High Arch Springfield Breech Block

[Ray Lencioni]

Just picked up a 1873 TRAPDOOR. I'm in great need of education.
1st, I plan on useing 34 grains of 4198 behind a 360 grain bullet.
2nd, Is the high arch breach block a concern?
3rd, been hearing terms like narrow and wide breech blocks, how do you tell?

 

[PapaG]

Breech, and i personally would load black.

 

[tark]

Welcome to the monkey house. The first three variations of the Trapdoor Breech blocks were of the "High Arch" type. The change to the low arch type was made early in 1878. There were seven variations in all. The only "concerns" I can think of are: Is the gun safe to shoot? While the high arch may look like a weaker part than the low arch, it was plenty strong enough to get the job done. Don't need to remind you to stick to very mild loads if you shoot smokeless.

Breech, and i personally would load black.

And I would capitalize the letter "I" when referring to one's self.

 

[PapaG]

Got me! And I would still load black, as a traditionalist. Unfortunately, autowhatever doesn't always correct but it doesn't excuse lack of proofreading. I've had trapdoors, a Ballard, a couple rolling blocks and always got better accuracy with this: Lyman 457124, alox-beeswax, sized to bore +.001", 5 grains duPont bulk shotgun smokeless, 55 grains ffg.

 

[LoonWulf]

What's the shotgun powder for?

 

[crest117]

I have 2 Trapdoors, an 1873 and an 1884. I shoot the 1884 almost weekly and the 1873 maybe monthly. In my opinion, your load is not ideal and probably too hot. I have found a 405 grn soft lead bullet ( note, do not use jacketed bullets if you are going to shoot it much )over 28 grns of H4198 will come very close to the original black powder load. Be aware that the lowest setting on the sights is zeroed at a bit over 200 yds. If you use the original sights the trapdoor will shoot about 16 to 18 inches high at 100 yds. the solution is to remove the original front sight blade ( do not lose it )and make a taller blade. You can do this by filing a coin or washer and then drilling a one sixteenth inch hole for the pin. Trial and error will allow you to get dead on at 100 yds. You can still shoot at longer ranges by adjusting the rear sight. Good luck.

 

[PapaG]

What's the shotgun powder for?

Shoots cleaner, cleans up easier, I found better accuracy. An old trick used by the turn of t h e century (not this one) scheutzen rifle match competitors. Normally, rules limit to 10% of charge weight of black and dropped in case before main charge.

 

[LoonWulf]

Neat! Thanks

 

[PapaG]

I used to shoot my rolling block 45-70 all day long with that load (each shot loaded into the same case) and could bet bench groups of 1" at 100, under 4" at 200 with metallic sights (five shot not ten as the sheutzen boys did). Clean up was two damp and one dry and one oiled patch.

 

[dieselchief]

I use 5744 for the same reason in a sharps replica, dc

 

[tark]

What's the shotgun powder for?

You would not believe how much cleaner a duplex load leaves the bore !! When I was shooting muzzle loaders I used to mix Re-7 in with my black powder. The two powders have the same volume to weight ratio and I would mix one pound of Re-7 to ten pounds of FFg.

I was able to fire 40 rounds out of my Pedersoli 50 cal flintlock without cleaning either the bore or the flash hole !! Of course I still used straight 4F to prime the pan. But the point is, the duplex powder mix burns incredibly clean!

 

[someguy2800]

Does anybody shoot black powder substitutes like triple 7 in trapdoors?

 

[dieselchief]

tried it but it varied to much. I think it had something to do with compression...of course I use a compression die with black, seating a cardboard wad first, then the bullet. dc