Newbie with question on .45-70 ammo for the 1884 Trapdoor Springfield

[Mark Daiute]

There are many good loads that do not require filler.

My pet load is 22.5 grains of 4759 under a lead 405 grain bullet.

[carbineone1964]

I use 27 grains IMR 3031. 400 grain flat lead bullet. I am no marksman with my trapdoor by far yet as it is pretty new to me.. I have only shot it one time before the cold set in. But I did around a 4 inch group at the 100 yard range..I know I and the rifle can do much better..

I thought I read in this thread somewhere about using Trail Boss. That stuff in my opinion is one of the worst powders you could put in a Trapdoor cartridge..

I reload using a LEE classic Handloader that you use with a hammer. I love those things, I wish they made them in a wider variety of Calibers though..

[adrians]

There are many good loads that do not require filler.

My pet load is 22.5 grains of 4759 under a lead 405 grain bullet.

+1 ^^^^^^.

I also like 23.0 grns of 4198 under the Ideal 457124 bullet (365gn +/_),

A nice plinking load......

[John Sukey]

BE AWARE that there is commercial 45-70 ammunition that is NOT SAFE for use in trapdoors, intended for lever action Winchesters and is marked as such on the box!
In any case Black powder is what the trapdoor is designed for. Cleanup is NOT all that difficult. Just a kettle full of hot water and a funnel in the arse end.

[ronc54]

Don't mean to hijack your thread dmg but my questions are along the same line. Anyone have a smokeless load that duplicates the original using a 500 gr. round nose lead bullet. Also any source for this bullet?

[raymeketa]

37 - 38 grains of 3031 is a good load for the 500 grain bullet and duplicates the ballistics of the 1882 cartridge. The only place I know to get bullets is to get a mould and cast them yourself. Don't make too many of them. After a few shots they are no longer fun.

Ray

[sdkrag]

Rapine made a good 500 gr. mold. It closely duplicates the original Frankford bullets. Lee 405 does the same with the hollow base.

[adrians]

I have the ideal 457125 mold and it drop a 500gr bullet that resembles the original.

[13Echo]

The SAECO 881 bullet is a faithful copy of the 500gr govt bullet. It casts at 0.460" and is a better fit for most trapdoors. Buffalo Arms also sells a mould that is also good copy of the same bullet. The Lyman version has grown heavier and changed a bit from the original and casts at 0.458". You may find your rifle shoots better with the larger diameter bullet. Mine certainly does. The 500gr bullet at original velocities will get your attention but really isn't that punishing, especially if you wear a Past type shoulder pad.

Jerry Liles

[ronc54]

Anyone use Meister cast bullets out of Ozark, MO ? They have both 405 gr. and a 500 gr round nose flat point. They will cast the 500 gr. at either .458 or .459. It is special order but still seems reasonable at about $150 for 500 delivered. What I am really looking for is a load that matches the ballistics of the original load out to about 500 yards that the sight is calibrated for, maybe there is a 405 gr load that is close enough.