The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Reloading the Springfield 45-70 Trap Door

Farmland · June 29, 2010, 12:14 AM

I really don’t know how long the Springfield Trap Door has been in the family. I know it has been 81 years plus. What I do know about this gun is interesting. First of all they are known as the 1873 Springfield 45-70 Trap Door. Though mine was made in 1884, they are easy to date because each year added something different. In addition the serial number helps get the proper year.

My rifle was put into service with the First Regiment Rhode Island US Volunteers who were called into service for the Spanish American War in 1889. I have the date the rifle was issued but I don’t have it around right now. Interesting the unit did serve a brief period of time in my home state of Pennsylvania. They were sent to Camp Meade in August of 1889 trying to out run typhoid epidemic. This unit was mustered of service on March 30, 1899. So the rifle never made it into battle.

How it came into our family is really unknown, it could have been bought as a hunting rifle or won in a card game.

The rifle is in great shape and it was shot a few time each year during the last 81 years. However for the past 25 years it has fired less than 50 rounds. This was about to change, as I want to bring this gun out of retirement. Since the gun really is not a one of a kind rifle I saw no need to just let it sit around. In addition I really didn’t want to shoot factory loads of jacketed bullets.

One of the first things I did was really give the bore a good checking out. At first the bore looked like a smooth bore, with very faint rifling. At first I thought it was just shot out since the crown had some noticeable wear from prior cleaning. So I started long slow process of cleaning and after some cleaning I started to see lands and grooves. The barrel just had over 100 years of crud that needed cleaned out. This turned out to be a long process and it will wear out some brushes.

Now I had to come up with a load and the big question was black powder or smokeless powder. After some research I went the smokeless route. Though I plan on doing some black powder reloads later this summer. The load I found that worked well with the gun was RL – 7 with lead 405gr bullets. Reloading the 45-70 is a simple process and of course every company makes the dies. I was lucky enough to have over 300 once fired cases. So a fast turn in the tumbler and they came out looking like new.

Resizing straight wall cases are pretty simple though you still need to remember the case lube. I forgot to do this on one case and yes the entire bottom of the case will separate. I was luck since I was using Hornady dies I could take out the decapping pin and rod. I had a correct size tap and was able to tap put the tap into the case at the point the bottom had separated. A few turns later and the tap was secure. I placed it back in the press and tapped out the case with a rod using the die as the end of the case. This took less than 5 minutes. Adding large rifle primers with a hand primer was the next step.

I gave the case a slight bell so that I would not shave any of the lead bullets. If you are using Hornady dies you have to make sure not to give it too much of a bell or it will not fit into the bullet seating/crimp die. Charging the powder I used my RCBS powder measure and it was down right accurate with the RL-7. What works well for my rifle is 27.5 grains. The last step was to seat the bullet to 2.55 OAL and give a slight crimp since this will be used in a single shot trap door rifle. I found doing the crimp in an additional step was much easier, plus I use the Lee factory Die for this step.

So how does the old girls shoot with my reloads? I don’t know why but I can’t give you a spread. I have been shooting steel at 250 yards and the old girl has not missed the steel yet. The steel is 12 inches x 12 inches. I can’t really tell you why I haven’t tried a paper target yet. Though is does have one ground hog to its credit at around 75 yards. So far I have put 25 rounds through this rifle, maybe when I get some free time over the weekend I will see what type of accuracy it really has.

But the point is reloading can be done for these old rifles and they can be made to have some real fun. Of course you really have to know if the rifle is safe and if you are reloading for the Trap Door you must know the difference between the three load levels for the 45-70. What you don’t want to do is work up a load for the modern lever action or the single shot Ruger and use that in the Trap Door. The Trap Door cannot handle that kind of pressure.

I hope this helps some one who wants to shoot their old Trap Door. If I bored everyone with the long story I’m sorry but finding the history was just part of the time spent on learning how to reload for this old girl.

