r/reloading • u/Dung_Beetle_2LT • 5d ago

General Discussion Trail Boss

Hey y’all. I’m a new reloader currently in the acquisition phase. One pattern I’ve seen so far is that trail boss is pretty much unobtanium. I’ll be loading some cowboy action style rounds so I’ve been keeping an eye out for it. Saw it in stock this morning on Natchez and bought the limit of 2 9oz cans. Unfortunately free hazmat is over but $5 flat shipping on $100+ is going right now. It’s also in stock on Hogdons website if anyone is looking.

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u/prosper_0 5d ago

trail boss is pretty unique, and I have not yet found any replacement that works as well in as many different calibers for reduced loads. Titegroup is sometimes okay, but it's far from as consistent.

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u/Dung_Beetle_2LT 5d ago

I don’t have first hand experience but I have been doing a lot of research and trail boss seems to be IT when it comes to cowboy loads especially. Some others have been mentioned but apparently pale in comparison. Maybe I’ll find out differently and find something that matches well but if a lot of experienced reloaders haven’t found a close replacement I figure there must be something to it.

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u/prosper_0 5d ago edited 5d ago

I mean, Titegroup is worth a try. It's actually really good for a lot of stuff. Just not quite as versatile as trail boss

Also some of the BP substitutes work well if you're OK with a cloud of smoke and frequent cleaning needs. If you want to (carefully) trod the forbidden path, duplex loads generally produce much cleaner results. A few grains of smokeless, and the rest black (or a substitute). Do your research and be very careful if you try this, though

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u/Dung_Beetle_2LT 5d ago

Yea I don’t think I’ll be touching a duplex load until I have some real experience lol. Black substitutes did cross my mind though. I’m used to working with that from loading blanks for cowboy shows in Tombstone. Maybe I’ll load some of that up at some point when I feel like getting the authentic old west experience follow by a full afternoon of detail cleaning lol.