Pedersoli Trapdoor Rifle - shooting WAY high

hatman · February 13, 2014, 10:23:56 PM

Hi guys,

Not sure which forum would be most appropriate for this, but here goes:

I recently picked up a Pedersoli Trapdoor rifle from gun broker at a very reasonable price. The rifle looked great and unused except the rear sight was defective so I ordered a replacement from VTI and installed it.

I took it out today for the first time and tried it out at 50 yards with 405gr smokeless rounds.
The problem: It's shooting something like 8 inches high.
I have the rear barrel sight at the lowest setting so I'm stumped as to what I can do at this point.
I would accept a couple inches high at 50 yards, but 8 just doesn't seem reasonable.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I go from here?

Pitspitr · February 14, 2014, 04:52:27 AM

The lowest setting on the sights is regulated for 100 yards so 8" high at 50 is about right. Remember this isn't a .22-250 or something. A 45/70 has a high trajectory. Try it at 13 yards and see if it is "on" there. If it is, like I think it will be, it will be on again at 100. If you want to be on at 50 try a 500 gr bullet and/or file the notch deeper.

Trailrider · February 14, 2014, 10:59:39 AM

The original Trapdoor Springfields were sighted for 320 yds or so (can't locate the manuals right now), depending on whether they were rifle-muskets (32" bbl.) or carbines. Again, depending on the ammo (.45-70-405, .45-55-405 or .45-70-500), they would shoot somewhere between 15-18" high at 100 yds! The only way to bring this down is put a higher front sight on the rifle, or put two targets, one above the other, aim at the lower one, and you should hit the upper target.

Funny thing, I was watching a western called "The Bravos", starring George Peppard. He was up in some rocks with Indians shooting at him. He had an ersatz "Henry" (M1892 with the forearm removed, Hollywood style). One of the rescuing troopers hollered at him, "What have you got up there, sir?" Peppard replies, "I've got me a damned Henry that shoots low!" Now, to a soldier used to compensating for the rainbow trajectory of the .45-70 or .50-70, a Henry or Winchester would probably shoot "low". The movie also mentioned a ".50-70 Government" rifle. Sounds like whoever was the writer or producer/director knew something about Western guns. I think the credits said the movie was made in 1972. I also seem to recall a similar movie called "The Glory Guys", also starring Peppard. Maybe this was a remake or re-release.

hatman · February 14, 2014, 03:24:00 PM

Quote from: Pitspitr on February 14, 2014, 04:52:27 AM
The lowest setting on the sights is regulated for 100 yards so 8" high at 50 is about right. Remember this isn't a .22-250 or something. A 45/70 has a high trajectory. Try it at 13 yards and see if it is "on" there. If it is, like I think it will be, it will be on again at 100. If you want to be on at 50 try a 500 gr bullet and/or file the notch deeper.

Ahh, thanks for that.
I was going to give it a go at 100 yards but ran out of time. I'll try again next week.

hatman · February 28, 2014, 06:55:34 PM

Follow up FWIW:
Took my trapdoor out to 100 yds yesterday.
I first used some LoadX 405gr smokeless rounds and it was still shooting way high. In order to hit a 17in target I had to aim several inches below the target frame.
I switched to Buffalo Arms 405gr BP rounds and had much better results. I lined up about mid-way between the bottom of the black and the bullseye and managed to hit one in the red and the other 3 within a couple inches.
I guess it just likes black powder which is fine by me.

pony express · February 28, 2014, 08:34:41 PM

You might try some 500grain bullets, my 1884 shoots much closer to point of aim with them than with 405. Seems to work opposite of handguns, where lighter bullets usually hit lower, not higher.

hatman · February 28, 2014, 09:38:19 PM

Quote from: pony express on February 28, 2014, 08:34:41 PM
You might try some 500grain bullets, my 1884 shoots much closer to point of aim with them than with 405. Seems to work opposite of handguns, where lighter bullets usually hit lower, not higher.

OK, thanks for that tip. I have a bunch of those from BA, too. I'll try it next time.

Pitspitr · March 01, 2014, 07:48:52 AM

Quote from: pony express on February 28, 2014, 08:34:41 PM
You might try some 500grain bullets,

Echo that. My Pedersoli would only hit to point of aim with a500 gr BP load when it had the factory sights

hatman · March 13, 2014, 10:53:17 PM

Quote from: Pitspitr on March 01, 2014, 07:48:52 AM
Echo that. My Pedersoli would only hit to point of aim with a500 gr BP load when it had the factory sights

Had 'er out to the range again today.
Bingo.
The 500gr BP loads did the trick at 100 yards.
Hit the red once and 3 more just outside about 2" and all 3 touching each other.

Thanks for all the tips.