.50-70 Remington Trapdoor 1884 manuf.

SJCbklyn · August 26, 2022, 10:55 AM

Looking for bullets for a 1884 mauf. Rem trapdoor in .50-70. All my research says .515 bullets but my uncle, the owner of the gun says .512 is what the seller told him.

Does anyone reload for the above rifle? What bullet diameter are you using? Any resources you can point me too? Plan is too use 70 FF.

Thanks for the help.

105kw · August 26, 2022, 11:40 AM

Do you mean a Rolling block?
I've got a modern C Sharps, and have owned an 1868 and 1870 Trapdoors.
Both shot .512 decently.

ligonierbill · August 26, 2022, 12:53 PM

By 1884, I think all the trapdoors would be 45-70. But trapdoor or rolling block, the current "standard" bullet for a 50-70 is 0.512. That's what I load in mine, unless I'm running a 0.504 paper patch. Both seem to work well. You could slug the bore in yours - it could vary in those old guns. One note on paper patched bullets. Since you are not seating to a crimp groove, you can leave a little more space for powder. I can fit 70 grains of holy black under one of those. For a standard bullet, not quite, more like 65. And I use 1 1/2Fg, more consistent.

Enjoy!

mikejonestkd · August 27, 2022, 04:55 PM

i use .513 diameter bullets in my rem rolling block

https://www.montanabulletworks.com/s...ter_caliber=50

They make an outstanding bullet.

**Mike Irwin** · August 29, 2022, 06:24 AM

Remington didn't make Trapdoor rifles... Those were Springfields.

As others have noted, the .50-70 Trapdoor was out of production by 1873, when the .45-70 cartridge replaced the .50-70.

I'm not even sure that the US Navy Rolling Blocks, which were ordered in the early 1870s, were made past 1875. And I'm pretty sure all of those were chambered for the carbine cartridge, not the full rifle cartridge.

As far as I know, standard bullet diameter was always .515. That's not to say that your barrel isn't either tighter or looser.

SIGSHR · September 10, 2022, 10:08 AM

I read the 50-70 was finally withdrawn from active service in 1881.

August 26, 2022, 10:55 AM	#1
SJCbklyn Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2016 Posts: 102	.50-70 Remington Trapdoor 1884 manuf. Looking for bullets for a 1884 mauf. Rem trapdoor in .50-70. All my research says .515 bullets but my uncle, the owner of the gun says .512 is what the seller told him. Does anyone reload for the above rifle? What bullet diameter are you using? Any resources you can point me too? Plan is too use 70 FF. Thanks for the help.

August 27, 2022, 04:55 PM	#4
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,695	i use .513 diameter bullets in my rem rolling block https://www.montanabulletworks.com/s...ter_caliber=50 They make an outstanding bullet. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

August 29, 2022, 06:24 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,269	Remington didn't make Trapdoor rifles... Those were Springfields. As others have noted, the .50-70 Trapdoor was out of production by 1873, when the .45-70 cartridge replaced the .50-70. I'm not even sure that the US Navy Rolling Blocks, which were ordered in the early 1870s, were made past 1875. And I'm pretty sure all of those were chambered for the carbine cartridge, not the full rifle cartridge. As far as I know, standard bullet diameter was always .515. That's not to say that your barrel isn't either tighter or looser. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

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August 26, 2022, 11:40 AM	#2
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 391	Do you mean a Rolling block? I've got a modern C Sharps, and have owned an 1868 and 1870 Trapdoors. Both shot .512 decently.

August 26, 2022, 12:53 PM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,341	By 1884, I think all the trapdoors would be 45-70. But trapdoor or rolling block, the current "standard" bullet for a 50-70 is 0.512. That's what I load in mine, unless I'm running a 0.504 paper patch. Both seem to work well. You could slug the bore in yours - it could vary in those old guns. One note on paper patched bullets. Since you are not seating to a crimp groove, you can leave a little more space for powder. I can fit 70 grains of holy black under one of those. For a standard bullet, not quite, more like 65. And I use 1 1/2Fg, more consistent. Enjoy!

September 10, 2022, 10:08 AM	#6
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,688	I read the 50-70 was finally withdrawn from active service in 1881.