1873 Speingfield Trapdoor 350g Lead Cast Bullet Loads

SRE · January 8, 2015, 01:06 PM

Anyone have any 45-70 trapdoor load data for the 350g Lead Cast bullet using H4831 or H4895? Ran into a decent amount of this powder as well as the bullets coincidentally. Thx in advance!

Jim Watson · January 8, 2015, 02:00 PM

I don't have any data, I don't load BPCRs with smokeless, but H4895 is said to be a decent .45-70 powder.
H4831 is very slow and an "off label application" in .45-70, but Ken Waters liked it; said it was nearly as dirty as black but gave good accuracy. If you could find his Pet Loads article, there is some guidance there.

chiefr · January 8, 2015, 04:39 PM

I shoot trapdoors BP only. I never could get reasonable accuracy with bullets less than 400 grains.
Soft lead and BP are all I will use in my trapdoors.

Dragonflydf · January 8, 2015, 10:47 PM

I use 405gr cast round nose on top of a case full of Triple 7 FFG, I figure out where the base of the seated bullet would be and fill it to that point, I don't like using a compressed load. For me, shooting smokeless in a trapdoor is bad ju-ju.
That rifle is 142 year old, I would hate to see it not make to 143 because you had to use smokeless powder.

January 8, 2015, 01:06 PM	#1
SRE Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Location: Southern York County, PA Posts: 145	1873 Speingfield Trapdoor 350g Lead Cast Bullet Loads Anyone have any 45-70 trapdoor load data for the 350g Lead Cast bullet using H4831 or H4895? Ran into a decent amount of this powder as well as the bullets coincidentally. Thx in advance! __________________ Combat Commander

January 8, 2015, 10:47 PM	#4
Dragonflydf Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2014 Posts: 217	I use 405gr cast round nose on top of a case full of Triple 7 FFG, I figure out where the base of the seated bullet would be and fill it to that point, I don't like using a compressed load. For me, shooting smokeless in a trapdoor is bad ju-ju. That rifle is 142 year old, I would hate to see it not make to 143 because you had to use smokeless powder. __________________ Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!! https://www.facebook.com/shoot.the.guns.of.history Last edited by Dragonflydf; January 8, 2015 at 10:55 PM.

January 8, 2015, 02:00 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	I don't have any data, I don't load BPCRs with smokeless, but H4895 is said to be a decent .45-70 powder. H4831 is very slow and an "off label application" in .45-70, but Ken Waters liked it; said it was nearly as dirty as black but gave good accuracy. If you could find his Pet Loads article, there is some guidance there.

January 8, 2015, 04:39 PM	#3
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I shoot trapdoors BP only. I never could get reasonable accuracy with bullets less than 400 grains. Soft lead and BP are all I will use in my trapdoors.