1873 Springfield trapdoor

[Old Iron]

I want to load some 45-70 for my Springfield 1873 trapdoor carbine with smokeless powder,have some 300 gr jacketed hp,I saw somewhere a load with[/size] 12 grains of Unique with a 500gr cast bullet, anyone ever come up with a load that would work with[/font][/color][/size]300 gr jacketed hp[/color][/size] ?would like to take a deer with it,it's in good shape.  Thanks[/color]
[/size]MERRY CHRISTMAS!!![/color]

[shot1]

Never and I repeat NEVER shoot jacketed bullets in those old trapdoor rifles. They are just too hard on the softer metal rifling. Those rifles are worth a lot of money. If you want to shoot smokeless powder get you some Accurate XMP 5744 and some 300 to 420 gr flat nose, the wider the nose the better, cast lead bullets. midwayusa.com is a good place to get you some bullets. Get .458 to .459 diameter bullets.
You are taking a BIG chance of blowing up your rifle AND YOU with those small charges of fast pistol powder in a trapdoor. AA 5744 is designed to be used in the large cases. It is not position sensitive so even if the powder is up against the bullet and away from the primer it still fires like it should. It is a bit dirty burning and by that you will see what looks like some unburnt powder in your bore but it is burnt powder.

 Data from the Accurate manual.
AA 5744, 300 gr lead start load 27.9 grs max 31.0
350 gr lead start 26.0 max 29.0
405 gr lead start 24.7 max 27.5

I have used the 405 gr Lyman FN slug and AA5744 in my Sharps 45-70 to take deer with. It will shoot through a deer from any angle as far away as you can hit one.

I shoot mostly black powder in these old rifles because that is what was meant to be shot in them and it is MUCH more accurate at longer ranges. You have to use the proper bullet lube for black powder. SPG is a good one.

[Old Iron]

Thanks,I have cast some lyman 500gr 45-70 gov .458 from wheel weights,would you have a load for this bullet?

[stimpylu32]

Thanks,I have cast some lyman 500gr 45-70 gov .458 from wheel weights,would you have a load for this bullet?

The load data depends on what Vel / recoil level you want to shoot , 11 grains of  Unique will yeld around the  1100 fps range while , 8 grains of Trailboss will get you in the low 800 fps range , for something with a bit more punch look at Re7 , 40 grains will put you in the 1600 fps ball park ,
 
stimpy

[shot1]

When you cast your bullets actually weight them. Out of wheel weights your Lyman 500 gr RN will come out around 520 grs. It makes a difference when using smokeless powder.
Accurate manual list these loads with 5744 for the Trapdoor:
500 gr start 23.4 grs max 26.0 grs
520 gr start 21.6 max 24.0 grs
530 gr start 20.1 max 2.4 grs
All these load run between 1050 for start and 1200 fps for max out of a 24" barrel.

[Old Iron]

Went to get 5744 today and they didn't have it,while there I looked at a Lyman manual and got three load's out of it,one isIMR3031 38 -42gr for the 500gr r n
                                             Varget 40.5-45gr
                                             Imr4198 28.5-31.5
I have these powder's already,what say ye? These load's were listed for the 1873 trapdoor in Lymans book.
Thanks

[tacklebury]

Copper is softer than the softest steel and will never hut the rifling.  The only thing it will do is drive up pressures slightly over the lead version of similar size.   That being said, a 300 gr. Hornady Hollow point over 34 gr. Reloader7 yields about 1200 fps load and is very accurate and pressure is totally safe in trap doors.  If you want a slightly better BC, you can use the 325 gr. FTX bullet.  Shoot it and have fun.