5hakey Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'm posting this just in case anyone else has looked at their dwindling supply of Clays, their large supply of Trail Boss, and wondered "Can I make 40 minor with Trail Boss?" I know someone who tried TB in 40 and reported no negative effects, but did not have chrono data. So, I did some weighing and measuring to determine that 3.2-3.3gn of TB is the max no compression load for my brass/bullet/OAL. I loaded one batch slightly under the no compression limit, one batch slightly over, and tested it for speed and function in a Production legal Glock 35. Please keep in mind that this data is for informational purposes only and should not be used by anyone for anything. Seriously. Do not use this. (Glock 35, 180gn Xtreme RNFP, 1.135 OAL, 58 deg, 10 shots over chronograph at 20') 3.0gn TB - 602 fps (SD 18, ES 52, PF 108) 11lb recoil spring will not reliably cycle. 3.5gn TB - 661 fps (SD 23, ES 52, PF 119) 11lb recoil spring works, 13lb not reliable. The ES and SD were large, neither made minor, and I'm not willing to go higher. For comparison, my usual load is 3.0gn of Clays with a 180 and it tested at 737 fps (133PF) with a SD of 9 and ES of 29. I'm going to keep the TB for CAS and look for a new minor load when I run out of Clays. -5hakey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I've worked up some loads with 3.9- 4.0 grn of IMR PB at 1.153-1.156 for my xdm 5.25. I'm gonna chrono this weekend. Ill post my findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackJones Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I love Trail Boss too bad it didn't work out. I won't make major in my S&W 625 at least not when loading at the published maximum for it. Thanks for letting us know the results of your testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thermobollocks Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 You can do it for Steel Challenge! What happens if you seat a 155 grain bullet a little long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5hakey Posted February 14, 2014 Author Share Posted February 14, 2014 ZackJones - Thanks. I waste my time so you don't have to. :-) thermobollocks - I thought about that. A smaller bullet would take less space, but needs more powder to reach the same velocity. I don't think you can solve the problem that way, at least not with Glock mag length restrictions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thermobollocks Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 (edited) If I ever tool my press up for .40 again I might be able to experiment a little, but it'd be with an M&P. Comedy option: Buy a S&W 610 Edited February 14, 2014 by thermobollocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Hey thermo one of the guys at my clubs weekly match shot his brand new 610 for the first time last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Solo Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) I love Trail Boss. I use it in all my cowboy bullets (38 special, 45 Colt, 45 Cowboy Special) and even sometimes when loading lead Wild Bunch bullets for my 1911, but it is just the wrong powder for 40 S&W. Edited February 16, 2014 by Bart Solo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmer Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 On 2/13/2014 at 3:33 AM, 5hakey said: Please keep in mind that this data is for informational purposes only and should not be used by anyone for anything. Seriously. Do not use this. (Glock 35, 180gn Xtreme RNFP, 1.135 OAL, 58 deg, 10 shots over chronograph at 20') 3.0gn TB - 602 fps (SD 18, ES 52, PF 108) 11lb recoil spring will not reliably cycle. 3.5gn TB - 661 fps (SD 23, ES 52, PF 119) 11lb recoil spring works, 13lb not reliable. The ES and SD were large, neither made minor, and I'm not willing to go higher. -5hakey Many thanks, this is really helpful... On 2/14/2014 at 8:44 PM, thermobollocks said: Comedy option: Buy a S&W 610 No joke, I have one on the way to use as a range toy, and I'm looking for light "target" loads... I already have a couple Glock 23s, four G22s, and a G35, hence the .40-compatible revolver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmer Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Update. My 6-1/2" S&W 610 arrived. I loaded up some 155gr lead SWCs with 3.0gr of Trail Boss, following Shakey's lead, and because that seemed to fill the case under the bullet. They work well. Over eighteen rounds (three cylinders), MVs were 622-742fps, and each cylinder's SD was 12, 29, or 36. Recoil was easy — like shooting a compact .22lr pistol. Accuracy seemed fine, though it was hard to tell shooting at a chewed up target through my chrono. (I'll do accuracy testing at 25yds next week.) I tried five rounds in my G24 with a 13lbs spring, and each fired, but none ejected... Not enough oomph. They averaged 638fps, SD was 20. I was tempted to try them in my G23 (lighter slide, right?), but that seems hopeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 You want light target loads in a 610? Try 3.2 of Clays with a 180gr bullet. It will make you giggle like a child when you shoot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FightFireJay Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 I have successfully loaded .40 S&W with TB and Bear Creek 180 TC coated lead. Surprisingly it operated my Glock 23 (gen 3), M&P Shield, and my M&P Pro 5". I'll see if I can dig up the load data tonight. I think I even have some chrono numbers too. I seem to recall it being very low SD/ED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FightFireJay Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Okay, found my decade old notes. My results are different from Shakey's as I was using a different bullet (180 gr Bear Creek poly/moly coated lead TC). Load is reliable in all three guns. Soft shooting with SD between 7 and 18 depending on batch/firearm. 3.1 gr TB w/ 180gr coated lead TC @ 1.45" oal Glock 23 (Gen 3, polygonal) - 700 fps - 126 PF M&P Pro 5" - 730 fps - 131 PF M&P Shield - unknown velocity. For the revolver shooters out there I'll tell you I also tested lower loads in the G23 but they weren't reliable at cycling the action, not that you care. 2.8 gr TB w/ 180 gr BC TC @ 1.150" - 631 fps 2.6 gr TB w/ 180 gr BC TC @ 1.160" - 601 fps 2.3 gr TB w/ 180 gr BC TC @ 1.160" - 546 fps Also I found it works just fine in .38 SPL and not at all in 9mm Luger (semiautos). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmer Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 I've been playing more with this... With 11lbs recoil springs, 3.0gr Trail Boss under a 155gr SWC runs perfectly in my Glock 23. It's almost perfect in my Glock 22s... I get the occasional stovepipe (@ 675fps). It's still non-functional in my G24, even with an 11lbs spring (@ 700fps). I tried a 170gr SWC with 3.0gr of Trail Boss, and it works fine in the G22s (@700fps), but still isn't quite enough oomph for the G24's heavier slide (@722fps). Given that you guys are running bigger bullets and a bit more powder, I might try that, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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