New to me Trapdoor

[MTwoodsman]

Thanks, I will definitely check it out

Information

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[Dick Hosmer]

Between 1890 and 1892, Springfield made 15 .30-caliber rifles. Most are accounted for, in museums and private collections. They used a special strengthened action with a slightly different locking cam. The so-called "positive cam" was first tested on just 100 .45-70 rifles (which have serial numbers in the 4155xx to 4156xx range, in 1888). Their blocks are marked US/Model/1888. This is all covered, in detail, in my new book just published last week - "More .45-70 Springfields 1873-1893" which is available on Amazon.

[daveboy]

I figure, why re-invent the wheel when it comes to loads for our rifles? I too have an 1884. I use the "carbine" load. No sense in trying to make it into a cannon with the full-power rifle load, and my shoulder is not up to it anyway. I use the Lee 405 grain bullet mold (which is a hollow-base bullet), with melted wheelweights and no hardening. I size .001 or so above my land diameter (I forget what it is right now), but slugging the barrel is a definite requirement. I drop 55 grains of blackpowder into a cartridge, place a corrugated cardboard wad over the charge (to ensure there is no air space), drop a touch of lube over the wad, then press that slug down over it. Been happy with this load.

[Dick Hosmer]

Wondering what your average group size is at 100yds. off a bench, as you (if I read your post correctly) seem to be "breaking" two of the "rules"?

One, the suggested use of only soft lead, on the order of 20-1 or 30-1, which wheelweights are definitely not, and then sizing .001" over land diameter. The best groups seem to come from sizing .001" over the bore diameter.