45-70 Gallery Load

Tascosa Joe · January 27, 2011, 02:39:36 PM

Does anyone have a "Gallery Load" for the Trap Door. I recently acquired a H&R Trapdoor Carbine.

I am thinking 35-40 gr 2F and a .457 RB. Has any one done this?

Questions I have: Do you use a filler and criimp the case on the RB?

Do you use an over powder card, then a grease cookie, then the RB with and over shot card with no crimp?
(No filler)

I also intend to load some 45-55-405 Cavalry loads.

Thanks for any advice. T-Joe

rustyrelx · January 27, 2011, 02:49:09 PM

Hey Joe: Just seat the ball down inside the case on the powder, like you would a muzzle loader. Easy..... Don

Tascosa Joe · January 27, 2011, 07:16:43 PM

Don:

I appreciate your reply. I will use that method. We have some things in common. I went to 76Y ANCOC at Lee in 86.

Joe

Joe Lansing · January 27, 2011, 08:12:08 PM

I use to load these for my original trap door.:Lyman gallery bullet #457127 sized to .457 in front of 10.0 grains 2400. Elevate muzzle and slap the rifle with the palm of your hand to settle the powder to the back of the case before each shot. Very accurate at 50 ft. and nice for small game too.

J.L.

JimBob · January 27, 2011, 09:03:32 PM

The original loading of the Gallery Cartridges was 20grs. of black powder.There was a notation on the box about cleaning after every 5 shots or the bullet may stick in the bore.(?) Bullet isn't specified but probably the one called a "collar button" that had a single grease groove.Rapine offered it before they went out of business.Some original loads have been observed using a 230 grain hollow base bullet as originally used in the .45 Colt pistol ammunition.

Spence Wolf's book has some information on his version of the Gallery Load using a .457 round ball lubed with liquid alox seated on the powder charge for 50 yard practice loads using 7.5 grains of 3Fg giving 644FPS in a carbine.A 10grain load giving 775FPS.If you use a round ball,seat it onto the powder with a twisting motion so air is not trapped beneath the ball.LOL they can pop back out.

He also talks about a short range gallery or indoor load using 5 to 6 grains of 3Fg for work at 25 yards or less.I'd like to try that one.

Trap · January 31, 2011, 09:51:18 PM

Rusty and TJ, 76Y '73 Ft Lee. !

rustyrelx · February 01, 2011, 09:25:45 AM

TJ and TRAP: I had AIT at Ft. Hood in 66 for 76Y. Had BNCOC in 88 for 45K, ANCOC in 90 for 45H. Discharged in 2004 for lack of hearing...Just couldn't hear them anymore, been around too many big things that went bang for too long...total of 26 years duty Don

Tascosa Joe · February 01, 2011, 09:44:28 AM

Rusty/Trap
I retired in 08 after 44 yrs. I had 16 years in the Guard and 28 active duty. I spent 15 yrs in an 8" Battery, then another 11 in armor. I dont hear much either.
T-Joe

Pitspitr · February 01, 2011, 10:48:37 AM

Quote from: JimBob on January 27, 2011, 09:03:32 PM
Spence Wolf's book has some information on his version of the Gallery Load using a .457 round ball lubed with liquid alox seated on the powder charge for 50 yard practice loads using 7.5 grains of 3Fg giving 644FPS in a carbine.A 10grain load giving 775FPS.If you use a round ball,seat it onto the powder with a twisting motion so air is not trapped beneath the ball.LOL they can pop back out.

I've used this one with good results. I usually cover the mouth of the cartridge with a black powder lube. Be careful not to confuse 'em with blanks!!!

Buffalow Red · February 03, 2011, 06:41:57 PM

pat wolf allso had a loading for 3 round balls in one cartage
you need to contact his widiow & get his book on trapdoors

JimBob · February 03, 2011, 06:54:39 PM

Quote from: Buffalow Red on February 03, 2011, 06:41:57 PM
pat wolf allso had a loading for 3 round balls in one cartage
you need to contact his widiow & get his book on trapdoors

Here's the site http://www.the45-70book.com Best book out there for recreating period government loadings for the Trapdoor.Lot's of info on period trapdoor sights and sighting.

Joe Lansing · February 03, 2011, 09:06:35 PM

The 3 round ball load was used in the Gatling gun (if you really wanted a close range spray.

J.L.

JimBob · February 03, 2011, 09:57:54 PM

Quote from: Joe Lansing on February 03, 2011, 09:06:35 PM
The 3 round ball load was used in the Gatling gun (if you really wanted a close range spray.

J.L.

Boxes of the 3 ball loading from 1877 are marked for Springfield Rifle and Carbine Cal: .45.The original loading was 45 grains of powder and 3 balls weighin 133 grains.The original usage was as a guard cartridge but that would surely be a wicked load coming out of a Gatling,akin to cannister blasting out of a 12pdr muzzle loading cannon,given the Gatlings rate of fire.

Tascosa Joe · February 04, 2011, 10:31:52 AM

That 3 ball load sounds wicked. Thanks for the Trap door site.

Grogan · February 21, 2011, 08:45:11 PM

Yes, here is the 3 Ball "Guard" round...2nd from right.

cpt dan blodgett · August 23, 2011, 09:39:23 PM

Have heard of folks loading 20 - 30 grains BP of choice filler of choice card and lube cookie and crimping enough to keep ball in case. Want to try something like that for plainsman. Longer bullets chamber better though