With black powder loads it would be fine, myself I would be a bit afraid of any Nitro loads in an original trapdoor, not that it would blow one up if at black powder pressures, but because the pressure curve of the Nitro loads is sharper and would perhaps wear it faster. At the same level of pressure the 38-55 has less case head thrust, something few think about, but in simple terms is had less area to push on the breech. This is the reason TC Contenders in 45-70 are not recomended for some of the heavier 45-70 loads even though the develope less pressure than the 223 it is chambered in also.