Long Range Trapdoor

rustyrelx · August 13, 2009, 10:25:47 AM

I read with interest all the people buying their $2000 rifle. Seems to be the going price now adays. But there is an alternative if you like to build things yourself. For under $1000 you can build a trapdoor with a Treebone stock that will be your pride and joy. Pick up a rebuilder trapdoor, order a pistol grip fancy wooded stock from treebone, assamble it all and enjoy the envy of your mates. I am not affiliated with Treebone just built one and too many people are trying to get it from me.

Even if you have to rebarrel it , you still won't have that much into it. Just a thought that I wanted to through out there to help some save money, that is if they were interested.
Don

Delmonico · August 13, 2009, 10:41:17 AM

Can you post some pictures?

rustyrelx · August 13, 2009, 10:56:00 AM

This computer won't do that still trying to figure out why.

As far as an idea, look up Marksman's Rifle in the Springfield books. 11 were awarded to shooters in the early 1880's and shortly thereafter the shooters all wanted the silver or the gold that was offered instead of the rifles so there are just a very few in number out there. Survivability-God only knows. Oh and by the way the Military shooters and inspecters ALL agreed that the cartridge should be .45 2 4/10 not .45 2 1/10. Gen Sheridan didn't like the idea so he would not approve the trapdoor for .45 2 4/10. All political then just as it is now.
Anyway the Marksman Rifle is a true example of a single shot rifle of the golden age.
Don

Marshal Deadwood · August 13, 2009, 04:29:59 PM

Thats my route,,just bought a 1869 all originial trapdoor in 50-70..will consider sporter'izing it in the future. Might use as is....but would like to have a nice sporter trapdoor.

I outta have this gun next week and I'll post some pics.

MD

Drydock · August 13, 2009, 05:50:58 PM

NO! PLEASE DON'T sporterize an unaltered Trapdoor! Look for one allready cut up, or assemble an action from parts S&S firearms has many, as does Numrich.

ndnchf · August 13, 2009, 06:59:33 PM

Marshall,

Please don't cut up that original trapdoor. If you really want a trapdoor barrled action, I have two model 1866 .50-70 barreled actions. I have plans for a project myself, but somehow ended up with two of them $:-\$ I'll let one go if you are interested, contact me offline.

Delmonico · August 13, 2009, 07:06:01 PM

Why did I just have shudders go up and down my spine.

Count Sandor · August 13, 2009, 07:46:48 PM

Delmonico +1! Please don't cut up an original - there are a number of trapdoors around that have already been modified and are available. I'd much rather see one of those recycled again as a "sporter" than an authentic original.

The opening page of trapdoorcollector.com has a beautiful picture of one of the Marksman's rifles. My trapdoor can't hold a candle to that, but it is original, and I intend to keep it that way.

Count Sandor

Marshal Deadwood · August 13, 2009, 09:14:21 PM

Since this is an early model, I am not inclined to 'mess with it'...but I might be looking for the basics to someday 'sporter'ize' a trapdoor. They make beautiful sporter rifles.

That or find me a 45-70 carbine. That's what I really wanted but just couldnt pass this early all original model up for the price.

MD

Drydock · August 13, 2009, 09:18:22 PM

www.trapdoors.com

ndnchf · August 14, 2009, 06:31:38 AM

I know this is getting off topic a little... but I'll tell you what got me interested in doing a trapdoor project. A while back on another forum I stumbled upon an unusual trapdoor conversion of sorts. It was a model 1866 barreled action fitted into a repro 1841 Mississippi stock, a very nice looking rifle. I e-mailed with the fellow who built it and got some particulars. This is a realistic example of what post war frontier gunshops might have done with surplus muskets and parts. Mating a barrled action from a busted trapdoor to a surplus obsolete muzzleloader was quite within the realm of frontier gunsmiths. So I got the idea of doing something similar and have since picked up two nice M1866 barrled actions, but have not yet decided on which repro stock to use...but that Mississippi sure is purty

I also have a complete 1868 model trapdoor that I shoot regularly and enjoy very much.

drcook · August 14, 2009, 12:31:51 PM

here is a pic of a "Marksman's Rifle" trapdoor

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/

dc

Grogan · August 17, 2009, 10:44:08 AM

Quote from: rustyrelx on August 13, 2009, 10:56:00 AM
This computer won't do that still trying to figure out why.

As far as an idea, look up Marksman's Rifle in the Springfield books. 11 were awarded to shooters in the early 1880's and shortly thereafter the shooters all wanted the silver or the gold that was offered instead of the rifles so there are just a very few in number out there. Survivability-God only knows. Oh and by the way the Military shooters and inspecters ALL agreed that the cartridge should be .45 2 4/10 not .45 2 1/10. Gen Sheridan didn't like the idea so he would not approve the trapdoor for .45 2 4/10. All political then just as it is now.
Anyway the Marksman Rifle is a true example of a single shot rifle of the golden age.
Don

Actually if I recall correctly there's a difference between the "Marksman's Rifle" and the "Long Range Rifle".

The former was a high grade sporter style target rifle offered as a prize, while the Long Range Rifle actually was issued to Marksmen as part of their target shooting gear.

The Long Range Rifle was chambered in the 2.4" cartridge called the .45-80-500.

Here's an example of one in this photo. The longer cartridge is the .45-80 used for long range shooting.

(click to enlarge)

rustyrelx · August 19, 2009, 05:11:43 PM

I DO AGREE WITH YOU GROGAN THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A Long Range and a Marksman"s Rifle. Offically! But you can shoot long range with a Marksman's rifle! I hope there wasn't any confusion there. Don

Joe Lansing · August 27, 2009, 06:19:24 PM

Besides a different cartridge, the long range rifle had a 6 groove barrel. When I was a kid, back in late the '50s, I turned one down for $35 in a gun shop because the bore wasn't perfect and I was looking for a good shooter.

J.L.

Grogan · August 27, 2009, 09:34:48 PM

A friend of a CAS shooter I know up in the Seattle area picked up a Long Range Rifle at a Pawn Shop about 10 years ago.

He didn't know that it was what it was. Neither did the Pawn Shop seller.

As a result he ended up buying it for <$1,000, but then he noticed that some things about it (like the Rear Sight) looked "different".

He asked the fellow I know what he could tell him about it?

They started researching it and discovered what it was he had.

The pard ended up selling it for several THOUSAND Dollars!

I need some luck like that, except if I'd bought it, I'd STILL have it today!

Arizona Trooper · August 29, 2009, 02:39:35 PM

Built a Long Range Rifle from parts several years ago. Bobby Hoyt lined the barrel (which had a sewer pipe bore before I started), 6 groove 1 in 18, 0.459" groove diameter. He chambered it for Springfield 45-80 LR cartridge and set the headspeace very tight. I made a Bulls wind gauge sight and put it all in an original stock. It's a fantastic shooter, and a stout kicker too. The Marksman's Rifles were 45-70. Only the Long Range Rifles and a few of the Sandy Hook test rifles were 45-80. An original Marksman's Rifle is pictured at www.trapdoorcollector.com.

There were some plains rifle/officers rifle style Trapdoors made by Whitney for Hartley & Graham in the late 1870s from condemned parts. They used early receivers and high arch breechblocks. Barrels were octagon and stock usually pretty fancy. Overall, very nice rifles. Chamberings were mostly 45-70 and 40-65. Dixie has early receivers for cheap, $20 last one I ordered. I've been wanting to make one of these for a while, but haven't gotten around to it yet.