I have a 1865 Allen Conversion Springfield trapdoor in 50-70 my great grandfather found it hidden up in the roof rafters at Fort Lowell in Tucson AZ in the early 1900’s. It was missing the cleaning rod and bayonet which I found original ones. It was passed down to me and I will pass it down to my son.

A quick note on the $76 cost of a rifle back then. Adjusted to modern pricing it's about $2,200.00 so when you see the asking price on a trap door it's not far off

I love the simplicity of that loading tool, a well thought out piece of kit for life on the frontier. Great video as always.

EXCELLENT shooting my young friend....l am in my 80's and a former fighter pilot of F-4 Phantom 2 Shoe🇺🇸

This is, by far, the absolute best Trapdoor. The size, balance and handling are just a delight. Thanks for showing us this one. ❤

I have the standard 45/70 and 50/70 rifle versions. I love shooting those old guns!

I have a Harrington and Richardson replica of the officers model made in the early 80s. It is a very accurate replica and is one of my favorite rifles. Thank you for the information about Barlow. I'm sure many reloaders today don't have a clue regarding his work.

That's some good accuracy from a 19th century rifle! I always enjoy learning about the history of America, (where I live, by the way) from the guy who lives in Hungary. However, there is a lot of history connected to these old firearms. Thank you for shining the light on this particular piece!

I have been given my Father's 45/70, but I believe that it is a BANNERMAN'S, because his company bought all the surplus military items, his company then turned the 45/70 of mine into a basically. 410 shotgun, which could be sold through their catalog ordering system.

Vielen Dank für dieses wunderbare Video. Informationen im Detail und Praxis vom feinsten. Besser geht es kaum noch. Man sieht es Ihnen an Sie haben Spass bei dem was Sie tun und so sollte es sein. Viele Grüsse und viel Waidmannsheil Ihr Frank Galetzka

Dear teacher. I'm from Brazil and a shooter for almost 40 years. I have always been a lover of World History and, in particular, Military History. Weapons and the history of humanity are directly linked and this has always fascinated me. I didn't know your channel and doing a search on Springfield I got here. It was a pleasant surprise to find a master with such knowledge and exceptional teaching skills. Your English pronunciation is excellent and very easy to understand. Not to mention your soft and calm voice. Transmits knowledge with ease. Congratulations on your work and you gained a follower here in Brazil.👏👏👏🤝🤝🤝

Great video! I have an 1873 model (dated 1882) that I enjoy taking to the range, but would love if Lyman would do a run of new manufacture Ideal tools for the 45-70 cartridge. One can always hope.

I enjoy your content and your passion for all things black powder. Your knowledge and research is excellent only proceeded by your willingness to take these old guns into the field.

Every time I open your channel, I learn something new. Thank you for the work you do.

Great video! Until time took it’s toll on my body I hunted with a original 1873 military rifle, very accurate and a wonderful tool for taking big game! Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories!

Thank you for another enjoyable video. I’m sure that we all appreciate your time and efforts that go into making these for our viewing. With regard to George Custer’s Springfield sporting rifle, from what I have read it was a model 1866 2nd Allin Conversion, .50-70 caliber, that was modified into a sportster configuration. The sights are what help identify the particular model.

Always a joy listen to a knowledgeable gentleman. Your knowledge is profunde and your marksmanship is astounding. Great video!

That ideal tool would be the best item for a man that's living deep in the woods.

any chance you can persuade your friend at pedersoli to make a repro of that reloading tool ,as a limited production i bet it would sell like hot cakes

Fascinating! Thank you for a great video!

Hello, just wanted to say that this video is put onto the vintage hunting arms playlist but not anywhere else on the channel. Not sure if this is an error but aside from that a very lovely video! Always nice to see breechloading content!!!

Absolutely brilliant, thoroughly enjoyable your video as always a masterpiece 👍

We found a old Springfield 45-70 a few years ago clearing out an abandoned barn. The stock itself was toast due to the elements and carpenter bees. The metal however was actually in decent shape after a proper soak and evaluation and we reblued. We had a gentleman that took up the task to hand make a replacement stock. We ended up shooting it a little but the rifling was bad. So afterwards we decided to donate it, it is now in the collection of the Corinth Civil War museum and its in their display there.