If you have some tips by all means share them.

June 29, 2010, 12:14 AM	#1
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	Reloading the Springfield 45-70 Trap Door I really don’t know how long the Springfield Trap Door has been in the family. I know it has been 81 years plus. What I do know about this gun is interesting. First of all they are known as the 1873 Springfield 45-70 Trap Door. Though mine was made in 1884, they are easy to date because each year added something different. In addition the serial number helps get the proper year. My rifle was put into service with the First Regiment Rhode Island US Volunteers who were called into service for the Spanish American War in 1889. I have the date the rifle was issued but I don’t have it around right now. Interesting the unit did serve a brief period of time in my home state of Pennsylvania. They were sent to Camp Meade in August of 1889 trying to out run typhoid epidemic. This unit was mustered of service on March 30, 1899. So the rifle never made it into battle. How it came into our family is really unknown, it could have been bought as a hunting rifle or won in a card game. The rifle is in great shape and it was shot a few time each year during the last 81 years. However for the past 25 years it has fired less than 50 rounds. This was about to change, as I want to bring this gun out of retirement. Since the gun really is not a one of a kind rifle I saw no need to just let it sit around. In addition I really didn’t want to shoot factory loads of jacketed bullets. One of the first things I did was really give the bore a good checking out. At first the bore looked like a smooth bore, with very faint rifling. At first I thought it was just shot out since the crown had some noticeable wear from prior cleaning. So I started long slow process of cleaning and after some cleaning I started to see lands and grooves. The barrel just had over 100 years of crud that needed cleaned out. This turned out to be a long process and it will wear out some brushes. Now I had to come up with a load and the big question was black powder or smokeless powder. After some research I went the smokeless route. Though I plan on doing some black powder reloads later this summer. The load I found that worked well with the gun was RL – 7 with lead 405gr bullets. Reloading the 45-70 is a simple process and of course every company makes the dies. I was lucky enough to have over 300 once fired cases. So a fast turn in the tumbler and they came out looking like new. Resizing straight wall cases are pretty simple though you still need to remember the case lube. I forgot to do this on one case and yes the entire bottom of the case will separate. I was luck since I was using Hornady dies I could take out the decapping pin and rod. I had a correct size tap and was able to tap put the tap into the case at the point the bottom had separated. A few turns later and the tap was secure. I placed it back in the press and tapped out the case with a rod using the die as the end of the case. This took less than 5 minutes. Adding large rifle primers with a hand primer was the next step. I gave the case a slight bell so that I would not shave any of the lead bullets. If you are using Hornady dies you have to make sure not to give it too much of a bell or it will not fit into the bullet seating/crimp die. Charging the powder I used my RCBS powder measure and it was down right accurate with the RL-7. What works well for my rifle is 27.5 grains. The last step was to seat the bullet to 2.55 OAL and give a slight crimp since this will be used in a single shot trap door rifle. I found doing the crimp in an additional step was much easier, plus I use the Lee factory Die for this step. So how does the old girls shoot with my reloads? I don’t know why but I can’t give you a spread. I have been shooting steel at 250 yards and the old girl has not missed the steel yet. The steel is 12 inches x 12 inches. I can’t really tell you why I haven’t tried a paper target yet. Though is does have one ground hog to its credit at around 75 yards. So far I have put 25 rounds through this rifle, maybe when I get some free time over the weekend I will see what type of accuracy it really has. But the point is reloading can be done for these old rifles and they can be made to have some real fun. Of course you really have to know if the rifle is safe and if you are reloading for the Trap Door you must know the difference between the three load levels for the 45-70. What you don’t want to do is work up a load for the modern lever action or the single shot Ruger and use that in the Trap Door. The Trap Door cannot handle that kind of pressure. I hope this helps some one who wants to shoot their old Trap Door. If I bored everyone with the long story I’m sorry but finding the history was just part of the time spent on learning how to reload for this old girl. If you have some tips by all means share them.