Hollow base bullets

[500 FAN]

Have been a holly black shooter for many years in the sharps 45/70 and high wall 38-55, recently purchased a 1873 trapdoor 45/70 I was always told that the hollow base bullets in a 405 wt. are what I should be using. Any ideas for how to fill the void in the bullet with powder. Was always told no air space allowed! Looking for some guidance. Do you use a wad?

Thanks in advance.

[NickSS]

When I use that bullet I do not use a wad and just seat it on top of the powder after I compress the powder. I found that this works better as with wads I got flyers due to the wads getting stuck in the hollow base. That bullet works well in the trapdoor or in any other rifle I have tried it in. Another good bullet is the 500 gr 1881 bullet cast soft like 30 to 1 and seated on top of a compressed charge of 70 gr of FFG. As most rifles were regulated for this load after it was adopted in 1881 you will find that it shoots to your sight settings fairly closely. I size both bullets to .459 and as the trapdoors typically have groove depths near the breach of around .263 you rely on bullet upset to fill the grooves that is way you need relatively soft lead for best accuracy.

[500 FAN]

I have Swiss 1 1/2 now it doesnt like compression with my other 45/70 load. what brand of powder do you use?

Thanks in advance