I really appreciate the depth of your research

Fantastic peace of history and shooting thanks for sharing with us 👍

Excellent video. Unbelievable shooting, as usual.

Absolutely wonderfully done! I enjoy them all but this video was especially well done. Thank you for your work!

Nice looking rifle! I would certainly look forward to seeing some more videos of the pistols/revolvers of this era (and back).

wonderful video. I love using those old Ideal tools. Hope to own one myself one day! The trapdoor is such a dream to shoot. Keep it up!

Very interesting indeed! Thank you for this episode, sir!

Thank you Sir!! Great video and outstanding groups!! Nice job!!

I had a couple of carbines and the Ideal tool. I wimped out even further and mostly used the 300 gr. bullet that I used in my 45-90 Winchester instead of the 405 gr. Thank you for another great video.

Loved your campfire reloading with the old tong tool!

Thank you for the excellent video, very informative! I really enjoy this content. I'm looking forward to deer season as this will be the first year that I'm allowed to use my 45/70 trapdoor carbine in my state.

I marvel at that all-in-one single implement reloading tool - when I survey all the different separate tools of the typical modern reloading situation... The Trapdoor Springfield too is rather something - a rather effective and relatively low cost way to repurpose that vast inventory of Springfield rifled muskets to be breech loaders firing a metallic cartridge - at a time when the US fed. govt was not exactly flush in funds. One can't help but have affection for that bit of clever and effective engineering. A lot of trapdoor videos focus on the Custer related models - it was nice to see this emphasis on a sporter variation - very nice video!

Amazing review and history as always, this was a pleasant surprise to wake up too. The 1975 Trapdoor Springfield looked alot like the Springfield Carbine.

Historical pieces as this beautiful example connect us to our ancestors and histories. What a well crafted firearm and the reload tool is amazing as well. This is what I Love about the old firearms, the craftsmanship/art and ingenuity in their creation. It is a wonderful thing that we can purchase accurate reproductions but handling or owning an original is history in hand. Kind Thanks for your super channel and Many Blessings and Good Shootin! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania

Nice gun, thanks for sharing!

Great video

Great video! Thank you!

Excellent video, great content.

...again a perfect video, thank you!!!

Excellent video as usual! I have learned something more about the 45 70 great looking rifle. The tool is ingenious. Excellent short range, and long range shooting. Hope to see more about 45 70 rifle s. David Back from Menifee county Kentucky USA.

very nice! i habe a 1866 second allen conversion short rifle (2 band) in 50-70. very straight shooters.

👍😊🎯 the tool for loading a round is neat.

Bonjour , c'est une plaisir de voir vous vidéos , bonne continuation . Cordialement

Love your videos. I have been wanting to get my hands on one of these old rifles for years. I know someone that has one but he will not sell it. lol

Love your history

Great content as always. Love seeing these old soldiers still performing well. Doing that work on my personal 1888 Trapdoor. Found a 500 gr Saeco mould that copies the original, gotta figure out the powder charge that the rifle likes next.

Really,I like all the video conten and I'm also like classic firearms too

Little known fact: When the US decided to develop and issue a new rifle/cartridge, they were already using the .50-70, in the Allin conversion trapdoor. One of the reasons they settled on the 1873 trapdoor, even though the Rolling Block outperformed it during testing. One of the requirements for the new cartridge was, since the main aggressors for the US Military was the tribes of Plains Indians, who were considered the best light cavalry on the planet. They often, in battle, would hang on the off-side of the horse, using the animal as cover. So, the Ordnance department insisted the cartridge be able to completely penetrate a full grown, adult horse, and strike the concealed rider. The 50-70 apparently was unable to meet that standard, but the 45-70 filled the bill. Cavalry troops used a reduced charge version of only 55 grains of powder, with a 405 grain bullet, but the carbine could stil chamber the infantry load of 70 grains with a 500 grain slug.

