Video - Shooting the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

This is the third installment of my "Guns of 1873" series. In this video I'll shoot a Pedersoli replica of a Trapdoor Springfield with black powder .45-70 loads.

This video is Teddy Bear free.

[Deadeye Dick]

BDM,
I look forward to your videos.
As always, GOOD JOB!
Deadeye Dick

[hellgate]

BDM,
What bullet are you using? I have the LEE HB 405 gr mold and the Lyman 390gr RN mold but haven't gotten an accurate enough load for them yet. For a couple of years I bought a 360gr bullet from Liberty Bullets here in Orygun but they are no longer casting and there went a great, light weight, accurate Plainsman load pushed by 55grs powder. I've drilled out the primer pockets and use mag primers like Pat Wolf suggests. I noticed there did not seem to be much recoli with your gun. Maybe you are a bit bigger than me but the gun sure didn't move much. You made it look sweet shooting.

How does the H&R TD carbine compare to the Pedersoli?

[Lucky R. K.]

Hi Mike,

Another great job showcasing a true classic.  I have an original 1884 that I occasionally use for CAS long range matches.  61 grains of 3F Swiss and a Saeco? 500 grain gov't bullet makes a very accurate load.

My problem is that I can't see the Buffington rear sight any more.

Thanks for your efforts to show us the old guns.

Lucky 

[Charlie Bowdre]

Mike
Great video.
I have owned several TD 45-70's . Loved em all. Still shoot one old original evey once in a while. Great rifle , lots of fun to reload and to shoot.

Appreciate your efforts . keep em coming.
dutchy

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Hi Hellgate,

My load is 65 grains of 2Fg Goex under a solid based 405-grain bullet, lit off by a Federal large rifle primer.

When I was shooting original Trapdoors I loaded a la Spence Wolf's book with hollow-based bullets and drilled out flash holes...et al..., but the repros use nice normal .457 inch barrels.

[Paladin UK]

Mike...
Brill as Normal...........  Thanks again for a very informative vid. Is that range at the bottom of your yard??? `cos ya seem ta be there an awful lot (Yep I`m reel jealous ),

You mention..

..........................hollow-based bullets and` drilled out flash holes`...et al...,

Can you explain what that means `cos I aint heard of that before (Dont ferget pard I`m only 61 `n still gotta lotta learin ta do )
Finally I lurv the idea of holdin the spare rds in yer pinkies!! In the summer months I run a Scaled Down Plainsman match and up to now I have used the rather unsavoury method of holding my spare rd in my lips   

Keep em comin pard

Paladin (What lurvs The Hooooly Black ) UK

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Mike...
In the summer months I run a Scaled Down Plainsman match and up to now I have used the rather unsavoury method of holding my spare rd in my lips   

PUK, have you posted some place about your scaled down Plainsman match?  If not could you outline it?

Mike, another great video, your effort is always appreciated.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Paladin,

Spence Wolf figured out how to recreate military spec ammo for the original .45-70 Trap door rifles & carbines. He wrote a book about it that is a must-read if you shoot the originals.

Origian TDs have way oversized bores, as do most military rifles of the era. To shoot them accurately you need a soft lead 405-grain hollow based bullet or a soft 500-grain bullet (500-grain bullets have more inertia, and slug up better in the bore) His method also calls for enlarging the primer flash hole and using a highly compressed powder charge.

The range is at one of the two gun clubs I belong to. It is about five miles from my back yard.

[Paladin UK]

Fer TWB....

Here we are pard attached a PDF for ya..

Paladin (What hopes he`s helped TWB   ) UK