BP loads in lever guns
 

As this is a black powder forum we normally talk muzzleloaders. But I'm wondering if anyone here shoots BP loads in their old lever guns or Springfield trapdoors?
I have a Marlin 1895CB .45-70 on the way and I'm toying with the idea of making or buying a drop tube and loading original 70 gr loads with 405 gr cast bullets for it.
Share your methods and cleaning problems you have please.

I have a Marlin model 1881 in 40-60 but, haven't shot BP loads from it as yet, which is something I'd like to do in the future. I did however find that Buffalo Arms had smokeless ammunition and I bought 3 boxes. I do believe they also load them in BP and should check now after being reminded. I do have a partial box of what appears to be BP loads, very old.

I have a neat little Marlin lever action - light and short.



I've never considered loading black powder for it, and don't think I care to do so.

I've never taken a deer with it. But at 36" long and 7 lbs., it sure is handy for creeping around in thick woods.

Thats some good shooting for that short barrel Semi.

I have one just like it Semi - sans the scope. I also have a Puma in .44 mag with a 26" octagon barrel and a Guide Gun in .45-70. Plus 2 win 94s. One in 30-30 and the other in 32 win spl.
This one is going to be another lever. For some reason, I've become increasingly fond of them. Must be my old age and reminiscing about all those good old westerns that were on TV when we were young.

That's a whole passel of lever actions partner.

:s2: Yep. Nostalgia is a powerful force. I recently bought an old single shot 410 GA Stevens 94E just because I used one back in the late 50's to shine bunnies in the marsh (my outlaw days :s10: ;) ). I have absolutely no real use for it.

I have a friend with some old rabbit eared hammer shot gun that used a case. I have never known him to use any load but black powder in them.

:D Al

Alley it could be quite possible that's all he could use. It may have had damascus barrels.

Semi,

That's a sweet little lever gun for sure! I've always had a hankerin' for one in .45 LC.

BPS

I've only owned two lever guns in my life and sold them both many moons ago. Much preferred the bolt guns myself, one was a ?win 3030 and the other a Marlin 4570

Both guns were not a pleasure to take apart to clean, I cannot imagine having to detail clean one with BP.it would drive me nuts as clean freak as I am about BP corrosion.

The Bolt guns always just made more sense to me. Generally speaking more accurate.wider range of projectiles. Easier to maintain, one piece stock arguments and all.

Other than fitting flatter in a saddle I really do not see any advantage to a lever gun. It probably comes down to,personal,preference .

With the above said I was watching a TV show the other night with my adult son. It was a hunting show dedicated to lever guns.

They highlighted what I think was a 460 Marlin .guide gun, I want to say it shot 460 marlin 4570 45 win mag and 454 cassull. My son was drooling over that by the end of the show Google Ing the specs and availability . He says he is getting one of those and putting one of those Leupold VXR Firedots on it. I have to admit it does sound like a very practiclle rig.

First off I have four lever guns and don't load BP cartridges in them. However, I have two Springfield original Trapdoors in .45-70 and an 1871 H&R in .38-55. I load nothing but bp in them. For the Trapdoor rifle, I load about 68 grs. in them with a cookie between the bullet and powder. I don't use a drop tube.

A friend of mine told me once that i should use my case cleaner (vibrator type). Load my powder in each case just short of the top and then place the case on the cleaner when it is one. It shakes the powder down and compacts nicely. I then seat the bullet over the cookie wafer. I know it is about 68 grs. because I checked it once. You could still put the 70 grs. in if you want, but you would have to compress the load.

Now with the Springfield Trapdoor carbine I have to put the original powder load in it, 55 grs. To do this I use Cream of Wheat for filler. I did find out later that a company sells the original style wad spacer that the army use way back when.

With the H&R a871 I load it like the trapdoor rifle. Don't know about the lever guns, but the trapdoors and the H&R are a hoot to shoot. I was told I could zero my H&R in by loading more powder and making a compressed load. Haven't tried that yet.

1871 H&R:



With the trapdoors, they were originals and I didn't want to shoot smokeless anymore and thought I should go back to BP

Carbine:



Rifle:

Hey BPS, I picked this one up about 16 yrs ago:



I used it as my first CAS rifle, but turned out the action was a little too stiff for competition shooting. I take her into the woods for deer. I'm shooting a 305 gr. hard cast FNGC bullet with H110 powder. It shoots very nicely. And I haven't gotten any complaints for my deer.

The wood ain't as nice as Semi's, but this gun was one of the last ones to be made before the factory quit making them i guess. Now they go for ridiculous prices!!! But there are quite a few out there for sale if your lucky.

Yet another sweet little rifle offered for our viewing pleasure by rafsob! Yea that's the gal I want. Another one I considered was one of the original style Henry's in .45 LC but I don't see that happenin' either! :sad:

BPS

This fella has listed some interesting info on his site over the years on loading BP for the 45/70, 30-30, and 45 LC I believe.

http://www.castbullet.com/

BPS