Thanks for the 'new-to-me' word: cenotaph. Your grasp of the English language is superb! Also for the info on John Barlow. I have an Ideal manual from the early 1900s and he reminisces about his army days and invites members of his old regiment to contact him. He seems to have been a decent fellow. Excellent video, as usual.

. The 45/70 Springfield was tested in about 1880 at a range of up to 2 MILES. A long-range Springfield was also tested with the standard infantry rifle. Open sights were used for the testing. Angles of elevation up to 30 degrees were required for the most distant shots From a rest the .45 Springfield was expected to group all of its bullets inside a 4-inch circle at 100 yards, in a 11-inch bull's-eye at 300 yards, and inside a 27-inch circle at 500 yards. Accuracy testing was also done up to 1000 yards and beyond in those tests. The farthest testing target was very large by today's standards (about 20X50 ft); But it was 2 MILES away from the shooter! One purpose of the test was to measure penetration capability. A few of the 500 grain bullets (from the long-range model) did hit the target with penetration into a wooden target of a few inches; Certainly demonstrating its harm-potential to a human body even at that great distance. The marksman doing the shooting did have difficulty hitting the large target at 2500 yards, and beyond. (Open sights. High angle of elevation) The stock 45/70, 405 grain bullet didn't make it to the 3500 yard target. A lot more detail about those tests can be found. While certainly not anywhere near having sniper potential at such distances, it did demonstrate that a team of riflemen, using good ballistic estimates, could shower lead down upon a greatly distant enemy. Albeit usually with poor accuracy. Much like the English long bowmen did in earlier times. However, that was never considered as a practicable battlefield strategy. Of course, canons would be much better. Although those used in the Indian Wars era didn't have a much greater range (typically, less than 2000 yards). We also have the story of buffalo hunter Billy Dixon, who, with a small number of colleagues, was attacked at a Texas outpost by a numerically superior band of American Indians. After a few days of attacks, it was noticed that some of the Indians were about a mile distant from the outpost. Billy borrowed a more powerful Sharps 50/90 buffalo rifle and made a legendary kill shot of one of the Indians at close to a mile away, using his expert judgment and open sights. The other Indians, realizing the range of that shot, were quickly discouraged from any further attacks upon the outpost, and left the area. So, it was again demonstrated that slow, heavy bullets had great long range kill-potential, as countless buffalo hunters had known for some time. A few months later, Dixon and a few U.S. cavalrymen were carrying messages to "Fort Supply" and were surrounded by a large, mixed band of Indians. Fighting ensued and some relocated to a buffalo wallow for a better defensive position. There's much more to the story of the "Battle of Buffalo Wallow". Much courage was displayed by Dixon and his comrades. So much so that Dixon and 5 others each received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Thanks!

Very nice enjoyed every minute of the video. Greetings from austria🇦🇹❤️🇭🇺

I have my grandfather's rifle from the Spanish American war. It in the back of the stock on that rifle is a combination screw driver tool and a headless shell extractor.

32/20 was a pistol and rifle cartridge, love your knowledge.

Them old gals will shoot! That hammer throw is like slamming a car door! LORD willing, I may one day have one. And maybe a Snider or Werdl. A fella can dream...

Really want one. Heard it's amazing as a hunting rifle

One of my pals acquired an original Springfield Trapdoor rifle, he had it "Proofed for Nitro powder", boy oh boy is this rife something to shoot. I cast all my own lead from lead ball to gas checked, I do the 45/70 for my pal, cavity ones for my pal.

Wow, that Ideal tool makes the Lee Loader sets look over complicated.

