Casting for the Trapdoor Springfield

[SanPedroShooter]

I am trying to gather components per Wolfe's instructions to cast for a 1888 trapdoor.

The 405 hb lee mould he designed drops the bullet at .459 according to their advertising.

That would be perfect for my bore diameter, but I would like to use a lee sizer and they don't make a .459 anymore. I did track down a .458

Will that work? I think Lee will make me a .459 if I call ask for it.

Should I just size to .458 and not worry about the .001th?

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

Slug the bore first. I would with any old/used gun. That should tell you where to start. But back to your question a 458 will be fine with some possible loss of accuracy/ velocity. Push all your bullets through the resizer. lDepending on your technique it might come out near .459 out of the mold. I dont cast any longer but might need to again seeing lead smelters were all shut down by the EPA IN THIS COUNTRY.

[Capt.Dunsel]

I am trying to gather components per Wolfe's instructions to cast for a 1888 trapdoor.

The 405 hb lee mould he designed drops the bullet at .459 according to their advertising.

That would be perfect for my bore diameter, but I would like to use a lee sizer and they don't make a .459 anymore. I did track down a .458

Will that work? I think Lee will make me a .459 if I call ask for it.

Should I just size to .458 and not worry about the .001th?

HMMMMM.....paper patch maybe if your worried ?

[SanPedroShooter]

Slug the bore first. I would with any old/used gun. That should tell you where to start. But back to your question a 458 will be fine with some possible loss of accuracy/ velocity. Push all your bullets through the resizer. lDepending on your technique it might come out near .459 out of the mold. I dont cast any longer but might need to again seeing lead smelters were all shut down by the EPA IN THIS COUNTRY.

The Groove is .461/ .462 neighborhood . I am trying to measure with a standard caliper.

That's within spec according to Wolfe. Measuring the high point seems to be a little easier than the low point, if I understand correctly what Im doing here.

[SanPedroShooter]

HMMMMM.....paper patch maybe if your worried ?

No, Im not worried, but Ive never casted before. I am just trying to figure out what the deal is.

[mark501w]

Your going to need to match your bore diameter. I don't know if the hollow base will subtend to match your bore. paper patching to match bore diameter may be the answer.

[SanPedroShooter]

A hollow base with a proper charge is supposed to obdurate to fill the groove like a minne ball apparently.

I don't see a need to go outside the ordinary mould size in this particular gun. Its well within the arsenal spec. It looks like its never been fired even.

The deepest grooves come out .461 the lands are under that. In the .455 neighborhood.

Its a little hard to measure a three groove with a caliper.

[SanPedroShooter]

Maybe I should cast a few and see what they actually drop at.

If a bullet drops at the proper size, it doesn't necessarily need to be sized?

[gunboat]

No, you don't have to size them -
In fact there is a method of making your mould cast a bit larger -
see castboolit website for "leementing" I think that is the term.

you can lube them by cake cutting or perhaps a lee tumble lube -
Personally I think a bullet with a couple deep lube grooves works best --
The trap door ain't a fussy eater --

[koehn,jim]

You can also take a small wood dowel, split it and insert fine emory cloth and hone the inside of the sizeing die. You can than carefully open up the inside to any dia. that you need . It is easy to do and works.

[SanPedroShooter]

You can also take a small wood dowel, split it and insert fine emory cloth and hone the inside of the sizeing die. You can than carefully open up the inside to any dia. that you need . It is easy to do and works.

That's good advice. I will repeat that I am not concerned about the bore diameter or the size of the mold.

I am just trying to follow very specific instructions and Wolfe says he sizes to .459, so I want to do the same.

I think I will order the .458 and open it a bit.

[mark501w]

Somewhere along the line you want bore diameter or .0005-.001 over if you can do it. You need to slug it. Even is OK under is a problem.

[koehn,jim]

Use a good cutting oil and it goes easy a, drill or drill press makes it easy. If you need it I can send you a little 1000 grit paper or use tooth paste to polish the inside.

[6mmintl]

I would shoot as cast (.460/.461") , and use a neck expander .001" under avg. cast bullet diameter.

Use organic lube whether shooting BP or smokeless, I find Lee liquid alox coating iffy on the bigger bore cast bullets.

[SanPedroShooter]

I would shoot as cast (.460/.461") , and use a neck expander .001" under avg. cast bullet diameter.

Use organic lube whether shooting BP or smokeless, I find Lee liquid alox coating iffy on the bigger bore cast bullets.

Right, since I don't think this old warrior will get fired more than a couple dozen times a year, I was going pan lube or lube by hand. I didn't want to spend the 200 bucks on a lubrasizer.