The old Trapdoor will shoot

[ncrobb]

I finally got a mold to cast for this old Springfield Trapdoor that’s been hanging around my house. It’s been cut down to carbine length and has a very thin front sight. Anyway, I set about casting some Lee 405 grain hollow base bullets, gave them a coat of Lee Liquid Alox and put them over 10.0 grains of Unique in new Starline brass with CCI 200 large rifle primers. After I got somewhat used to the sights I was pleasantly surprised what it would do. The last four piled into an inch and a half group at 25 yards. Not Match accuracy but I’m more than happy with it as a first outing. Too bad I only loaded 20 rounds but I wasn’t sure if I was wasting my time or not. Gotta run, the casting pot is hot.

[cable]

great gun and good shooting !

i have an H & R officers repro model carbine and its a great shooter too, with black powder loads interestingly, my loads with 400 gr and 500 gr bullets all shot into the same 4-5 “ circle at 100 yds, making a pretty practical hunting gun

[Freedom]

I shoot competitive black powder cartridge rifle (BPCR) Sharps rifles. The Trapdoor is NO second place shooter! In the right hands, with the right loads, it will hold its own to over 1000 yards. I have shot original Trapdoors out to 980 yards, and the Buffington Christmas-Tree sight works very well!

Your Springfield will really start to shine if you shoot it far.

Here is a target that I shot with my 45-70 Sharps using Black Powder and iron sights, at 300 yards.

The old Guns are Sooo much fun to ring steel with at long range. Several of the matches have radio's on the targets that ring-back hits long before you actually hear the bullet's impact.

Try a flat base 405..or the 500gr Govt. in your rifle. With about 35gr (scale weight) of BH209 powder. Fill your remaining case capacity with Cream-o-wheat to the base of the bullet and your smile will be HUGE as the steel rings at 500 yards with open sights!