Going to give my 1869 trapdoor 50-70 a run

Marshal Deadwood · June 04, 2011, 09:09:29 PM

Will shortly be giving my original 1869 Trapdoor, 50-70govt a run. Have had it awhile and having fired it. Finally said, heck, wouldn't it just be kewl to kill a deer with a 142 year old rifle. So I ordered dies, etc, to make it smoke.

Solid rifle, super shape, mirror bright bore...........I hope she's a shooter.

MD

ndnchf · June 07, 2011, 02:29:37 PM

These old .50-70 trapdoors are a blast to shoot. i have a model 1868 with an excellent bore and shoot it now and then. Mine has a very long chamber and I found it helps to seat the bullet out as far as possible. I think they were made this way to allow them to fire continuously without fouling buildup at the chamber mouth making it difficult to insert a new round. Another thing to look at is the firing pin nose. Make sure its not bent and that it retracts properly into the breech block. When I got mine the tip was bent a little. It was also missing the retracting spring (that's probably why it got bent in the first place). I straightened the tip and put in a new spring. Works like a champ now.

Enjoy!

Trailrider · June 07, 2011, 05:09:00 PM

Just a little information for you... The Model 1868 Trapdoor Springfield was made during three different years, 1868, 1869 and 1870. They are marked on the breech block accordingly, unlike the later M1873, which kept the 1873 marking through the various improvements until the M1884's came out. Of course the pre-1873 rifles and carbines were in .50-70.

These are danged good rifles. One thing to remember is not to be surprised if they shoot 15-18" high at 100 yds, as the military calculated the "danger space" due to the trajectory of the bullet for both a standing man and a mounted man. IIRC, without looking it up, the zero was around 322 yds.

Be sure to have the rifle checked out by a competant individual who knows Springfields.

Jed Cooper · June 08, 2011, 01:44:58 AM

Marshal, I have 2 original rolling blocks in 50-70. I like this caliber more than any of the others I have. Big slug, Great knockdown, easy recoil. Very enjoyable to shoot. Jed

Niederlander · August 26, 2011, 07:27:02 AM

Quote from: Trailrider on June 07, 2011, 05:09:00 PM
Just a little information for you... The Model 1868 Trapdoor Springfield was made during three different years, 1868, 1869 and 1870. They are marked on the breech block accordingly, unlike the later M1873, which kept the 1873 marking through the various improvements until the M1884's came out. Of course the pre-1873 rifles and carbines were in .50-70.

These are danged good rifles. One thing to remember is not to be surprised if they shoot 15-18" high at 100 yds, as the military calculated the "danger space" due to the trajectory of the bullet for both a standing man and a mounted man. IIRC, without looking it up, the zero was around 322 yds.

Be sure to have the rifle checked out by a competant individual who knows Springfields.

I've got an 1868 with a nice bore that shoots to point of aim at 100 yards. With smokeless loads duplicating the original ballistics, the best group was two inches high and two inches left of point of aim at 100 yards. By the way, the group measured 2 1/2". I love that rifle! I use it all the time for GAF shoots. Great caliber!

Trailrider · August 27, 2011, 11:14:53 PM

Biggest problem with shooting these old rifles are the sights. As the rifle ages, the sights tend to get blurry!

I partially solved the problem by having shooting glasses made with the focal point about half-way between the front and rear sights. I guess the age of the rifle has something to do with the problem.

Couldn't be the age of the shooter, could it?

Niederlander · August 29, 2011, 10:10:38 PM

Quote from: Trailrider on August 27, 2011, 11:14:53 PM
Biggest problem with shooting these old rifles are the sights. As the rifle ages, the sights tend to get blurry! I partially solved the problem by having shooting glasses made with the focal point about half-way between the front and rear sights. I guess the age of the rifle has something to do with the problem. Couldn't be the age of the shooter, could it?

I'd sure hate to think it could have anything to do with that! I suppose one of these days reality may strike me.

Pitspitr · September 07, 2011, 12:28:42 PM

Quote from: Niederlander on August 29, 2011, 10:10:38 PM
I'd sure hate to think it could have anything to do with that! I suppose one of these days reality may strike me.

Yeah and you suck too

First you have eyes that don't age, then you get all the cool toys.... oh wel, at least you let me play with them sometimes.

By the time I was your age I was wearing Ben Franklin glasses