H&R Officers Model Trapdoor Tutorial: for those who asked.

[Drydock]

(A collection of previous entries)

I blame everyone here:  Walking thru a small gunshop in a St Louis suburb today, and there sits an H&R Officers Model midst the black rifles.  Pristine condition, reasonable price, and a quarterly safety bonus in the account.

Should make a nice skirmish rifle.

An original for reference:  http://www.nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/the-american-west/case-40-expanding-the-frontier/springfield-officer's-model-trapdoor-rifle.aspx

H&Rs version: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/harrington---richardson-rifles/h-r-1873-trapdoor-officers-model-45-70.cfm?gun_id=101113083

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  Check the set screw on the cam shaft frequently.  If it ever comes loose,  dimple the shaft then locktite the dang screw in.  Then screw a 2nd one on top of it.

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https://montanavintagearms.com/product/mva-combination-front-sight/

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Took it out to the farm today: OE and Triple 7 carbine loads.  The 8 groove H&R rifling prefers the 777, though both loads shot into 3" at 100 yards off the bench.  I intend to replace the front sight with the MVA "beach" sight eventually, but will probably keep the rear tang sight, it works better than I thought it would, and stays upright under recoil, good for Skirmish shooting.  I'll need to scribe it for different ranges when I get the chance.  It is an accurate reproduction of the original, and I understand it better having used it.  Not a precision sight, but it's not a precision rifle.

Using this bullet: http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-405C

One of these really helps the recoil: https://www.accu-riser.com/leather-butt-pad-bp-2000/

Though it does not appear to have been shot much, it seems someone did secure the locking cam with double set screws.  Hopefully they dimpled the shaft, but I doubt I'll have any problems with it.

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Having said that, I ran across this: https://stores.leeshavergunsmithing.com/muzzleloaders-and-trapdoor-rifles-economy-mid-range-soule/

I called Mr. Shaver, and he makes them to fit the existing mount on the rifle.  You do need to call if you want this specific pattern.  I have one ordered, be a week to 10 days to ship, will report when it arrives.

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Installed one of these, standard on the original OM:  https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/6643/category/391/category_chain/350,389,391/product_name/WP0700+Detachable+Wood+Pistol+Grip

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Put 21 rounds of 45-70 thru my H&R this afternoon, loaded with 47 grains (By weight) 2f 777.  Getting the sights readjusted.  Nice tight 3 shot* groups at 200 yards, no cleaning until I went home.  That just fills a Starline case to the base of an Accurate 46-405c bullet.  Been running around 3 moa bench rested.  Good stuff in the H&R barrel.

I would prefer real black, but the H&R has made it clear this is what it wants.





*Steel  plate at 200 yards.  Shoot 3 rounds, walk to the plate, paint over, walk back, adjust, shoot 3 more shots, repeat.  Good exercise.

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Ran the OM at the Grand Muster this past week.  Whole match, no cleaning with the above loads, including long range.  Properly set up, this is a match winning rifle.

[St. George]

I put a wooden, checkered pistol grip on mine, and an original Rifle rear sight - looks like it should and no problems with the cam (that seemed to be an issue with the late ones when H&R was assembling the last trapdoors).

At the time, original rear Rifle sights were readily available in new condition.

I may install a Beach front sight - it's not a burning issue, right now.

Scouts Out!

[Wooly Dan]

Thanks for the information. I am planning on going down to L. shaver and having your sight put on.  Did you leave the front sight factory? 

[Drydock]

I put on the "Beech" front sight from MVA, but the stock sight works fine.