Trapdoor cartridge data

[Triggersmith]

The 1873 Springfield trapdoor is supposed to be safe using smokless powder if kept the same or under the original 45/70 load.  I will be loading either 40-56 or 38-56.  I need less recoil on my trapdoor Hawken.  I can get a Green Mountain barrel in the same configuratiion as the 45/70 in my Hawken now.  Either the 40-65  or 38-56 will allow me to use the stock extractor.  Any help out there?
Thanks
Triggersmith

[Fox Creek Kid]

The following is just MY OPINION, nothing more nor less. I would never shoot smokeless powder in a gun that old no matter what the load as smokeless powder has a different initial pressure spike and metallurgy then was in its infancy. There was a picture in Guns magazine awhile back in Mike Venturino's column of an 1876 Winchester a fella thought was "safe" with smokeless. From the photo it's a miracle the man escaped with his life. Remember, you only have to be wrong once with smokeless. 

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   If you've built your Hawken Trapdoor around a "later" action, and your Gunsmith understands the workings of the Trapdoor action, well...
   Personally, I shoot BP in my Trapdoors, and they shoot very well; when I was younger, I used other powders. Just think how Right and how COOL it will be when you squeeze that trigger, hear that boom, and see that smoke.
   There are a lot of reloading manuals catering to smokeless charges in larger BP cases; and if you're an experienced reloader, you can make an informed decision. Otherwise do as Elmer Keith advised, and "...take a course of sprouts... with black powder..."! It's addictive! Forgive the Preaching!

   Be Well!

                 M.T.Marfield:.
                     4-08-07

   
   

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[Triggersmith]

Thanks for the input.  I can usually rely on some straight forward answers.  It would be a lot simpler to use black powder.  My wife hates the smell.  Of course she hated the diesel fuel when I was truckin'.
Triggersmith