Finally got a good load for the trapdoor

[jonk]

I'd struggled for years finding a good load for my trapdoor. 1873 model, nice shiny bore with sharp rifling, good crown. Tried smokeless and black both with a variety of 405-420 gr bullets, all nada.

Finally bought a Lee 500 gr that has a long nose. I was a little leery about pressures with the heavy bullet (or at least recoil) if I filled the case with black, so I tried some reduced loads. Long story short, 40 gr of Goex 3f, 1cc of cornmeal, and 2 .030" fiber wads is THE load. Puts 10/10 in the 10 and X ring at 50, and 8/10 in the 10 and X ring at 100 yards- though it does shoot a little high at 50.

I DID try some full loads after this success- 55 gr of 2F and one over powder wad is about right with this bullet. No issues, but not as accurate either.

Anyone else using this mold?

[bigted]

you are rite about the recoil with the 70 grains blackpowder BUT you will never ...[in a rifle that is in good tight shootable shape]... overload the 45-70 case with blackpowder. good on ya for finding a load that is accurate but sounds a bit lite for hunting loads.

what are you doing for fouling control? im curious as I also am fiddling with an original trapdoor and the fouling is what is eating my lunch I think. also the LEE 459-405-HB boolit is doing pretty well in mine but other then the duplex loads ... I don't seem to find the cure in pure BP loads.

I have not used this boolit yet but may have to order it and give it a try.

[Riqrob]

I posted my results with the same bullet and rifle a page or 2 back. (1873 Trapdoor first time out), and got a few good suggestions for improving next effort. Was using 60 grains Goex 2f and fiber wad, blow tube, but have been frustrated by work in getting back.
Rick

[MtGun44]

The 500 will bump up, but not the 405. Buy the Lee HB 405 mold and you will find it
works just fine in the Trapdoor.

Bill

[dromia]

Spence Wolfs book on reloading for the Trapdoor is informative and helpful, the Lee 405 gn HB was evidently produced at his behest.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
The only 400 grain boolit I found to shoot well in my Trapdoor (1879) was an oversized NEI RN . Cast of 40-1 it dropped at .462. Backed by about 65 grains 2F with wad it would shoot respectable groups and not patterns. I never got around to 3F yet but that will be another story.
Mike in Peru

[bigted]

Mike ... do you just shoot it or use a fouling control?

[felix]

I had a 1884 model back 1959. I ordered 100 loaded rounds from Public Sport Shop in Philly PA to get started. The rounds arrived with Berdan primers, and they were returned for Boxer. Three months later they arrived with UMC cases, 500 grainers, and some kind of smokeless. They were loaded fairly light and shot OK for my needs at the time. They suggested 500 grainers from the start because of the possible bore problems. I guess they were correct, but still today do not know about anything for real. My dad sold the gun when I went to college and got a lever 99 in its place, 250 savage, 14 twist. Actually, a dang good idea because he knew I HATED recoil. That savage was good but later sold to help pay for a Purdey. That was later sold to pay for 8 more brothers and sisters schooling which it did in the 60s and 70s.. ... felix

[smkummer]

The best load we have tried in original trapdoors that wont shoot anything else is 10 grains unique and a unsized soft cast bullet. It works

[MtGun44]

Mike,

Use the Lee HB 405 and you will not need oversized 400 grainers. It solves the problem, and
after I discovered this I bought Spence's book and found that he had discovered this and had
Lee build the mold. Thank goodness they are still making it (well at least a year or two ago,
they were).

Strong recommendation to ANYONE using the Trapdoor - buy this Lee mold and cast with soft
alloy and use either BP or Unique 10-12 grains and you will have a revelation. My oldest Trapdoor
went from 30" at 100 to 4" at 100 yds with this change.

Bill

[Riqrob]

Finally got out again to shoot identical 1873 trapdoor. The best load was the Lee 405hb unsized and pushed by 70 grains Goex 2f. ( all 5 shots into 1 1/2 inch at 100 yards) I used a 45cal bore snake between shots with a Hoppes black powder-wetted patch over the bore brush part. I noted a small amount of leading with the soft 500 grain Lee bullet (62 and 65 grain Goex loads), but no lead shooting the soft 405 grain hollow base.

[jonk]

I have tried the Lee 405 hollow base. Did nothing for me. Not saying it won't work for you, just not for me.

The 500 gr mold carries a LOT of lube. Coupled with the scrubbing effect of the corn meal, I don't have to do anything for fouling other than use a blow tube.

[MtGun44]

What alloy did you use in the 405 HB mold? You need Pb with no more than about
20:1 or 30:1 tin. If you use a slow pressure rise powder, it won't be as likely to work,
either. BP or fast pressure rise like Unique and soft alloy.

Bill

[bigted]

I will say that that unique load under the LEE 405 is a WONDERFULL load. it seems to print on target better for me and it is a load that can be shot ALL DAY LONG.

that 40 grain 2F load is a surprise as well with the LEE boolit. it seems to print with the unique load and still have that wonderful smell. the cornmeal filler ...[2.2cc LEE scoop]... along with this lite load is a hoot to shoot and for 5, they went in all the rocks at 100 I wanted to hit.

I have some 55 grain 2F loads built that im anxious to try out. they have a 1/8th felt followed by a .060 vegi wad and compressed with the boolit. I have never loaded these lite a loads so they are very fun for me. just as a shooting load ... they cant be beat.

EDIT;

shot those 55 grain loads under the Lee 405's and my they are the stuff. I mean that in the springfield they still shoot high at 100 but with the winchester 1885 they did not last long enough. I definitely have to try em again and load a bunch more for the fun of it. if you have not tried these 55 grain loads ... I highly recommend them as a very fun and seems like a very accurate load ... least in my rifles.