Range report and question regarding 45-70 Trapdoor (1874)

[wellfedirishman]

I picked up a nice old trapdoor a couple of years back and just recently started to work a load for it.

It is a chromed gun, maybe a parade rifle? The bluing appears to have been re-done also. It is not a collector, but displays very nicely.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/CurioRelic/Trapdoor%201873/TrapdoorFulllengthpic_zps06fb6543.jpg

Sidelock markings:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/CurioRelic/Trapdoor%201873/TrapdoorSidelockpic2_zpsf46e1b83.jpg

And top markings:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/CurioRelic/Trapdoor%201873/TrapdoorToppic_zps735587ad.jpg

I shot black powder loads in it previously, they shot ok but nothing impressive.

Recently I tried some 460 Hammer (350 grain flat nose) bullets, cast at 460 and sized/lubed to 459, with a starting load of 14 grains of Trailboss.

Results below at 50 yards (the wind tilted the target to the side, hence the oval looking holes). Once I had the sights dialed in (200 yard setting) I shot the group shown:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/CurioRelic/Trapdoor%201873/Trapdoor50yardtargetpic_zpsde45436a.jpg

Is this a reasonable level of accuracy for a Trapdoor? I have no idea of how the original guns shoot. My goal is to shoot steel silhouette at 200+ yards with one of these, just for kicks.

The sights tend to be the limiting factor for me:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm138/wellfedirishman/CurioRelic/Trapdoor%201873/TrapdoorSightpic_zps2d26a89c.jpg

Can anyone offer input on what loads work well in these? Is there a particular bullet weight that works better than others in the original guns?

Thanks for any advice.

[45 2.1]

I would recommend you cast those boolits at 50:1 lead/tin and leave them as large in diameter as possible. SR4759 is an excellent powder, start at 20 gr. and work up to 24 or so gr.

[Larry Gibson]

Suggest you purview this thread; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?190999-My-Trapdoor-Loads-Technique-and-Equipment

Larry Gibson

[MtGun44]

Looks like they are tipping some.

My best results with a loose-bore trapdoor was with the Lee 405 HB in pure lead.

Went from sideways boolits in a 4 ft "group" to 4" at 100 yds.

I'm sure that was a parade rifle in an earlier life.

Bill

[1Shirt]

All good recommendations. Suggest you consider 2400 with 400+ gr. blts, cast to maybe BH under 15, and recommendations for trapdoor from lyman starting at the low end and working up.
1Shirt

[wellfedirishman]

Thanks folks for the suggestions. I beagled the bullet up to .461-.462 and will see how that shoots. The rifle's bore is pretty good (strong visible lands) so that should help.

The bullets are shooting straight, the picture shows was from a target twisted sideways by the wind, hence the oval holes :)

[TCLouis]

I use 23.5 grains of 4759 or 10.5 grains of Unique with the RD 378 grain GB boolit sized to 0.459. The Unique load yields about 1100 fps and is extremely accurate out of my 86. Shoot both out of my Rolling Block also.