Request tips on 50-70 reloading

[Slick Pilot]

My dad has an 1866 trapdoor Springfield that he wants to shoot.

I'm ordering dies, a mold, etc., but would like to have any info you guys have on loads. I want basic low-powered ones just to plink with (my dad is 82 and the gun is about 140). Both black powder and smokeless are desired, but safety is most important.

The gun is in good shape, but I plan to initiate the first few rounds by remote control.

Thanks.

[Bullshop]

A load I have used in two origonel Sharps and a trap door is 60gn by weight Goex FG under the Lyman Gov. boolit with enough wad to keep compressed..
Using one of the Sharps conversion carbines I shot a spike elk at about 30 yards. He was comming straight at me and was hit center in the chest. The boolit made a big hole through the heart and everything between it and the reverce end and exited. He took a couple wobbly steps side ways and tipped over. Not even a mouth full of ruined meat on that one. Guestimated velocity about 1000 fps but good enough to go through 5 feet of elk.
A nice mild load for the old vet's.
BIC/BS

[wills]

If you have not loaded black powder before, remember, NO AIRSPACE between the boolit and powder.

I have been told one way to get a powder charge (Black, not smokeless) is scoop up a case full of powder, scrape it off even with the top of the case, weigh it, and that is your charge. Drop tube the powder and compress it however much you need to in order to seat your boolit

[BruceB]

Slick Pilot;

If you have not yet ordered a mould, I have a 515141 here that I no longer use. It's in excellent shape, and this is the original .50-70 design, near as I can recall.

You can have it for $30 including shipping, if you want it (handles not included).

[floodgate]

SlickPilot:

Contact Cistern Publishing Co. at 14010 State Highway 95 North, Flatonia, TX 78941; (861) 865-0030; or katbar@sprintmail.com, and order a copy of Croft Barker's "The .50-70 Shooter's Handbook", ISBN 0-97151128-2. LOTS of good info there.

floodgate

[Johnch]

I use AA 5744 and AA 2495 in mine .

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/ObsoleteCartridges/50%2070%20Goverment%20page%20366%20to%20367.pdf

I have a Lee mold and shoot as cast and pan lube

I shoot 30-1 or 40-1

Black is slightly more accurate , but I hate the clean up so I mainly run smokeless .

Johnch

[wills]

SlickPilot:

Contact Cistern Publishing Co. at 14010 State Highway 95 North, Flatonia, TX 78941; (861) 865-0030; or katbar@sprintmail.com, and order a copy of Croft Barker's "The .50-70 Shooter's Handbook", ISBN 0-97151128-2. LOTS of good info there.

floodgate

http://www.cisternpublishing.org/

I have a copy of the blackpowder Cartridge Shilouette Handbook I bought from him at a match. Good stuff.

[junkbug]

Slick Pilot
I have a Shiloh Sharps military carbine in 50/70 and have fired custom loaded smokeless factory duplication loads in it, and some reloads with Pyrodex and muzzleloading .50 cal lead slugs that were approximately 400 grains. The smokeless loads seem much more stressfull to the rifle (and me) than the Pyrodex. Obviously, accuracy was not great (slug was undersized).

I beleive, from that experience that I would not shoot smokeless reloads in any vintage Trapdoor Springfield, Sharps, or Rolling Block. Almost all the manuals (all of them that I have read) recommend avoiding smokeless powder in antique blackpowder cartridge rifles. I would avoid Triple 7 also. My Shiloh Sharps was made around 1980 (not 1880).

BruceB;
If Slick Pilot is not interested in that mold, I am.

Take care.

Sean

[Slick Pilot]

Junkbug, thanks for the advice. I plan to be very careful with loading for this gun.

I already had a set of molds on order, so go for the one from BruceB (I appreciate the offer, BruceB).

Bullshop, it may only travel at about 1,000 fps, but a bullet that big doesn't have to go fast. Your bullet placement appeared to be rather effective as well.

Thanks to all. I have a lot of components inbound and in a week or so will be busy at the bench. Any additional comments are most welcome.

I'll let you know how my dad likes the clouds of smoke. By the way, he also has the original triangular hog sticker that goes on the end of the thing.

[DwarvenChef]

I've been shooing 50-70 in a 1869 Trapdoor with Dixie brass. 60grs 1F is all I can get in the case and still get the bullit in.

I'm having an Encore Bbl made in 50-70 and want to use smokeless in it. I see 5744 is popular but have not seen any published data on this. Can anyone point me to smokeless reloading for 50-70 in strong actions?

[DwarvenChef]

Found loads to test but need moulds to compare with. I have the lyman mould that has been called the "stock" bullit for the 50-70. Has anyone used a mould that has a wider nose? Looking for large flat points, or at least A larger flat point than what this one has.

[Bullshop]

Lee makes two and RCBS makes one all have larger meplate than the Lyman.
I have one from NEI in a 480gn Keith style that is wider yet.
BIC/BS

[45 2.1]

Found loads to test but need moulds to compare with. I have the lyman mould that has been called the "stock" bullit for the 50-70. Has anyone used a mould that has a wider nose? Looking for large flat points, or at least A larger flat point than what this one has.

Lyman manual #46 or #47 has your 5-70 data and Buffalo Arms has Saecvo molds that have large flat points for hunting.