Trailboss .308 loads

Discuss all aspects of Ammunition and Reloading here.
User avatar
lowndsie
Moderator
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:10 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Glenbrook NSW

Trailboss .308 loads

Post by lowndsie »

I mentioned to Mick_762 that I wanted to try some reduced loads in the 308 for my daughter and next thing I know I'm walking away with 1.5kg of the stuff! :D

Anyone using the Trailboss? I have 150 odd 130gr ACP's here that are pretty useless for anything but plinking, so does anyone know if I could use these? Most loads I'm seeing online are using heavier pills so not sure.
User avatar
JasonF
7mm Rem Mag
Posts: 1108
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:36 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 7mm-08
Location: Canberra region, NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by JasonF »

Definitely should be able to use the 130's, although they may not go fast enough to open up on game.

The rule of thumb with Trailboss is to fill the case to the base of the neck (without compressing the powder). That is your max load. From the max, you can work backwards to get a lower velocity if desired.
User avatar
lowndsie
Moderator
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:10 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Glenbrook NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by lowndsie »

Thanks for that mate.

I'm not worried about them opening up. They haven't been made to any sort of quality specs by the look of it. Looks like I've been sent seconds, thirds or fourths.. I could send them back but I can't be bothered and not interested in replacements after this lot. But thought if Em could use them just banging at paper or something it'd be a good way to use them.

Is it possible to drop the charge too low and create a dangerous situation like you can with other powders?
User avatar
Camel
Ultimate AusVarminter
Posts: 12084
Joined: Sat May 28, 2011 8:51 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 20-222 6x47 rem, 250
Location: Northern Riverina NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by Camel »

No experience with Trail boss here Lowndsie, but I do know that there is a detailed description of its recommended use in the ADI reloading manual, probably have a look at their web site as well. :D
User avatar
mick_762
50 BMG
Posts: 4156
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:46 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 308 Norma
Location: Wodonga Vic

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by mick_762 »

lowndsie wrote: I'm not worried about them opening up. They haven't been made to any sort of quality specs by the look of it.
You got that right, i have never seen so poorly finnished projectiles in my life.
lowndsie wrote: Looks like I've been sent seconds, thirds or fourths..
Clay molded by blind alcoholic rats are better finished than those pills.

Don't get me wrong, I use ACP's in my 9.3x62 ( and have 4 other calibers of them that i had for testing) but the projectiles lowndsie has are pure spite.
So reduced loads for Em are all they are good for.
User avatar
lowndsie
Moderator
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:10 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Glenbrook NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by lowndsie »

Camel wrote:No experience with Trail boss here Lowndsie, but I do know that there is a detailed description of its recommended use in the ADI reloading manual, probably have a look at their web site as well. :D
I couldn't find much info in the 2010 adi manual or their website but I did find a good article by Harvey about it. Cheers mate. Will have a play around with it today.
User avatar
The Raven
Ultimate AusVarminter
Posts: 5943
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:35 pm
Favourite Cartridge: .270 Win
Location: The Cloud

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by The Raven »

mick_762 wrote:
lowndsie wrote: I'm not worried about them opening up. They haven't been made to any sort of quality specs by the look of it.
You got that right, i have never seen so poorly finnished projectiles in my life.
lowndsie wrote: Looks like I've been sent seconds, thirds or fourths..
Clay molded by blind alcoholic rats are better finished than those pills.

Don't get me wrong, I use ACP's in my 9.3x62 ( and have 4 other calibers of them that i had for testing) but the projectiles lowndsie has are pure spite.
So reduced loads for Em are all they are good for.
Pics of said projectiles please :) I need to know what spite projectiles look like.
User avatar
curan
.338 Lapua Magnum
Posts: 2405
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:53 am
Favourite Cartridge: 30/30
Location: Mid North, South Australia

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by curan »

The Raven wrote:
mick_762 wrote:
lowndsie wrote: I'm not worried about them opening up. They haven't been made to any sort of quality specs by the look of it.
You got that right, i have never seen so poorly finnished projectiles in my life.
lowndsie wrote: Looks like I've been sent seconds, thirds or fourths..
Clay molded by blind alcoholic rats are better finished than those pills.

Don't get me wrong, I use ACP's in my 9.3x62 ( and have 4 other calibers of them that i had for testing) but the projectiles lowndsie has are pure spite.
So reduced loads for Em are all they are good for.
Pics of said projectiles please :) I need to know what spite projectiles look like.
Same as shite projectiles, except the owner has a hair lip.....
User avatar
lowndsie
Moderator
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:10 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Glenbrook NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by lowndsie »

Had 250 of them. shot a few with mixed results, gave 100 odd away.
Attachments
acp.jpg
User avatar
bimbo
300 Win Mag
Posts: 1791
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:34 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 17HH
Location: Newcastle, NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by bimbo »

Far out, that's shit house. Did you let ACP know they are sending that scrap copper out as projectiles?
kickinback
50 BMG
Posts: 3991
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:54 am
Favourite Cartridge: 260 Rem
Location: Lilydale Vic

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by kickinback »

I have always hated machining copper. Mind you, I would never have sent that out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
lowndsie
Moderator
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:10 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Glenbrook NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by lowndsie »

I sent an email several months ago without a reply mate. It took me a while to even open them and when I checked their website it says i needed a receipt which I don't think I have. I think I got them for a good price from memory but yeah I didn't realise they were like that. I'll shoot them another email i guess. I kinda just assumed they knew what they were sending. Their website says they go over their pills for specs etc whilst waiting for the next ones to be cut. I probably should have kept chasing it but I was having a few other issues at the time so I wrote it off as a bad experience. No doubt the quality issues have been fixed by now.

In all honesty, and I mean no offence to the owners or employees etc but if they can get it that wrong then I'm not really interested in giving it another go. I've never had a bad batch of Noslers or Hornadys so I'll stick to them for the time being. I do have some Dyers to test out though sometime. (thanks again to Mick) :D
User avatar
Seddo
.338 Lapua Magnum
Posts: 2054
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:17 am
Favourite Cartridge: Creedmoor
Location: Vic

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by Seddo »

I've only used trailboss with 208's.
Ken Melgaard
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue May 17, 2016 7:02 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 6mm BR
Location: Wodonga Victoria

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by Ken Melgaard »

Have a look at the Hodgdon a Powder web loading site, they list a load for Trial Boss for a 150 grain Nosler, stating @ 10. O grain and max of 14.0 grains, so with your 130 grain bullets start @ 12.0 grains for around 1200 ft/s velocity
Ken Melgaard
Copperhead Bullets
User avatar
Camel
Ultimate AusVarminter
Posts: 12084
Joined: Sat May 28, 2011 8:51 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 20-222 6x47 rem, 250
Location: Northern Riverina NSW

Re: Trailboss .308 loads

Post by Camel »

lowndsie wrote:Had 250 of them. shot a few with mixed results, gave 100 odd away.

Jason, I have sent you a PM with some information that may be useful to you. :D
Post Reply