50 90 trapdoor loads

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kraigwy

New member
I'm thinking I would get better results here then the reloading section.

I'm in the process of getting a Springfield 50-70 Trapdoor (original). I want to shoot it but I don't want to use BP.

Anyone have any recommendations for a Low pressure load.

I'm looking at 5744 powder. According to Quick Load, 20 grs. of 5744 will give a 450 grn cast bullet 1060 fps with 8186 PSI.

But I don't know the max pressure on these old rifles.

For an ideal I use 32 gr of 5744 using 255 gr pistol bullets in my 45-70 trap door. Its pretty accurate at 1800 fps with 13K PSI.

But I heard the 50-70 Trap door needs a bit less pressure
 
The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition warns that the load data is for use in only newly manufactured rifles designed for smokeless powder and not the original designed for black powder.

I does list a 425 gr Lyman #515141 with 24.0 gr of 5744 with a velocity of 1137 fps and pressure of 14,100 CUP for the 50-70 Government.

I have a digital copy of an Accurate Powder manual from 2003 that I could email to you.
 
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A .50-70...

What .50-70?

A Model 1866?

A Model 1868?

A Model 1870?

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I'd consider shooting any of the trapdoors with smokeless until the 1884 Model.
 
To be perfectly honest, I don't think I'd consider shooting any of the trapdoors with smokeless until the 1884 Model.
Click to expand...

I know I wouldn't. Either use bp or hang it on a wall or sell it to somebody else.
 
If you can't get real black powder, I have used Pyrodex RS in 50-70 gov't cartridges with no issues. I have fired this in 1866 2nd Allin's and 1868 riles. I use 50 grains (by volume) and a fiber wad. Works great and not hard to clean up afterwards. Bit of hot tap water down the bore and rinse. Then clean like normal.

I use Goex 2F when I can get it.

TK
 
mehavy:

This is gonna sound stupid, but I want shoot CMP matches with it, requiring 10 shots rapid fire in 80s. Don't know if its possible, but I want to try.

Its been my experience BP shoots best if the barrel is swabbed after about 3 rounds.
 
I like Trailboss for a lot of guns but I don't think I want it in this old rifle.

5744 developes half the pressure (8186 PSI) for the same velocity (1000 fps) as Trailboss's 17365 PSI.

Per Quick Load.

Its the pressure I want to keep down. 5744 works great in my '84 Springfield Trapdoor in 45-70 and my Remington Rolling block in 44-90 Sharps Bottleneck. Low pressure with moderate velocity (equaling BP loads).

Pyrodex puts out about as much smoke as BP which I'm trying to eliminate.
 
Unfortunately, modern smokeless powders (incl 5744/a personal favorite) induce a much sharper pressure spike than BP.
If you are set on non-BP in a original BP gun, see if you can find some 4759. It more "approximates" the BP curve. ;)
 
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