Anybody Got Any Trapdoor Loads To Share?

[bote]

I ordered a set of 45-70 dies today. Can't wait to shoot my new (to me) model 1873. Never shot cast bullets but it looks like a candidate. Lyman book has several loads but they list a wide range of powders.

[Parashooter]

What kind of load? Probably not this one, eh?

[bote]

That one looks darn good. I'd like a load good for 100yards, the lighter the better. I've not fired a trapdoor in a LONG time but I don't remember the recoil being very bad. That's an interesting bullet. I've never molded any bullets, lots of crappie jigs though. I'd like to start out with a commercially available bullet.

[bote]

Looks like Western Bullet has these

[bote]

Parashooter, I ordered some of these from Western bullet. I've never loaded cast bullets and internet searches yield conflicting information. Would you mind providing a little wisdom? Do you flare the case mouths like pistol rounds? Do you crimp? The bullets I ordered are prelubed with lube filling up the middle "cavity". Thanks, David

[Parashooter]

[1]Do you flare the case mouths like pistol rounds? [2]Do you crimp?. . .

1. Yes.
2. Only enough to remove the flare.

I hope you realize that 457130 is a very specialized bullet designed for short range "gallery" use and that extreme low-density loads of fast, dense powder like 700X require great caution to avoid double charging. A novice would do better with more conventional bullets and a bulky powder like 4759 that makes a double charge much more obvious on visual inspection before seating.

[Hoot]

I am a HUGE fan of Lyman's M-Dies. I haven't collected the whole set...yet....but have them in most of the calibers for which I use cast projectiles. Still possible to over flare but, set up properly, leaves a nice 'cup' in which to place the bullet and seats without shaving any lead. I can't give a strong enough recommendation.

[bote]

I like the M dies as well. I use them as mandrels for rounds that bushing dies are not available. Looks like Brownells doesn't have them in 45-70.

I don't have it with me but I think my Lyman manual has several loads for the little bullets with powders I already have. I also ordered some 405s.

[Stretch32]

Bote,

I've been playing with trapdoor loads for about a year now. Two things I've figured out:

1. A flat based 405 grain bullet does not seem to work well in these rifles. You need a cupped base 405 or flat based 500 grain in a 20-1 alloy. Both these can be purchased, pre-lubed in SPG BP lube, from Buffalo Arms. These are what you want.

2. The 45-70 round was one of THE most tested rounds prior to introduction into the services. There is a book called "Loading Cartridges for the Original 45-70 Springfield Rifle and Carbine" that provides a lot of info on how to replicate the original load and pointers that will make your rifle pretty accurate. I would get this book and read it, it helped me a lot.

Bottom line, for me anyway, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the cheap 405 gr hard cast Bullets and smokeless powder. I read this book using the suggested techniques and now shoot 2-3 in groups with 65 grs of FFg BP, .060 fiber was and the flat based 500 gr bullet from Buffalo Arms with a heavy crimp.

Stretch

[bote]

Thanks Stretch32, I ordered the book. With upcoming matches and some other things it will be early November before I can really put some time into load testing.