The brass stayed in the gun and the hammer was caught on the safety notch/1/4 cock/whatever.

2.0 Grs sounded like phsssssth, droppped around 10" at 5 yards and bounced off the top of the chrono.

 

[98s1lightning]

If I can get these on the 80yard/8" gong with good results I will do an accuracy test and post it also. Gonna pull these and repack them at 3.2 tomorow. I'm fairly certain it will be a good load.

 

[98s1lightning]

I just confirmed, as to most recommendations, the RNFP LEAD (110gr over 2.5grs Trail Boss) is OUTSTANDING!!!

I have had the best results yet and will not change this load until I put 100 more down range and see how accuracy is. I shot offhand 15 rnds and made 5 or more hits at 8" steel at 80yds and its 32 degrees and windy here so I'm happy with that. Not exactly good offhand testing conditions.

I am very pleased to have found something that works good!!!

Also, I will NOT be using low charges of trail boss with jacketed bullets in 32-20 anymore!!! It is very unstable, one shot fine, the next close to being a squib, and that pattern continues.....no more of that!

I hope this can be informational for anyone in question.

 

[98s1lightning]

Just tried "my first" 20 rounds session at 100 yards, offhand, at 8" gong. I made 50% hits.

I'm happy with this considering the first 2 were finding where to hold, and I have not tried it off the bench.

Thanks for the help and advice. This is a big win for me.

 

[Whisky ‘n guns]

I build gallery loads for a variety of calibers. I got a 32-20 Marlin 1894CL specifically for the reduced case capacity in the 32-20. Using a lee 90 grain round nose, wheel weight lead and careful observation of pressure signs, I started with 2.5 grains of 2400. It fires around 90 decibels, don’t know the speed and penetrates a layer of cardboard and 2 inches of clay at 25 feet. Problem was a lot of unburned powder in the barrel. 1 grain of Trail Boss with the same bullet was slightly more quiet, don’t know the speed, penetrated the same. 1/2 grain of TB, same bullet and it penetrated the card board, barely in the clay and dropped 2 inches at 25 feet- no unburned powder. Big difference: sound was nothing. I could hear the hammer hit the firing pin. CCI 500 primers in all loads - no fillers ever. No visible pressure signs at any load level.
Now, you can tell me how foolish all this is but I’ve been doing it a while with 45/70 and 308 with no issues. I’m comfortable with it but I don’t suggest anyone try it without using modern weapons and understanding there is a great risk of catastrophic pressure issues.

 

[Whisky ‘n guns]

I mostly shoot black powder but for smokeless 32-20 I like titegroup. We shoot a lot of Trail Boss, my wife uses it in her 44-40 smokeless main match CAS loads. It's dirty powder and when put on paper seldom groups best it's just good for minute of aim on steel targets at under 40 yards. The biggest advantage to TB is it is fluffy so you can't accidently double charge one of the old large black powder cartridges like 44-40 or 45 colt.

I like titegroup in my 308 reduced loads. Much cleaner burning than TB and not position sensitive. I use the same 90 gr. Lee cast bullets for my 32-20 but I size them to.309. Shoot it in my basement regularly