H&R Trapdoor

[Slo' Poke Pete]

Hi guys.  I recently traded into a H&R trapdoor carbine.  Are these guns made in the USA or where?  How do they compare to the other "modern" trapdoor replicas?

Thanks.

[Niederlander]

They were always supposed to be pretty darn good replicas.  The only real problem I've ever heard of (or seen) is the "automatic ejector" problem a few of them developed.  Talk to Pitsptr about that.  Now you just need to come shoot it with us!

[Pitspitr]

Problem? The "automatic ejector" was a problem?  Oh yeah I guess it was, but it sure was fun even if it wasn't the safest.

The problem mine had was different that what most of them developed. On mine the thumb latch separated from the cam shaft. most of them that develop a problem the cam comes loose from the shaft. The cam was just a set screw. But in my case the a weld broke. I haven't gotten mine fixed yet.

I believe they WERE made in America, but they haven't made them in years (that I'm aware of) As I understand it they made them in the middle 1970s for a while. I have a Pedersoli too and I would say the H&R is a little better quality, although it may just be the luck of the draw as they are both pretty well made. Original or Pedersoli parts won't necessarily interchange.

Bottom line? They are a good gun. I wouldn't be afraid to buy and use another one

[Trailrider]

Rather than the thumbpiece being "keyed" to a square shaft on the locking lug, the locking lugs on the repros had a round shaft projecting out to the thumbpiece, with the two "locked" into position with a set screw. If the screw loosened or slipped, it is possible for the lug to fail to lock the breech, with the thumbpiece appearing in the correct position, but the lug not having engaged the detent in the receiver! This can be fixed to prevent this.

[Quick Fire]

what's the fix Trailrider?

[Niederlander]

I'm sure Trailrider will respond, but you can find quite a bit of information on the problem if you Google it.

[Slo' Poke Pete]

Thanks for the replies.  Mine is an older gun, a friend was helping his Dad liquidate a bunch of his guns and Dad said he'd bought it new over 30 years ago and never shot it....by looking at it I believe it may be unfired.  I intend to change that. 

[1st Sgt.]

Guns were made at the H&R plant in Gardner, Mass. The Factory buildings are still there but closed down.
I have a new Pedersoli and an H&R. The sights on the H&R are just a buckhorn, if your going to shoot it have a Springfield 1879 sight put on it and you'll be surprised how well it shoots. You might want to drill a dimple in the camshaft and Loctite the screw that way the autoeject problem won't show up ( it will over time). I've had two and the first was this way. The H&R guns are well made except for this small problem and are great shooters.
Good Luck!

[Trailrider]

what's the fix Trailrider?

Unfortunately, I can't give you a specific fix other than to say the two parts must be locked together. One possibility would be to have a keyway or slot milled in the two parts and a "key" or bar of metal inserted in the matching slots, thus locking the parts together, but allowing disassembly if necessary.  Another possibility would be to drill and tap the thumbpiece, and then drill a tight blind hole the diameter of the minor diameter of a set screw (the diameter if you machined the threads off the screw. The set screw would be blind from the end to about half-way up toward the head. You'd then tap the hole in the thumbpiece and use the blind end of the screw to fit in the matching blind hole in the shaft of the locking lug.  Just about any modification that locks the parts together will work. Unfortunately, the parts are sufficiently different from those of the original Trapdoor Springfields that you can't simply substitute the original parts for the new version.  Hope this helps.

[Slo' Poke Pete]

1st Sgt.

I think my gun has already had this sight change you spoke of.  The rear sight is a ladder type adjustable to 1300? yds, I'm assuming, and is a matte finished part.  The rest of the gun is bright blue, with the exception of the butt plate which is case hardened and has no opening for a cleaning rod.

Sorry, no pics yet, camera's broken.  On the left side of the breech block (pardon if I'm not using the correct part names) is engraved/stamped the words "Calvary Model" and it appears they are inlaid/flushed with silver.  There is light, tasteful IMHO, engraving/stamping of what I would almost call a floral pattern on the top of the front receiver ring, on the top of the breech block at the front, on the top of the barrel band, on the side plate, the bottom (outside) of the trigger bow, and on the top piece of the butt plate.

There is a cartouche, circled P, on the bottom of the butt stock, about 3" from the rear of the rear tang of the trigger guard.  Like I said earlier, I believe the gun may be unfired which I intend to remedy ASAP.  I believe it is a standard model carbine, but can't really find any pics of the H&R produced guns to compare it to.

I'll get with you all later on the modification to prevent the "auto-eject" you're talking about, that would scare the bejesus out of me, but I'll probably have my gunsmith do it.  I've always wanted a trap door and this little carbine is nice, but I still want a full length rifle to go with it.

Thanks for all your help Pards.

'Pete

[Quick Fire]

Thanks Trailrider.

Quick Fire