doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Trailboss load for Martini Henry 450/557

Sherman Bell published load information for IMR Trailboss powder in the Martini Henry 450/577 in the Double Gun Journal. Does anyone know what issue(s)?

Winter 2009----20/4. I don't know that I'd call it load information, "I just filled the volumious and strangley shaped case retalively full of Hogdon's Trail Boss". Reminds me of a guy that lent me his .22-'06. When asked what the load was, "dip a primed case in 4831 'til it's full and seat a 50 gr. Hornady!".

Steve

I play with the .577"/.450" cartridge in Martini Henrys quite a bit. I'm yet to hear any of the people I regard as gurus on the cartridge and rifle express their complete satisfaction about the reliability and safety and/or accuracy of any smokeless load in same; that includes trailboss with a burning rate akin to some shotgun powders. As I recall, Bell took a not so subtle swipe at some of those people in his article.
Black powder for me in that cartridge, and that rifle, all the way.
RG

Ross Seyfried published a smokeless load in Handloader, 2003, recommending 35 gr of IMR-4198 with a tightly filled about 17 gr of Dacron above that, Winchester magnum rifle primer, and a .452 400 gr bullet paper patched to .462.

In your black load, what do you do to correct for the cavernous case, especially for a carbine load? My attempts have all led to poor groups so far.

Thanks much,

MAC

I have used Trail Boss Successfully in my Martini Henry. Almost to the end of my "load Development"

According to Hogdon, use no less that 70% case capacity to up to 100%. They claim you will not get into trouble with any cartridge with that advice. (I called and spoke to their tech specifically about my martini.)

There is less power in it that equal volume of blackpowder according to them.

Remember the original load in a MH was only something like 80 or 85 grains and did not fill the case because recoil was to great for the average military guy. I believe the carbines used an even lessor load. I have filled the case up or used about 75% of full and had good luck.

I can tell you from experience a full load of BP has more kick than a full load of Trail Boss. That is the problem with trail boss for some cart as you can't duplicate the power of BP with it. In the case of the reduced load MH, it probably is possible. I will Chronograph some of my loads I have been working on.

My problem has been trying to find a load I can use "legally" in CA non-toxic area for pigs..... I am just about there, when I finish, I will post my info, just for the heck of it.

Jerry

Ross Seyfried advised me to avoid compressed loads with Trailboss as it's pressure behaviour may be erratic. He agrees that filling the case otherwise is not a problem.

A reduced load for target work would be welcome, expecially in my carbine, and especially if the impact point at 100 yds is lowered.

Barnes makes some lead free 45 cal bullets that could be patched up, like their .451 Expander in 300 gr. Are you working along those lines? http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/muzzleloader/expander-mz/