Hello folks

[Lumpy Grits]

WELCOME
One thing in reloading real BP, is that we compress the power with a compression die. We also use a over powder wad and then seat the bullet.
Make sure your bullets have a BP lube on them, and not lube for smokeless.
Gary

[alfajim]

Hi Mike am glad to welcome you aboard the forum especially as a new trapdoor shooter. I am fairly new to the forum and BP shooting too I have a 1879 trapdoor rifle heirloom passed on from great grand dad to grandpa to me in excellent condition haven't shot it yet have all the reloading equipment and have loaded 25 rounds not made it to the range yet do to very unfortunate
circumstances, forced to move.
Loaded Starline brass, WLRM primer, 68gr. Old-E 2f and a BACO 405gr. gov. bullet with SPG lube to start with.
I recommend you pick up a copy of Spence Wolfe's book Loading Cartridges for the Original 45-70 Springfield Rifle and Carbine. It has everything you will need to know about loads, ballistics, trajectories, dies, powder, etc etc for the original cartridges plus lots of good info on the trapdoor and a great chapter on using the original rear sights and how to zero.

Jim