Reloading 45-70-500 for an 1884 RRB Trapdoor

[SteveOKo922]

I currently reload for the 405 load and an 1873 trapdoor, but haven't yet for the 500g load with buffington rear sights. Anyone here have any leads or recommendations for suitable 500g 45 70 cast bullets? Spencer wolfs recommendations are for mold that are hard to find. Anyone care to share results if they shoot an 1884?

[1Hawkeye]

I'm using a hoch 500 gr with 13.0 grs of unique and getting pretty good groups at 100 yards. The trick with trapdoors is proper bullet diameter.

[Don McDowell]

If you want to cast your own the Saeco 1881 mould is a very good one, the Lyman 500 grain govt bullet works well in an 84 trapdoor I'm familiar with, Buffalo Arms has a good representation of the 500 grain govt bullet.
If you want to buy some try these guys they cast a good bullet https://www.cheycastbullets.com/Black-Powder-45cal-RN-512gr--50-Count-Box_p_176.html

[varsity07840]

I've never had good results with the 405 gr in my '88 TD. It's too small for my .463 groove barrel. It did shoot very well in my H&R. I use a custom 500 gr Government in my '88 from Accurate Molds that casts .465 and I size it to .464. It's a big improvement.

[Deadeye Bly]

I shoot a 535 grain Creedmoor style bullet from BACO cast at .462" diameter with 60 grains of 1 1/2 Swiss powder. It shoots well. I won the trapdoor shoot at the SE Regional BPCR match several years ago and the military match at Friendship with it. I've broken several national records with it but not at NRA sanctioned matches so they don't count. I shot a 90 at 600 yards with it. You need to match the bullet size with your bore and shoot fairly soft lead.

[toot]

I shoot a 500 gr, lee bullet, with 27 grs. of 4198. it works for me.

[BLAHUT]

I shoot a Lee 515 gr, in pure lead at .461, with 27 grs of 5700 under it, very accurate at 100 yds. In my guide gun.

[ian45662]

I have been having good luck with the 500 grain trapdoor mould that Buffalo arms makes. I size it to .460 which is just a tad under groove diameter but they upset to fill the grooves with the 20:1 alloy I use.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Brimstone]

The correct boolit mold.

https://www.buffaloarms.com/460-500-grain-rn-government-jim460500.html

They come in .458, .459 and .460.

https://brooksmoulds.com/basepour.html

Brook calls his the 1881 Armory Bullet. Has a thicker base band that in theory is less apt to blow out.


These are compression bullets. They're designed to obturate at the driving bands to groove diameter and the grease grooves compress thus placing the grease under hydraulic force. The intent of this to force the grease into action, to seal the joint between the bullet and bore thus preventing gas blowby as well as playing a more active role in lubricating the bearing surfaces as opposed to modern designs that play a largely passive role.

[BLAHUT]

I currently reload for the 405 load and an 1873 trapdoor, but haven't yet for the 500g load with buffington rear sights. Anyone here have any leads or recommendations for suitable 500g 45 70 cast bullets? Spencer wolfs recommendations are for mold that are hard to find. Anyone care to share results if they shoot an 1884?

I shoot a Lee 500 3R with 42 grs of blackhorn209 with a mag primer .460 in my roller. Very accurate out to 1000 yds +.