- #1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE HOW TO#
- #1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE MANUAL#
- #1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE FULL#
Some time ago, I cast 405 Gr hollow base bullets, loaded Rem brass with smokeless powder and fired a 3 shot 200 yds group into a triangle that measured 2 inches on each side. If it doen not pop up by Googling "Trapdoor by author Wolf" let me know and I will try to find mine and send the detailed book data. Drops like a rock after 200 yds making longer rane shots problematic.įor those who want an education on shooting trapdoors, consider acquiring a copy of the excellent book by Mr Wolf. Note when using the battle sight (leaf down- buckhorn) it is regulated for 260-270 yds with the M1888 cartridge and will strike about 13" high at 50 yds, 21" high at 100, 16" at 200 and then 17" low at 300 yds. Some shooters use a 12 Bull and a six o'clock hold at 100 yds so with the M1888 round the bullets strik in the center (hopefully) of the target. With the M1873 405 gr cartridge at 1325 to 1350 fps the bullet will stike aboutħ 1/2" high at 50 yds and 9" high at 100 yds. The bullet strike will then be about 6" hgh at 50 yds and at 100 yds when using the M1888 500 gr cartridge. With the leaf up, the lowest aperture setting is 150 yds which is set by placing the arrow to the right of the open sight at 275 yds. The second should be set at 185 yds and the third at 200 yds. With the sight leaf down, the buckhorn sight is set at the battle sight distance of 260-275 yds and hence will always be high at 100 yds.įor your first shot from a cold clean barrel, set the elevation at 175 yds for a 200 yd target. The Buffington is calibrated for the M1888 cartridge 500 gr at 1270 to 1315 fps. The gun sights are designed for longer ranges.
#1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE HOW TO#
It is just a matter of knowing how to use the rear sight. Guys, 1880's vintage Trapdoors with the Buffington rear sight do not shot high. You can later decide if further tweaking is worth it for you. You might not win any competitions and other peoples pet loads for their rifle might be better but you will have fun (and not blow up). Like others have said, don't use jacketed bullets, I like 400 grain cast (from Lee mold) and slug your bore for best accuracy.īut.if you just want to get the old war horse out a few times a year and shoot at some paper plates don't sweat it.Get any 300-500 grain cast bullet (0.458 inches) and any LIGHT charge (from any reloading manual) of some SMOKLESS powder. They are totally safe and can shoot just as good (or better) than smokeless.
#1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE MANUAL#
Their are numerous low pressure loads (for Trapdoors only) found in every reloading manual printed in the last 50 years. Try scrubbing your Trapdoor for 45 min every time you take it home from the range. Most black powder rifles have removable barrels that you can stick in a bucket of hot soapy water. This quickly gets old and muzzleloaders are even easier to clean than a fixed barrel 100 year old trapdoor. If you ever shot a muzzleloader you know you will have a big cleanup when you get home. unlike others I only shoot smokeless in mine (light charges only). Yes, The 45-70 was made for black powder. Or some other "cowboy action shooting" ammo.ĭon't expect much in the accuracy department 'cause your barrel is probably oversize! (Maybe as much as.
![1873 springfield trapdoor front sight base 1873 springfield trapdoor front sight base](https://images.gunsinternational.com/listings_sub/acc_51743/gi_100867515/NICE-ALL-ORIGINAL-MODEL-1873-SPRINGFIELD-TRAPDOOR-45-70-RIFLE-INDIAN-WARS-PERIOD-MADE-1883_100867515_51743_B0924FFD9822E95B.jpg)
The problem of high point of impact is due to the low front sight: it is easy to replace the original front sight with a higher one to bring POI closer to POA at shorter ranges.īlack Hills ammo. The factory standard 405 grain jacketed bullet load shoots fairly well in most trapdoors, and is safe, if the rifle is in otherwise good condition. 461" in diameter, it may be impossible to load it into the chamber.
#1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FRONT SIGHT BASE FULL#
So far as lead bullets go, I have never found it possible to do this with smokeless powder, and even if you can find a full groove-diameter cast bullet, and load it into your brass, if it is much over.
![1873 springfield trapdoor front sight base 1873 springfield trapdoor front sight base](https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-content/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2020/02/09/11164794_04_pedersoli_springfield_model_18_640.jpg)
458", it was always necessary for the lead alloy bullet to 'bump-up' to full groove diameter, if good accuracy was to be expected. As the standard military bullet diameter was. The nominal groove diameter (per 'Rules for the Management, etc.', Springfield Armory, 1874) is. 462", with some running considerably larger: up to. 45-70 trapdoor barrels (including Officer's Models, etc.), I can tell you that the average groove diameter of the rifles and carbines is between.