Trapdoor carbine loads

[Shanghai McCoy]

Thought I'd ring in the New Year shooting my Uberti trapdoor carbine out back today. (After it got above freezing.. )
I've been using a Montana Precision 405gr RN hollow base bullet over 55 grains of 2f Goex which seems to be a good combo. It does shoot 8" high at the low sight setting though so I am tempted to try the 500gr RN/FB with the same charge as this might bring my POI down a bit which would be better for hunting with that rifle.
Any other comments or suggestions on this course of experimentation..?

 

[Curator]

These guns were originally designed to shoot high. Soldiers were trained to aim at the belt buckle. A lighter weight bullet will have a lower point of impact. You might try a 300 grain slug or make a taller front sight. (a common fix on original trapdoors)

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I'd read about the "aim at the belt buckle.." , which must have a problem during the Indian wars as the Native Americans usually did not wear belts. So, a lighter bullet would shoot lower. I did not realize that...
I have resisted changing the front sight as it seems to be pretty much not "user serviceable".

 

[Iggy]

500 grainers will be worse.. Longer in the barrel during recoil, means shooting higher.

Curator is correct about aiming at the belt buckle. Battle sight is 265 yds I think. Aim at his belt buckle and you're gonna him somewhere in the body out to 265 yards.

Cavalry troopers were limited to around 120 pounds or so to keep from having too much weight on the horse. 45-70/500s kicked them little fellers too hard so they reduced the load for carbines.

The 405 grainers with your load is the old Cavalry load. It'll do pretty well as a hunting load if you put it in the boiler room.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Thanks Gents, guess I'll stick with what's working and just Kentucky elevation it. At least until the deer around here start wearing belt buckles...

 

[Curator]

Look at the front sight very carefully. If a reasonable copy it will be a thin blade pinned into the raised bolster. It is really east to drive this pin out (left to right) and make a taller replacement blade that you can file down to get the right point of impact with your load. This is pretty much standard procedures for folks that shoot trapdoor rifles.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I looked at it again under a lighted magnifying glass and it's just one piece set into the barrel. Not a bolster with a pinned blade. Guess the folks at Uberti got that part wrong...

 

[Stormin.40]

I have an original trapdoor and did not think the front sight was replaceable. Mined shoots 6" high at 100yrds with both 405 and 500 gr loads, 70gr FF blackpowder. Mine is a full size rifle though so it may be different.

 

[Iggy]

It is "possible" to dovetail a front sight into the barrel of an original.

This is an old timer that was a rusted hulk of barn gun for 40 years that I resurrected.
The front sight is dove tailed in.

 

[BHP FAN]

You can also cut a slot in the front sight, and use it as the base to a blade sight.

 

[Jim Watson]

There is no excuse for a reproduction not shooting where it looks.
I would be right down to the gunsmith who would slot the front sight base like an original and pin in a correct height blade.