Greetings,
Some of the readers will remember reading about some of my experiences with the trapdoors I inherited under the molds part of the forum with my Lee 405 Hollow Base Mold problems. I am going to continue my experiences with the trapdoors under a new heading as the mold problem has been taken care of. A big Thank You to Lee Molds for that experience.
For new readers, I inherited a couple trapdoor Model 1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70's from my grandfather a number of years ago. I had shot one a few times 25 years ago or so, and the other not until this past winter. No serious shooting with the rifle a while back, just to see if it shot where pointed, and it did (mostly). One had been re-blued, stock re-finished, then cut in half, then put back together with a couple nails for tenons. Whether that was done by my grandfather or not I do not know, and will never know in this world. That is referred to as the red trapdoor, and as the bore was not really good I have sent the rifle and receiver to Pennsylvania to have it lined with a new sleeve as the rifle is not a collectors piece at this point. I also had the stock re-glued. The second rifle, referred to as the original rifle, is all original, very good shape, and has a good bore. That one I am currently on a quest to develop a consistant good load for hunting and “beer matches", though for me nowadays it is more a “diet coke match". Sights on both are original, but on the original rifle there is windage adjustment, on the red rifle windage is either Kentucky or get out a drift pin for the front or rear sight.
For loads I have used bullets from 525 grain, which gave a grouping of typing paper at 50 yards, down through 500 (Lyman 457125), 485, 435, 420, Lee 405 Hollow Base, and around 350. The best groupings to date have been with the Lyman 500 grain bullet and the Lee 405 grain Hollow Base bullet. Both have given basically 1 1/2 inch groups. I have tried a couple loads with modern powder, but elected to stay with black powder; nothing against modern powders, but these were designed for black powder so I will stay with that by choice.
My loads have been from 62 grains FFG down to 55 grains FG. Since I have had trouble getting black powder, I have settled on Hodgdon FG black powder. I have used FFG, but as I have yet to see a difference in performance for my rifles and loads, I am using FG now (easier to get). My two best loads so far use either the Lyman listed, or the Lee listed, 55 grains FG, CCI 200 primer, and either WW or R-P cases. I have used Hornady cases, but they are significantly shorter, I have only a few, and they gave the worst groups early. I have yet to see a difference between the WW and R-P case performance, so use both but only one type per shooting session to reduce one more variable.
The lube I use is SPG, and so far have applied it by hand. I just got a lubrisizer through Ebay, and need to get it set up.
My last 50 yard groups were both about one and a half inches, then last Wednesday I tried shooting at a hundred yards. That shooting is best described as abysmal. When I cleaned the rifle I noticed that the cleaning rod seemed to go easier in the receiver half of the barrel. But, after some soaked patches and good application of a new brush the extra resistnce was eliminated. I have shot both non-brushed bore and brushed bore, and will need to compare groups again in the near future; in the past the non-brushing seemed to group better. SPG is supposed to not need brushing, I will continue to see what works best for me and the original rifle. I am interested in hearing if anyone else has experienced the same phenomena (or however the word is spelled).
Enough ramblings for now. IF you want more backround, find the track on the Lee 405 hollow base mold under the molds listing in the forum. It will also show the last two good groups. Enjoy your shooting.:fire
TK
.jpg?width=20)
