One for us old shooters!

I not been on ATS very long but I have enjoyed many of the threads posted by other members, so this will be my first thread. I have seen some nice weapons posted, here is one of my favorite. It is an 1873 Springfield (trapdoor) chambered in 45-70 Gov. Mine was made in 1878 and still used the civil war bayonet. It wasn’t until the 1885 model that the bayonet was changed from the civil war surplus to the cleaning rod style bayonet. I have started working up loads for this rifle; the 350gr bullet tends to go high. I need to aim about 8” low @ 100 yards to hit paper. It does much better with the 405gr bullets, so you who also shoot trapdoors what loads are you using? I have tons of brass, and with a box of ammo now going for$30 to $40, reloading is the way for me to go..

Well now, that sure is a beautiful piece right there.

I've got an old Mosin Nagant I picked up from an old friend in the city. I wish I had a camera to take some pictures, yet I doubt it would compete with this springfield.

How old exactly in years would you say that thing is?

S+F

Originally posted by ThinkingCap
How old exactly in years would you say that thing is?

Uh... 2011 - 1878 = 133 years?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Thanks, I don't do subtraction. (It's against my religion).

reply to post by ThinkingCap


I too have a 1891 mosin. It was made in 1915 by the New England Westinghouse company. I plan to post it later on here. Thanks!

Originally posted by oldshooter1979
reply to post by ThinkingCap

 

I too have a 1891 mosin. It was made in 1915 by the New England Westinghouse company. I plan to post it later on here. Thanks!

sounds u have a great gun collection.

reply to post by oldshooter1979


I love the old 45-70
But my fav is the Marlin 1895 SBL


and dont think there's a lack of ammo for this classic..esp if your a reloader

(left to right): Remington 300-grain JHP, Barnes 300-grain X bullet, GS Custom 300-grain FN, North Fork 350-grain GRS, and Belt Mountain 400-grain Punch Bullet.

Originally posted by DaddyBare
reply to post by oldshooter1979

 

I love the old 45-70
But my fav is the Marlin 1895 SBL


and dont think there's a lack of ammo for this classic..esp if your a reloader

(left to right): Remington 300-grain JHP, Barnes 300-grain X bullet, GS Custom 300-grain FN, North Fork 350-grain GRS, and Belt Mountain 400-grain Punch Bullet.
That looks sweet! I am a reloader, With the trapdoor, I need to be careful about pressures. I am going to work around the 405gr bullet, this rifle tends to do well with it..

Originally posted by mrmusicmr

Originally posted by oldshooter1979
reply to post by ThinkingCap

 

I too have a 1891 mosin. It was made in 1915 by the New England Westinghouse company. I plan to post it later on here. Thanks!

sounds u have a great gun collection.

Thanks I plan to post some of my "toys" later. And some of the loads I have come up with for each of them..
Have fun collecting and shooting!

Thats a beautiful piece! But what I really wanted to say was....Holy S Kernel Klink! I LOVED that show when I was a kid!

Originally posted by DerbyCityLights
Thats a beautiful piece! But what I really wanted to say was....Holy S Kernel Klink! I LOVED that show when I was a kid!

Thanks, I have the first season on DVD. Great old show..

can't see any reason for it, myself. It won't do anything that a used, $400 Remington autoloader in 308 won't do a lot better, for a lot less cost in ammo for practice, using milsurp "ball" ammo, that is, and the 308 auto offers fast repeat shots to stop charges, or enemies, or fleeing cripples, or dog packs, or for winning combat rifle matches. The 308 easily has 2x the effective range of the 45-70, too, due to bullet drop and wind drift being HUGE problems for the 45-70 at a mere 200 yds, especially with the 4o5 gr bullets.

reply to post by linkedbelts

The trap door is for my own enjoyment. Being that it has been in the family longer than I have been alive. As for the 405gr bullet, I have no trouble hitting a paper plate at 200 yards. As for the .308, fine round, I like my 7mm (.284). with a 130gr match HP with 57gr IMR-4895 power is going right at 3000fps. I have half inch groups at 100 yards and leveled a ground hog at 450 yards. So to each there own, thats why we have so many..

I have sized and primed 60 rounds. Going to work up a load for the 405gr cast bullet. Just have not come up with the type of power yet. Oh well back to the manuals!!

reply to post by oldshooter1979


The .45-70 might still be the most versatile cartridge made. You can load it up with small amounts of powder and a light lead bullet so it performs well on small game, and you can really stuff it with the big bullets and lots of powder and do in the most angry bears.

People poo-poo it because of the very steep trajectory at range, but this is easily compensated for by proper use of sights.

reply to post by HattoriHanzou

This is very true! The springfield's sights was set up for the 405gr bullet. With the 350gr, it shoots high even at 200 yards. This round could bring down a buffalo, it will do fine for anything here in Ky

Originally posted by oldshooter1979
reply to post by HattoriHanzou

 

This is very true! The springfield's sights was set up for the 405gr bullet. With the 350gr, it shoots high even at 200 yards. This round could bring down a buffalo, it will do fine for anything here in Ky

that's the fact, I have to say.

reply to post by oldshooter1979


Hollow based 405?

Try 70 grains of Swiss ffg. Also, try a wad under the bullet, you will like the results. Have fun! Beautiful rifle indeed.

reply to post by METACOMET

Just the old solid lead 405gr bullet. Need to update my reloading manuals. I been wanting to start reloading shotgun, but no one here carries shot anymore. The shipping cost for it I guess. Well as soon as work slowed down here, it is off to the range