My M1884 (mfg 1890) is shooting sub MOA with 41gr IMR 3031 behind a Missouri Bullet Co 406gr Buffalo #1. I think you will find that the Custer rifle shown is a M1870. Note the civil war musket sight an the swell opposite the lockplate...all indicative of early post-Allin Conversion trapdoors in .50-70, where recycled 1863 Springfield rifled muskets were the baseline for parts and stocks. You can also see the cutout where the rear barrel band rested. And that 1873 campaign (Yellowstone expedition) was prior to the issue of the first M1873 Springfields in 45-70. (which really didn't make it into arsenals in real numbers until 1874). That rifle was more than likely a private gunsmith job in St Louis. the Hawkin style trigger guard and set triggers more than likely recycled parts from a plains rifle. That marksman he spoke of, Pvt John Tuttle, was killed a short time later during that engagement (Battle of Pease Bottom near Custer, MT) Not a bad conversion job on that 1884. Does that tool/mold produce a 406gr or 500gr bullet?

I have the Pedersoli replica. It shoots five rounds touching at 50m with the Lee 405gr HB mould and Swiss NO4 powder (1 1/2 FG). Even the cleaning rod backs out under shooting just as the original. 😁

Can smell the burnt powder from here. Seems to operate and shoot well. Always a great video from you. Lots of history behind every gun you feature. Pricing today is crazy and the ammo shortage in America is on again. This includes black powder stuff too. A constant struggle with morons. Good luck & happy hunting.

Love my 1873, proofed in 1884 so one of the last of the 73s with the original sight before the Buffington.

So very cool that you can reload in the field!! Thank you for showing that. Does the 70 in 45 70 mean the grn of powder? I ask only because you loaded 60 grn instead of 70. Even at that, the round seemed to reach out just fine at 300yrds !!

Eine tolle Waffe und das mit dem Alter auf diese Entfernung, super geschossen. Ich habe mitgefiebert, wie weit der Putzstock noch nach vorn wandert..... Gruß Rudi

I was a bit concerned about how strong the action was on the 1884 I just finished building as it seems less robust than the Rolling Blocks I'm used to. You have put my fears at ease a bit. Now I just need to get it on the range.

This might be a stupid question but I have seen sometimes when people shoot black powder that the cleaning rod shakes loose and comes “in front” of the muzzle will the gasses that comes out damage/burn it or will it be fine

Thank you for video! I love it! I just start shooting with my 1861 Springfield rifle. Do you know where I can to buy better front and rear sight for 1861 Springfield Sport Army? At 100 yards 478 gr .578 lee bullets go 1' higher of target center. Velocity 1200 fps. My load 60 gr FFG 777. ( 45 gr by weight )

Nice video of a beautifully shooting rifle you have. Just wanted to comment that keep in mind modern 45-70 brass have a smaller primer flash hole then the original black powder brass. If one opens the flash hole up to original black powder sizes the sights will better be on target past the 400 yard range if memory serves me right. there is actually a small book printed maybe 30-40 years ago where a guy did tons of research on the various sights and discovered the brass difference was the biggest issue with shooting the originals at longer ranges. I don't have the book in front of me but from memory i believe the holes were opened about 0.016"-0.018" from modern smokeless powder brass. I did this for my rolling block and indeed the velocity was definitely higher, and it seemed i got better full burn of the black powder from the bigger flash hole.

Just looked on your website. I don't see the powder measure dippers you mentioned at the below of this video? Out of stock maybe??

What primers are you using? Maybe i missed it in the video but not sure you said.

I have always wonder if the fact that the cleaning rod extending past the end of the barrel affect the precision of the shot?

Wonderful video as usual. Was that an original McKeever Patent cartridge box shown in the video?

How would this rifle handle the modern equivalent of black powder? The level of cleaning necessary after black powder shooting is definitely a damper on the amount of shooting I’d like to do

The 36 dollars that the first officers model cost in 1875 had around the same buying power as about a thousand dollars give or take. So the Springfield as far as cost goes was about as much as some of the middle of the road sporting rifles of today. Frankly I just wish I could order one of those officers models new for as much as a browning x-bolt hunter, that'd make for some swell hunting trips

What kind of bullet lubricant do you use for .45-70? And, have you tried the old Frankford Arsenal bayberry wax & graphite lube used with the .45-70 up until the 1880s switch to Japan Wax?

