My 1st Trapdoor

CHGOTHNDER

It's an 1884 with the buffington sight, clean bore and overall in good+ cond. I want to shoot it and need ammo recommendations and sources please.

charliemeyer007

The action is on the low end for strength. I would only shoot real black powder in it if it were mine. I had an opportunity to shoot a an original in 50-70 at a black powder iron chicken shoot. It was a real treat to watch the rams at 200 slowly fall over.

In 45-70 the Lyman 330gr. hollow point cast bullet should be good, the 405gr. is traditional for a carbine.

rufe-snow

Store bought ammo for the 45-70 isn't hard to come by. As it's the most popular of the old 19 Century Black Powder rifle cartridges. Most currently manufactured, commercial 45-70 ammo. Is underloaded so that it would be safe to shoot in the old Trap Doors. Because of legal liability reasons, the ammo boxes will note on them if the ammo is safe to shoot in the older BP rifles. Do a GOOGLE search using 45-70 Trap Door loads, as the search term.

If you intend to do a lot of shooting with it, you might consider getting into reloading. If for no other reason than cost, as store bought 45-70 ammo is quite expensive.

ruger41

Most of the Cowboy loads from Black Hills, Ultramax and Ten-x all make suitable ammo to shoot in your Trapdoor. In that old timer I wouldn't shoot anything else unless you load your own black powder loads. Sadly due to an explosion, Black Dawge Cartridge Co. is pretty much out of business. They made black powder loaded cartridges. You might find some online or at gun shows.

Cheechako

In the black powder days, shooters dreamt of the day when they could get rid of the mess and shoot smokeless. That day arrived a long time ago and yet some still stick to the myth that the trapdoor is only suited for black powder. Frankford Arsenal loaded smokeless in the late 1890s and most of the commercial 45-70 ammunition of the early 20th Century was smokeless. Today's ammunition that is suited for the weaker actions, such as the trapdoor and Sharps, is smokeless.

There are any number of published loads for the trapdoors using smokeless powder. My own favorite, one that I've loaded many many times, is the 350 grain Hornady RN and 40 grains of IMR 3031. It duplicates the original ballistics, is accurate, and easy on the shoulder.

And, before anyone suggests it - there's no need to use small charges of fast burning powder with a filler on top. Cream of Wheat is for breakfast, not shooting.

JMHO

Ray

CHGOTHNDER

Thanks all, will consider all advise and have a safe 4th

Oakie

Please, only shoot real black powder in it. It was not designed to shoot modern powders. I have a 45-70 trap door from the 1890's

jonk

I shoot black powder, trail boss, SR 4759, XMP 5744, IMR 3031, and IMR 4198 out of mine with varying success. There are plenty of published smokeless loads that are within the safe pressure range of the trapdoor.

One thing to note: shoot only lead bullets. Copper bullets will very quickly erode the very soft rifling.

CHGOTHNDER

Got it thanks