reloading for the trapdoor

smoakingun · April 12, 2009, 11:19 PM

i need some help from the bpcr guys. I've been reloading for years but this black powder stuff is new to me. I have a drop tube and have figured out the right mechanics for reloading, I have a performance question.
I recently aquired a sportered trapdoor with a barrel cut to about 20in the question is, with a short barrel would get better/more consistent performance with a smokeless powder?

kraigwy · April 13, 2009, 08:35 AM

The Trapdoor needs low pressure loads. Most reloading manuals have a seperate 45-70 section for trapdoor springfields. Some like Lyman give loading for smokless powder for the trap door.

I dont have a Trapdoor but I use their loading for my Browning 1895 45-70. My ideal is to load the 405 grn cast bullet to the same specs and the old trapdoor military loading, running about 1200 FPS. I have found 29 Grns of 4198 equal that load in my rifle. It [retty accurate too. Low pressure and mild shooting. Also you dont have the cleaning hassles you have using Black Powder.

The 4198 powder worked so well that I tried it in my Remington Rolling block in 44-90 Sharps Bottle Neck. Same thing, I found a load the duplicates the original BP load. Accurate, low pressure and mild to shoot, AND no cleaning hassles.

Also the light loads of 4198 are cheaper to shoot.

April 12, 2009, 11:19 PM	#1
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	reloading for the trapdoor i need some help from the bpcr guys. I've been reloading for years but this black powder stuff is new to me. I have a drop tube and have figured out the right mechanics for reloading, I have a performance question. I recently aquired a sportered trapdoor with a barrel cut to about 20in the question is, with a short barrel would get better/more consistent performance with a smokeless powder?

April 13, 2009, 08:35 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,060	The Trapdoor needs low pressure loads. Most reloading manuals have a seperate 45-70 section for trapdoor springfields. Some like Lyman give loading for smokless powder for the trap door. I dont have a Trapdoor but I use their loading for my Browning 1895 45-70. My ideal is to load the 405 grn cast bullet to the same specs and the old trapdoor military loading, running about 1200 FPS. I have found 29 Grns of 4198 equal that load in my rifle. It [retty accurate too. Low pressure and mild shooting. Also you dont have the cleaning hassles you have using Black Powder. The 4198 powder worked so well that I tried it in my Remington Rolling block in 44-90 Sharps Bottle Neck. Same thing, I found a load the duplicates the original BP load. Accurate, low pressure and mild to shoot, AND no cleaning hassles. Also the light loads of 4198 are cheaper to shoot.