Mit großem Interesse verfolge ich Ihre Videos, mit welcher Hingabe Sie sich dem Thema schwarzpulver /Vorderlader Waffe auseinander setzen finde ich toll. Ich bin selber aktiver schwarz pulver schütze und lerne durch Sie viel dazu. Mit Grüßen aus dem Schwabenland

Nice! did the peep sight come with the rifle or you added it yourself?

I am very proud of my home states firearms history. It’s such a shame the laws against firearms Connecticut has.

I love how he uses a fire to melt the lead!!! I think your allowed to to use an electric lead melter???

The monthly salary for an infantry sergeant in the US Army at the time these rifles were made was about $13. To put it in perspective, this means that $76 rifle would have cost an NCO almost 6 months salary to purchase. Guns have always been expensive.

This is very timely and interesting because I just acquired an 1884 trapdoor in excellent shape. My rifle ejects the spent cartridge much more forcefully than yours. Is that part of the officer's model design? Thanks for another great video.

Can we get a copy of this tool??

I need a stock for my springfield trapdoor a shorter or standard would help full if you could tell me where to find 1 thanks so .uch

I would imagine that the proper load for that rifle would have be .45-70-405. I would imagine the recoil is brisk with the .45-70-500 load.

I don't have a picture of this person but I have seen a picture of him in the past. How would I get a picture on this site. I don't know how to load pictures on You Tube. Thank you, Cap and Ball for another fine demonstration of your antique firearms. I also apologize for not recalling your true first name.

I use an over-powder card wad with my black powder .45-70 loads. I get better accuracy with them in my rifles.

👍👍👍👍👍 . 👏👏👏👏👏

I bought one of these from Cherries/Pedersoli. It's a beautiful gun on the outside but the rifling is paper thin and the 500 grain bullets strip over the rifling without it engaging the bullet. I was unable to hit a 3'X3' target at 100 yards. By comparison, my H&R repro shoots the 500 grain bullet extremely well. When I contacted Pedersoli their solution was to shoot jacketed ammo. It was the last Italian rifle I ever bought. The thought recently occurred to me to try paper patched bullets or to have the barrel relined. Still, It was a disappointing purchase and an even more disappointing response from Pedersoli.

👍👍👌👌

Just started collecting historical blackpowder guns. Until now I only shot with reproductions. How do you find out if an historical rifle is still safe to shoot?

I'm building one in pistol form. I've heard that two were made for General Grant, but were not popular. When reloading the .45-70 cartridges, i was dismayed to find that only 50 grains of FF powder would fit! I couldn't get any gunsmith nor historian to tell me how to get 20 grains more into a cartridge! I may try compression but am skeptical! Anyway maybe 50 grains are enough, especially with a lighter bullet.(Perhaps also better for the pistol version, when i complete it, having some problems with wood inletting!)

My godfather had both the military one and the civilian version of this weapon - he wouldn't let anyone shoot them because they needed some repair of some kind - so i never got to shoot them- however i did get to shoot an original Hawkins 55 cal ball and cap hunting rifle - kicked like a mule

.45/70-500 from the bench. Not fun. After firing black powder, I take an empty, large mouthed 2 liter bottle, put a squirt of dishwashing liquid in it and fill it 3/4th of the way up with water. I drop my fired brass in and let them soak while shooting. At home, I shake the bottle and dump the water. Then repeat a couple of times more with fresh water. Dry the cases and toss them into the tumbler. They last a lot longer when I do that.

Too bad that the bench isn't set up to give you a place for your ammo box on the right side. If those boards were only another 40cm or so longer past the rail you rest your right elbow on.

At that time, a skilled craftsman earned $20-25/mo. You're looking at a month-and-a-half's pay for that piece at $36.

A good fri nd of mine owns a pawn shop. He picked up an original Springfield Trap door officers model when the guy never pucked it up. I dont even want to say the loan amount, it just makes me mad.

I have an older Gentleman who is also my SON IN LAW, Who thinks that the 45/70 was outdated when it was put into service. But I think that the US military keep it in service for way too long, besides if this weapon was outdated, then the British Snider and for that matter, the Martini Henry would be also.