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Post by BOBinIN on Dec 21, 2012 13:14:43 GMT -5
Guys,
I have a 50-70 Springfield Trapdoor rifle that I purchased a replacement .45 cal. muzzleloading barrel for in 1971. The kit was made by Numrich Arms and sold by Dixie Gun Works with a 1 in 54 twist barrel. I haven't shot this barrel in better than 35 years but.... Indiana is considering a "side hammer" muzzleloading season for 2013 and I'm dusting it off to see if I can make a shooter out of it. I have plenty of round balls but I'd like to try a conical bullet too, to see which shoots best. The problem is... I can't find a conical for a 45 caliber gun. All the manufacturers seem to be out of business or only make 50's and 54's. Anybody out there know of a source? Thanks much, BOB
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Post by 7mmfreak on Dec 21, 2012 13:23:39 GMT -5
I buy my bullets from No Excuses and Bull Shop Bullets. Both cast good slugs and provide lighting fast service.
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Post by bp45cal on Dec 27, 2012 22:10:29 GMT -5
a 1 in 54 twist is a little slow for conicals i think.you can cast or shoot sabots what ever works best.
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Post by rick59 on Jan 7, 2013 16:16:28 GMT -5
a 1 in 54 twist is a little slow for conicals i think.you can cast or shoot sabots what ever works best. No sabots in the special "side hammer" muzzleloading season that Indiana is considering for 2013, old school all the way. |
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Post by 10ga on Jan 11, 2013 15:24:25 GMT -5
In that 1/54 twist barrel it's definitly a patched roundball deal, that is a slow twist for a 45. You may find a light conical that shoots ok with moderate charges but i reccomend just shooting as hot a PRB load as you can get to shoot accurately. You should be able to put that RB clean through a deer out to 85 yards with little trouble. Shoot them in the ribs and they will die real quick. I'd suggest starting at 85 gr. powder and going up or down 5 gr at a time to find a sweet spot. Use a heavy tight patch, I prefer pillow ticking in my roundball black powder guns. Good luck, 10 ga
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Post by gunner69 on Mar 19, 2013 0:06:49 GMT -5
You could try one of the Lee R.E.A.L. bullets that "engrave" while loading.
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Post by Gramps on Mar 22, 2013 3:47:44 GMT -5
I have one of those Numrich .45Cal M/L barrels and the correct hammer. I can't tell that it has ever been fired. I remember checking it years ago as a 1:48 twist so I just re-checked and re-checked and re-checked it and it is 1:48 twist. If anyone is interested in buying it let me know. I know I'll never fire it. It fits perfectly on my M1884 45/70 trapdoor with a shortened "sporterized" forearm (which is also for sale).
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Post by Gramps on May 1, 2013 18:50:47 GMT -5
Hey Bob,
Did you ever get around to shooting & working up a load for your trapdoor-m/l conversion barrel? It's such an unusual set-up I wonder if I should shoot mine. If I do I'll have to come up with a very long ramrod as my barrel is 36" long. I'll probably use my 1/4" St.St. cleaning rod and make a short extension. Let us know what you come up with
Mike (Gramps)
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Post by BOBinIN on May 3, 2013 11:28:43 GMT -5
Hey Bob, Did you ever get around to shooting & working up a load for your trapdoor-m/l conversion barrel? It's such an unusual set-up I wonder if I should shoot mine. If I do I'll have to come up with a very long ramrod as my barrel is 36" long. I'll probably use my 1/4" St.St. cleaning rod and make a short extension. Let us know what you come up with Mike (Gramps) Hey Mike, I sure did do some shooting with the Springfield/ 45 Cal ML barrel. I'm happy to say the old gun shoots better than I can, over iron sights! Here's my load... Bullet...Lee REAL 200 Gr conical slug (197 gr actual weight) Powder...I wanted to use BH209 powder but it won't ignite with the # 11 caps so I do a duplex load to make it fire: 5.0 weighed grains of Pyrodex RS as the primer charge, then 70.0 weighed grains of BH209 powder as the main charge The REAL bullets engrave the rifling as you send them down the bore when loading but fit a bit "loose" for my liking, so I punch 1/2" dia. discs from meat trays and pack one of them down over the bullet to keep it tightly in place on the powder charge. I have clocked this load at 2115 FPS MV and it has enough energy to knock a deer on his ass at just over 100 yards (my distance limit with iron sights). The BH209 makes cleanup a lot more fun now and leaves very little crud in the bore after the shot. At the range it is not necessary to swab the bore between shots, just pack em in and fire away. Groups have been excellent for me with 6 shots into 4 1/4" at 100 yards. Without a doubt, I'll be taking the old gun out this fall and intend to drop a deer with it for the first time in the 40 years that I've owned this rig. Thanks for asking and good luck to you. BOB |
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