Trap Door Springfields

[hp246]

I am thinking about adding a trap Door Springfield to my collection as a shooter. Not at all familiar with these.  What issues should I be cognizant of before making an offer?  Pretty much going to have to search the online auction sites so these will make it tougher.

[St. George]

Take a look at the 'GAF' forum and you'll find a number of threads.

Before you buy, you're going to want to make yourself smart, and there are good reference books available.

Scouts Out!

[Ranch 13]

I would suggest you not buy one off of the internet, unless there's a good inspection period.
Lots of times the poor ol buggers firing pins are froze in the breechblock. Some of the bores of those things probably weren't cleaned since they left the arsenal, and haven't had a very good life..
If you want to do much shooting with it, I would suggest looking for an 84 or later edition, mainly to get the buffington sight, but also I believe the metal and wood to be better in those later issue, and they saw a lot less use than the earlier issue.
Bunches better to get a hands on visual of it before you put your money down.

[buckskin billy]

as advise by the others be sure you do your homework. I have a table at our local gun show and they are showing up a lot more often, and a lot of them have been altered from there original specs. wrong sites for the year models barrels shorter than spec ect.

[Galloway]

I bought one a couple years ago that had been refinished and looked great but turned out to be a dud. Wont shoot lead bullets at all with smokleess or black powder. Lightweight jacketed bullets gave a very mediocre group, but  poi was 2 feet high and a foot left at 50 yards. Thats the lowest sight setting and no adjustment for windage. The trigger is the worst part though, about 30 pounds making it hard to steady even in dryfire. And of course it kicks like a mule even with the 405-55gr load. (mines a carbine btw) So that with fact that it wasnt widely used by civilians during the frontier, is why mines just a wall hanger which is the one thing it does well. Good luck

[Major 2]

I've had more that few through the prop trailer , I cut down some to carbines for the Film " Geronimo an American Legend "
I had nice one about two years ago, with Buffington sights , sold it though ...

if you truly want one I'd suggest hunting for a H&R 1873 Springfield Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle.... these were made in the early 1970-71.... make nice shooters.  H&R actually had the Original tooling and gauges.
Pedersoli bought the tooling, and retro-engineered and make a nice piece today.

[hp246]

Thanks for the input guys. 

I agree about buying on the internet.  Been checking locally, there is just nothing around my area.

Galloway, I have a .54 Sharps.  It too shoots way high at 50 yards.  I read somewhere that this was a battle sight setting and just about all of these guns shoot way high unless you alter the front sight.

Major2.  Yeah, I thought about one of those, and have seen some in the mid $500 range.  Seems like every review I see of them though mentions the breech opening after firing after a few rounds.  The Pedersoli's are out of my price range right now. 

I'd rather find something with a good bore, and don't mind a few alterations.  Not looking for a collector piece, just something I can shoot.

[Ranch 13]

 A few places to check with finding a good Trapdoor.
Cabela's has/had a very good collection of them with prices not totally unreasonable.
Buffalo Arms has one or two listed in their consignment list.
Google up  the trapdoor collectors, I think the web is trapdoors unlimited, but I might have that wrong.

[buckskin billy]

A few places to check with finding a good Trapdoor.
Cabela's has/had a very good collection of them with prices not totally unreasonable.
Buffalo Arms has one or two listed in their consignment list.
Google up  the trapdoor collectors, I think the web is trapdoors unlimited, but I might have that wrong.

http://trapdoors.com/

[Ranch 13]

Thanks Billy

[hp246]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

[Pitspitr]

Galloway
I've had 2 that were like that and they kicked more than a normal 45/70. When I got checking, both of them had barrels that were bent just ahead of the front barrel band.

[rbertalotto]

I totally agree on the H&R products.

I have a carbine and an officers model...both excellent firearms!

Or you could go to Collectors in Houston and pick up an original Officers Model in near perfect condition for around $35K

OR....If you are real persuasive, you might convince Springfield Armory Museum  in Springfield Mass to sell you one of the 15 never issued Officers Models.....I'm sure they would let one go for about $1,000,000!!!....

[Mean Bob Mean]

As for the HRs:

"Seems like every review I see of them though mentions the breech opening after firing after a few rounds."

Might get one like that, might not.  I have seen originals that did the same.  IIRC, it's fixable. 

[Drydock]

I would get this book: http://www.4570book.info/  and learn about the loads the originals were designed to shoot.  As well as how to use the sights.  Its good history and a great starting point.  Understand that these are not meant to be "Match" loads, though they can be very accurate, but Milspec combat loadings calibrated to the sight settings.  They'll get most Trapdoors well onto the target, at which point you can begin to find what your rifle likes best.  But its a light barreled field gun, just remember.

Trapdoors are a lot of fun. The originals are well made and still reasonably priced. I've got an 1884 thats a fine match gun, and my favorite Hog killer, all with Black Powder loads.

[Pitspitr]

I would get this book: http://www.4570book.info/  and learn about the loads the originals were designed to shoot.  As well as how to use the sights.  Its good history and a great starting point. 

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