My First Antique - 1884 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70

Re3iever

Re3iever

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Location
Newfoundland
Just got this beauty this week, loaded some bp cartridges Friday so I could take it to the range Saturday morning - I think I'm in love.

Retreever

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The first antique I owned was an 1884 also except the stock had been cut back to carbine length so wasn't a "collector" by any means like your looks to be.

I bought that rifle to have a bit of shooting fun with, expecting to "maybe hit" a five gallon pail at 50 yrds...man was I surprised when I could chase a tobacco tin around the yard at 100 yards with ease. Used it to kill a 5 x5 W.T. running at 125 yrds as well one time.
Enjoy the rifle man...I don't own mine anymore but sure wish I still did.
 
Rod B said:
A beautiful rifle. How does it shoot?
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So far very happy with how it shoots. Fired 12 rounds 405g RNHB loaded over 55g (volume) Goex 2FG black powder with card stock wad between bullet and powder. I set up a splatter reactive target at 50 yds , roughly 12" high but decent 5" group given my unfamiliarity with sights. Battle sights are set to 200 yards on these hence the 12" high at 50 yards.

Looking forward to getting it out regularly.

Thanks, Retreever
 
A must have for any Springfields owner: LOADING CARTRIDGES FOR THE ORIGINAL .45-70 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND CARBINE
Wolf, J.S. and Wolf, Pat

If you duplicate the US Army load, your sights will shoot to point of aim. He also tells how to use the Buffington sights properly. Neat stuff like 3 ball sentry load, tables for impact with carbine round in rifle or vise versa.
 
bross said:
A must have for any Springfields owner: LOADING CARTRIDGES FOR THE ORIGINAL .45-70 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND CARBINE
Wolf, J.S. and Wolf, Pat

If you duplicate the US Army load, your sights will shoot to point of aim. He also tells how to use the Buffington sights properly. Neat stuff like 3 ball sentry load, tables for impact with carbine round in rifle or vise versa.
Click to expand...

Bought the book before I got the gun, have assembled all the parts to cast my own bullets etc. Looking forward to getting more experience with this one.

Retreever
 
I cast a 500 grain lee Bullet for mine and 70 grn of goex. Excellent accuracy. I killed 2 buffalo (by accident) with one shot. Bullet passed through the bulls neck and killed the cow behind him as well. Didn’t retrieve the bullet.
 
Gun hog said:
I cast a 500 grain lee Bullet for mine and 70 grn of goex. Excellent accuracy. I killed 2 buffalo (by accident) with one shot. Bullet passed through the bulls neck and killed the cow behind him as well. Didn’t retrieve the bullet.
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I have that mold as well, also bought the larger sizing die and compression die just so I could load 70g BP under the 500g bullet.

Retreever
 
Re3iever said:
I have that mold as well, also bought the larger sizing die and compression die just so I could load 70g BP under the 500g bullet.

Retreever
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Just to be certain I looked up the Mold. It’s C457-500-F and I don’t use a gas check. Pan lube with bees wax and crisco mix. Groves are less than generous but I don’t shoot long strings between cleaning so it works good for me.
 
Gun hog said:
Just to be certain I looked up the Mold. It’s C457-500-F and I don’t use a gas check. Pan lube with bees wax and crisco mix. Groves are less than generous but I don’t shoot long strings between cleaning so it works good for me.
Click to expand...

I have the Lee Precision 459-500-3R mold.

Retreever
 
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