Trapdoor Carbine problems

Maxx424

April 22, 2014 09:34

I am having fits with my trapdoor carbine. Simply put - does not shoot well or consistent. Finally slugged the barrel and found it at .458 so no wonder the .458 bullets I was using were not working. Got some bullets at .460 and yesterday my son tried it with those. Still no success. Barrel looks really clean and shiny and the bullets are a soft version at 20 to 1 on the mix of lead. Thoughts or suggestions. Oh - shooting Black power with 57 grains under a 415 bullet. I can try 5744 at (memory here) 27 grains.

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  rufe-snow

  April 22, 2014 10:01

  Black Powder burns very hot and erosively when ignited. Years back, when I had a bunch of BP cartridge guns. I used 2 commercial over powder wads, under the base of the bullet to protect it.
  
  Also had good luck using duplex loads. Either 10% by weight of smokeless pistol powder. Or 40% of 4F loaded over the primer. Before loading the 1 or 2 F main load.

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  Hawk Carse

  April 22, 2014 10:50

  What bullet? What bullet lube?

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  fordsix

  April 22, 2014 14:08

  so haveing trouble trying to hit the side of the barn

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  Maxx424

  April 22, 2014 14:09

  Desperado Cowboy Bullets. 415 Grain
  
  Here www.cowboybullets.com/

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  chiefr

  April 22, 2014 16:45

  Black powder (BP) cartridge reloading is most challenging. Lubricating the bore when shooting is paramount because each successive shot leaves unburned powder in the bore.
  You have to use bullets that will hold more lube than smokeless, use grease cookies and most important use lube for black powder only such as SPG.
  Grease cookies and black powder lubes will soften the residue and fouling for an accurate next shot.
  Your charges should be fed into the case with a drop tube and compressed. There are many trick to the trade and I highly recommend one of the black powder cartridge reloading books to acquaint you.

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  Maxx424

  April 23, 2014 05:59

  Thanks

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  jonk

  April 28, 2014 16:38

  Here is what finally worked for me, if you aren't looking for max power:
  40 gr 3FG Goex
  500 gr Lee bullet sized to .460
  Crisco/beeswax lube
  Cornmeal filler to reach bullet seat depth
  2 over powder wads
  
  Slightly compress.
  
  I gave up on full tilt charges of black a long time ago. Not saying they won't shoot, they just don't for me.
  
  Edit to reflect the statement below. Certainly mild smokeless loads are just fine in the trapdoor; however, if you go with commercial bullets, do NOT use copper jacketed ones over long periods. The soft steel these were made from has been known to strip out with comparatively few jacketed bullets. Otherwise- if you want to try smokeless, 3031, 4198, Trail Boss, and 5744 are all good choices.

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  Cheechako

  April 28, 2014 16:50

  Quit fooling around with BP loads. Get a can of IMR 3031, a box of Hornady 350 to 400 grain jacketed bullets, and don't ever look back. 40 grains will duplicate the original loads.
  
  Shooters in the old days would have given a gonad to be able to shoot smokeless powder and here we are trying to do what they hated. BP is ok for muzzle loaders but cartridges were made for smokeless.
  
  JMHO

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  Maxx424

  May 01, 2014 06:40

  I tend to agree on BP but my son wanted to try. I'm going to use some 5744 as I had good results with the trap door rifle.

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