Minnie ball style bullets for oversize bores
One of my trapdoors displays terrible accuracy even with .458 (off the shelf)bullets. I slugged the bore, and the slug came out to .462 on the lands. Bullets occasionall keyhole at ranges as short as 40 paces or so.
The problem is, its also one of my nicest guns, with strong blueing and case colors....I dont want to get rid of it. My preference would not be to have a custom bullet mold made and get into casting if I can avoid it....has anyone ever tried dishing out the back of hard cast bullets to get them to grip an oversize bore better? I have a lathe to do this accurately with but wanted to see if anyone had had tried it. Obviously this would alter the weight of the 450-500 gr. solids I normally use.
oversize GROOVEs and reality-based advise
Quote:
Originally Posted by
13Echo
Trapdoor bores are rather large and do best with soft lead bullets of .460" or even larger. The best source of information on loading is Spence Wolf's book on loading for the Trapdoor. It's a rambler but it is the best source of information there is. Google Wolf's Western Traders.
Jerry Liles
this oversize GROOVES (bore is the HOLE, GROOVE is the additional depth) thing gets a bit tedious at times. A true overisize GROOVE size in a trapdoor is fairly unusual. Likewise, MEASURING a three groove rifling barrel is almost impossible without an anvil micrometer. EVERY single trapdoor rifle I have ever owned would bot accept a .451 ACP bullet. Thus the BOREs were all .450" or even smaller! Of course, I am incredibly picky about buying TDs, especiallly bore condition.
As to SHOOTING oversize BULLETS:
1. I have NEVER had to do this and have had excellent success with ALL of my TD rifles (and I have owned well over a dozen).
2. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to SEAT a .460 bullet in a modern (even unsized)45-70 case as the case mouth is gonna size it down to about .459" and/0r it ain't gonna FIT in the chamber. This was verified by a gentleman on the old Jousters TD forum. Thus "or larger" is NOT gonna work.
3. I would try shooting a remington or other JACKETED bullet. If that keyholes, you can either try a hollow base bullet (and good luck with that) or buy another shooter.
As for the late Mr. Wolfe's book,I personally think it is a very poorly written and researched book and a last choice for a beginner handloader.