Trpadoor and Wheel Weights

[Mark Daiute]

Any of you cast from wheel weights for your Trapdoors?

I'm having so much fun with my 314299 I want to switch right over to my 405 HB and 500 gr molds and keep right on going.

I always use straight lead for those molds....

Mark

[Cannoneer]

Wheel weights might work if the bullets are large enough to measure groove to groove diameter. Your best bet is to cast your 405 HB from 40:1 lead tin and your 500 gr. no harder than 30:1 lead tin.

The presance of any antimony can cause the bullets to fail to obturate, especially the 500 grain bullets and my cause the hollow based bullets to also fail to obturate. Trapdoor Springfields have a 3 groove and three land style rifleing and can run to almost .460 inch in diameter. The bullets used in the Trapdoor have to be soft and sized no smaller than .458 - .459 to perform well.

[NickSS]

I have shot many thousands of bullets cat from WW in trapdoors and other 45-70s. All have been sized to ,459 and I get acceptable accuracy in them (i.e. 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards for 10 shot groups. I mostly shoot black powder in them. I also shoot several 50-70 trapdoors and the only time I ever shot soft alloy in any of them was when I killed a buffalo last year with my 1866 TD. The load was a 450 gr 512 sized 30-1 bullet over 70 gr of FFG.

[Mark Daiute]

Nick,

Thanks for the info. I've been casting with WW's lately for my "modern" weapons, those being my Krag and my 1918 BSA SMLE. While the lead pots were hot and filled with wheel weights the urge has been to cast from my .405 and .500 molds.

Based upon your reply I'll give them a try- as long as the harder lead is not going to lead up my bore, and you have experienced no such problem.

I'd be happy to consistently put 10 shots into a 3" circle on a consistent basis.

Thanks,

mark

[carpetman]

Mark Daiute---"I'd like to consistently put 10 shots into a 3" circle on a consistent basis". I checked with the Department of Redundancy Department to see if this was a candidate for entry with them. They said you being able to consistently get a form of consistent correctly spelled with no A was a rare thing that should be encouraged so others see it properly spelled.

[Mark Daiute]

Irregardless of what you just said I know where you are at.

Where's one of those stupid emoticons when you need one? I'd use that devilish grin emoticon right now.

Very sorry about the redundancy. I'd like to think that my command of the English language is better than that! Now I'm worried about every word and phrase I type!

Now, about those trapdoor loads....

[carpetman]

Mark Duaite---What does irregardless mean? Is that a redundant form of regardless? LOL

[Dale53]

You're BAD, Carpetman!!:veryconfu:veryconfu

Dale53

[missionary5155]

Good afternoon
Any lead will work IF you have the right diameter. My "84 has a .462+ chamber area. It shoots a .463+ best no matter what mix. And that includes BLACK ! BLACK will BUMP up a .460 cast from near pure lead (500 grainers bump better).
I have not tried water dropped lyntype but see no reason why a properl diameter boolit of any material would not shoot the same out of my trapdoor.