1868 Trapdoor

[Bat 2919]

After hearing all the glowing reports of everyone's experiences with the 50 70's it made it onto my bucket list.  With that thought in the back of my mind I believed it would take some time to acquire one of my own, but I didn't think it would happen this soon.

Our CAS club holds a new shooters clinic every year.  This years clinic is next weekend and we always get a table at the Denver gun show just before to hand out flyers and talk up the clinic.  I was working our table today and someone just happen to walk by with this trapdoor over his shoulder.  Now I already own 2 45 70 TD's but I called him over to talk.  He told me he had a 1873 in 50 70 and handed it over so I cold take a look at it.  I could tell immediately it wasn't a 73 but I'll have to admit I wasn't sure what exactly I had in my hands at the time.  It was easy to point out that the fact that someone had replaced the rear sight with a Williams peep and the front sight with something equally as modern, ruining the collector value.  The rifle is in good shape, tight enough to shoot.  A barrel light reviled good, maybe not great rifling with very little pitting.  He wanted to turn it into cash and I was only too happy to help him out.  After a good bit of dickering he walked away from the table with a smile on his face and $450 dollars in his pocket.

It wasn't until I was sure he was long gone before I let the smile (twice as big as his) begin to show on my face.  After things slowed down in the afternoon I placed an order for 100 Starline brass with my powder guy (that brass aint cheep).  I also found a set of RCBS 50 70 dies at the show for $20 and I felt fulfilled.

When I got home I pulled out the Fladermans and decided that I'm the proud owner of an 1868 rifle.  The barrel length is correct, side plate is dated 1863, and the breach block is dated 1870 with all the proper markings on the steel.  Found that S&S sells a reproduction rear sight that looks like it should screw into the single hole the Williams sight is currently attached with and a front sight that I'll have to get Run N Iron to attach for me.

If someone can recommend a source for good commercially cast 50 Cal. bullet I'll be one happy camper.

[Niederlander]

Check with Midway.  They have Montana Precision bullets with SPG lube.

[Drydock]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/759850/montana-precision-swaging-cast-bullets-50-caliber-512-diameter-450-grain-lead-flat-nose-spg-lubricant-box-of-50

[Drydock]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/767725988

THis guy has a lot of good stuff, I get my 11mm Gras bullets from him.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Congrats.

Slim

[Bat 2919]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/767725988

THis guy has a lot of good stuff, I get my 11mm Gras bullets from him.

These appear to be cast bullets as opposed to the swagged Montana Bullets. I guess either would work just fine at these velocities but I would prefer cast bullets.  The price is certainly better than the Montana's as well. He doesn't say in the GB ad, is this bullet BP lubed?

Thanks Slim.

[Niederlander]

I would go with the ones on Gunbroker, as they're sized to .515 as opposed to .512.  That sure looks to be SPG or an equivalent lube.  Price looks good, too.

[Drydock]

Yes, they are BP lubed, it appears to be SPG.  If it works in the Gras it'll work in anything!

[Pitspitr]

I buy bullets from Buffalo Arms and when on the occasions that I've needed it, found their customer service to be excellent.

[treebeard]

Congrats on the 50-70- lots of history and will be fun to shoot.  From the gunshows I have been to over the last few months the demand and price of trapdoors are down. Probably cheaper to buy an original than a Perdersoli repro.

[Dusty Tagalon]

Question on the 1870, was there a firing pin spring. Picked up an 1869 Cadet, dry fired way too much. Purchased a breach block from Gun Parts inc, firing pin from S&S, had to clean up corrosion from the firing pin, but now have a functional rifle. The 1863 lock plate pristine, the origional breach block other than mushroomed also beautiful.
Dusty

[Drydock]

There was, but it hurts nothing to leave it out.

[Major 2]

There is that certain something, when you SCORE a diamond and an old gun is acquired and returned to battery.
It like Christmas your Birthday, that day SHE said "YES",  a new puppy, and new car/truck day all rolled up.


Congratulations....

[Bat 2919]

The firing pin on this trapdoor, just like the others I own appears to be free floating.  Like Drydock said it would have had one originally, the schematics certainly call for one.  This is not the first time I've been told not to sweat it.  When I got my first trapdoor it really worried me but now I know better.  I can only assume that over the years they learned that the spring was unnecessary and simply stopped installing them.

[Pitspitr]

Later models came new from the armory without them.